Stijn: growing curve from TDU till Roubaix, take a fitness break until Pologne or Eneco tour, then make sure he's ready for the classics at the end of the year.
Willy: Start in P-N or T-A, then Romandie and Giro, finaly Vuelta
We're now December 2012 and we're all getting ready for the new season. We've got a final training camp planned in Januari. We've already been to Australia and to Southern Spain, our final training camp will take place in Mallorca, as previously indicated.
Just as important are the talks about the schedule for next season. Team Argos- Shimano has a policy that riders should decide as much as possible. So we've been given many options, which makes it hard to plan a season out, the best schedule for us possible.
So we thought, why not let the readers of our blog help us. If you want to, you can give your opinion on the matter, and we would really appreciate it! In the end, it's our call, obviously, but we'd like to hear what you think!
So there are several choices to be made, we'll list a few, but other suggestions are more than welcome, too!
- Kruijswijk is interested in riding the Giro, so that might open up a 'Free Role/Leader' spot at the Tour de France for Willy, depending on what Costa decides. Then again, assisting Costa would be interesting, too. In the Giro, Kruijswijk and Willy would be co-leaders, which is very interesting!
- Slagter and Wegmann will lead the Ardennes Classics, we're not sure whether Willy should participate, too, to help them. Depending on what GT to ride, those races might fall out of his good form.
- Stijn isn't sure about riding Milan - San Remo. He'd be there to assist Degenkolb, but depending on the situation over the Poggio, he could end up sprinting for glory!
- Willy might participate in Milan, too, as a breakaway member.
- We could ride the Tour Down Under, serving under Kittel or Degenkolb, or Veelers. But in San Luis, we'd be given a leading role.
Anyway, those are a few of our current dilemmas. We'll be presenting the team fairly soon now. Thanks for your support, everyone!
Stijn & Willy
I think you should decide with races they want to ride, if we chose it you can lose your motivation maybe, imo.
Can you upload the rider roster for Argos pls?
Whatever the shedule will be, I follow for sure
Good luck mate, and make it a good year
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
In general I would not combine Stijn with Degenkolb, they're too similar. Stijn with Kittel should work though, he'll be the perfect leadout and can go his own chance on the hilly stages.
For Willy, I'd fully aim for the Vuelta for sure, as it usualy presents oppurtunities for weaker riders with better fitness. It also gives him a few more months to develop. Kruijswijk can do the Giro and Costa the Tour. Willy can also do the Ardennes-Romandie-Giro and try something nice there.
Of course, the reports are best if they can ride together. TDU - Tirreno - San Remo would be nice to start the season, but I fear they will be split then if both want to go for a good season. Stijn can ride the Giro or Vuelta as sprinter with Willy.
Daggen - San Remo could be hard, however, they could use the experience to grow and Stijn is used to hard races, of course!
PCM rulezz - I'll upload it momentarily! Thanks a lot
Jakstar22 - Thanks for the advice, mate!
sutty68 - Or they will die trying!
Ollfardh - Vuelta sounds tempting, but I'm going to have to look into it. Sometimes the competition is so weak and I wouldn't want to win the vuelta with Willy in his first GT I'll try to keep them together as much as possible though.
This is the roster of the entire squad for Team Argos - Shimano 2013. The team has really developed in a true Pro Tour team, with strong riders in all disciplines.
Mountains: Kruijswijk and Costa are the first names that come to mind. Both are full of talent and can definitely ride top 10 in a Grand Tour. They are young, like Willy, but Costa has a lot of experience, nevertheless. Add domestiques as Vanendert, Seeldraeyers and Geniez, and you'd expect the team to do very well in stage races.
Hills: Wegmann, Costa and Slagter will be the main men for the hilly races. Despite Slagter's age, he's proven himself a strong puncher already. Meersman and Serry shouldn't be forgotten either. The team will fight for top 10 places in the Ardennes.
Cobblestones: Perhaps the weakest point of the team, but then again, that comes to Stijn's advantage. He can lead all cobbled races, with Veelers as a back-up sprinter.
Sprinting: The core of the team. With two absolute leaders Degenkolb and Kittel, the team is expected to score a lot of points this year. Degenkolb is strong and can take hills, while Kittel is incredibly fast. With lead-outs from Van Hummel, Veelers and Stijn, they should win a whole lot this season.
Age: The team's leaders and main riders are young, which means inexperience but also freshness, strength, speed and motivation. The domestiques are older and have incredible experience. They will guide us youngsters throughout the year.
Overall: We expect this team to shine the whole year round. In fact, it wouldn't surprise us if the team would be in the running for the first place in the team rankings. We're looking forward to 2013, that's for sure!
Hour Record
Fabian Cancellara has made an attempt to break the Hour Record! The standing record belonged to Chris Boardman and was measured at 56.375km. Fabian 'Spartacus' Cancellara brought time trialing to a whole new level and is considered the best time trialist ever. This winter he has been working to break the hour record.
On 2 January 2013, Fabian Cancellara rode for one hour. He completed a total of no less than 56,925km. Congratulations are in order, so here's to Spartacus!
How about the routes? Which GTs got a lot of TT kms and which GTs don't have them? Or don't you use variants?
Giro-Vuelta sounds nice for Willy, but maybe that's too much. I would concentrate on smaller (especially WT) stage-races that suits Willy best. If Willy wants to ride Pais Vasco/Romandië(or both), then he can ride the Ardennes. If April is more like a resting month for Willy, then he shouldn't.
Stijn could ride MSR, but it would be smart to ride Paris - Nice or Tirreno too, so that he doesn't get there out form. And I agree with Ollfardh, Stijn should be a better combination with Kittel than Degenkolb, although a few races working for John is no problem.
I think preparing decent for MSR fits Stijn's schedule too, since the cobbled classics are only a few weeks after MSR.
Riding a few Conti races can't hurt too. San Luis sounds like a great opening of the season, especially since they have a chance of getting a nice GC/stage classification.
And yay for Cancellara Edited by Jesleyh on 05-02-2013 14:10
Jesleyh - Took your opinion into consideration, came up with the following (post). Hope you like it. Willy's calendar is quite differently from the one you thought up, Stijn's is more like you thought, though.
sutty68 - I'm surprised myself It will compete for the World Tour best team award, I think!
We're now at the eve of the Tour Down Under. The year is yet to begin, yet so much has happened already. Firstly, the final training camp in Mallorca was a success. The entire team was present and the atmosphere is amazing. This really is a team, we clutch together. Every newcomer is welcomed warmly.
Secondly, the Australian National Championships have been raced, earning Allen David his first win of the season. He'll wear the Australian Jersey for the rest of the season!
And thirdly, our schedules for this season are finished. Some things might still change, but here they are!
Racing schedules 2013
We requested quite some races together and, to our surprise, we've been given many races together. This is yet another proof of the management here at Team Argos - Shimano. Without further ado, here are our schedules for 2013, we hope you like them.
Stijn Van Gent
January - I start the season in the Ruta de San Luis, like last year. My presence there will be that of a free element. Argos has decided to send a full Belgian squad there.
February - In February, I will start with the tour of Mallorca. Thanks to Qatar, I will get my own chances in the sprint there. After Mallorca I start in Oman, where I will work for Kittel. Afterwards it's off to Belgium for the opening weekend with de Omloop and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. I might work for Degenkolb, if he survives the cobbles.
March - Starting with the Strade Bianchi, I move to Tirreno - Adriatico, again working for Kittel. Then I remain in Italy for Milan-San Remo, an important event in my season, no doubt. The possibilities there are endless: a sprint for Kittel, Degenkolb, a puncher, I sprint myself... After Milan it's time for Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 and Gent-Wevelgem.
April - Of course, de Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix. Period.
May - A three-day sprinting stage race Tour de Picardie, just to stay in shape.
July - Tour de France. I know, I couldn't believe it myself. This year's profile, the 100th edition, makes way for 8, maybe 9, sprinting stages! Since Degenkolb will sprint at the Giro and the Vuelta, I'll be working for Kittel in the Tour. Which means I might get some chances on more hilly terrains.
August - Eneco Tour, Dutch Food Valley Classic, Classic Hamburg, Overijse Classic and Classique de Plouay. Mostly in service of Kittel.
September - GP Jef - Scherens, followed by the Tour of Britain, where Kittel will try to take several stages.
After the Tour of Britain, the schedule is uncertain. But so far I'm loving it. It's like I expected: a leader role at the cobbles, some sprinting chances and some races working for Kittel. I'm not afraid of a little dirty work and I'll be happy to be part of some nice victories with Kittel. My absolute goal is of course the Ronde and Paris - Roubaix.
Willy Wouters
January - Like Stijn, I start in Ruta de San Luis, hoping to improve my podium from last year!
February - Mallorca and Oman, both in leading roles.
March - Still on the same course as Stijn, with Strade Bianchi, Tirreno - Adriatico (sharing leadership with Kruijswijk) and Milan - San Remo. Not exactly my kind of race (yet!), but I'll try to support the team as good as possible!
April - In April I won't participate in any races. Instead, I'll be in Spain, training in the mountains.
May - Tour de Picardie, to get back in racing legs.
July - Tour de France! The roles aren't quite certain there yet. I'm not even 100% certain of being selected, but if I perform decently throughout the first part of the season, it's in the pocket. Costa will lead the Tour, most of the team is there for Kittel, though. I'm not sure where I come in yet. I might help Kittel in the lead-out, help Costa in the mountains, or get a free role. The opportunity to gain experience here is the main thing!
August - I go back to my place of doom (that's a bit exaggerated), try to claim the win in the Tour of Colorado, after that 2nd place last season!
September - I stay in the continent America, to tackle the two Canadian Classics, serving under Costa, probably.
The rest's uncertain at this point. All I can say is: Tour de France. I've been given a great chance and I plan to grab it with both hands. I'll work hard for it, that's for sure! I expect it'll be hard, my first Grand Tour, at the age of 22, but I want to make the most of it.
The next post will be all about the Tour Down Under, and then it's up to us. Finally we can start racing again!
Stijn & Willy
Edited by Ian Butler on 05-02-2013 16:24
it's too damn hard!
