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A Tale of Two
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-09-2012 09:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Despite not riding for a while, Stijn has arrived at the Eneco with some great form  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 09:33
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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@PCM rulezz: won't give up until the race is over
@sutty68: Young riders build up form easier than old(er) riders, I guess  |
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| ste_18 |
Posted on 06-09-2012 09:48
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1430
Joined: 06-08-2012
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Good stage 3 but now the objectif is a victory in cobble stage...so good luck
You're story is probably one of the best (in my opinion). |
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| Logghje |
Posted on 06-09-2012 10:23
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Domestique
Posts: 527
Joined: 27-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Isn't there an award for 'Story of the Year'?  I would give my vote to this one, if you keep going on with it like you are doing |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 13:48
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 10:45
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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@ste_18: Thanks
@Logghje: I'd be extremely happy even being nominated for that  Thanks, I'll try to keep it up! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 10:57
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Eneco Tour - Stages 4 - 6
Stage 4
The queen stage of this Eneco tour. It should suit me fine!
With 100km left to go, the peloton was reduced to 53 riders. Besides me, Lotto only had Lars Bak and Jurgen Roelandts left.
Bak got behind a couple of meters and then something horrible happened!
He got hit by a car from the organization! He quit the race and got taken to a nearby hospital.
At the finish, Tom Boonen was the fastest.
Result
| 1 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | 5h34'27 | | | 2 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 3 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 4 | Jürgen Roelandts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 5 | Fabian Cancellara | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 6 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 8 | Martijn Maaskant | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 9 | Sylvain Chavanel | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 10 | Niki Terpstra | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | |
There were many, many falls and 5 of the 8 Lotto-Belisol riders left the race. This brought me in a awkward position, because I'd just conquered the leader's jersey.
Stage 5
I wore the leader's jersey and tried to get Saxo Bank on our side. Here I was talking to Sieberg, an old team-mate. But since I held all jerseys (yellow, green, white), no one was willing to work with us.
With only 3 riders in our team, we failed to chase the breakaway. They won with a 10'28" gap. Marcato was the winner.
Through some weird coincidence, the best placed rider of the breakaway was at 10'48". So I kept the yellow jersey.
Stage 6
This Eneco Tour looks haunted. Every stage there are multiple falls.
Even Tom Boonen had his share of bad luck.
Yet again, unable to reel in the breakaway, I don't sprint for victory. Valverde was in the breakaway group and won.
Result
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | 5h20'31 | | | 2 | Simon Spilak | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 3 | Karsten Kroon | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 4 | Massimo Codol | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | | 5 | Maarten Tjallingii | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | | | 6 | Kevin Van Impe | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Christopher Sutton | Sky Pro Cycling | + 2'59 | | | 8 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 9 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 10 | Jürgen Roelandts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler |
GC
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 25h19'15 | IanButler | | 2 | Fabian Cancellara | BMC Racing Team | + 2 | | | 3 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 4 | | | 4 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 8 | | | 5 | Niki Terpstra | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 11 | | | 6 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Martijn Maaskant | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 18 | | | 8 | Sylvain Chavanel | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 19 | | | 9 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 20 | | | 10 | Stijn Devolder | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | |
Points
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 101 | IanButler | | 2 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | 89 | | | 3 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | 75 | | | 4 | Jürgen Roelandts | Lotto-Belisol | 59 | IanButler | | 5 | Fabian Cancellara | BMC Racing Team | 54 | | | 6 | Marcel Kittel | Rabobank Cycling Team | 52 | | | 7 | Tom Veelers | Team Argos-Shimano | 50 | | | 8 | Kristof Goddaert | Ag2r La Mondiale | 49 | | | 9 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | 45 | | | 10 | Marco Marcato | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 41 | |
There's one more flat stage left, and then a time trial. If nobody helps us reel in the breakaway tomorrow, I'll leave without a stage win. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Its amazing that Stijn is still in the Leaders jersey after all the crashes and breakaways
But lets hope his luck doesn't run out in the final two stages |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks sutty
What a chaotic Eneco Tour it's been so far... |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Eneco Tour - Stages 7 - 8
Stage 7
This was my final chance on a stage win. Because we couldn't chase the breakaway, our new tactic was to be part of it. Debusschere went with the early morning attack.
But once again, all refused to chase. So that was good for Debusschere, not so good for me. Valverde was certain to take the leader's jersey.
Serge Pauwels won the stage.
I won the sprint in the peloton, securing my Points Jersey.
Result
| 1 | Serge Pauwels | Accent.Jobs - Willems Veranda’s | 5h32'00 | | | 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 3 | Jens Debusschere | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 4 | Maxime Bouet | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 41 | | | 5 | Laurence Franssens | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | | | 6 | Marco Marcato | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 1'17 | | | 7 | Daniele Pietropolli | Lampre-ISD | + 4'15 | | | 8 | Angel Gómez | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 9 | Andrea Masciarelli | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | | 10 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | + 14'08 | IanButler | | 11 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | |
Stage 8
The time trial. 16km long, so maybe I did have a shot at a decent time trial, seeing that my form is coming along real nice!
Result
| 1 | Fabian Cancellara | BMC Racing Team | 18'29 | | | 2 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 4 | | | 3 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | + 6 | | | 4 | Stijn Devolder | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 11 | | | 5 | Andriy Grivko | Astana Pro Team | + 12 | | | 6 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | + 13 | IanButler | | 7 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 14 | | | 8 | Denis Menchov | Katusha Team | + 16 | | | 9 | Tiago Machado | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 21 | | | 10 | Manuele Boaro | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | |
GC
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | 31h20'59 | | | 2 | Fabian Cancellara | BMC Racing Team | + 2'55 | | | 3 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | + 3'06 | IanButler | | 4 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 3'08 | | | 5 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 3'24 | | | 6 | Stijn Devolder | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 7 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 3'25 | | | 8 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 3'27 | | | 9 | Sylvain Chavanel | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 3'38 | | | 10 | Niki Terpstra | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 3'41 | |
Points Jersey
| 1 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 127 | IanButler | | 2 | Daniele Bennati | Radioshack Nissan Trek | 98 | | | 3 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | 89 | | | 4 | Fabian Cancellara | BMC Racing Team | 87 | | | 5 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | 65 | |
Of course, I also take home the Young Jersey.
This Eneco Tour was not bad for me, but my main goal remains unaccomplished. It's strange taking the Points Jersey home without winning a stage, feels like it's undeserved. |
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| ste_18 |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:43
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1430
Joined: 06-08-2012
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Stjin was unlucky in this Eneco Tour...Without help of other team is very difficult catch a breakaway |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:45
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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News
Hi all,
I've just returned from a recup session in Spain and getting ready to leave on a training camp in South-America. But between trips, I wanted to keep you in the loop, transfer-wise.
Transfers
Langeveld will join Rabobank, which makes for a very strong early season team (Flecha also has a contract there)
Menchov will also be joining Rabobank. It seems like Rabobank really has a plan, they're attracting a lot of strong riders.
French supertalent Pierre Rolland will join Liquigas. They threw a lot of money against him.
Mark Renshaw will be leaving us after all and goes to the mothership: Orica - GreenEdge.
GP San Sebastian
Result
| 1 | Nick Nuyens | Team Saxo Bank | 5h35'11 | | | 2 | Igor Anton | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 28 | | | 3 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 51 | | | 4 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Peter Velits | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 1'11 | | | 6 | Tony Martin | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Juan José Cobo Acebo | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 8 | Jan Bakelants | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 1'38 | | | 9 | Giovanni Visconti | Movistar Team | + 2'09 | | | 10 | Geraint Thomas | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 11 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:46
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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@ste_18: It was an impossible situation for Stijn, unfortunately. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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A third place on GC and the Points Classification Win, it turned out to be a good race after all for Stijn |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 11:49
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks! His injuries are far behind him, and he's getting ready to put on a show in Denmark  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-09-2012 12:00
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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On current form Denmark shouldn't cause him many problems |
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| roturn |
Posted on 06-09-2012 12:21
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Team Manager
Posts: 22246
Joined: 24-11-2007
PCM$: 3900.00
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Good Eneco for you. Well, you didn`t win but also had a lot of bad luck with the abandons. So in general a great debut after the injury. |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 06-09-2012 13:18
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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A good overall race in Eneco Tour, pity the win escaped from Stijn. |
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| johannes-w |
Posted on 06-09-2012 13:30
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 833
Joined: 24-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice Eneco tour after the comeback. I think there are way more points on the positive side compared to not winning a stage. Especially the points jersey
Good luck in Denmark |
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| JuanMotr |
Posted on 06-09-2012 15:32
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Domestique
Posts: 701
Joined: 29-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Man!! you´re crazy i came back from school and i missed the whole Eneco.I think i will have to start check this story even in school
and great job by Stijn he deserves  from me |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 06-09-2012 16:05
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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@sutty68: Let's hope so. I saw that Dutch Classic is up first
roturn: Thanks, winning does get harder when half the team quits
FreitasPCM: He'll have to get his win elsewhere, he still has Denmark and Tour of Britain
johannes-w: Points Jersey is very nice. I would've liked to see Stijn winning a stage race, too. Maybe next year
JuanMotr: Yeah, to be honest, I didn't really feel like riding Eneco, so I kind of rushed through it I wanted to get passed it. |
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