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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-05-2014 12:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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That's the plan  |
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| rogvi97 |
Posted on 26-05-2014 15:37
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 933
Joined: 10-07-2012
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I won't be hard, Ian, not for you 
No signature available
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-05-2014 15:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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We will still be around for when you have more time for this story  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-05-2014 17:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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It's been a while since you heard from me. Last time I posted here, I had just won the points jersey in the Giro. Seems so long ago. The Tour is being raced right now. I've something to say, but I'll let the internet article to the talking!
The King's Signature 03/07/2014 - Peter Van Achteren -- Matthias Vleminckx, Belgian's most successful cyclist, announced to be open for business. He did this in a press conference yesterday. In the shadow of the Tour de France, the war for the King's signature is open!
"Orica - GreenEdge and myself, it has been an extraordinaire experience. It was beneficial for the both of us. But now the time has come to part ways. I thank the entire team and its staff for the opportunities and great times," spoke 2 time winner of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. It is expected that Vleminckx' signature will be fought for, especially in the teams of Patrick Lefèvre and Marc Sergeant. Vleminckx is considered to be a true flandrien and an immense talent. Aged 25, he has won two editions of De Ronde, Paris - Roubaix, two national jerseys and the points jersey at the Giro.
Vleminckx' manager had the following to declare: "negotations were not going our way. A rider with such talent deserves to have a full team behind him. He should be at the start of the Ronde with 7 strong helpers. Orica wasn't able to support him anymore. The team is betting one too many horses. Now we're looking for another stable."
Vleminckx, who was unable to defend his National Jersey last week, is being kept at the sideline by Orica at the moment. Disciplinary action, it is said. Vleminckx was not allowed to call the press conference and announce the news. When Vleminckx will return to action, is yet unknown. It is expected, however, that Orica won't keep him at the sideline much longer. After all, he brings in a hell lot of World Tour points.
There will be a lot of teams lining up to get the signature of the King of Flanders on their contract proposal. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-05-2014 17:31
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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rogvi97 - Thanks mate
sutty68 - Appreciated
Okay. Since I'll have less time, I decided to make less reports. Hope you can all live with that. I'll also report a bit less on things happening around him.
I'll be testing this new way of doing the story, if you don't like it, let me know and I'll change it back (and just go way slower).
The next post is a test: no results for Suisse or Dauphiné (he did race Suisse but without real result), and only a brief mention of the National Road Race (where he finished 10th - no team to back him up) |
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 26-05-2014 17:39
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
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Actually it's good news the Matt leaves Orica. Now; go to OPQS
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| Shonak |
Posted on 26-05-2014 17:40
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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This turn was somehow to be expected unfortunately with OGE's slowly built up strength in GT racing. Surely OGE and Matt will depart in good, but I guess it's time for Matt to come home and the fans will appreciate it if he ends up riding for a belgian team.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-05-2014 18:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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VoetsT - I'll let them fight for his signature 
Shonak - I hope so meanwhile I'm thinking about his future. He's got many talents but I really want to specialize. Any input? |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-05-2014 18:24
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Well... I'm afraid Orica won't miss me too much.
A historic event happened. Truly amazing.
 Tour de France 2017 | 1 | Nik Bozic | Orica GreenEdge | 84h37'21 | | 2 | Charlie Pearce | Orica GreenEdge | + 2'27 | | 3 | Wilco Kelderman | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 8'37 | | 4 | Richie Porte | Orica GreenEdge | + 9'17 | | 5 | Simon Spilak | Astana Pro Team | + 10'04 | | 6 | Carlos Betancur | Movistar Team | + 10'16 | | 7 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | + 10'26 | | 8 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 13'13 | | 9 | Alberto Contador | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 14'38 | | 10 | Adam Yates | Orica GreenEdge | + 16'03 |
Nik and Charlie killed the opposition, almost literally. They fought each other in the mountains and time trials. Nobody even came close.
This incredible result caused a shift in the world of cycling. Exxonmobil stepped up and took up sponsorship of Orica for the next years.
I won't be part of this change, since it'll take place starting next season.
Time's are changing.
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 26-05-2014 18:26
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 26-05-2014 18:49
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
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Whow, total Orica domination, 4 in the top 10 of TdF GC is just unreal
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| Shonak |
Posted on 26-05-2014 19:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Wow. That's some amazing performance by OGE. But Matt does really right to leave this team: They will be hated soon enough. 
Ian Butler wrote:
Shonak - I hope so meanwhile I'm thinking about his future. He's got many talents but I really want to specialize. Any input?
I always considered him to be a flandriens first and foremost and I'd like to see him continuing this path, whilst also going into the italian classic-segments such as Milano - San Remo, much like Cancellara. Maybe even get some TT mileage in the future, I imagine Matt has some great quality in flat and could turn into a great TT'ist with his fighting spirits. First Double World Champion in history sounds like something that he could achieve.
Since I want Raphael to win the 5 Monuments, I wouldn't really like to see Matt do the same honestly (Rapha is built upon this concept of winning 5 monuments sorta), but it may be also a cool (or depressing) comparison for me perosnally. In any way, I certainly would cheer for him. I wouldn't like him to see turn into a pure sprinter or such, that's rather dull to read and report on. He's also way better and worth more than just for the last 200 meters.
I also kinda thought of him as a potential Grand Tour winner (similiar to Wiggins maybe?) at some points during his career but I imagine that to be rather far in the distance.
Edited by Shonak on 26-05-2014 19:15
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-05-2014 22:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Belgium certainly has to be the destination for Matthias if and when he leaves Orica
Although judging by the Tour de France result i don't think they are going to miss him too much |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 27-05-2014 10:44
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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VoetsT - I know Though I must admit the Giro had a super strong start list, with Froome, Quintana and Nibali, neither seemed to be here to battle for the Tour
Shonak - Thanks a lot for your insights, man, it's great!
A flandrien first and foremost is about what I was thinking, too. Sanremo is definitely an option which can be integrated. But Lombardia and Liège seem to far off his capacities. He's been increasing his TT abilities slowly (from 67 to 72 already), and maybe he can be National Champion in the discipline one day. But I can't really picture him as a World Champion in the discpline. Isn't it too late for that?
I agree that Raphael has more chance at the 5 monuments then Matthias. So I won't be chasing that pure sprinter is out of the picture, too
Grand Tour winner... I don't know. Never actually thought of that. He'd have to change his ways then, though. Maybe it'd be nicer to keep him at what he's best, go to a Belgian team and rule for a small decade
sutty68 - Belgium is our first option indeed though we do need a strong backing team, that's a must!
Orica won't miss him too much with Bozic and Pearce around indeed |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 27-05-2014 10:44
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Tour of Poland: brothers Herrada vs Velits The Tour of Poland finished after an amazing battle between Jésus Herrada and Peter Velits. The battle got real interesting when José Herrada, brother of Jésus but riding for a different team, stepped up to defend his brother.
Only in the final stage, Peter Velits took the upper hand in the Tour of Poland, a WT race on the raise. by snatching 11 seconds from leader Jésus Herrada, he won the overall rankings by 6 seconds. This year saw an interesting profile filled with hilly stages and uphill finishes.
Matthias Vleminckx, former stage winner and runner-up in this race, was not on his best of form. Stage 4 saw his best result with a 6th place. Overall he finished 19th. His commentary was short but insightful: "The contract situation is messing with my head. I hope to find peace soon by signing a contract somewhere, because then I can focus on what I can do best again, and that's racing. Giving 100%".
Vleminckx' season has been notoriously stated as being one of ups and downs. After an initial late season start due to an injury, Vleminckx surprised friend and foe by conquering in De Ronde. His Giro debut was impressive with 4 wins out of the first 5 stages. But besides that, Vleminckx has no significant results this season.
We looked to his manager for an explanation: "Matthias is at a turning point in his career. He's 25 years old now and is coming to the height of his powers. The problem is that he's actually talented in too many disciplines. I urge Matthias to choose and specialize. I consider Matthias to be in a transition stage. Besides specializing, he'll have to pick up the tab of being the strongest classic rider out there. It's not easy adjusting to that. He's got to become a real leader. We're not panicking, though. He still manages to perform when it really matters, that's Matt."
It is expected that Vleminckx will start in the Eneco Tour in a week.
Final Classification - Tour de Pologne
| 1 | Peter Velits | Garmin Sharp | 22h56'00 | | 2 | Jesús Herrada | Movistar Team | + 6 | | 3 | José Herrada | Androni Giocattoli | + 45 | | 4 | Rigoberto Urán | Lotto Belisol | + 1'11 | | 5 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | + 1'27 | | 6 | Laurent Evrard | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 7 | Vasil Kiryienka | Team Sky | + 1'28 | | 8 | Maxim Belkov | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 1'36 | | 9 | Simon Clarke | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'39 | | 10 | Robert Kiserlovski | BMC Racing Team | + 1'49 |
Edited by Ian Butler on 27-05-2014 10:48
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| Shonak |
Posted on 27-05-2014 11:04
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Too bad about the Herrada bros. 
Very nice article though. It's a good way to sum a race whilst also including some infos of Matt himself, isn't it?
Glad you liked my input. A belgian rule on those classics and occassional wins in other races seems like a fantastic career in any regard. Will be interesting to see what talents may grow up with thinking off challenging Matt one day, similiar to what Boonen is/was to him.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Martial1 |
Posted on 27-05-2014 11:33
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
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I really like this new style of reports. Like Shonak said, it sums up the race nicely, while giving Matt's perspective. Although for races he wins or does well in, we need full reports
Good luck in Eneco! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 27-05-2014 12:11
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Shonak - I would've liked to see the bros up there Yeah, I guess I'm on the same level as aCross now, with updating on the race and also a bit on Matt/Raph?
Yeah, that surely is something to look forward to. I also like that he, Vanbilsen and Vanmarcke are all the same generation (sort of), and they have very equal COB stats
Martial1 - Thanks a lot! Glad you like this way of reporting
Great to see these reports are appreciated. It will help me keep this story alive in busier times! Of course, on big races I will bring out the big guns, as usual. |
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| jona500 |
Posted on 27-05-2014 12:29
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 03-06-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Didn't expect such behaviour of Orica-Greenedge after all the glory you brought them!! Hopefully if you find that new stable it has lot of other great horses to help you and may you eat a lot of hay I don't really have a clear sight on how OPQS and Lotto-Belisol look in the Vleminckx-world as a few years have passed already! Let's hope Matt can be the bigger person and stand up to ride his @*#& off in the last months, Poland seems to not suit Matt as well as I hoped though this year, better next time
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| Shonak |
Posted on 27-05-2014 12:33
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Yeah, I guess I'm on the same level as aCross now, with updating on the race and also a bit on Matt/Raph?
It's rather funny that both enter the realm of personal troubles at a similiar point but I think for both it has been coming a long time now. I love to do the journalism reports myself in aCross the road and it's great to see them here too. I think both stories are somehow tailored for this sort of storytelling. I initially drew a bit inspiration for them from your A Day in the Life story, so I have to thank you.
Edited by Shonak on 27-05-2014 12:38
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 28-05-2014 14:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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jona500 - Yeah, Orica sure surprised us all. OPQS is focused more on GTs in this world, so I'll have to check their COB riders. Matt is struggling right now, so getting a contract isn't easy this way!
Shonak - I'm very happy I was able to inspire you that way inspiring each other seems a nice way to keep the stories grow better |
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