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Team B&O | Congrats Alex
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 06-12-2012 16:23
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World Champion
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Loyalty is a virtue, says Metinvest CEO
When asked by the ukrainian press about the Team B&O respond to Grivko's situation, creator of Team Metinvest-Emirates Ruslan Popov said:
I always admired riders, who are giving everything to their team and Andrei Grivko is the example of loyalty. Thus we understand the attitude of both Grivko and his team managment. Helping to the Tour victory is something every rider should be watching for. Even more when it is best east European, who should be helped to the title.
Andrei is spectacular rider and he will ever have open doors at Metinvest, anytime he feels he fulfiled his role in Team B&O.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 07-12-2012 05:58
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| niconico |
Posted on 09-12-2012 22:07
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Grand Tour Specialist
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A Tribute
Edvald Boasson Hagen
An Era ended today. Sunday, December 9. From this date on Edvald Boasson Hagen will no longer wear the golden colours of Team B&O.
Hagen was a pivotal figure of the team that set off in 2008 with the ambition of taking in young, raw talent and making them into the best cyclists on the planet. Edvald Boasson Hagen is a result of that philosophy.
His first year at Team B&O (Maxbo Bianchi then) was about learning. Hagen didn't manage to grab a win on the Continental Tour, but won a stage at the Tour de l'Avenir with the season culmunating with his Gold Medal at U23 World Championships.
After Winter the big Norwegian was back. The team had a new sponsor in Bang & Olufsen and Hagen was roaring on all cylinders along with the rest of the team. The team outclassed the rest and took a dominating first place at Continental level and qualified for the ProTour. Boasson Hagen also had a very good season winning 4 Days at Dunkirk, GP Kanton Aargau, Tour de Slovenie and 2nd Overall at the Basque Tour.
Hagen pipping Vitor Rodriques on the line at GP Kanton Aargau
First season at the ProTour was a good one. Edvald finished on the podium in both Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Fleche Wallone along with stage wins at Tour de Suisse and Basque Tour. It was a breakthrough for the Norwegian who always has been known for his immense strenght in the hilly one-day races. Only thing Hagen now needed was to stand at the top of the podium in the Ardennes.
Hagen punching the pedals at La Doyenne in 2010.
That elusive win would come the following year of 2011. In the first of the three Ardennes Classics, Amstel Gold Race, Boasson Hagen emerged from the top to beat Jan Bakelants at the top of Cauberg. It was the biggest win of the Norwegians career. He did well in Liege-Bastogne-Liege finishing 7th and in the latter part of the season he claimed two stage wins at the Deutschland Tour and a 4th Place at the Giro di Lombardia.
Amstel Gold Race 2011 - still the climax of Hagen's career.
2011 was an amazing season for Hagen and the team was banking on him to grab a new Ardennes victory. Hagen did go strong at Fleche Wallone where he finished 4th crossing the line as the first after a break had managed to stay clear and fight for the win. Amstel Gold Race gave a 5th Place for Hagen while another 7th Place was the ultimate gain at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. But the truth of Hagen's season was bad luck and poor results. Crashing at Tirreno-Adriatico and sub-par performance at the Basque Tour began the raising voices of the critics. Hagen couldn't put a decent ride together eventhough he finally grabbed a win at the FBD Eire Tour and the Norwegian Championships.
However still a dissapointing year for the Norwegian, who had to think about his future after finishing the season with 9th Place at Giro di Lombardia.
Latest win in the career of Hagen came on home soil at the Nationals.
Rumours had already begun circulating that the team wished to part ways with Hagen in an attempt to revive his career and switching it's focus to stage races. This culminated in Hagen officially issuing a statement saying he was leaving the team in the 2012 Off-season.
A few days into the transfer season his future was already settled. Edvald Boasson Hagen's agent revealed that Hagen was going home to Norway. Aker-MOT promoted from the Continental Tour in 2012 and was therefor a logic switch for Hagen, who parted ways with Team B&O on December 9, 2012.
No doubt Edvald Boasson Hagen has been one of the most influential and important riders in the lineup throughout his five season in the team.
We wish him all the best with his new team. Ride on!
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| niconico |
Posted on 11-12-2012 16:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Team B&O strenghten time trial corps
The transfer season climaxed yesterday for Team B&O when Hagen with much drama, was landed by Aker - MOT after Venchi and Festina made improved offers.
Today the team has brought in two riders that will most likely be riding the Tour de France for the team, since the Team Time Trial is back in France. The two danes Brian Vandborg and Michael Mørkøv has been brought into the team after they both spent the 2012 Season without a team. Vandborg who formerly was with Festina is a multiple Danish Time Trial Champion, while Michael Mørkøv, who previously rode under the colours of the former Spyker Cars team, comes from the track and will be an asset to the team's hopes for some good time trial performances in 2013.
"Vandborg will definitely be in the Tour. He is brought into the team as our oldest and most experienced rider for the coming season and he will be very important for us in the Tour. Mørkøv might also feature as we might need him for the TTT to set up Pluchkin the best way possible."
Team B&O have already confirmed Pluchkin, Keinath, Grivko, Vandborg, Christensen and Steensen for Le Tour.
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| niconico |
Posted on 16-12-2012 17:54
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Magnus Cort Nielsen signs, Aistrup returns on loan deal
Final deal has been made this transfer season. A few days ago Magnus Cort Nielsen signed a contract with Team B&O. The young dane is dubbed to become a very good stage racer in the future and the team manager expressed his satisfaction the following way:
"I'm glad, but surprised that we could sign Nielsen that cheap. In my eyes he is a great talent with potential to accomplish big things in stage races."
Magnus Cort Nielsen has already been handed a loan deal with the Swedish team Swedbank-PEAB.
"We got a very good offer from Swedbank-PEAB swapping Nielsen and Nikola Aistrup for the 2013 season. We even recieved a small compensation to balance our budget. Nikola has been in the team earlier and he is a very solid guy in the flat and he will come in handy in flat stages this coming year."
Nikola Aistrup was part of the 2009 Team B&O setup that won the Continental Tour and promoted to the ProTour. He was signed in 2008 and left after three season in 2010.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 15:04
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-12-2012 18:14
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World Champion
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Can't wait to see what your team will look like after trainings 
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| niconico |
Posted on 16-12-2012 18:20
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Grand Tour Specialist
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SotD wrote:
Can't wait to see what your team will look like after trainings
Well ony two riders will be trained, for a very large sum of money though 
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-12-2012 18:31
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World Champion
Posts: 12188
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Nice 
I guess Pluchkin and Keinath then
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| niconico |
Posted on 16-12-2012 18:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
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SotD wrote:
Nice
I guess Pluchkin and Keinath then
Right you are
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| SotD |
Posted on 16-12-2012 18:38
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World Champion
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Pluchkin will have to win a GT next season then!
And Keinath will top 10 in one - Probably the Giro Unless you have decided to make him a top hilly rider, which I couldn't think
Next year will be very very interesting for you with Guldhammer, Keinath and Pluchkin all at top top level. This season will be difficult I reckon, since you don't have any top sprinters, cobblers or hilly riders - Or TT'ers... But winning a GT is probably also enough to secure a decent position.
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| niconico |
Posted on 16-12-2012 18:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
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SotD wrote:
Pluchkin will have to win a GT next season then!
And Keinath will top 10 in one - Probably the Giro Unless you have decided to make him a top hilly rider, which I couldn't think
Next year will be very very interesting for you with Guldhammer, Keinath and Pluchkin all at top top level. This season will be difficult I reckon, since you don't have any top sprinters, cobblers or hilly riders - Or TT'ers... But winning a GT is probably also enough to secure a decent position.
Hit the nail on its head there! Pluchkin for Le Tour, Keinath is in the Giro while Guldhammer is going to La Vuelta. That will be the plan for 2014 aswell I think.
I think you're right this season will be difficult, but I still think a Top 10 is a possibility.
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| niconico |
Posted on 17-12-2012 22:11
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Vandborg relishing Tour de France opportunity
Team B&O's recent signing Brian Vandborg is brought in to assist the team in the important TTT of the Tour de France next season. Being an experienced rider and a multiple ex-Danish TT Champion, he knows his way around the discipline and is embracing the opportunity of being on the winning team in the 2013 Tour de France. In an interview with CyclingNews, he had the following to say about his Team B&O future:
"It's a big leap in the right direction for me. Last season I couldn't secure a contract hence missing out on a lot of action in 2012. I have kept myself sharp though and I think that has paid dividends now with B&O tying down this contract with me."
(...)
"It's a huge opportunity for me being in the same team as Alex Pluchkin, who in my eyes is the absolute favourite to win next year's Tour de France. Helping him win the greatest race on earth would be a big privilege and definitely the highlight of my career."
Brian Vandborg has previously been with the current Festina-Canal+ team.
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| niconico |
Posted on 23-12-2012 14:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
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"We are very confident and looking forward"
The Cycling world gasped the day Edvald Boasson Hagen left Team B&O. The Norwegian has scored many victories over the years at the Danish team and a lot of experts has since critisized the departure of the strong Norwegian, dubbing the move "unfortuneate for Team B&O's future ProTour existence". However the team manager feels he has the perfect team.
"Letting Eddy [Boasson Hagen] go was a difficult decision, but it was always the plan. We announced a year ago that we will focus on stage races and be the most dominant team in that aspect of cycling. The points Hagen would score doesn't worry me. Nico Keinath is getting stronger each year and he finally looks set to take on a Top 10 GT Challenge. The Giro fits him perfectly this year with loads of time trial kilometres and less climbing. If you look at the Top 10 last season, David Arroyo finished inside it. Keinath will be able to climb with riders of his calibre this season, and then add his tempo capabilities I'm very confident on his behalf. Also his home tour Deutschland Tour is back on the program and he could mount a podium challenge in that race."
The manager also took some time talking about Rasmus Guldhammer who is riding the Vuelta this season.
"Rasmus is turning into a strong climber with a decent ability in time trials. Top 10 for him is too optimistic, but with a bit of luck he could go Top 15 and score some valuable points. Then there's Pluchkin of course, who I feel is the best stage racer in the sport today. He can win the Tour de France. There's not a shred of doubt in my mind."
Overall the team manager is so pleased with the composition of his team that he refers to it as "perfect".
"Sure we have a lot of spare wage cap, but Keinath is also riding on a low wage contract as far as his capabilities go. We also have some great domestiques both for mountains, time trials and the flat. Guys like Grivko, Hacecký, Vandborg, Arndt, Kwiatkowski, Kruijswijk, Klemme, Steensen and Christensen are a fantastic corps of riders to back up our leaders. Considering what I wanted to do with this team, it has turned out perfect."
With a lot of potential succes in stage races, the team's goal of a Top 10 finish in the ProTour does not seem unlikely at all.
Nico Keinath won stage 13 of last year's Vuelta a España.
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 04-01-2013 23:37
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Sprinter
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Looks like Pluchkin will be in just about every race that Amador will be in, excluding the Ardennes. Fortunately though, my goals are only top-10 for most of them, so go ahead and win them
Looking forward to watching the Tour though, I think Pluchkin may have a real shot at winning it if things go your way.
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| niconico |
Posted on 21-01-2013 22:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Klemme starts off season decently
The new season is underway and Team B&O has shown their colours. The one-day season opener was held at the 2008 Chinese Olympic circuit Badaling and the race featured big guns like Schleck, Bakelants, Cunego and ex-Team B&O Hagen.
Brian Vandborg was very alert in the initiating phase of the race, but in spite of several tries couldn't get clear of the pack. It came down to a dash to the line amongst the favourites, with Cunego pulling the longest straw. The now former B&O captain Edvald Boasson Hagen took 2nd place.
Best B&O rider was Domenik Klemme who finished in 18th and secured the team's first points of the season. Andriy Grivko finished 31st.
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| niconico |
Posted on 08-02-2013 22:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
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Captains gearing up for three race week
Team B&O has had a quiet but decent start to the 2013 season. Following Badaling and a good result from Klemme, the team managed to finish 5th in the Teams Classification of the Tour of Qatar to stay clear of the bottom four of the team rankings. Chronos des Herbiers was not completely up to expectations performance wise, but still the team is not sitting in the dreaded relagation zone.
Coming up are the three one week stage races, Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico and Volta a Catalunya.
Nico Keinath did very well in the the race to the sun [Paris-Nice] last season finishing 6th and winning the U25 Competition. He will be back this season hoping to improve even further.
In Tirreno-Adriatico Rasmus Guldhammer gets a tast of what's coming to him in the future. That is captaincy. Being the race with the fewest ITT kilometres and very hilly on top of that it should suit the Danish climber quite well.
Onto the last of them, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. This was one of the three stage races Aleksandr Pluchkin won last season and he will be back for this year's edition aswell hoping to reclaim his overall honours.
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| niconico |
Posted on 30-07-2013 14:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Pluchkin can take yellow, says Guldhammer
An anonymous season so far has only given Team B&O two race wins, both stage wins from team captain Pluchkin.
The focal point for the team is as ever the Tour de France and the Moldovan team leader is sitting nicely in the GC before the ITT in stage 7. The team's Danish lieutenant Rasmus Guldhammer who sits in 4th Place ahead of the time trial feels certain that his captain can take the yellow jersey and maybe even hold onto it.
"Losing a minute on Cunego of course complicates things, but Pluchkin big force is his advantage in the time trials compared to his opponents Cunego and even Madrazo. Cunego is not a bad time trialist for sure, but it's an almost 40-kilometres time trial and Alex should be able to finally get his hands on one of those yellow jerseys. If he does then he is my favourite to win this race."
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| niconico |
Posted on 02-08-2013 15:24
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Pluchkin takes over yellow jersey in time trial
It took a total of 91 stages of Le Tour de France but finally Alex Pluchkin has conquered the yellow jersey for the first time in team history.
In a hard fought battle against Damiano Cunego and Angel Madrazo, the strong Moldovan rode just hard enough rise up from 3rd to overall leader by a mere fraction of a second.
"Incredible, the biggest thing so far in my cycling career without comparison. I have won three stages here earlier but being able wear the most coveted yellow jersey in the world of cycling is just amazing."
Although a huge thing for the team captain he was well aware that he now has the opportunity of a lifetime to go all the way in yellow.
"There's still two hard weeks left, the hardest weaks I have ever seen in this race and it is going to be immensely tough to hang on to this. Cunego is not done by any stretch and Angel is possibly the strongest climber in this race. I know who I have to look out for and those two are not the only ones. Right now morale is through the roof of course and 'i know I stand a big chance!"
Cunego is sitting in second place just a fraction of a second by Pluchkin, with Madrazo 16 seconds back.
Ride on Alex! We know you can do it!
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| niconico |
Posted on 04-08-2013 11:35
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Pluchkin extends overall lead with big win
After barely claiming the leaders jersey in the time trial before the first rest day Alex Pluchkin responded strongly in the following stage as he outsprinted Andrey Amador and Andy Schleck at the finish line in the race's first mountain top finish.
It was Pluchkin's fourth ever stage win in the race, but undoubtly the most beautiful wearing the yellow jersey. He now leades Cunego with 20 seconds in 2nd Place and Madrazo in 3rd Place with 36 seconds. Next stage also features a tough mountain top finish before a couple of transitional stages.
Ride on Pluchkin!
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| niconico |
Posted on 14-08-2013 19:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Relegation fear following Pluchkin Tour travesty
Pluchkin looked very much set to challenge for the overall win in the Tour de France before a puncture in stage 13 ruined his chances dropping him from yellow jersey wearer to 11th in the GC.
His biggest rivals had not been able to rattle the Moldovan before the puncture that costed the B&O Captain six minutes and his hopes of a finally winning Le Grande Boucle.
Now the press are voicing concerns regarding B&O's ability to stay at ProTour level. With a lot riding on this race it would be a big blow for Pluchkin to finish outside the Top 5.
The team's second GC rider Nico Keinath still has Tour of Colombia and his home tour in Germany to race, so hopefully he can salvage the team a ProTour spot come the end of the season.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 14-08-2013 19:57
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World Champion
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I really really like your team as it is exactly what I was aiming for when I applied for a ManGame spot, but I fear that puncture was one of the last nails in your coffin...
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