Catalunya started just the way Tour Down Under started for us, Jorge Cristobal Riquelme has a good sprint, but had to settle for a second place behind a strong Bennati. He's looking good for the next stages though!
It halps us to get rid of the disappointement from Dwars Door Vlaanderen, where we had bad luck at the wrong moment. You can't recover form a puncture or crash late in the race. Vanmarcke managed to get a top 10, but we needed a top 5.
Criterium International didn't go much better. We expected a lot from Bauke Mollema, but he just missed the podium. He tried a few times, but in the end it just wasn't good enough.
First, I have some Paris - Nice stages to told you about. I was Belkin's lead sprinter there. Of course, the TT stages and mountain stages shouldn't be mentioned, as always, I failed there. It's just not something I'm good at, and I shouldn't as a sprinter, since I'm not Peter Sagan.
Unfortunately for me, Kittel was there, so my chances of a win were really slim.
So we arrive at stage 2. Hofland gave me a good leadout, but I just felt bad and only got 6th. Stage 3 was a chaos. There was an attack that had to be reeled in, so there was a mix of chasing riders and lead-outs. I couldn't profit from the chaos, I got 5th. Which is still nice, but I hoped for a podium here. Stage 4 was a bit hilly. Chavanel won the sprint, and I got an 11th place. No shame if it was a bit hilly, but Kittel got 2nd for some reason, so I have the right to be disappointed. Stage 5 & 6 were just too tough for me, I didn't finish in the main groups
But then, I finally won a sprint! Stage 7 was a stage were I felt really good. Unfortunately, the peloton wasn't able to get the late attackers reeled in, so it only granted me an 8th place. No need to blame Belkin there, since Ten Dam was in front, finishing 5th.
Mollema finished 6th in the GC, which is good.
Then, I've ridden one of my home races, Volta Limburg Classic.
I had some hopes for the race, also having the home crowd cheering for me. The race was a crazy one though. Even though the race wasn't that hilly, a lot of riders were dropped. In the end, I end up in a group of 13, including 2 helpers. Unfortunately, Iglinsky attacked, and nobody was able to do something.
It got a mass sprint for 2nd place, and Degenkolb was the strongest. I managed to grab our season goal and get 3rd. Finally my form is fully there again!
Right guys, we have this Continental Championships coming up. Personaly I think the idea is ridiculous and the person who invented it should be shot. But it's good for our sponsors of course, so we better ride it. Aussies, you pretty much have no choice, I expect all 4 of you to do the double, road race and Time Trial.
In America, well, that's not much of a choice either. Sorry to say this Jorge, but you'll have to do the time trial to keep our sponsors happy. Don't over do it though, we need you for the road race. I think you have a decent shot at it, you just won't have any support unfortunately. But are you up for it, Jorge?
And then Europe, I know we're in Holland, but I want to give Luis Leon a chance for the time trial as well, together with Lars, Wilko and Stef. For the road race, Sep, Luis Leon, Paul and Lars Petter a chance as well. The track should suit them. Then we have Robert, Bauke, Tom and Lars of course. For the last spot, I was thinking of Willem. It might be a bit hillier then you like, but don't you agree you can give it a try in case it does come to a sprint?
Of course I can give it a try.
I would be delighted to ride those Continental Championships in my own country!
I think the race would be too tough for me, but I can always try to survive. Otherwise, I can try to be a good help for Sanchez or Mollema, or whoever is leading the team Edited by Jesleyh on 14-01-2014 15:20
E3 was our last season goal, we needed a podium there. Our usual cobble squad tried to get it done, with Robert Wagner managing to get in the early breakaway.
But a strong Omega Pharma - Quick step team pulled everyone back. They were confident Tommeke Boonen could make it 3/3 after winning Het Volk and Dwars Door Vlaanderen already. Sep Vanmarcke and Boonen tried to get away just before the final sprint.
But is was no use, as Tom Boonen wins again, who can stop him in Wevelgem?
Well, someone could, as Quick Step suddenly found themselves on the losing end, with no riders in the lead group. It was Maarten Wynants who attacked to put some pressure on the other teams.
BMC leads the chase though, they see a chance with Boonen gone. And when Saxo joins them, the break is doomed with 10 kilometres to go. So Sep Vanmarcke gives it another try!
But the rest brings him back, and one man takes advantage of all this hard labour today: Peter Sagan wins it in the sprint. Sep still manages to get a nice 9th place, Maarten even finishes 8th after a hard day, while Lars Boom just misses the top 10 again, finishing 11th. It wasn't a bad day for us pointwise, but we were hoping on a podium in one of the cobbled classics.
So, we finaly received word from San Luis of what happened there. It would seem our riders partialy redeemed themselves. Kruijswijk and Wagner got some more points for us, and Robert Gesink just managed to get into the top 10 after all. Not bad, but we were expecting a bit more. This does mean we can finaly announce the rider of the month for January and it is..
Willem Brouwer
He started the season so well for us in Gabon, that is wasn't really much of a fight. Runner up is Jorge Cristobal Riquelme, who got a few podiums and a top 10 GC in Tour Down Under. Third is Paul Martens, who also got some nice results in Gabon.
Edited by Ollfardh on 17-01-2014 15:37
We continued in Catalunya, where a strong Laurens Ten Dam managed to get in the breakaway and hang on until the finish for a 5th place! He moves into the top 10 this way, and looks good to bring us some more points. Jorge Cristobal Riquelme also got us another stage top 10 in a sprint.
In the GP Indurain, we were facing strong Spanish teams, as both Movistar and Euskaltel wanted a good results. Anticipating their storng finishers, we sent Juan Manuel Garate in the break.
But he was clearly in a good day, and left his compagnions to go solo. Slagter protected his breakaway and reacted on the favourites' attacks.
But under the kire it was over for the unfortuante Garate. He was overwhelmed, but was still strong enough to a podium spot. Awesome work there, Juan Manuel!
Slagter came in 5th, while Luis Leon Sanchez, Lars Petter Nordhaug and Jorge Cristobal Riquelme all finished with points. A good day for the team!
Edited by Ollfardh on 20-01-2014 14:36
Invitation from Euskaltel - Euskadi [img-r]https://hl2mp.tsgk.com/hlstatsimg/flags/es_states/euskadi.png[/img-r]
To the management and certain riders of Belkin Pro Cycling Team
In our evergoing effort to promote cycling in the "extended Basque country" meaning Euskadi, Navarre and Aquitaine the management of Euskaltel - Euskadi have decided to host a Basque race series taking place with one race in each season break.
That means that someone on your team is eligeable to take part.
Since we respect that riders are bound by their contracts we want you to have the final word in whether or not they may take part They will off course ride in their usual team kit.
The lineup will consist of as many professionals as possible as well as a talent-team from each of the three regions.
The route will vary slightly from race to race but the first edition will be held on the route used for Clásica San Sebastián.
Your eligible riders are: Juan Manuel Gárate
To take part all you have to do is confirm your participation below or by PM.
Sincerely
Alaon Etxeberdea
Manager of Euskaltel - Euskadi
Juan Manuel agrees to join the race, with the following conditions:
- he can wear his Belkin jersey
- full payment for his travel expenses
- injury insurance
- he is acknowledged by the organisation as reigning Basque-Spanish champion, since no Basque won the jersey after him.
Well, the first three are no problem as that was the plan anyway.
The fourth is a lot harder to agree on though. We acknowledge that no Basque have won the jersey since Gárate won it in 2005. The last three editions we have seen Basque silver though and thus we feel that Juan Manuel can't rightly use the Spanish championships to claim that he is the best Basque rider at the moment.
His other chance would have been in the latest race of the region, GP Miguel Indurain, but also there he was beaten by a Basque.
He will be allowed to wear the Spanish stripes on his jersey as the only rider in the peloton if that is any comfort and we will allow him to have first pick of helper should he wish so. More on that will follow later.
As of now the organizers doesn't recognize anyone as reigning Basque champion as all the Basque riders have never face each other in a race without interference from others. After the first race we will acknowledge the leader of the rankings as current Basque champion allowing him to wear a special jersey in the Basque races.
Easy goal: Top 10 Philly Classic
Medium goal: Stage Win Giro d'Italia
Hard goal: Podium Amstel Gold Race
Countered goals:
Easy goal: Top 10 Brabantse Pijl
Medium goal: Youth Jersey Tour of Norway
Hard goal: Podium Ronde van Vlaanderen
Edited by Ollfardh on 23-01-2014 14:05
Thanks for coming, Willem, Jorge and Wilco. Let's call a cow a cow, you guys are or three biggest talents. For that reason, I planned this small meeting. I don't need to tell our older guys what to do, they know how to train and what races they can handle. But for you three, I thought it would be best to discuss it.
Wimpie, you're our sprint star, so we'd like you to keep focussing on those sprints. But you can handle classics as well, so we suggest a training program on flat and endurance. In the, it's up to you of course.
For the next part of the season, you ride the Giro, as promised. Before that, we think Scheldeprijs, Brabantse Pijl, and maybe the Gold Race are races you can handle. Rund um Koln and Philly classic seems good for you as well. Let me know what you think?
Jorge, you're obviously a talented puncheur, so we want you to keep developping in that area. Training on hills, acceleration and endurance could be good for you.
You are scheduled to ride Brabantse Pijl, the Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege as main races. Later on Finanzplatz Frankfurt and Norway maybe? Anything that needs to change?
Finaly Wilco, you're the future of stage racing, so keep training on those mountains and the time trialing. You'll be leading the Giro this year, with Pays Vasco and Romandie as prep races and if you can hold the form long enough, you'll be riding in Suisse as well!
Sounds fair enough at first glimpse.
I'm delighted to ride the Giro, really, can't wait for my first Grand Tour!
Scheldeprijs, Köln & Philly seem races that suit me well. Amstel would be nice to ride as well, though I don't think I'm able to survive those hills.
It's just the Brabantse Pijl that bothers me. I mean, hilly is okay for me, but the race has got several cobbled sections. Those are well, my worst enemy. I don't think I can add a lot to the team.
Also, I love to see Wilco leading the Giro, and I could help him in the hilly stages a bit if you want me to?
At last, have you got any idea on how many race-days I am after part 2, if I follow this schedule?
Ok, we'll leave out Brabantse! I'll calculate your racedays tomorrow.
Wilco is glad with your help of course. Both of you should get adequate helpers to get a good result. We want to go for both stages and GC, in order to get a lot of points.
So Willem, you'd have used 45 racedays then, leaving 17 for your local Eneco Tour and a few classics.
One problem though, Giro overlaps with Kohl, so we have to switch around a bit. You will have to ride Brabantse Pijl after all, but there shouldn't be too many cobbles.
Edited by Ollfardh on 23-01-2014 13:54
We concluded a very successful first season part with some extra points. IN Belgium, it was Lars Boom doing an excellent job in Driedaagse De Panne. With a 3rd place in the final time trial, he grabs a podium in the GC. Well done, Lars!
In Catalunya, Laurens Ten Dam succesfully defended his top 10 in the GC. Unfortunately we have no image of the last stage.
And you already knew about our podiums in Volta Limburg Classic and GP Indurain, so we concluse the first part of the season with only a few wins, but a lot of points. This gives us the second place in the classification so far. Omega Pharma - Quick Step has a good lead, and they'll probably stay there with Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Roubaix coming up. Behind us, we have Team Sky, who should also get a lot of points in the upcoming stage races. But can we hold on for 3rd? We sure hope so, though Movistar and RadioShack are teams to fear as well.
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