Glad you guys like the idea.
Welker and sammyt93 have already sent in some great suggestions and maybe some of you guys have various ideas too?
@Blueprint: Yeah, I really like playing with Euskaltel - Euskadi so far. It's great to go for stage wins especially when they don't come the easy way. Hopefully the stage reports though are still interesting even when Euskaltel riders fail to perform.
Gent - Wevelgem will be up later. Will Ion perform similiar well as he did at E3 Prijs? First gotta take advantage of the sun.
Edited by Shonak on 03-12-2013 13:37
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
@atlanta: I already played quite a bit before I started the thread and went quite fast back then (I just couldn't get enough of the graphics and fast loading times^^). Right now, I play considerable less so that the posting can slowly catch up to the progress in the game. Plus, I "work" at the story quite time-efficient, meaning I write directly into word. Greenshot helps too since it organizes all screenshots for me, which helps at uploading for Photobucket. I could even upload directly every screenshot from Greenshot to Photobucket automatically. It's a great programme, I can only recommend it.
As for Story of the Month: Not sure, but I think I read that stories that start late in November are to be considered as December-stories.
@sutty: Thanks!
@Blueprint: Why's that? You can sent me a PM with your concerns if you want to. For me it'd a story-based way of bringing traditional Tour aspects into the race without changing the stats of the riders permanently. Basically or actually, it'd just be the package of daily, predetermind database-editing to make the Tour more interesting and "realistically".^^
Edited by Shonak on 03-12-2013 16:52
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Katu and I take the over-night train to Gent from Barcelona. We have to switch the train several times but we make it in the morning. I got some sleep, I finish my article on the Time Trial in Catalunya. There is still one race day left today, but I will catch up on it when Gent – Wevelgem is over.
Listed as the second World Tour cobblestone race of the season, Gent – Wevelgem is a well-known classic. Although the 230 kilometer long road is for the most part flat, it features some charastic steep hills, who are also paved with cobblestone. The Kemmelberg has been a war battlefield in the past and more often than not, the fights between the best of the world feature only slightly less hard pain. Gent – Wevelgem is usual a race that gets decided more on the way riders approach the race rather than the parcour itself. It can end in mass sprints as well as solo-breakaways. Even a classic sprinter like Mario Cipollini won the race three times. All northern specialists are on the start on this famous race and are willing to give their best in order to win. Favourites include three times winner Tom Boonen, Peter Sagan, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Kristoff and many other riders who are capable on dominating a cobblestonerace as well as a bunch print. Riders like Cancellara or Flecha usually only stand a chance when they attack from far out. The race also serves as the last real test on World Tour level, where the cobbleexperts can improve their expertise against their opponents on the cobblestone before the circuit hits the Monuments Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.
After strong showings at E3 Prijs, Euskaltel – Euskadi want to help Ion Izagirre as best they can. There possibilites are limited and the best way is to get someone into a break to help later on. But BMC must be the new archnemeis of the basque team as they constanlty reel in any attempts of the orange boys to get away. Funnily enough, the only attempt that succeeds, is one, where no Euskaltel rider is featured. But well, two can play that game and we’ll see each other again in the high mountains of the Grand Tours. Just don’t expect any support from our side then. But maybe I’m just looking to stirr up some good old-fashioned hatred amongst professional teams, who knows? ; - )
As all Euskaltel riders have no chance, the team instead focuses on supporting Ion as good as they can until the hills & cobbles are hit. Certainly they should be more help this time around since Gent – Wevelgem doesn’t feature so many insufferable cobbles as E3 Prijs.
It`s a wonderful sunny, warm day as the break hits the first vicius cobbled hill, Casselberg. Bennati, Visconti & Co. have some serious time on the peloton, but it’s likely that will change. BMC have meanwhile understood that chasing every single breakaway attempt is just really stupid and ride a slow pace up front with Omega Pharma.
Izagirre looking good so far with his teammates around him. The uphills of these cobbled parts may be where the pain is, but the cobbled downhills brings the danger into this race. Thankfully, it doesn’t rain today. Devolder (RTL) and Greipel (LTB) meanwhile broke out of the peloton. Devolder certainly looks like in great shape and wants to do even better than his 4th place at E3 Prijs two days prior.
A crowded peloton heads into the Kemmelberg for the first time today…
Just because it doesn’t rain, one has to be still careful on this dangerous downhills. Even the most refined specialist for such a race. Terprstra tries to get as fast as possible back on the bike, while riders dodge around him and the peloton splits itself over the incredible descent. Thankfully he doesn’t seem to be seriously injured.
Only at the end of the downhill, one can truly get a grip on the difference the Kemmelberg caused. And surprise, surprise, three riders of Euskaltel – Euskadi are keeping their cool up front with all these high calibers of the high northern art of cobblestone racing. No need to worry though for any favourites, since the chasing groups will surely catch up to the 40 man strong peloton as soon as the Baneberg hits the riders – but will they have enough time to fight for a good position? There got some great riders trapped back there and now try to find a way back into the peloton, such as Flecha, Sagan, Vanmarcke, Boom and Turgot.
Just in the last possible moment, the chasing group catches up to the peloton, which is paced by Omega-Pharma. Sagan, Turgot & Vanmarcke must be relieved and now have to get back up front ASAP.
Nope, Sagan & Co. don’t succeed, as Stybar truly crushes down the hill in a ferocious manner and there are only 29 riders left in this group. Maybe through good teamwork Sagan, Flecha & Co. can come back, but will it be enough to catch the riders upfront? Devolder has smelled his chance and sets himself apart from the breakaway and now rides all on his own against the chasing pack of the Omega Pharma & Lotto Belisol grunts.
Tom Boonen, Cancellara, Paolini & Roelandts attack… aaaand Izagirre. This leaves BMC do all the chasing, while Urtasun and Kocjan can finally rest take it a bit slower, as they are no longer needed. They have done a formidable job at protecting their leader today. Only two minutes for Devolder, it’s getting close for the belgian rider with still 25 kilometers left.
How the hell did Sagan get into this group? I was sure he was dropped for good at the Kemmelberg, but no, the incredible talent attacks with 20 kilometers to go. This attack has some serious punch in it. Devolder has only 1 minute left. The attack from Boonen & Co. (and Izagirre) didn't last long unfortunately.
Numerous attacks by any of the favourites, and none of them is successful. Izagirre lacks the rouleur skills for such a finish, but maybe he can bet on Boonen. But that guy will surely outsprint him in a couple of seconds. Maybe Cancellara is a more interesting backwheel… oh no, wait, Boonen is on Cancellara’s wheel, who in turn sticks to Langeveld…
Not much left to say as the swiss Radioshack duo Rast and Cancellara open up the sprint next to each other. In a matter of seconds Izagirre has lost his good place behind Boonen in the last curve, leading up to the finish. Now he tries to stay behind one of these guys.
There will be no stopping Roelandts now. The belgian rider is faster than anybody else (and had Boonen’s backwheel) and just outsprints in incredible fashion everybody else. Behind him are Ladagnous (FDJ) and Van Avermaet (BMC). Tom Boonen only ranks 5th, Sagan 6th. Ion Izagirre arrives with the main group and gets 19th in the sprint.
Roelandts can’t believe it and decides to hug the reporter in the interview. Although the team is pleased with Ion’s performance and his very aware riding style, which saved some energy & nerves along the way, I say to Katu later, that “we obviously failed to ride more aggressively and take the initiative in our hands. I mean, we didn’t even try. All I have is pictures of our riders in the peloton, getting some tan, hoping to stay in the peloton for the sprint. I feel like I write about Argos Shimano.”
Katu just laughs at me, brushes me off. “This is a great result. What do you except? That Ion gets Top 5 after getting dropped two days prior in E3 Prijs by everyone?”
It’s not that, I say, “It’s that the team tried to play it safe and gained nothing except for a Top 20 place no one really cares about. It’s Gent – Wevelgem for sake, it’s not like stories are made here with a Top 20 ranking.”
“I care about it”, Katu replies and maybe that’s enough for Euskaltel.
“But we hid like mices.”
“There are just races like that, and than there are races were everything is orange. They will come again”, he says. I am looking forward to them.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shonak wrote:
@Blueprint: Why's that? You can sent me a PM with your concerns if you want to. For me it'd a story-based way of bringing traditional Tour aspects into the race without changing the stats of the riders permanently. Basically or actually, it'd just be the package of daily, predetermind database-editing to make the Tour more interesting and "realistically".^^
Concerns is a big word for it! I'm just not a fan of manipulating the DB too much during a career and I prefer realism. Surprising things will happen anyway, based on daily form, race tactics, breakaways etc... No need to force anything
Anyway, it's your career, so please do what you want.
Ah, I see. Well, we will see how it comes at the Tour de France in the end. Maybe all these editing sucks the fun out of it very fast and I cancel the whole idea. Or maybe I get tired of it already before the start of the Tour, who knows. I think it'd be a nice change for once though and adds a little fun to the story. Of course, you are right in terms that the TdF usually offers quite some surprises on itself and that there's no reason to force anything. The intention and mechanics behind the trading cards don't imply that a rider automatically wins a stage though, I just try to implement certain characteristics of riders and I could see it therefor bringing another realism to the game.
@sutty: Yeah, after E3 Prijs he showed another great performance.
X, the narrator of the story, wasn't so happy about the lack of attacking though but I think he still got some nice enough pictures for his articles.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Thanks Ian. Yeah, Roelandts was clearly the strongest today, that sprint was flawless by him.
I am playing Giro a bit right now, one or two stages a day and geez, playing a Grand Tour for a story, sure is something different than the normal playing of a Grand Tour. I'm messing up quite bit, things ain't easy for Samu at the Giro.
Posting schedule: Later today, final stage of Volta Catalunya, tomorrow the great Ronde van Vlaanderen and then FINALLY Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, Euskaltel's home race. Edited by Shonak on 04-12-2013 14:51
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Since we are heading with big steps towards two of the most important races of the season (Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris - Roubaix) and beyond doubt the first really important stage race this season for Euskaltel in particular (País Vasco), let us finish up Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya for good and put in some Criterium International for the fun of it.
____________________________
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, March 2013
Stage 7
The last stage of the Tour of Catalunya is on and for Euskaltel – Euskadi it’s all about bringing home the mountain jersey. Since no riders featured in the breakaway have scored mountain points yet, it’s pretty clear that Izagirre just needs to get home. Mikel Landa is in the break. The stage, which only features 124 kilometer, has an enormous high pace from the get-go. It’s already tough to get a breakaway and although 13 riders are in it, the group doesn’t manage to get further away from the peloton than 3 minutes. As they go into the two last hills, the breakaway powers itself out in order to at least maintain the little distance they have. Another evidence for the ridiculious high pace: Once Sáez de Arrengi (EUS) got dropped really, really early on, he never mentioned to get back, although he truly tried hard.
40 kilometers to go, Landa gets his last bottle for the day. There are many riders in the group who will best him in a possible sprint like Felline (AND),Siskevicius (SOJ), Jarc (TNE), Hofland (BEL), D. Vanendert (LTB) or Lander (BMC). He will have to try his luck at this climb or the next… but the pace set by the peloton by FDJ and VCD is so high, it’s unimaginable that there will be a breakaway win today.
The first two riders are dropped by the fighting breakaway. We can see FDJ and VCD doing some serious damage to the peloton as well.
Madrazo (MOV), Ludvigsson (ARG) and Landa (EUS) take their chance and try to break themselves free from the sprinters. Of course, why should they pull them up the hill when they won’t stand a chance in the sprint? The peloton is about 1 minute to 1’30’’ away. 10 kilometers to go.
Spilak (KAT) chases the breakaway? No, he chases Contador, 2nd overall, who attacked together with Garzelli (VIN) and Kessiakoff (AST) in the on-going confusion behind in the peloton. Izagirre struggles a bit, he really has to fight for his 9th rank overall now. Up front, Landa couldn’t hold his pace and lost the leader group with Ludvissgon and Madrazo and is now back with the other breakaway.
Madrazo (MOV) is the first to come out of the tunnel, 3 kilometers ahead of the finish. He dropped Ludvigsson, just like he dropped Landa. 15 kilometers to his former partners, and nearly a minute to the peloton, where Contador & Co. got caught in the downhill.
Finetto (VIN) is the strongest and the one with the most reserved energy after this extremely high-paced stage. Bazayev (AST) and Felline (AND) complete the last stage podium of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2013. Mikel Landa didn’t have much energy left after his failed attack at the last small hill and got caught by some riders of the peloton just ahead of the finish line. A 12th rank is still okay, considering the status he was in at the end.
Stage result:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Mauro Finetto
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
3h06'48
2
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
3
Fabio Felline
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
4
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
6
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
7
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
8
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Evaldas Siskevicius
Sojasun
s.t.
10
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 51
Spoiler
11
Matthew Busche
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
12
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
14
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
15
Juan José Lobato
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
16
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
s.t.
17
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
18
Koen De Kort
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
19
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
20
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
21
Arthur Vichot
FDJ
s.t.
22
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
23
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
24
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
25
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
Final Classification:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
21h07'43
2
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 16
3
Vasil Kiryienka
Sky Procycling
+ 37
4
David López
Sky Procycling
+ 2'02
5
Matthew Busche
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2'14
6
Rigoberto Urán
Sky Procycling
+ 2'24
7
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2'26
8
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team
+ 2'31
9
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'35
10
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'42
Spoiler
11
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2'43
12
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team
+ 2'45
13
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2'55
14
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
+ 2'59
15
Stefano Garzelli
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3'00
16
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+ 3'03
17
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 3'04
18
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
+ 3'06
19
Miguel Rubiano
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 3'12
20
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 3'16
21
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
+ 3'23
22
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 3'27
23
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
24
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'01
25
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Sharp
+ 4'25
26
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
+ 4'37
27
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'58
28
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
+ 5'02
29
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5'04
30
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team
+ 5'08
31
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 5'18
32
Mads Christensen
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 5'31
33
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
+ 5'37
34
Koen De Kort
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 5'59
35
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 6'10
36
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Sharp
+ 6'11
37
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
+ 6'12
38
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 6'17
39
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 6'26
40
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
+ 6'38
41
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'40
42
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 6'44
43
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team
+ 6'47
44
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'50
45
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
+ 7'00
46
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
+ 7'03
47
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 7'07
48
Jens Voigt
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 7'12
49
Manuele Boaro
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 7'17
50
Maxime Monfort
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 7'24
Point Jersey: Simon Spilak (KAT)
Mountain jersey: Gorka Izagirre (EUS)
U25: Diego Ulissi (LAM)
Team classification: SKY Procycling Team
I think Euskaltel – Euskadi can be happy with the showings at this Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. A stage win, the mountain jersey and a 9th rank overall, all by Gorka Izagirre, is a pretty good final result for a team, that went with no exceptations and no real leader into this race. Our usual domestiques took a chance to show themselves and Euskaltel – Euskadi riders were featured in many breakaways throughout the race. Plus, the form is definitely there, so we should be eager to score even better results at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco next week. Spilak’s win for Katusha ends a great week for the russian. Next to his overall win, he won two stages of the Catalunya Tour and his teammate Paolini won E3 Prijs. Certainly a week they won’t forget so fast.
Criterium International, Stage 3, March 2013
The french 3-day stage race features something for everybody but of that quite little. A flat stage is for sprinters, a Time Trial for any specialist of this kind and a mountain stage finishes the race off to determine the overall winner. After a strong Time Trial, Egoi Martínez is currently 21st overall. 17 seconds behind overall leader Roy (FDJ), he hopes to deliver on another surprise today, after his 3rd place overall at Tirreno – Adriatico. However, except for him, the team is still building up its form and it is merely a build-up race for many others. His most important helpers for this tough mountain stage will probably be Azanza and Vrecer.
Also, there’s something tough competition in the Criterium Internationl, especially by the french. Sandy Casar, winner of the Tour Méditerranéen, hopes to cash in on another victory, Thibaut Pinot did a good time Trial, and Pierre Rolland, 23 seconds, is certainly a rider for this stage too. Other french riders who have a shot might be Geniez, Voeckler or Riblon. Atapuma is the only non-french rider, who could be listed as a favourite on this stage. Some class, but the odds are definitely not too bad for Martínez.
Especially the start of the race was very hectic and many contintantel teams tried to get some one in the break. The pace from FDJ was too high though that any group managed an succeesfull attempts. Several kilometers into the race, 8 riders finally broke loose though, amongst them is Vrecer, who is seeing in this picture riding down. They are soon to hit the next to two climbs. It’d be too early to tryp to drop the weaker climbers in this group, since a long downhill and flat part, leading up to the final mountain, can be tough on your own.
Herrada (MOV) attacks together with several other riders. Tommy Voeckler is with them at the end of the group. If he can get enoughtime on the peloton, he is a definitely a favourite for the win.
Over the Col de Mela, many riders had to drop, as it started to rain. FDJ paces the peloton now pretty hard up the Col de Balcinu, as they don’t want Tommy Voeckler (EUC) too far away. This isn’t good for Vrecer either as they lose time on the peloton, but at least Martínez looks pretty good today. Azanza is soon the only helper left in the peloton with him though.
Tommy Voeckler has caught up to Vrecer, who decided not to sprint for the mountain points. Voeckler and Herrada crush down the downill as they are soon to catch up to the breakaway up front. In the back, one can already see the FDJ riders in the rain.
15 kilometers of ascent are ahead of us. The group with Voeckler got caught, but the initial breakaway still survives up there. Probably not for long as Atapuma is the first to attack. Followed by Riblon and Berhane (EUC). Their attacks don’t bring much though, as the peloton only gets closer to the breakaway. When the gradient quickly rises, Riblon attacks again but his performance is equaled by the chasing of Pinot, Geniez and Casar, who apparently work for Roy, who’s in the leader’s jersey.
Numerous attacks fail, as the pace of Pinot and Geniez is just too high. Martínez bids his time upfront, while Azanza gets dropped – together with Voeckler (EUC) and Riblon (ALM), who now have to suffer for their previous attacks.
5 kilometers to go and Atapuma looks to defeat FDJ with their own tactics as he increases further the pace. Martínez struggles back there.
Atapuma attacks in this serpentine. Clearly the strongest climber today. Martínez managed to recover a bit and is in 2nd place of the chasers. FDJ look like they are done for now, or they conserve energy for a strong finsih.
Atapuma takes the stage win for Colombia. The FDJ pack nearly caught up to thim but he was definitely the one with the most energy left as he dominates this race. This also means that he wins the Overall Classification of Criterium International.
Martínez showed another good performance and managed to keep up with the group of favourites as long as possible. Unfortunately he wasn’t too strong in the sprint, but he managed to keep better climbers behind him and advanded a few ranks up the overall classification. He finishes 9th overall.
Stage results:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia
4h56'11
2
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
s.t.
3
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ
s.t.
4
Yoann Bagot
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
5
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 16
6
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 25
7
Rémi Pauriol
Sojasun
s.t.
8
Natnael Berhane
Team Europcar
s.t.
9
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
10
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
s.t.
Spoiler
[table]11 Jurgen Van Goolen Accent Jobs - Wanty s.t.
12 Fabrice Jeandesboz Sojasun s.t.
13 Philip Deignan UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team + 1'12
14 Christophe Riblon AG2R La Mondiale + 2'22
15 Geoffroy Lequatre Bretagne - Séché Environnement s.t.
16 Pierre Rolland Team Europcar s.t.
17 David Le Lay Sojasun s.t.
18 Anthony Roux FDJ + 2'46
19 Ignatas Konovalovas MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
20 Stéphane Rossetto BigMat - Auber 93 + 3'05
21 Jorge Azanza Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'41
22 Francis Mourey FDJ + 5'05
23 Louis Meintjes MTN - Qhubeka + 7'18
24 Tsgabu Grmay MTN - Qhubeka + 8'08
25 Daniel Navarro Cofidis, Solutions Crédits s.t.[/table]
Overall classification final:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia
6h39'03
2
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
+ 6
3
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ
+ 7
4
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 15
5
Yoann Bagot
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 17
6
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
+ 25
7
Jurgen Van Goolen
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 40
8
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 41
9
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
10
Natnael Berhane
Team Europcar
+ 42
Spoiler
11
Rémi Pauriol
Sojasun
+ 47
12
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Sojasun
+ 54
13
Philip Deignan
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'32
14
Geoffroy Lequatre
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 2'28
15
David Le Lay
Sojasun
+ 2'38
16
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'41
17
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 2'44
18
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 2'50
19
Ignatas Konovalovas
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 2'53
20
Stéphane Rossetto
BigMat - Auber 93
+ 3'19
21
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'09
22
Francis Mourey
FDJ
+ 5'41
23
Louis Meintjes
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 7'32
24
Ryan Roth
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'22
25
Nicolas Vogondy
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 8'23
Points: Jerémy Roy (FDJ)
Mountain: Wilson Marentes (COL)
U25: Atapuma (COL)
Now before Ronde van Vlaanderen, País Vasco and Paris – Roubaix are up, the team rides three more small one-day races. Amongs them is the GP Indurain, where Samu Sanchez gets 4th, Ion Izagirre 6th and Mikel Landa 10th. A real surprise is Volta Limburg Classic, where Lobato takes the stage win in the mass sprint ahead of Thor Hushovd and Nikias Arndt. A great result for our best basque sprinter and a fantastic way to finish off the overall very successful March season and head with encouraged spirits into the classic clash of April.
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Fun Note of the day: I have now finished & completely posted my first word-document of Euskaltel - Euskadi. Since I always have the pictures saved in it, it has a size of 500 MB. Edited by Shonak on 04-12-2013 18:07
Thanks guys. Yeah, really surprised by Lobato since he hasn't shown much so far into the season. But that's probably due to my style of playing whih doesn't very suit sprinters. Izagirre and Martínez both have done more than good. Very pleased with them so far, which I can't say about every rider at Euskaltel.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
