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Joel Wallin | Finished
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 12-02-2014 20:45
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Shonak: Gunnar is a solid all-rounder, but he is also planned to peak early, so it's hard to say how things will pan out over teh season.
Considering that it was Joels only 2nd race day of the year and that he doesn't really have a history of performing on cobbles I'd say he did very well to finish where he did after having spent a lot of time en energy in the break
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 13-02-2014 10:00
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 Vuelta a Mallorca
Thanks to our Spanish climber Grijalba we have been invited to a bunch of Spanish races. For the first one the entire team was invited to Mallorca by the management.
8 riders to actually race and the rest of us to get some training done in a less hostile environment than the Swedish winter. So generally we planned our training in a way so we could see some of the key spots in the race and we were given live coverage from the team car of what happened.
Stage 1 was a short one where Gunnar got a fine 7th place behind Galimzyanov after Nordberg provided him with a very good leadout. Apparently a good few of the profiles lost time due to a crash in the finish. Grijalba got home safe though.
On stage 2 Johan Nystrand went in the break and took the mountain jersey. Granted there was no actual mountains on the route and no one else chased it, but still cool to get a jersey on the team!
Grijalba was the only one managing to be decently placed for the sprint, but this is what happens when a pure climber tries to sprint: Not a lot…
Ravard took the win by the way.
One of the mechanics made sure to get a shot of Nystrand in his mountain jersey at the start of stage 3 as it seemed unlikely he’ll be able to defend it throughout the day…
Surprisingly our young Finnish climber Kinnunen proved very resilient on the climb in spite of Colombia and Iberia both working on the climb.
Elias was caught as could be expected, but then Grijalba went off on the steepest part – after all this is the biggest mountain of the race so if he was to do anything this would be his moment. He was first over the top taking the dots and with 1’40’’ to the peloton he even had the chance to make it grand.
I dare say everyone was surprised when he actually managed to keep the favourites at bay on the descent to take the stage and the GC lead.
20 seconds will be tough for the boys to defend though.
I have to admit I’m kind of happy I wasn't not one of the guys having to pull the load today – I had plenty of that last year…
It does make a great PR photo though.
On the climb Iberia took over and got rid of all Grijalbas helpers, so in the finale he had to figth with everything to defend his jersey all by himself with WT-riders like Atapuma and Velits trying to take it from him.
Cunego took the stage win out of the break, but Fernando managed to defend the jersey with a 7th place.
Stage 5 was probably the hardest looking at the whole stage and that showed on the race as the boys just didn’t have much left after a hard race for them.
For the second day in a row Grönlund was the last rider to help Grijalba.
I’m sure everyone did their best, but with 15 km to go Grijalba finally cracked.
Fortunately enough GC 2nd Cunego failed to follow the attacks, so he helped reel in some of the breakers, but with Urán taking the stage with about half a minute to the peloton I’m told no one dared call the GC before the results were official.
After the succes here the managers seemed to lose contact with reality as they announced that they would be applying for wildcards to all the Spanish WT-races.
I serioiusly doubt we will get accepted in to any, but if we do they want me to race them since I'm the only rider with recent WT-experience on the team.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 13-02-2014 10:59
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Tour de France Champion
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Fantastic win for the team. Some high spirits have never hurt, so the team should of course apply for all spanish WT races. Joel will surely get to race some of them.
Edited by Shonak on 13-02-2014 11:00
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 13-02-2014 13:45
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What a Great Overall race win for Fernando Grijalba  |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 14-02-2014 08:33
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Shonak: Seriously doubt we will get accepted in to any though 
sutty: Great and massively surprising!
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 14-02-2014 09:21
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 Volta ao Algarve
After our trip to Mallorca some of the boys went on to Portugal to race Volta ao Algarve, but I took the plane back to Ystad. Or rather I took the plane to Copenhagen Airport and a train the rest of the way.
So I can’t tell you much more than what was in the papers about how things went in Portugal.
Johan Nystrand went in the very first break of the race and to great surprise to everyone the break was allowed to survive all the way to the finish line where Johan finished 6th in the 10-rider group. Colombian Weimar Roldan took the win by the way.
It turned out that all the guys in the break was older than 25 and more or less by coincident Kinnunen was the first young rider to cross the line.
Another stage meant another surviving break even though I’m told the chase was much harder today. At least that’s what three of the guys, among them Kinnunen in the youth jersey, who got caught behind a crack unable to get back up told me afterwards. Grönlund was in the break and managed a good 2nd place behind Wesley Sulzberger – no shame in that!
On the third stage’s a hilltop finish the boys given a show by the big boys completely destroying any GC chances. Still Grijalba managed a good 10th place behind a lot of strong riders. Ravard took the win and the GC lead ahead of Betancur.
From there followed a flat stage, where the boys took it easy (Cardoso won).
Things was almost as quiet on the finishing TT with Brenes the best Fiskars-rider on 47th…
Still a good job by the guys overall with Johan on 10th and both Gunnar and Gregory in top 20 as well.
I wouldn't usually give so much attention to a race like Algarve, but the weather conditions home made outdoor cycling a bit of a challenge. The weathermen promises that it'll be goen by next week so hopefully I'll be able to get some tarmac under the wheels before Bornholm Rundt in early March.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 14-02-2014 09:39
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Johan Nystrand seemed to enjoy himself in Portugal |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 14-02-2014 18:10
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sutty: Seems he did. He certainly was lucky that the break was allowed so much of a gap on stage 1
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| The Rider |
Posted on 14-02-2014 18:21
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Great to hear of Joel getting into the breaks already. When he gets better, we will no doubt, see him putting in mad attacks late on in the stage when it really counts.
Great strip, Atlantius shirts at their bets.
Also very nice to see the team has a global feel to it. At times I though Nordic Cycling was too 'nationalistic' and too much of enclave not allowing non Nordic cyclists in the squad, which I thought was a bit radical and too extreme. So I am glad about this new squad.
Great other worldly pictures from Sweden there! |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 14-02-2014 19:41
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That snow is... erm, just Sweden?
Algarve seemed solid for the team. Joel maybe should have went with them, just for training purposes that is.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 19:00
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 15-02-2014 09:51
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The Rider: Glad you like the jersey, I'm pretty satisfied with it myself as well.
As for Nordic cycling it was the main dogma of the team/story that the Nordic stars should stop being luxery domestiques and the region has plenty of teams to keep it pure (5 countries is still multinational ) Sort of a Nordic Euskaltel...
Shonak: Usually there's not that much snow in Southern Sweden, where Joel lives
He probably could have done a decent job in Algarve, but he can't race every race on the calendar
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 15-02-2014 16:11
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Back home I was doing my best to prepare for Bornholm Rundt, the weather was still not great to say the least, but at least the snow have started melting so I can get off the home trainer and out on the road. The feel of the tarmac under your wheels can't really be properly simulated indoors.
I’ll never grow fond of this kind of half-melted snow that we call “Snöslask”. Not quite sure what it’s called in English, but it’s cold, wet and a bit slippery – good thing I’m good at staying on my bike even in tough conditions…
Still I did get a chance to catch a stream of the three classics the team took part in when returning home cold after my day on the road.
In Trofeo Tramuntana it was Kinnunen vs the peloton for most of the day. As could be expected Elias lost that battle, but Grijalba was ready to take over on the main climb. Fernando enjoys riding in his home country and get to the finish with Vorganov. The sprint was so close that no one dared call if before the results were official. I can't imagine the tension there must have been with both riders standing next to each other waiting to be told which order to enter the podium...
The orgainzers decided that Grijalba was the fastest and on top of that Elias managed to hold on to a brilliant 7th place!
In Clásica Almería the team was completely destroyed in the final bunch sprint never really getting to play a part.
GP di Lugano was the early season highlight for Morabito, who really wanted to prove his critics wrong on home soil. Kinnunen had another great day helping Steve to be in the last 28 riders without using too much energy. He tried to get away with 6 km to go, but just didn’t have the necessary punch.
At least that’s how it looked on the rather pixelated stream I found.
He actually looked pretty good going into the final km, but then he just stopped and was passed by a lot of riders before the finish.
Anyway with Frebruary comingto an end it's almost time for me to go tp Bornholm to race. My mom just told me that she have been given the days off so she will be watching me race for the first time - I hope I can make it a good experience for her!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 15-02-2014 17:40
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That was a close win for Grijalba at Trofeo Tramuntana |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 16-02-2014 11:11
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sutty: It really was. Didn't think he would make it!
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| The Rider |
Posted on 16-02-2014 22:57
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Grijalba is becoming the star of the team in some style at the moment. With a small team it is great to have someone to pop up with consistent performances.
Here in England the only word for snow, any snow, is ..... snow! In Denmark/ Norway I am aware they have over 12 different words for it! Not here. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 18-02-2014 22:43
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Tour de France Champion
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Sure Joel will do his mum proud.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 19-02-2014 08:50
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In Britain we call half melted snow ''slush'' |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 19-02-2014 10:28
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The Rider: Quite surprised at how well Grijalba is doing since only his mountain stat are good and this is supposed to be hilly races, but I guess that's what a captain is supposed to do
Shonak: Hopefully he will. You will know soon...
sutty: As in Slush Ice - that makes sense!
Sorry about going so long without a proper update - had a couple of projects in the real world i had to try to get in on.
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 19-02-2014 10:51
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Rider of the Month:  Rigoberto Urán, Iberia. Winning Andalucía and finshing 2nd in Mallorca while taking a stage win in each of those is proof that the Colombian is off to a good start of the season.
Nordic Rider of the Month:  Niki Østergaard, TDC – LRØ Rådgivning. The Danish rider had a brilliant month which apart from an impressive win have put him on top of the continental rankings.
February kicked off with the first race of the Nordic race series bringing a slightly surprising win to Alexander Kamp.
At the same time there was a race in New Zealand, Tour of Southland, which had Saxo – Tinkoff present. Martin Mortensen took a solid 4th place on the opening TT and more Danish top 10’s followed on stages 2-4 for Høberg, Mortensen and Steensen and on stage 6 we even got a stage win for André Steensen with Anders Lund on 3rd
The next slightly noteworthy result was Gunnar Grönlunds 7th place on the opening stage of Vuelta a Mallorca, though the race will mainly be remembered for the Swedish team taking a highly surprising GC win with their Spanish rider Grijalba less than a second ahead of Urán.
Troels Vinther got two top 10’s in Tour of Oman, but that’s hardly surprising thinking of teh level he has achieved.
In Volta ao Algarve thing came back on track with Nystrand taking a top 10 in both stage 1 and the GC with Grönlund and Sørensen finishing 2nd and 3rd on stage 2.
The worlds shortest stage Tour du Haut Var was even better with TDC’s Italian Felline winning stage 1 and Østergaard getting a podium spot and a GC 5th on the second and last stage. TDC – LRØ even won the team classification.
Vuelta a Andalucía was for the first time ridden as a WT-race with CAS taking a GC 5th and two stage top 10’s along the way. Statoil got a GC 3rd with Intxausti and Barta finished 6th for Saxo-Tinkoff so all in all a good race for the Nordic teams. Thomas Nybo Riis completed the successful story by taking the youth jersey.
Stage 3 and 4 saw Markarskard taking a print top 10 while both KEssiakoff and Laegnen showed some decent form in the first climbing stage.
In Trofeo Tramuntana you probably all remember the surprising win from Fiskar’s Spanish climber Grijalba, but more important is to notice the impressive 7th place from the young Elias Kinnunen. The first good result from the new generation of Finnish cyclists.
Even more impressive was TDC – LRØ Rådgivnings show in Les Boucles du Sùd Ardeche where Niki Østergaard took the win with two of his foreign teammates in 2nd and 9th place.
| 1 |  Matthieu Ladagnous | Commonwealth Bank – GreenEdge | 355 | | 2 | Rigoberto Urán | Iberia | 348 | | 3 |  Denis Galimzyanov | Colombia – Coldeportes | 319 | | 5 | Niki Østergaard | TDC – LRØ Rådgivning | 310 | | 27 | Chris Anker Sørensen | Novo Nordisk - SAS | 170 | | 80 |  Gunnar Grönlund | Fiskars Cykling | 83 | | 259 |  Elias Kinnunen | Fiskars Cykling | 24 | | 271 |  Frans-Leonard Markarskard | Belavia | 20 | | - |  | - | - |
Rankings include the best ranked rides of each nationality from WT and CT-teams respectively.
| 1 |  Team Selle Italia | 1082 | | 2 | Iberia | 919 | | 3 |  O2 Pro Cycling Team | 787 | | 8 | TDC – LRØ Rådgivning | 654 | | 11 | Team Saxo - Tinkoff | 561 | | 19 | Joker Merida | 445 | | 26 | Fiskars Cykling | 360 | | 35 | Novo Nordisk - SAS | 228 | | 43 | Statoil – Stoerensoe | 159 | | 52 | Team Øster Hus | 103 | | 58 | Christina Watches Development Team | 80 | | 68 | Blue Water Cycling | 56 | | - | DONG Energy – Himmerland | 0 | | - | Jardar Sykling | 0 |
| Rider | Team | Points | | Alexander Kamp | Christina Watches Development Squad | 30 | | Gunnar Grönlund | Fiskars Cykling | 25 |  Jure Kocjan | Team Øster Hus | 13 | | Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg | Statoil - Storensoe | 11 | | Morten Øllegaard | TDC - LRØ Rådgiving | 8 |  Kim Borry | Team Øster Hus | 7 | | Maarten Wynants | Blue Water Cycling | 6 | | Jesper Mørkøv | Blue Water Cycling | 5 | | Lasse Norman Hansen | TDC - LRØ Rådgiving | 4 | | Kasper Linde Jørgensen | TDC - LRØ Rådgiving | 1 |
| Team | Points | | Christina Watches Development Squad | 30 | | Fiskars Cykling | 25 | | Team Øster Hus | 20 | | Statoil - Storensoe | 11 | | Blue Water Cycling | 11 | | TDC - LRØ Rådgiving | 8 | | TDC - LRØ Rådgiving | 5 |
Rumours have it that Rojas is being targeted by Commonwealth Bank.
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 19-02-2014 16:43
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Bumping report to the next page with a bit of Swedish Rock:
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Yukiya Arashiro
Jasper Bovenhuis
Peter Velits
Hans-Dieter Piwon, Team NSP - Ghost
