A hard begining as one of the favourites, Penasa crashed very early on in the race twice.. The pace before the last climb was hard in general with no sudden spikes.. That lead to a more constant pace throughout the whole final climb. Only 1.4Km to the end saw the first attack and it was eventual stage winner Valls. It was a very hard steep section to the end and Solis had a perfect climb there to finish off in 2nd, 1st in the chasing group, thus capturing some bonifications aswell. Rujano struggled, loosing 1:15 minutes but is still in contention for minor places.
We expected a good performance by Solis today after his S1 performance. It wasn't a complete letdown but it wasn't a briliant result. Rujano and Claerebout had solid performances too, but all of them climbed in the GC.
In theory the stage where we only had to stay safe. Loanee Schlegel entered the break, and in an exciting finish he landed a brilliant 2nd place in the stage, that was a breakaway success. Also giging us the lead in the Teams classification.
The last stage of the week. Guy Diaz Groiller and Carlos Baltazar entered a menacing break. Groiller fell in a descent.. but when the final climb began none of them had the legs to stay in front, that succeeded. Rujano once again confirmed his consistence by having an agressive and strong day, climbing in the GC, but on the other hand Solis struggled massively and lost quite a bit of time.
Initial prologue.. Not many expectations.. just to limit losses. Flaksis had a rough run and lost considerable time, but it's not a disaster. On the other hand Rinner showed a strong display.
Spoiler
26 Richard Laningo Laizer + 12
32 Daniel Rinner + 14
129 Alberigo Passalacqua + 29
143 Michal Schlegel + 31
147 Adria Urcelay s.t.
157 Nazir Jaser + 32
180 Andzs Flaksis + 39
184 Giovanni Carboni + 41
Stage 2
Horrible day for the team. Flaksis crashed hard and was obviously in a hurt state, came in the last ones of the stage, completely loosing any chance of fighting for the GC. Not only him but 3 more riders lost time in an apparently harmless stage.
Spoiler
23 Nazir Jaser +23
75 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
102 Michal Schlegel s.t.
106 Daniel Rinner s.t.
158 Richard Laningo Laizer + 6'05
175 Giovanni Carboni + 8'26
181 Adria Urcelay + 10'55
186 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
Stage 3
With the expectations now on Rinner's shoulders, it was his day of crashing. Still, surprisingly he managed to finish in the eading 34-rider group. Thus elevating him to 11th in the GC.
Spoiler
14 Daniel Rinner s.t.
72 Nazir Jaser + 5'37
80 Michal Schlegel s.t.
89 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
122 Adria Urcelay + 8'38
144 Richard Laningo Laizer + 12'43
176 Giovanni Carboni + 16'21
179 Andzs Flaksis + 23'39
Stage 4
Although showing very bad legs, there was a flicker of hope when Flaksis joined the break in the cobbled stage, him beeing one of the strongest northern classics riders... But he suffered a lot still, not keeping up with his breakaway companions who fought it out for victory. As a bad rider in this type of terrain, Rinner lost a lot of time and his GC discussion place.
Spoiler
67 Andzs Flaksis + 4'42
120 Nazir Jaser + 10'40
139 Alberigo Passalacqua + 13'56
148 Adria Urcelay + 17'24
155 Daniel Rinner + 18'06
156 Richard Laningo Laizer + 21'03
158 Michal Schlegel + 21'20
177 Giovanni Carboni + 30'04
Spoiler
Flaksis looking forward to the cobbles
Stage 5
Last stage for gap chances.. On our team we had an hopeful day, Rinner got into the break but nullified easily by the peloton. Nobody was able to be up there in the finish.
Spoiler
45 Alberigo Passalacqua + 2'19
52 Adria Urcelay s.t.
69 Daniel Rinner + 4'29
86 Michal Schlegel + 7'16
104 Nazir Jaser + 8'45
154 Andzs Flaksis + 13'16
161 Richard Laningo Laizer + 14'10
176 Giovanni Carboni + 17'26
Spoiler
Rinner in the day's break
Stage 6
With nobody represented in the break it was a quiet final day for us. Only a solid 12th place in the sprint by Jaser was something to look at after today.
Spoiler
12 Nazir Jaser s.t.
97 Daniel Rinner s.t.
107 Richard Laningo Laizer s.t.
112 Michal Schlegel s.t.
128 Adria Urcelay s.t.
140 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
142 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
166 Giovanni Carboni + 4'24
GC
Spoiler
85 Alberigo Passalacqua + 19'55
88 Daniel Rinner + 20'17
96 Nazir Jaser + 23'08
128 Michal Schlegel + 32'18
140 Adria Urcelay + 36'58
160 Andzs Flaksis + 50'22
161 Richard Laningo Laizer + 51'24
178 Giovanni Carboni + 1h14'33
Against our expectations we had a good situation to start off the race as Rujano managed to get himself in the day's break, and although it was certain to be very hard it gave a little hope of success. With about 15Km to the finish line the group was caught and soon enough all of the team struggled with the short and sharp efforts, thus loosing all hopes of fighting for a GC placing.
With 8 days of racing we are set for a long race, although not the best team we hope for some kind of result throughout the week, either from a break or a secondary classification.. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana leads the charge, but in theory the whole team should focus on breakaways, with Albert Kireva also with an eye on the TT. Daniel Rinner, David Claerebout, Guy Diaz Groiller, Dimitri Jiriakov, Ivan Vila and stagiaire Giovanni Carboni complete the squad.
Stage 1
No men in the break, the stage was rather calm until the final ramp to the finish where the gaps were very much spread apart. Uwizeyimana was the first finisher.
Spoiler
37 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 1'22
93 Guy Diaz Groiller + 5'34
96 Albert Kireva s.t.
01 Ivan Vila + 5'43
113 Dimitri Jiriakov + 5'59
116 David Claerebout + 6'03
123 Daniel Rinner + 6'13
178 Giovanni Carboni + 18'40
Stage 2
Nothing to showcase from today, nobody managed to get in a break and only three riders finished in the peloton.
Spoiler
81 Albert Kireva s.t.
100 Daniel Rinner s.t.
119 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
148 Dimitri Jiriakov + 3'43
162 Guy Diaz Groiller s.t.
178 David Claerebout s.t.
182 Ivan Vila s.t.
184 Giovanni Carboni s.t.
Stage 3
A bid day when it comes to the GC. Nobody has any help from their teams so it makes for a stressful environment for some riders. Claerebout seemed to have none as he powered away to a good 9th place on the road, whilst Kireva and Uwizeyimana slightly disapointed with their times. Nonetheless Uwizeyimana is now only 37 seconds away from the U25 jersey, and we hope he'll fight hard to get it.
Spoiler
9 David Claerebout + 15
43 Guy Diaz Groiller + 54
44 Albert Kireva s.t.
54 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 1'00
62 Dimitri Jiriakov + 1'02
79 Daniel Rinner + 1'13
101 Ivan Vila + 1'23
163 Giovanni Carboni + 1'55 GC
27 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 1'49 U25
2 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 37
Stage 4
Not a good day for the team. No-one in the break and although miraculously finishing in the peloton, Uwizeyimana lost a lot of time to his rivals nonetheless.
Spoiler
72 Albert Kireva + 2'57
80 Ivan Vila s.t.
86 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
108 Daniel Rinner + 5'33
112 Guy Diaz Groiller s.t.
118 Dimitri Jiriakov s.t.
156 David Claerebout + 9'02
187 Giovanni Carboni + 19'51
Stage 5
Another one, and today Uwizeyimana completely lost all chances of fighting for GC.
Spoiler
62 Albert Kireva + 5'44
82 Ivan Vila + 8'32
95 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
104 Dimitri Jiriakov s.t.
114 David Claerebout + 9'43
115 Daniel Rinner s.t.
150 Guy Diaz Groiller + 12'41
183 Giovanni Carboni + 18'38
Stage 6
With a longer climb to the finish, in Haytor, we were expecting a better performance by our climbers but the british roads were too rough for them.
Spoiler
76 Guy Diaz Groiller + 5'23
77 Daniel Rinner s.t.
100 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 7'33
103 Dimitri Jiriakov s.t.
108 Ivan Vila s.t.
124 Albert Kireva + 8'02
141 David Claerebout + 11'48
185 Giovanni Carboni + 29'23
Stage 7
With another day failing to be in the break, and a punchy finish, it was another blank performance by the squad.
Spoiler
40 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 1'04
59 Ivan Vila s.t.
65 Albert Kireva s.t.
87 Daniel Rinner s.t.
94 David Claerebout s.t.
110 Dimitri Jiriakov s.t.
119 Guy Diaz Groiller + 3'14
177 Giovanni Carboni + 10'25
Stage 8
With a flat stage running through London, it was a good sign seeing Vila - the only ever Andorran stage winner - go in the break, he's been very good at being present in successful breaks this year and this was no exception. He managed a 4th place in the day just holding off the peloton and some of his breakaway companions, leaving at least a positive mark on the last day of racing.
Spoiler
4 Ivan Vila s.t.
28 Daniel Rinner s.t.
32 Albert Kireva s.t.
100 Dimitri Jiriakov s.t.
147 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
151 Guy Diaz Groiller s.t.
160 David Claerebout s.t.
175 Giovanni Carboni s.t.
Spoiler
Vila in the break
Spoiler
A good performance sees the Andorran finishing 4th
One of the most iconic classics in the calendar, we should be seeing Nazir Jaser try to sprint if he can in the end. We do want presence in the breakaway, Miguel Afonso, Andzs Flaksis, Omer Goldstein, Hugues Mottin, Alberigo Passalacqua, Michal Schlegel and Adria Urcelay should be spotted giving it a go.
It was a good performance by Omer Goldstein, getting himself in the break and resisting in the peloton that suffered crashes and echelons.. the rest of the team though had a negative note, with no-one being able to be in contention for a good finishing position.
Your team seems to be the breakaway kings of the CT.
How you continue to build the team with Spanish/French influence will be very interesting moving into future seasons. The learning curve is one that all the rookies have had to contend with this season, myself being no exception. Hoping that your squad will continue to develop and have something for those hilly races next season!
Well a breakaway is what gave us one of our two stage wins this season (and a 2nd place) so I must say I'm very pleased with the team's agression, it compensates a little bit the sometimes annoying lack of results.
About the influence, let's see, I have some ideas and I'll wait a bit more to decide what path to choose
We didn't bring big expectations to Asia but we do bring an agressive spirit, In theory all our riders have free roles for every stage, in any case it should be Bonaventure Uwizeyimana leading the team with Carlos Baltazar and David Claerebout as other options for a minor GC placement. Andzs Flaksis, Daniel Rinner, Michal Schlegel and Alberigo Passalacqua, some of our classics riders bring some firepower into the team and some potential breakaway success alongside break specialist Ivan Vila.
Stage 1
Only 2.2Km out on the road but good signs were given from our riders, with Claerebout and Uwizeyimana finishing within 9 seconds of the winner.
Spoiler
30 David Claerebout + 9
31 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
34 Daniel Rinner + 10
75 Carlos Baltazar + 14
94 Michal Schlegel + 16
131 Ivan Vila + 19
135 Andzs Flaksis + 21
140 Alberigo Passalacqua + 22
Stage 2
A flat stage on paper but it featured some traps in a full-stage circuit. Daniel Rinner went into the day's break, colected some mountain points and hung on in the front until the very last Kilometers of the stage, with one of his companions missing victory but mere meters in a desolating finish. Other than Schlegel the entire team survived this sketchy day.
Spoiler
35 Daniel Rinner s.t.
45 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
62 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
78 Carlos Baltazar s.t.
80 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
94 David Claerebout s.t.
96 Ivan Vila s.t.
100 Michal Schlegel + 3'35 KOM
3 Daniel Rinner 6
Spoiler
Rinner's day in front
Stage 3
As yesterday, a circuit featured on today's stage, much harder though.. That didn't stop Michal Schlegel from going on the offensive, getting in the break and collecting enough points to put him in a solid 2nd place in the KOM competition. A crash saw the peloton split halfway through the stage, even though Uwizeyimana made the split he struggled heavily with the short and repeated efforts and lost a lot of time today, still finishing near the Top40 alongside legend Damiano Cunego.
Spoiler
42 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 6'27
52 Ivan Vila + 9'20
54 David Claerebout s.t.
58 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
64 Carlos Baltazar s.t.
65 Daniel Rinner s.t.
71 Michal Schlegel s.t.
118 Andzs Flaksis + 16'56 KOM
2 Michal Schlegel 24
Spoiler
Schlegel putting on some serious power
Spoiler
Uwi is put into dificulties
Stage 4
We came in expecting an average ride and that's what we got. With Claerebout, Baltazar and Uwizeyimana finihsing in the Top45 the GC remains basically the same to them, even moving up a bit.
Spoiler
36 David Claerebout + 2'45
38 Carlos Baltazar + 2'52
43 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 2'55
65 Ivan Vila + 4'11
78 Andzs Flaksis + 4'25
114 Alberigo Passalacqua + 4'32
116 Daniel Rinner s.t.
118 Michal Schlegel s.t. GC
32 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana t + 8'59 KOM
2 Michal Schlegel 24
Stage 5
A hard circuit stage. We wanted someone represented in yhe break but unfortunately nobody did, although Schlegel did keep his 2nd place in the KOM classification. A nice display overall by the team today but the GC was out of question already.
Spoiler
47 Carlos Baltazar + 3'10
57 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 4'33
58 David Claerebout + 4'57
64 Michal Schlegel s.t.
79 Ivan Vila + 8'56
87 Alberigo Passalacqua + 15'43
98 Daniel Rinner + 20'43
DNF Andzs Flaksis
Stage 6
In the final day once again we got in a break that turned out successful, Passalacqua found himself in good position, and was caught byt the peloton literally in the last meters of the stage, still managing to finish 12th.
Spoiler
12 Alberigo Passalacqua + 26
40 Daniel Rinner s.t.
69 Michal Schlegel s.t.
104 Carlos Baltazar s.t.
108 Ivan Vila s.t.
112 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
113 David Claerebout s.t. KOM
2 Michal Schlegel 24
As a particularly hilly race with a big PCT contingent, we don't have expectations of scoring points here, only if a miraculous break with one of our riders stays away.
Our breakaway expert Ivan Vila found himself again in a frontal position in the begining of the race, showing the team colours until the begining of the first climb of the day, where some of the favourites attacked. Rujano rode a conservative race and had the precious collaboration of other teams and in the final climb he bridged across to the group that was chasing eventual winner Suaza. In the final Km he pulled away with Manfredi (Reddit) and managed to keep his 3rd place, an excelent result for the Venezuelan.
You didn't have lot of success lately, but for a team focused on mountain, getting a podium in a C2HC mountain classic is great, even beating the dominator of the season Congrats!
Thanks!
Yeah maybe that peformance made me do some reconsidering for the renewals as long as he's not pushy (taking into account his decrease). I feel like we've been focusing more on breaks this season actually so his podium was defintely a surprise.
We do still hope to see Flaksis try to get some points in Kigali and for a strong run in Herald Sun Tour where the ITT may favour some good overall hopes.
Edited by Yellow Jersey on 09-04-2018 11:18
Here in Australia for our last Oceanic race of the season, It's a rather "easy" race, packed with flat stages and a flat ITT. Casting doubt over possible echelons or gaps in the flat stages, we come in with three riders that are capable of a strong GC performance, Hugues Mottin, Richard Laningo Laizer and Albert Kireva. All three have proven themselves in that terrain and our hopes rely on them. David Claerebout and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana are two good all-rounders that won't get to benefit from their climbing skills, but both - specially the latter - has proven himself very strong when on form. Guy Diaz Groiller also makes for a different terrain to what he's used to, he'll support on the stages, aswell as Michal Schelgel who seems to be on a great run of form, and Miguel Afonso rounds up the squad.
Stage 1
A flat stretch, Schlegel tried to get himself on the break but didn't make it, so it made for a quite eventless stage. Laizer struggled in the crosswinds and lost time, enough to put him out of contention for the race. Other then Afonso the rest of the team arrived in the bunch.
Spoiler
31 Albert Kireva s.t.
44 David Claerebout s.t.
60 Michal Schlegel s.t.
63 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
80 Hugues Mottin s.t.
83 Guy Diaz Groiller s.t.
127 Richard Laningo Laizer +3´32
136 Miguel Afonso + 5´52
Stage 2
Nobody was in the break today, and the break was indeed succesful. Kireva and Mottin arrived safely in the peloton.
Spoiler
24 Albert Kireva + 1'08
50 Michal Schlegel s.t.
62 Hugues Mottin s.t.
71 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
74 David Claerebout s.t.
94 Guy Diaz Groiller + 4'09
123 Miguel Afonso + 6'17
133 Richard Laningo Laizer + 8'52
Stage 3
The most important day of the race. The two riders that had won time the previous day remained in the first two places, Mottin got an excellent 5th rising him to 7th in GC, Kireva in 24th and Laizer even had a good run after two dreadful stages.
Spoiler
5 Hugues Mottin + 11
15 Richard Laningo Laizer + 24
26 Albert Kireva + 36
35 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana + 49
36 Miguel Afonso + 51
38 Guy Diaz Groiller + 54
39 David Claerebout + 55
116 Michal Schlegel + 1'41 GC
7 Hugues Mottin + 44
24 Albert Kireva + 1'09
Spoiler
Mottin rolling his way to 5th
Stage 4
Laizer tryed to join the break but struggled in an early climb. After it was a normal day, no important splits, no crashes so the day was saved.
Spoiler
35 Albert Kireva s.t.
63 Michal Schlegel s.t.
68 Miguel Afonso s.t.
71 David Claerebout s.t.
79 Hugues Mottin s.t.
87 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
99 Guy Diaz Groiller s.t.
124 Richard Laningo Laizer + 4'01 GC
7 Hugues Mottin + 44
24 Albert Kireva + 1'09
Stage 5
Last day and another one for the break. Afonso was strong and got into it, and the breakaway survived with a little gap to the peloton, Afonso didn't have the legs to fight it out for victory but he managed a good 5th on the stge, with Mottin and Kireva keeping their GC places.
Spoiler
5 Miguel Afonso s.t.
49 Albert Kireva s.t.
55 Richard Laningo Laizer s.t.
70 David Claerebout s.t.
81 Hugues Mottin s.t.
84 Michal Schlegel s.t.
88 Bonaventure Uwizeyimana s.t.
102 Guy Diaz Groiller s.t. GC
7 Hugues Mottin + 44
24 Albert Kireva + 1'09
Into Pologne for our last stage race of the season. The Course de Solidarnosc hosts 4 flat stages, so we don't have a confined leader. Nasir Jaser is the designated sprinter but he hasn't had a single Top10 this season so he won't be a natural bet. Instead it's a team of riders that need to get in breakaways and try to get bonifications in order to score points. Andzs Flaksis, Daniel Rinner and Ivan Vila should be the most active riders, also the strongest in this type of terrain, Omer Goldstein, Alberigo Passalacqua and Adrian Urcelay complete the team and have the same mission.
Stage 1
Andz Flaksis got on the day's break and caught some bonifications, and only 3Km from the finish line did he get caught, after a brave solo effort. The rest of the team also arrived safely in the peloton.
Spoiler
36 Nazir Jaser s.t.
43 Daniel Rinner s.t.
48 Omer Goldstein s.t.
52 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
91 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
115 Adria Urcelay s.t.
128 Ivan Vila s.t. GC
10 Andzs Flaksis + 22
Spoiler
Flakis in the break
Spoiler
He goes solo and almost finishes it off
Stage 2
The team failed to get in the break, so a very dull day for the team, with all arriving in the peloton.
Spoiler
51 Daniel Rinner s.t.
52 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
82 Nazir Jaser s.t.
89 Omer Goldstein s.t.
97 Ivan Vila s.t.
100 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
101 Adria Urcelay s.t.
Stage 3
Flaksis once again got in the break. It was a group of 8 so he didn't get any bonifications, but again the group was caught very close to the finish.
Spoiler
53 Nazir Jaser s.t.
76 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
89 Daniel Rinner s.t.
116 Omer Goldstein s.t.
135 Ivan Vila s.t.
155 Adria Urcelay s.t.
163 Alberigo Passalacqua s.t.
Spoiler
Flaksis in the break again
Stage 4
With nobody in the break and no contenders to win the stage or fight for a GC place, it was a dull stage that didn't see our riders play a part.
Spoiler
26 Nazir Jaser s.t.
34 Daniel Rinner s.t.
119 Ivan Vila + 6'27
123 Andzs Flaksis s.t.
151 Alberigo Passalacqua + 7'22
154 Adria Urcelay s.t.
157 Omer Goldstein s.t.
OUR LINEUP
Andzs Flaksis
Albert Kireva
Richard Lainingo Laizer
Daniel Rinner
Miguel Afonso
Michal Schlegel
Adria Urcelay
Omer Goldstein
We came back to Africa and for a race hat has one of the most passionate audience in the world, in the Rwandan capital of Kigali.
Latvian Andzs Flaksis has sowed great form recently and he will have here a final chance to see if he can capitalize a result, although the competition is very high, and will have Albert Kireva as a co-leader. The remaining riders have free card to enter breaks and help however they can in the difficult African cobbled sectors, Richard Lainingo Laizer, Daniel Rinner, Miguel Afonso, Michal Schlegel, Adria Urcelay and Omer Goldstein will be those in support.
1 Marcus Burghardt Podium Ambition 5h30'20
31 Andzs Flaksis + 10'23
54 Albert Kireva + 16'01
104 Omer Goldstein + 32'44
DNF Richard Lainingo Laizer
DNF Daniel Rinner
DNF Miguel Afonso
DNF Michal Schlegel
DNF Adria Urcelay
Flaksis had a good race, but the hilly terrain was expected to cause him much damage, alongside the race's constant high rythm. The DNF's in the team show that it was indeed a brute, Kireva managed to finish just outside the Top50 and Goldstein had the strenght to finish.
Although Schlegel and Vila were breafly away from the peloton the battle to enter the break was too hard for them. Throughout the day the team didn't have any influence on how the race panned out.
Finishing a solid 17th is right around the expectations I had.. Not a strong squad but with some dinamic riders who can sometimes pull off a nice surprise. Finishing ahead of teams like the Balkans and Eddie Stobart is already a good performance and until August we were in contention for a Top15.
Laizer was absolutely the surprise of the season, he had one shot and he nailed it, the Bayern-Rundfahrt win was definetely the highlight of the season. Rujano had mixed feelings.. he had short spurts of success in both backends of the season (win at Tachira and leading, and 3rd at Colombian Venteux) but the rest of the season he was always quiet and hanging low in the moutainous races. But his consistency and string of Top 15's in stage races got him to almost 100 points. Uwizeyimana was a treat to watch him race. Bad luck at Bayern but in San Luis he showed his potential, finishing 9th and a day in the yellow jersey. Definetely a big name to take into next season. Solis (I know everybody is thinking "I told you so" ) was a disapointment. No regrets on hiring him we knew it was a risky contract, but he had rides that were top CT level. In Bulgaria he was 2nd in the 1st stage and looked set to fight for GC but a crash in s2 seemed to have left him harmed. rest of the season was blanks. Kireva is a very good rider and very complete, he didn't have many points (a strong Bayern earned him most of them) but he's a very reliable teammate in all types of races and he has freedom in the cobbles. Vila and Schlegel <3 breakaway experts and immense pleasure to watch, and gathered enough points to keep us in 17th.
Edited by Yellow Jersey on 29-04-2018 16:22