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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 07:20
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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the_hoyle - Yeah, Quickstep is giving him wings 
rogvi97 - Glad you enjoy this so much! KBK will be tough, let's see if we can shake the big sprinters 
wogsrus - I hope so, too!
Mresuperstar - Ah yeah, the king of drama  It's hard not to adjust to OPQS when they just present him the win on a silver platter by killing the opposition |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 07:46
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Team Leader
Posts: 7356
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A really good start to the season!!! Great job Matt
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 09:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Thanks, Jak |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 09:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne
Kuurne was not our biggest success. We were present as a team and we carried the race, but I was unable to finish the lads' hard work. Like a jack-in-a-box, Navardauskas had another gear and overtook me in the final 50 meters. Still, I'm happy about my opening weekend. Now it's on to Tirreno - Adriatico!
| 1 | Ramunas Navardauskas | Team Sky | 4h39'22 | | 2 | Matthias Vleminckx | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 3 | Heinrich Haussler | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 4 | André Greipel | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 5 | Michael Matthews | Team Sky | s.t. | | 6 | Mark Cavendish | Team Sky | s.t. | | 7 | Zdenek Stybar | ASUS | s.t. | | 8 | Scott Thwaites | Team Sky | s.t. | | 9 | Sebastian Langeveld | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 10 | Jasper Stuyven | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. |
Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne: In Pictures
The team working hard to bring me to the final 200 meters first
Like a rookie, I've been countered
In Tirreno - Adriatico, I won't be taking too many risks. There are some sprint opportunities, but I really want to stay upright for the coming classics, so I'm not sure if I'll get into the fight for the sprints.
We'll see!
Matt |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 02-06-2014 09:46
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Team Leader
Posts: 6795
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Time for another post from me after some amazing months by Matthias. It feels natural that he would make the move to OPQS now - who else would be able to fill the gap left by Boonen?
And it seems he is really thriving there with some excellent results already 
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 10:48
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Tour de France Champion
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Unfortunately Navardauskas spoilt what would have been another Great victory for Matthias, but second place is still a nice result |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 10:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Atlantius - Thanks a lot The move to OPQS feels natural indeed. I think he'll stay here a while.
sutty68 - You can't win them all... In the end, Navardauskas put in an amazing sprint so he earned it |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 10:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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 Milan - Sanremo
I have to admit, I had expected more of my Tirreno - Adriatico. That's also the main reason I didn't report back from it. Two 8th places hardly qualify as a good race. However, it was an interesting build up for the first classic of the year! I feel good.
Profile
 Milan - Sanremo as we know it. Get over the Poggio and you have a shot at victory. I've been 5th here, I've been 2nd here. I know I can win!
Today we head into the field with 3 candidates for victory:
Jan Bakelants may attack or counter-attack.
Gerald Ciolek will be our sprinter - unless...
I get over the poggio, then it's for me.
Gavazzi and Richeze were the only two men to break away. 300 km before them, only two of them. They were in for a rough day.
As tradition dictates, the race only got interesting in the rush to the Poggio. The breakaway had been caught and our team was setting up an impressive train. Moment of truth for me: will I survive the Poggio? I should.
And I made it. On top of the Poggio, it was Van Avermaet, Ciolek, Vleminckx, Kristoff, Cavendish.
A deal is a deal. Ciolek is a great team mate and made no fuss about it. He lead me out. I felt stronger and stronger, I believed I would win this!
When I started my sprint, I was still feeling good. My legs had survived the 300 km well!
Kristoff came to my left, but he couldn't threaten me. Only one man was still at my wheel and ready for a final punch: my ever-rival Peter Sagan.
And as many times before, the Slovak takes another victory right under my nose! Fuck!
I crossed the line so disappointed. I thanked the team for their efforts today and went straight into the team bus. After a couple of minutes of cooling down, my anger had disappeared. Can't stand still too long at these kinds of things. On the podium, I shook Sagan's hand and I smiled. It was a good race, I'm in top shape for my classics.
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | 6h56'31 | | 2 | Matthias Vleminckx | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 3 | Alexander Kristoff | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 4 | Gerald Ciolek | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 5 | Michael Matthews | Team Sky | s.t. | | 6 | Mark Cavendish | Team Sky | s.t. | | 7 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 8 | Niki Terpstra | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 9 | Sep Vanmarcke | ASUS | s.t. | | 10 | Sebastian Langeveld | Garmin Sharp | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | s.t. | | 12 | Zdenek Stybar | ASUS | s.t. | | 13 | Philippe Gilbert | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 14 | Lars Boom | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 15 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 16 | Vincenzo Nibali | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 17 | Marcel Kittel | SAP | s.t. | | 18 | Greg Van Avermaet | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 19 | Arnaud Demare | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 20 | Moreno Moser | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 21 | André Greipel | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 22 | Danny Van Poppel | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 23 | Tom Dumoulin | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 24 | Tim Wellens | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 25 | Matej Mohorič | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 26 | John Degenkolb | SAP | s.t. | | 27 | Jan Bakelants | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 28 | Sonny Colbrelli | Cannondale | s.t. | | 29 | Kris Boeckmans | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 30 | Jasper Stuyven | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 31 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 32 | Giacomo Nizzolo | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 33 | Andrew Talansky | Orbea | s.t. | | 34 | Kenneth Vanbilsen | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 35 | Caleb Ewan | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 36 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 37 | Taylor Phinney | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 38 | Rick Zabel | SAP | s.t. | | 39 | Heinrich Haussler | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 40 | Sacha Modolo | Team Sky | s.t. | | 41 | Yohan Offredo | Gazprom | s.t. | | 42 | Gianni Meersman | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 43 | Luis León Sánchez | Orbea | s.t. | | 44 | Silvan Dillier | SAP | s.t. | | 45 | Elia Viviani | Cannondale | s.t. | | 46 | Tosh Van der Sande | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 47 | Giorgio Brambilla | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 48 | Jay McCarthy | Gazprom | s.t. | | 49 | Andrea Guardini | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 50 | Davide Appollonio | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 51 | Sébastien Turgot | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 52 | Adriano Malori | Team Sky | s.t. | | 53 | Matthieu Ladagnous | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 54 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 55 | Simone Ponzi | Team Sky | s.t. | | 56 | Paul Voss | SAP | s.t. | | 57 | Matthew Goss | ASUS | s.t. | | 58 | Marcus Burghardt | SAP | s.t. | | 59 | Michael Schär | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 60 | Geraint Thomas | Team Sky | s.t. | | 61 | Roberto Ferrari | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 62 | Damien Gaudin | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 63 | Enrico Battaglin | Cannondale | s.t. | | 64 | Fabien Bacquet | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 65 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 66 | Tom Van Asbroeck | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 67 | Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 68 | Yauheni Hutarovich | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 69 | Jens Keukeleire | RusVelo | s.t. | | 70 | Alberto Cecchin | Cannondale | s.t. | | 71 | Massimo Graziato | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 72 | Koen De Kort | ASUS | s.t. | | 73 | Valerio Agnoli | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 74 | Damien Howson | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 75 | Manuele Boaro | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 76 | Thierry Hupond | ASUS | s.t. | | 77 | Stan Godrie | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 78 | Ramon Sinkeldam | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 79 | Joshua Edmondson | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 80 | Theo Bos | ASUS | s.t. | | 81 | Emilien Viennet | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 82 | Michel Kreder | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 83 | Alfonso Fiorenza | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 84 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov | RusVelo | s.t. | | 85 | Michael Hepburn | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 86 | Moreno Hofland | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 87 | Alessandro Malaguti | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 88 | Alexandre Geniez | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 89 | Janier Acevedo | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 90 | Eugenio Alafaci | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 91 | Marco Coledan | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 92 | Scott Thwaites | Team Sky | s.t. | | 93 | Maxim Belkov | Gazprom | s.t. | | 94 | Janez Brajkovič | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 95 | Donato De Ieso | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 96 | Bradley Carroll | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 97 | Wesley Kreder | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 98 | Mattia Gavazzi | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 99 | Lluis Guillermo Mas | Orbea | s.t. | | 100 | Lukas Pöstlberger | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 101 | Lars Petter Nordhaug | RusVelo | s.t. | | 102 | Klaas Lodewyck | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 103 | Enrico Barbin | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 104 | Michael Van Staeyen | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 105 | Joey Rosskopf | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 106 | Ariel Maximiliano Richeze | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 107 | Steven Cozza | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 108 | Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 109 | Andrey Zeits | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 110 | Edward King | Cannondale | s.t. | | 111 | Gorka Izagirre | Movistar Team | + 4'02 | | 112 | Dennis Vanendert | Lotto Belisol | + 5'04 | | 113 | Dieter Bouvry | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 114 | Maurits Lammertink | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 115 | Lasse Norman Hansen | Gazprom | s.t. | | 116 | Mateo Fuerte | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 117 | Juan José Lobato | RusVelo | + 11'36 | | 118 | Boy Van Poppel | ASUS | s.t. | | 119 | Pello Bilbao | Orbea | s.t. | | 120 | Andrea Pasqualon | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 121 | Jarl Salomein | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 122 | Nathan Brown | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 123 | Igor Antón | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 124 | Peter Vangeffen | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 125 | Evan Huffman | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 126 | Eric Young | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 127 | Mirko Selvaggi | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 128 | Miguel Rubiano | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 129 | Alex Howes | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 130 | Matteo Montaguti | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 131 | Steven Tronet | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 132 | Angelo Pagani | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 133 | Antonino Parrinello | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 134 | Rubén Fernández | Orbea | s.t. | | 135 | Andrea Peron | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 136 | Marco Minnaard | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 137 | Joshua Berry | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 138 | Enrico Montanari | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 139 | Tsgabu Grmay | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 140 | Benjamin Verraes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 141 | Luigi Miletta | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 142 | Guido Nobili | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 143 | Luka Mezgec | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 144 | Dave De Waele | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 145 | Bob Schoonbroodt | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 146 | Gian Matteo Nicolosi | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 147 | Igor Boev | RusVelo | s.t. | | 148 | Aleksandr Kuschynski | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 149 | Peter Kennaugh | SAP | s.t. | | 150 | Francesco Reda | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 151 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | s.t. | | 152 | Victor Manakov | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 153 | Stefano Agostini | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 154 | Kirk Carlsen | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 155 | Imanol Erviti | Orbea | s.t. | | 156 | Yoon Beom-San | ASUS | s.t. | | 157 | Siarhei Papok | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 158 | Joseba Larralde | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 159 | Danijel Jerman | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 160 | Thomas Peterson | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 161 | Leonid Krasnov | Gazprom | s.t. | | 162 | Vladimir Gusev | RusVelo | s.t. | | 163 | Ilnur Zakarin | RusVelo | s.t. | | 164 | Maksym Averin | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 165 | Hichem Chabane | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 166 | Blaz Furdi | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 167 | David Tanner | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 168 | Gerry Druyts | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 169 | Juan Carlos Riutort | Orbea | s.t. | | 170 | Evaldas Siskevicius | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 171 | Daniel Summerhill | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 172 | Alexander Evtushenko | Gazprom | s.t. | | 173 | Pavel Kochetkov | RusVelo | s.t. | | 174 | Yannick Eijssen | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 175 | Julien Ferrari | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 176 | Alexandre Darville | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 177 | Eloy Teruel | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 178 | Matias Alvares | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 179 | Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 180 | Danilo Napolitano | Team Sky | s.t. | | 181 | Javier Etxarri | Orbea | s.t. | | 182 | Kirill Yatsevich | Gazprom | s.t. | | 183 | Davide D'Angelo | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 184 | Luke Keough | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 185 | Zsolt Der | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 186 | Jonas Rickaert | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 187 | Dennis Coenen | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 188 | Vladimir Isaychev | Gazprom | s.t. | | 189 | Leon Berger | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 190 | Azizbek Alimjan | Adria Mobil | s.t. | | 191 | Spencer Beamer | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 192 | Rolando Ferrari | Bardiani CSF | + 13'36 | | 193 | Davide Formolo | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 194 | Alessandro Pirro | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 195 | David Smit | TEAM Soleco | + 14'18 | | 196 | Ashkat Bodritskay | Astana Pro Team | + 16'14 | | 197 | Sven M. Schuster | SAP | + 17'33 | | 198 | Filippo Novelli | Adria Mobil | + 20'56 | | 199 | Jared Nguyen | Exergy Development Group | s.t. |
In the end, the legs decided the winner. I was almost the strongest today. Almost.
Oh, before I forget, here are the results from Paris - Nice and Tirreno - Adriatico!
 Paris - Nice | 1 | Carlos Betancur | Movistar Team | 28h27'46 | | 2 | Rui Costa | Lampre - Merida | + 4 | | 3 | Charlie Pearce | ExxonMobil - Geberit | + 37 | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Lampre - Merida | + 1'03 | | 5 | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | + 1'09 | | 6 | Richie Porte | BMC Racing Team | + 1'30 | | 7 | Wilco Kelderman | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 1'53 | | 8 | Alberto Contador | Gazprom | + 2'49 | | 9 | Sergio Henao | Bardiani CSF | + 3'30 | | 10 | Adam Yates | Team Sky | + 3'37 |
Tirreno - Adriatico | 1 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | 28h18'54 | | 2 | Chris Froome | Team Sky | + 32 | | 3 | Jan Bakelants | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 1'50 | | 4 | Rein Taaramäe | Adria Mobil | + 1'53 | | 5 | Andrew Talansky | Orbea | + 2'02 | | 6 | Moreno Moser | Astana Pro Team | + 2'05 | | 7 | Philippe Gilbert | Team Katusha | + 2'26 | | 8 | Rigoberto Urán | Lotto Belisol | + 2'49 | | 9 | Rafal Majka | Team Katusha | + 2'55 | | 10 | Tanel Kangert | BMC Racing Team | + 4'14 |
Peter Sagan has already won the Tour Down Under, Tirreno - Adriatico and Milan - Sanremo this year. There ain't no shame in losing to a man like that. Instead of sobbing about it, I challenge him to come and fight me on my terrain. See you in a couple of days, Peter!
Matt |
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 02-06-2014 11:04
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 851
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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That's a shame, I have a feeling that Matt and Sagan will meet each other a few time this season. Hopefully not with this outcome.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 11:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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So near yet so far............again a second place  |
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| jona500 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 11:49
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 03-06-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Winning in Oman has released the rainbow-curse and was your performance in Tirreno-Adriatico also an action to become the underdog in the following races? Let's see what the cobble classics bring now
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| Shonak |
Posted on 02-06-2014 12:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Some great results for Matt, although the top step has been denied two times. He'll get MSR eventually. Good win in Omloop and also maybe a bit of freeing him: this way, he does not have to bother about rainbow curse. Otherwise people would be talking all the time about it up to Ronde sigh
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 12:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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VoetsT - I have a feeling, too. Let's hope the other way round, though
sutty68 - He's gotten a few 2nd places in his career already. But luckily also a lot of victories!
jona500 - Aha, Matt won't tell on his tactics until after Roubaix Can't wait to race the cobbled classics!
Shonak - Yeah. In Kuurne it was all right, but Sanremo was just sucky It'll come one day. Though that's what we thought about Boonen... People can't bring up the curse with Matt, that's for sure! |
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| wogsrus |
Posted on 02-06-2014 14:37
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1200
Joined: 12-01-2013
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Unlucky at San Remo. So close. |
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| Martial1 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 14:40
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
Joined: 30-04-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Sagan  The fact that he won Tirreno shows how strong he is! But at least Matt tried his best |
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| FonsDeSpons |
Posted on 02-06-2014 15:29
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Stagiare
Posts: 160
Joined: 30-10-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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damn, so close... |
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| Paul23 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 15:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4411
Joined: 10-08-2011
PCM$: 400.00
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I hope, that Peter starts at the cobbled classics, too. Because then Matt can take his revenge!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 16:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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wogsrus - So close again here!
Martial1 - That he did. You don't just put Sagan aside
FonsDeSpons - Exactly...
Paul23 - I like the way you think Matt should definitely show Peter on the Paterberg! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-06-2014 16:49
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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E3 - Harelbeke
E3, finally! Do you realize it's been 2 years since I was here? Last year my season was yet to start. Two years ago I came here to win. I expect no less today!
Profile
 The mini-Ronde. Since I won the big thing twice already, the route has no secrets for me. I'm ready!
We got a man in the breakaway once again. This allowed us to sit back the first hours.
Some riders jumped away. Among them was Gilbert. There wasn't a suited reaction, so then we decided to take the race into our own hands. Debusschere came to the front first and started pulling hard.
We all came to the front and then a split occured. Holy cow, we had the chance of our life here! We were gone!
The teams of Stybar and Vanbilsen put their hands together and organized a chase.
They brought the chasing group close enough for their leaders to make the jump forward.
But knowing they'd need time to recover from their efforts, Greg Van Avermaet dictated a pace unlike I've ever seen before. On the Kwaremont, he just went like a madman. I followed closely. The others had to pass.
We created a gap of 30 seconds immediately. It was all or nothing now.
But Stannard and Gilbert were still in front. We still had to ride pretty hard to catch them. We had them in sight!
When we caught them, I decided to go for the surprise. Going to the front and put them with their noses in the wind by trimming the hedges immediately.
And I was gone! Today there was no stopping me, I felt indestructible!
Van Avermaet got rewarded for his amazing work with a 2nd place!
| 1 | Matthias Vleminckx | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 4h47'50 | | 2 | Greg Van Avermaet | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 48 | | 3 | Philippe Gilbert | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 4 | Ian Stannard | Team Sky | s.t. | | 5 | Zdenek Stybar | ASUS | + 2'38 | | 6 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | s.t. | | 7 | Jasper Stuyven | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 3'37 | | 8 | Caleb Ewan | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 9 | Sébastien Turgot | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 10 | Ramon Sinkeldam | Exergy Development Group | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Matthieu Ladagnous | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 12 | Heinrich Haussler | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 13 | Stijn Vandenbergh | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 14 | Jens Keukeleire | RusVelo | s.t. | | 15 | Silvan Dillier | SAP | s.t. | | 16 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | s.t. | | 17 | Sep Vanmarcke | ASUS | s.t. | | 18 | Lars Boom | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 19 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 20 | Damien Gaudin | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 21 | Pieter Jacobs | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 22 | Yohan Offredo | Gazprom | s.t. | | 23 | Matti Breschel | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 24 | Matteo Trentin | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 25 | Yves Lampaert | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 26 | Kenneth Vanbilsen | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 27 | Vyacheslav Kuznetsov | RusVelo | + 7'47 | | 28 | Boy Van Poppel | ASUS | s.t. | | 29 | Marco Marcato | Cannondale | s.t. | | 30 | Phil Bauhaus | Team Stölting | s.t. | | 31 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 32 | Jens Debusschere | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 33 | Stijn Minne | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 34 | Fabio Sabatini | Cannondale | s.t. | | 35 | Bob Schoonbroodt | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 36 | Geraint Thomas | Team Sky | s.t. | | 37 | Dave De Waele | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 38 | Stig Broeckx | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 39 | Klaas Lodewyck | BMC Racing Team | + 9'07 | | 40 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 41 | José Joaquín Rojas | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 42 | Davide Villella | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 43 | Maarten Wynants | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 44 | Julien Vermote | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 45 | Tom Leezer | ASUS | s.t. | | 46 | Tyler Farrar | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 47 | Iljo Keisse | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 48 | Rolando de Santos | Movistar Team | + 12'05 | | 49 | Fabien Bacquet | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 50 | Sebastiano di Filippo | Cannondale | s.t. | | 51 | Jasha Sütterlin | SAP | + 12'37 | | 52 | Emilien Viennet | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 53 | Sebastian Langeveld | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 54 | Chris Barton | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 55 | Niki Terpstra | FDJ.fr | + 14'13 | | 56 | Tosh Van der Sande | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 57 | Rick Zabel | SAP | s.t. | | 58 | Koen De Kort | ASUS | s.t. | | 59 | Nikolai Trussov | RusVelo | + 14'53 | | 60 | Scott Thwaites | Team Sky | s.t. | | 61 | Yauheni Hutarovich | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 62 | Robert Wagner | SAP | s.t. | | 63 | Dieter Bouvry | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 64 | Frantisek Padour | SAP | s.t. | | 65 | Lars Petter Nordhaug | RusVelo | s.t. | | 66 | Michael Kolar | Gazprom | s.t. | | 67 | Jesús Herrada | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 68 | Alexander Khatuntsev | RusVelo | s.t. | | 69 | Vladimir Gusev | RusVelo | s.t. | | 70 | Benjamin Verraes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 71 | Ivan Lytvynenko | Gazprom | s.t. | | 72 | Nikola Aistrup | Gazprom | s.t. | | 73 | Mathis Didier | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 74 | Ramunas Navardauskas | Team Sky | + 16'44 | | 75 | Gorka Izagirre | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 76 | Jesse Anthony | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 77 | Leigh Howard | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 78 | Simon Geschke | Team Stölting | s.t. | | 79 | Alexey Lutsenko | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 80 | Zico Waeytens | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 81 | Tom Veelers | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 82 | Fedor Chupov | RusVelo | s.t. | | 83 | Joshua Berry | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 84 | Romain Feillu | Team Sky | + 18'38 | | 85 | Mickaël Delage | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 86 | Stan Godrie | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 87 | Carlos Barbero | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 88 | Giorgio Brambilla | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 89 | Imanol Erviti | Orbea | s.t. | | 90 | Adriano Malori | Team Sky | s.t. | | 91 | Emiel Dolfsma | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 92 | Johnny Hoogerland | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 93 | Axel Anné | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 20'41 | | 94 | Enrico Montanari | Bardiani CSF | + 21'03 | | 95 | Enrico Gasparotto | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 96 | Alessandro Pirro | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 97 | Enrique Sanz | Orbea | + 21'34 | | 98 | Lieuwe Westra | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 99 | Niklas Karl | SAP | + 22'04 | | 100 | Fabio Taborre | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 101 | Jérôme Baugnies | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 102 | Evgeny Shalunov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 103 | Gaetan Bille | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | + 22'37 | | 104 | Jesper Asselman | Team Sky | s.t. | | 105 | Nicola Ruffoni | Cannondale | s.t. | | 106 | Simone Ponzi | Team Sky | s.t. | | 107 | Michael Hepburn | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 108 | Eugenio Alafaci | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 109 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 110 | Giacomo Nizzolo | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 111 | Alexander Kristoff | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 112 | André Gonçalves | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 113 | Luke Rowe | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 114 | Kevin Pauwels | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 115 | Theo Reinhardt | Team Stölting | s.t. | | 116 | Leonardo Prati | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 117 | Dex Groen | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 118 | Jakob Rathe | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 119 | Mattia Gavazzi | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 120 | Dominik Roels | Team Stölting | s.t. | | 121 | Alexander R. Kästner | Team Stölting | s.t. | | 122 | Michele Merlo | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 123 | Lluis Guillermo Mas | Orbea | s.t. | | 124 | Damien Howson | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 125 | Albert Torres | Orbea | s.t. | | 126 | Tiesj Benoot | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 127 | Tsgabu Grmay | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 128 | Anton Vorobyev | Gazprom | s.t. | | 129 | Donato De Ieso | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 130 | Gennadiy Tatarinov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 131 | Peter Velits | ASUS | s.t. | | 132 | Dries Devenyns | ASUS | s.t. | | 133 | Luke Keough | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 134 | Aleksandr Kuschynski | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 135 | Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 136 | Ryan Eastman | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 137 | Davide Bruno | Cannondale | s.t. | | 138 | Sander Armee | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 139 | Patrick Gretsch | SAP | s.t. | | 140 | Martin Mattens | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 141 | Gavin Mannion | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 142 | Pieter Weening | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 143 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Team Stölting | s.t. | | 144 | Hossein Alizadeh | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 145 | David Smit | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 146 | Genki Yamamoto | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 147 | Ivan Nazarbayev | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 148 | Sergey Firsanov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 149 | Gerry Druyts | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 150 | Saúl Montoya | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 151 | Alexander Foliforov | RusVelo | s.t. | | 152 | Alexander Evtushenko | Gazprom | s.t. | | 153 | Emmanuel Guy | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 154 | Sven M. Schuster | SAP | s.t. | | 155 | Pablo Guerra | Orbea | s.t. | | 156 | Matias Alvares | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 157 | Guo Ji | ASUS | s.t. | | 158 | Yannick Eijssen | TEAM Soleco | s.t. | | 159 | Morten Vad | Gazprom | s.t. | | 160 | Pier Hermans | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 161 | Francisco Javier Ruiz | Movistar Team | + 24'59 | | 162 | Vladislav Gorbunov | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 163 | Eduard Vorganov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 164 | Matthew Busche | Exergy Development Group | s.t. | | 165 | Sergey Kuzmin | ExxonMobil - Geberit | s.t. | | 166 | Cristiano Salerno | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 167 | Harrison Spence | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 168 | Thomas Peterson | Exergy Development Group | + 25'43 |
Not a lot of time to celebrate, though. In two days we have Gent - Wevelgem.
I'm feeling stronger than ever. It's a combination of things. This team, this jersey, the audience... I dare to say it out loud: this year I'm going for the Flanders Quadrupple!
The word is out there. The challengers are there, too.
Bring it on!
Matt |
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| jona500 |
Posted on 02-06-2014 17:00
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 03-06-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Crazy performance!! Amazing, team switch seems to have been the right choice
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