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Auber 93 - BigMat | Season 2009
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 21-10-2012 20:27
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Transfers Out
And of course, as some join, others will have to leave. It was my original intention to not cut riders' contracts short, but I feel that in order to continue at this horrible difficulty, and to try and get some great results, other than just King of the Mountains jerseys, some of the less useful riders would have to be cut.
Contracts Ending:
 Ludovic Lawniczak - a young, rather untalented time trialist.
 Siarhei Papok - our hope had been to develop him into an adequate lead out man. The realisation was he'd never cut the mustard.
Maxime Mederel - our old climber was reaching his limits of performance, and there are only so many rubbish races to send him to!
Contracts Forcefully Stopped:
Renaud Pioline - a previous team leader, Pioline could never match Gaudin's development on the cobbles.
Dimitri Champion - useful in the time trials, but future scope for development had ended.
Tristan Valentin - helpful on the cobbles, but never really strong enough to pull anything back on the flat, hills, or in the classics.
Jeremie Galland - bit of an all rounder, though a bit too rubbish.
Sebastien Minard - having helped the team score points in team time trials, Minard will be missed, but the space will be filled with more talent we're sure.
 World Championships:
Not being a great fan of the World Championships when I have no vested interest (no riders in great form for the course), these are the results for those who care!
TT:
| 1 |  Sébastien Rosseler | QUICKSTEP - INNERGETIC | 55'21 | | 2 |  Fabian Cancellara | TEAM CSC | + 29 | | 3 |  Thomas Dekker | RABOBANK | + 40 | | 4 | Janez Brajkovic | DISCOVERY CHANNEL | + 1'14 | | 5 | Dominique Cornu | PREDICTOR - LOTTO | + 1'15 | | 6 | Benoît Vaugrenard | AUBER - BELTELECOM | + 1'31 | | 7 | Alexander Khatuntsev | UNIBET.COM | + 1'53 | | 8 | Stefan Schumacher | TEAM ASTANA | + 2'18 | | 9 | Marc De Maar | RABOBANK | s.t. | | 10 | Mikhail Ignatiev | PREDICTOR - LOTTO | + 2'26 | | 11 | François Pervis | AUBER - BELTELECOM | + 2'51 |
RR:
| 1 |  Kim Kirchen | T-MOBILE TEAM | 6h11'39 | | 2 | Damiano Cunego | T-MOBILE TEAM | s.t. | | 3 | Filippo Pozzato | LIQUIGAS | + 33 | | 4 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | LIQUIGAS | s.t. | | 5 |  Beñat Intxausti | COFIDIS, LE CRÉDIT PAR TÉLÉPHONE | s.t. | | 6 |  Cadel Evans | RABOBANK | + 55 | | 7 | Alessandro Ballan | LAMPRE - FONDITAL | + 1'24 | | 8 |  Yuri Trofimov | LIQUIGAS | s.t. | | 9 |  George Hincapie | DISCOVERY CHANNEL | + 1'47 | | 10 | Mathieu Sprick | FRANÇAISE DES JEUX | s.t. |
Edited by rjc_43 on 21-10-2012 22:19
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 21:52
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 21-10-2012 22:14
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Team Leader
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Joined: 13-10-2007
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Paris - Tours
After our strong showing here last season with Gaudin, our sponsors were eager for us to do better still. A top 5 was the request, and one we certainly hoped we could achieve. Especially as we've yet to get any of the other 4...
Our strong squad for the day are riders who are all in the best form, which doesn't say much in the grand scheme of things.
Ciolek is our main man, with Decouttere the man for the break. Abal is the back up man for the break.
Obviously the profile hasn't changed since last season, with the hilly finale potentially causing issues if you're not careful.
Decouttere attempted to get away, truly he did. However the game seems to dislike riders who are in form from getting away. Bit odd, especially as he wasn't the strongest guy to try and get away. But, we still felt we needed someone up the road (to ensure we got chased down later), so Abal, with his low 90's form would have to do. Not a bad choice really, a Grand Tour King of the Mountains.
A strong break indeed to be in, but still it was being chased. Abal unfortunately didn't seem to be able to hack the pace that well, and as Hincapie, Paolini and some other rider whom I forget, counter attacked to try and get to the break, Abal went out the back.
As Hincapie and Paolini got across, the gap stabilised over the final climbs, and my concern at the peloton's strength to pull it back was increasing. Coming into the final climb, a minute's gap was still very much there, and the peloton were clearly struggling to make any inroads. With Ciolek in perfect form for the day, and with a full bar of green, I decided he had to risk it all.
Usually it doesn't work, especially as riders were attempting to follow Ciolek (we were in the final 10km). But Gerald got clean away! Bridging the gap solo, and decided to move straight to the front. He'd lead it out if he had to!
But, hang on, are those riders oblivious? Ciolek cruised past them, and they just watched him go. No attempt to jump on his wheel at all!
And suddenly, a 30 second lead just 4 km out. Could this be a miraculous performance? The catch of the breakaway group certainly helped mess the lead out behind.
And under the final kilometre to go banner, the gap stable, Ciolek could be on his way to his biggest victory. What a way to end a season!
Absolutely knackered. Ruined. Gasping deep, deep breaths, Ciolek rolled over the line. Too smashed to celebrate, but happy to acknowledge the team's security for one more season.
And yes. It's on extreme. Madness.
Result:
| 1 |  Gerald Ciolek | AUBER - BELTELECOM | 6h01'34 | | 2 | Heinrich Haussler | GEROLSTEINER | + 24 | | 3 | Sébastien Chavanel | FRANÇAISE DES JEUX | s.t. | | 4 | Mark Cavendish | GEROLSTEINER | s.t. | | 5 | Alessandro Petacchi | TEAM MILRAM | s.t. | | 6 | Marko Vander | TEAM MILRAM | s.t. | | 7 | Francesco Chicchi | T-MOBILE TEAM | s.t. | | 8 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI | s.t. | | 9 | Stuart O'Grady | TEAM CSC | s.t. | | 10 | Filippo Pozzato | LIQUIGAS | s.t. | | 122 | Niels Brouzes | AUBER - BELTELECOM | s.t. | | 125 | Vasil Kiryienka | AUBER - BELTELECOM | s.t. |
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 21-10-2012 22:21
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Team Leader
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Fucking fantastic!
I see you aren't making it any easier on yourself for next year though... |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 21-10-2012 22:26
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Team Leader
Posts: 6716
Joined: 13-10-2007
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I'll announce the rest of the new signings after Lombardi. Very exciting. One has 66 mountain.
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 21-10-2012 22:49
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rjc_43 wrote:
I'll announce the rest of the new signings after Lombardi. Very exciting. One has 66 mountain.
Go big.
But that was an insane result 
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| HaRe |
Posted on 22-10-2012 13:09
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Neo-Pro
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Joined: 08-07-2012
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nice win  |
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 22-10-2012 13:22
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Team Leader
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Joined: 06-10-2007
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rjc_43 wrote:
I'll announce the rest of the new signings after Lombardi. Very exciting. One has 66 mountain.
Cancellara probably has around 66 MO  |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 22-10-2012 21:08
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Team Leader
Posts: 6716
Joined: 13-10-2007
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Giro di Lombardi
This year, the race of the Falling Leaves has special significance to Auber - Beltelecom. It's a celebration race! The teams below us are certainly lacking in fire power and the likelihood of being demoted back to the Continental Tour is slim. While we also have a weak team, the plan will be to try and keep Vasili Kiryienka up there and see if he can do anything after his long season racing.
Our erstwhile leader Levarlet will also be reshowing his face to pay back his team mates for their previous efforts throughout the season. And Gerald Ciolek, who has just been offered a new deal from Auber (after those performances in the Vuelta and Paris - Tours, I just had to keep him!) will be there to support as best he can too.
The profile, as expected, is a little hilly...
Once more Abal got into the break, as the AI still wouldn't let Ciolek get away - clearly fearful of his excellent climbing ability... I wish I was joking, but other than Kuschynski, he was the only rider to actually keep near Kiryienka for most of the race.
But, as per usual, the break wouldn't stay, and Abal wouldn't last the distance anyway. It's been a great end of season for our Spaniard, though it would have been far nicer to see him in action earlier in the year to gain some experience. Still, it's worked out ok in the end!
As a flash back to the Vuelta stage, it was once again Cunego coming up to join the break.
Which then promptly spelled the end of the break, before many, many, many attacks and counter attacks.
Bertagnolli was in the lead with 3km to go, and Cunego just 15 seconds behind. The inevitable happened though, Cunego got within the time gap and started sprinting with 1km to go. Game over.
Kiryienka on the other hand? Our thoughts were confirmed - 72 fitness and only 75 hill does not bode well for hilly classics.
Results:
| 1 | Damiano Cunego | T-MOBILE TEAM | 6h27'14 | | 2 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | LIQUIGAS | s.t. | | 3 |  Andriy Grivko | TEAM MILRAM | + 1'00 | | 4 | Joaquim RodrÃguez | CAISSE D'EPARGNE | s.t. | | 5 | Michael Boogerd | RABOBANK | s.t. | | 6 | Fränk Schleck | TEAM CSC | s.t. | | 7 | Paolo Bettini | LIQUIGAS | + 1'47 | | 8 | Danilo Di Luca | LIQUIGAS | s.t. | | 9 | Riccardo Riccò | SAUNIER DUVAL - PRODIR | s.t. | | 10 | Rinaldo Nocentini | AG2R PRÉVOYANCE | s.t. | | 47 | Vasil Kiryienka | AUBER - BELTELECOM | s.t. | | 67 | Aleksandr Kuschynski | AUBER - BELTELECOM | s.t. |
So, how do the end of the season rankings look?
Pro Tour
Continental Tour:
New Signings:
And so a few more confirmed signings! And I'm awful, I lied earlier, my new signing has 67!! mountain. Welcome to the team, Wout Poels:
Wout Poels
Our hope is that he will, in time, develop into a supreme mountains man. Capable of replacing Mederel. Shouldn't be too hard!
Another Frenchie to add to the collection, looked over last season by many teams, we decided to give Yoann Offredo a chance to develop in our lower key races this coming season. See what he's made of.
Yoann Offredo
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 15:14
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Team Leader
Posts: 6716
Joined: 13-10-2007
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Transfer Round Up
On the team for two seasons, but with only limited race days, and a limited potential to develop, Jollet was on a knife edge as to whether he would remain with the team. As it was, his space was needed for my last signing, so off he trotted happily to fellow French team Bretagne.
Sponsor Pressure
With our sponsors all from France, the team based in France, the majority of the riders home grown or from neighbouring countries, pressure was plied upon me to sign riders who had shown some talent in a race close to Auber's heart. The Tour des Pyrenees. In our first season, we did well. Very well, in fact. And this past season, Martinez stepped up to the gauntlet of leading the team here. He placed 4th overall.
As already announced, Lesvenan will join us from Roubaix. Coming along with him for the trip will be 5th and 9th place riders, Axel Rizzetto:
and Yohann Baron:
Feeling the desire to reward David Abal for his stunning performances in the Vuelta, we decided it would be a nice gesture to also sign his training partner, also talented in the climbing aspect of cycling, Luis Leon Larramona. Our Triple L threat.
Prime Signing
Our final transfer dealing cost a lot of money. In fact, it's now left the team with barely over 1.5million euros to run for a season (cue the firing of doctors, unneeded trainers, etc, etc). A horrible 3.1 million euros was required to tempt another German away from his national team of Gerolsteiner. But, tempt we did.
I am very happy to announce the signing of our very own hill merchant, Fabian Wegmann!
With his expertise in the hills, he'll be able to target the Ardennes and the run up to the World Championships.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 15:19
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Tour de France Champion
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Wegmann will be a very nice addition to the team  |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-10-2012 15:34
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
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Can I ask why you transferred a guy like Wegmann in when there are usually much better prospects with expiring contracts? |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 15:39
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Team Leader
Posts: 6716
Joined: 13-10-2007
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I definitely planned to get Wegmann. Honest. It wasn't a horrible cover up of my complete and utter lack of foresight in to hiring some good riders. Nope.
I think playing a save game over such a long period of time I quite honestly forgot certain bits and pieces, like to look at who to sign for next year, or to remember what my scout is doing, or why he's checking out a clearly shit rider. When I started the 2008 season, it was 3 years ago. It wasn't until the last few days that I decided to do a massive culling of the team to try and get some more promising riders in, by which point the chance to get any good free agents had gone.
Unusually, there aren't very many good riders left in the Free Agent pool. Bennati, Farrar, Ista are the three that spring to mind, and I've got my fill with sprinters.
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 23-10-2012 15:39
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Team Leader
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Great signing in Wegmann, should allow you to stay up a little more comfortably next year. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-10-2012 15:43
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Grand Tour Champion
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Fair enough, didn't know how on it you'd been. Sets this up great for the next few seasons though |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 16:00
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Team Leader
Posts: 6716
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Last Transfer
Oops, completely forgot this one!
Wegmann was our last signing, this rider we signed in the first week of the off season:
Thomas Voeckler
Kind of had to really when he was free to get!
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 23-10-2012 16:09
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
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That makes everything better. |
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 23-10-2012 18:07
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Team Leader
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Tommy Wommy! |
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| HaRe |
Posted on 23-10-2012 18:15
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Neo-Pro
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nice signing's |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 22:10
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Team Leader
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Auber 93 - BigMat Team 09
Leaders:
| Maxim Belkov | | | Stage Racer | | | 23 | | | Targetted Races: | Giro d'Italia | | Tour of Romandie | | Key Stats: | 78 mountain | | 78 recovery | | 76 time trial | | Gerald Ciolek | | | Sprinter | | | 22 | | | Targetted Races: | Tour de France | | Eneco Tour | | Tour of Poland | | Key Stats: | 83 sprint | | 77 flat | | 77 recovery | | Fabian Wegmann | | | Puncheur | | | 28 | | | Targetted Races: | Ardennes Classics | | Milan San Remo | | GP Ouest Plouay | | Key Stats: | 78 hill | | 74 stamina | | 73 sprint |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 23-10-2012 22:17
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Team Leader
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Auber 93 - BigMat Team 09
Lieutenants:
| Guillaume Levarlet | | | Climber | | | 23 | | | Targetted Races: | Vuelta a Espana | | Ardennes Classics | | Key Stats: | 76 mountain | | 74 hill | | 73 recovery | | Mathieu Drujon | | | Sprinter | | | 25 | | | Targetted Races: | Tour de France (support) | | Tirreno Adriatico | | Key Stats: | 78 sprint | | 73 flat | | 72 acceleration | | | | Damien Gaudin | | | Northern Classics | | | 22 | | | Targetted Races: | Paris - Roubaix | | Ronde van Vlaanderen | | Quatre Jours du Dunkerque | | Key Stats: | 78 stamina | | 76 flat | | 75 cobbles |
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