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Qatar Optics - Duvel 2021: Story Completed
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| MrUfo87 |
Posted on 31-10-2013 17:21
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2803
Joined: 06-01-2012
PCM$: 700.00
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Great victory, but so close the day before! And a decent 9th place in the GC. 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 19:51
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| The Rider |
Posted on 31-10-2013 22:56
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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RACE: Hong Kong - Hong Kong 94 KM's
Spoiler California Giant Berry Farms
1. S.Ponzi
2. R.Bauman
3. J.Bobridge
4. Benj.King
5. T.Meyer
6. W.Sulzberger
7. C.Sutton
8. J.Walker
Wiggle
11. A.Fenn
12. S.Adams
13. A.Dowsett
14. M.McNally
15. J.Mozley
16. D.Patten
17. S.Richardson
18. W.Sybrandy
Meiji
21. M.Zanotti
22. Y.Agarkov
23. D.Arkhynos
24. O.Chuzhda
25. K.Ishikawa
26. A.Lyalko
27. A.Rybalko
28. T.Skujins
Cativen
31. J.Roelandts
32. F.Canuti
33. S.Fanelli
34. A.Pagani
35. F.Rossi
36. A.Schiavone
Cantabria Infinita
41. J.J.Lobato
42. R.Barragan
43. R.Borja
44. A.Contador
45. D.Fernandez
46. M.Moreno López
47. E.Navarro MartÃnez
48. J.Torres
Nippo
51. J.A.Jørgensen
52. G.Bertozzi
53. S.Kishi
54. M.Matsumura
55. T.Murray
56. J.Rabie
Qatar Optics
61. C.Long
62. A.Al Muwalid
63. A.Al Zaid
64. I.Cziraki
65. A.Truhanov
66. S.Wong
Armavia
71. L.Thierry
72. R.Baud
73. E.Mirov
74. A.Passeron
75. O.Perron
76. M.Peré
77. R.Serrano
78. J.Wright
Euskaltel
81. J.Castroviejo
82. J.Aberasturi
83. I.Antón
84. A.Armenteros
85. G.Bravo
86. J.Garabay
87. H.Orbe
88. J.Valerón
Domina Vacanze
91. N.Risi
92. L.Barla
93. T.Dall'Antonia
94. P.De Negri
95. M.Merlo
96. A.Santoro
97. C.Sarmiento
98. D.de Sanctis
Panathinaikos
101. E.Pinto
102. R.Carlton
103. J.Cernoch
104. D.Giangos
105. J.J.Haedo
106. A.Linden
107. D.Mhlanga
108. C.Opie
Luxair
111. F.Schramm
112. T.Bontenackels
113. S.Brandl
114. V.Brauer
115. M.Cardoso
116. F.Dörr
117. J.May
118. K.Thiele
Rossiya
121. A.Porsev
122. V.Abramovich
123. D.Ignatiev
124. A.Ovechkin
125. D.Puzanov
126. S.Shcherbakov
127. S.Sokolov
128. N.Trussov
Viru
131. O.Poom
132. E.Juodvalkis
133. J.Kütt
134. I.Liepins
135. R.Lobanovs
136. I.Markovic
137. S.Ojala
138. R.Sokk
Kaai Kari
141. G.Scholtz
142. S.Bewley
143. R.Chtioui
144. G.Hincapie
145. A.Kunitski
146. G.Palma
147. M.Renshaw
148. C.Richards
Barbot
151. B.Borges
152. C.Brito
153. M.Castelo
154. S.Coelho
155. M.Goncalves
156. F.Lopes
157. D.Mestre
158. B.Sancho
Kalev
161. S.Caldeira
162. S.Lebre
163. R.Mata
164. J.Mendes
165. J.Pantano
166. R.Pinto
167. F.Silvestre
168. J.Soares
Apple
171. D.Wyss
172. M.Aregger
173. M.Baer
174. M.Bandiera
175. C.Beyer
176. M.Maaskant
177. R.Müller
178. M.Schär
Alpro
181. P.Kochetkov
182. M.Abramov
183. T.Dryomov
184. N.Eskov
185. A.Khatuntsev
186. A.Klyuev
187. M.Pokidov
188. R.Vasilyev
KazMunayGas
191. H.Houle
192. A.Boyev
193. V.Dmitriyev
194. R.Kazanin
195. A.Smirnov
196. D.Stoichkov
197. M.Torckler
198. M.Vysna
Milka
201. T.Farnham
202. J.Antomarchi
203. S.Denifl
204. J.El Fares
205. R.Mahieu
206. V.Riquelme
Colombia es Pasión
211. D.Plaza
212. W.Anacona
213. L.Carreras
214. A.Charún
215. S.Estevez
216. M.Rubiano
217. J.M.Soler
218. J.Suarez
Race Favourites:
***Long(QOS) **Ponzi(GBF) *Lobato(CIA)
This is a special race for us. At this race back in 2017 we achieved our first ever victory with Bazayev, ahhh memories.
On this stage Long will look to win in his home race and should be extra motivated by the disheartening news that Qatar Optics are withdrawing from sponsoring the cycling centre in Hong Kong.
Who would win? Despite being a favourite, probably, not Ponzi as he was riding on the front of the peloton as a 6 man break get clear.
With 35 kilometres to go and the break @ 2:40 and lowering: Castroviejo, Santoro and Bewley of Kaai Kari break across to the original break.
After feeling bad earlier on, Long attacks across 10 kilometres later.
With 8 kilometres to go the peloton and the breaks are back together.
Inside 2 kilometres to go.... Long would be the first to launch his sprint, Goncalves of the original break tries to go with him amidst the lack of an organised sprint.
LONG WINS. The Hong Kong rider finally wins his first ever pro race, long overdue, there we go. Fenn was closing down but the way Long was able to hold everyone off was a great feat of stamina.
Win 20 of the season for us [Ex NC's]!
RESULTS:
| 1 | Chan Siu Long | Qatar Optics | 2h32'55 | | 2 | Andrew Fenn | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 3 | Luca Barla | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 4 | Marcel Aregger | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 5 | Cayetano Sarmiento | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 6 | Daniele de Sanctis | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 7 | Mário Goncalves | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 8 | Martijn Maaskant | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 9 | Danilo Wyss | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 10 | Victor Riquelme | TEAM Milka - Sanofi | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Michael Schär | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 12 | Robin Müller | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 13 | Olivier Perron | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 14 | Juan José Lobato | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 15 | Chad Beyer | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 16 | Steven Wong | Qatar Optics | s.t. | | 17 | Wesley Sulzberger | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 18 | Rodrigo Barragan | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 19 | Jonas Aaen Jørgensen | Team Nippo | s.t. | | 20 | Sergey Shcherbakov | Rossiya | s.t. | | 21 | Robin Baud | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 22 | Bruno Manuel Borges | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 23 | Artem Ovechkin | Rossiya | s.t. | | 24 | Thomas Bontenackels | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 25 | Simone Ponzi | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 26 | Julien El Fares | TEAM Milka - Sanofi | s.t. | | 27 | Jürgen Roelandts | Cativen - Tissot | s.t. | | 28 | Nico Risi | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 29 | Christopher Sutton | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 30 | Marco Zanotti | Meiji - Lampre CT | s.t. | | 31 | Igor Antón | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 32 | Stiven Fanelli | Cativen - Tissot | s.t. | | 33 | Antonio Santoro | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 34 | Ryan Bauman | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 35 | Jonathan Castroviejo | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 36 | Johann Rabie | Team Nippo | s.t. | | 37 | Sam Bewley | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 38 | Haritz Orbe | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 39 | Julian May | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 40 | Travis Meyer | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 41 | Jack Bobridge | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 42 | Lorenzo Thierry | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 43 | Benjamin King | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 44 | Michaël Baer | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 45 | Alexander Porsev | Rossiya | s.t. | | 46 | Samuel Coelho | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 47 | Johnnie Walker | California Giant Berry Farms | s.t. | | 48 | Samuel Ojala | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 49 | Pierpaolo De Negri | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 50 | Mark McNally | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 51 | Michael Torckler | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 52 | Jon Aberasturi | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 53 | Fabian H. Dörr | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 54 | Ryan Carlton | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 55 | Saito Kishi | Team Nippo | s.t. | | 56 | Juri Kütt | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 57 | Denis Stoichkov | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 58 | Simon Richardson | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 59 | Oliver Poom | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 60 | Wouter Sybrandy | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 61 | Manuel Cardoso | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 62 | Fabio Rossi | Cativen - Tissot | s.t. | | 63 | Fernando Miguel Lopes | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 64 | Jonathon Mozley | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 65 | Alex Dowsett | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 66 | Ivans Liepins | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 67 | Volker Brauer | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 68 | Thomas Murray | Team Nippo | s.t. | | 69 | Angelo Pagani | Cativen - Tissot | s.t. | | 70 | Yuriy Agarkov | Meiji - Lampre CT | s.t. | | 71 | Dmytro Arkhynos | Meiji - Lampre CT | s.t. | | 72 | Stephen Adams | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 73 | Mitsuhiro Matsumura | Team Nippo | s.t. | | 74 | Hugo Houle | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 75 | Egidijus Juodvalkis | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 76 | Stefan M. Brandl | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 77 | Daniel Patten | Wiggle - Rexona | s.t. | | 78 | Ivan Markovic | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 79 | Fabian Schramm | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 80 | Guido Palma | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 81 | Adrian Rybalko | Meiji - Lampre CT | + 1'18 | | 82 | Federico Canuti | Cativen - Tissot | s.t. | | 83 | Oleg Chuzhda | Meiji - Lampre CT | s.t. | | 84 | Alessio Schiavone | Cativen - Tissot | s.t. | | 85 | Andrei Smirnov | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 86 | Giuliano Bertozzi | Team Nippo | s.t. | | 87 | Alexey Lyalko | Meiji - Lampre CT | + 1'48 | | 88 | Julien Antomarchi | TEAM Milka - Sanofi | + 3'06 | | 89 | Pavel Kochetkov | Alpro | s.t. | | 90 | Jaroslav Cernoch | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 91 | Marco Bandiera | TEAM Apple | s.t. | | 92 | Stanislav Sokolov | Rossiya | s.t. | | 93 | Matej Vysna | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 94 | Renat Vasilyev | Alpro | s.t. | | 95 | Valeriy Dmitriyev | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 96 | Fabio Silvestre | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 97 | Marcos Moreno López | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 98 | Toms Skujins | Meiji - Lampre CT | s.t. | | 99 | Andrei Kunitski | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 100 | Daniel Plaza | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 101 | Nikolai Trussov | Rossiya | s.t. | | 102 | Alexey Truhanov | Qatar Optics | s.t. | | 103 | Lucas Carreras | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 104 | Miguel Rubiano | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 105 | Kersten Thiele | Luxair - Falcon | s.t. | | 106 | Juan Mauricio Soler | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 107 | Jarlinson Pantano | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 108 | Andreas Linden | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 109 | João Pedro Soares | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 110 | Rafael Mata | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | + 3'52 | | 111 | Aurélien Passeron | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 112 | Michele Merlo | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 113 | Edgar Pinto | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 114 | Andrey Klyuev | Alpro | s.t. | | 115 | Jose Mendes | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 116 | Istvan Cziraki | Qatar Optics | s.t. | | 117 | Cameron Richards | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 118 | Rafaâ Chtioui | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 119 | Nikita Eskov | Alpro | s.t. | | 120 | Garikoitz Bravo | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 121 | Maxim Pokidov | Alpro | s.t. | | 122 | Stefan Denifl | TEAM Milka - Sanofi | s.t. | | 123 | Alexander Khatuntsev | Alpro | s.t. | | 124 | Diego Fernandez | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 125 | Rafael Serrano | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 126 | Winner Anacona | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 127 | Samuel Caldeira | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 128 | Daniel Mestre | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 129 | Tiziano Dall'Antonia | Domina Vacanze | s.t. | | 130 | Tim Farnham | TEAM Milka - Sanofi | s.t. | | 131 | Evgeni Mirov | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 132 | Arnau Contador | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 133 | Chris Opie | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 134 | Bruno Sancho | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 135 | Ruslan Kazanin | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 136 | Juan Valerón | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 137 | Dimitry Ignatiev | Rossiya | s.t. | | 138 | Denver Mhlanga | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 139 | Gregory Scholtz | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 140 | JoaquÃn Torres | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 141 | Ricardo Pinto | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 142 | George Hincapie | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 143 | Abdulatif Al Zaid | Qatar Optics | s.t. | | 144 | Kiyoura Ishikawa | Meiji - Lampre CT | s.t. | | 145 | Mark Renshaw | Kaai Kari | s.t. | | 146 | Sérgio Lebre | TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways | s.t. | | 147 | Dmitri Puzanov | Rossiya | s.t. | | 148 | Mário Castelo | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 149 | Joe Wright | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 150 | Aleksandr Boyev | TEAM KazMunayGas | s.t. | | 151 | Rolands Lobanovs | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 152 | Juan Pablo Suarez | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 153 | Eloi Navarro MartÃnez | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 154 | Andres Charún | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 155 | Juan Jorge Garabay | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 156 | Mickaël Peré | Armavia - Provamel | s.t. | | 157 | Samuel Estevez | Colombia es Pasión - Brandenburg | s.t. | | 158 | Vladislav Abramovich | Rossiya | s.t. | | 159 | Abel Armenteros | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 160 | Carlos Manuel Brito | TEAM Barbot | s.t. | | 161 | Juan José Haedo | Panathinaikos | s.t. | | 162 | Ali Sanad Al Muwalid | Qatar Optics | s.t. | | 163 | Roland Sokk | Viru Beer | s.t. | | 164 | Timofey Dryomov | Alpro | + 5'59 | | 165 | Rodrigo Borja | Cantabria Infinita | s.t. | | 166 | Maksim Abramov | Alpro | s.t. | | 167 | Dimitris Giangos | Panathinaikos | + 7'08 | | 168 | Rémi Mahieu | TEAM Milka - Sanofi | s.t. |
C.S.Long:
@ MrUFo - Yeah, though I'm glad that race is over, as we are almost upon the big one.. Le Tour!  (Can a Frenchman win again!)
Edited by The Rider on 31-10-2013 22:57
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| duxili |
Posted on 01-11-2013 06:32
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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LE TOUR ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ
Yeap 2 wins for a nice recovery 
With ragonson the line, I am not suprised that other riders let a local pass first, see what happen to him
Oh, did I mention I am waiting...
LE TOUR, LE TOUR, LE TOUR....
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| The Rider |
Posted on 01-11-2013 10:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Part 1/5:
With our little trip out to Hong Kong over we were already to get back to our Qatar base when we get some irritating news. The news is that our plane packed with support staff, riders and gear is overloaded. Meaning that two people had to get onto a different flight scheduled for Qatar.
For some reason C.S.Long had a whole pack of straws with him (maybe it is some kind of Hong Kong thing?) so we agreed the people to pick the two shortest straws would get on another flight.
The shortest straws were picked out by myself and ..... Abdulatif Al Zaid, who else! 'Hmmmm' I thought to myself wondering how this situation would unfold. Abdulatif is a great character but trouble does seem to find him unnervingly, refer to Langkawi 2017!
It wasn't long before Abdulatif whistled out and said 'Look at those ants' as the small plane rose as we left Chep Lap Kok island.
I ignored him and drifted off to sleep accompanied by the relaxing music playlist emanating from the plane's speakers. It all seemed great. Surely nothing bad could happen, right?
@ duxili - We will have to offer him a contract now. He is a good guy so I doubt he want mega amounts of money.
It is almost here, but some Chinese adventures may have to be negotiated first!  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 01-11-2013 13:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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History repeats itself, Great win for Chan Siu Long in China |
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| The Rider |
Posted on 01-11-2013 17:13
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Part 2/5:
Wouldn't you know it, we were barely into the flight when the pilot called for an emergency landing provoking screams of terror from the females and nervous amongst passengers. I glanced at Abdulatif and saw he was covered in sweat despite trying to remain 'macho'.
After some turbulence we thankfully landed with no injuries in the middle of the rural Qinghai province. The middle of nowhere. Just great, no signals for mobiles or nothing.
After one hour or so myself and Abdulatif volunteered to look for help warranting cries of 'You are crazy' from the English speaking women. But what could we do? The pilot accepted our request and we left the party of 20 or so and headed north according to the compass the pilot gave us.
After 30 minutes of brisk walking, fully understanding the severity of the situation, we slightly veered off our northern course to reach the highest visible peak for miles. 'Oh shit' Abdulatif muttered as I joined him at the top.
I echoed him as there was nothing but barren wilderness for as far as the eye could see. We were lost, well and truly. Screwed.
@ Sutty - Chan Siu is likely going to play a pivotal role for us. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 06-11-2013 19:44
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Just came here to say: Loved the first bits of the Tour of Qatar. Arabs, Camels, strange incidents on the road. Very funny. Also you present the story in a really great way and lovely detail with all these pics. Definitely will continue reading overtime but first I think I have to catch up on a lot of posts.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| The Rider |
Posted on 06-11-2013 19:46
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Shonak wrote:
Just came here to say: Loved the first bits of the Tour of Qatar. Arabs, Camels, strange incidents on the road. Very funny. Also you present the story in a really great way and lovely detail with all these pics. Definitely will continue reading overtime but first I think I have to catch up on a lot of posts.
Great stuff mate.
It will be a while before my next post here as I am on a bit of a break with the T.O.T.C 2 so there is plenty of time to' catch up', if you wish. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 06-11-2013 23:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Bad news about the plane's emergency landing  |
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| The Rider |
Posted on 07-11-2013 21:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Part 3/5:
It would be another two hours before we came in contact with the only sign so far of human life. Nestled away into the hills we found a small cabin. Which easily could have been hundreds of years old. We tentatively approached the structure. I knocked on the door. Nothing. With a fear inducing creak of the door we entered.
Nothing. The hut was covered in what looked like layers of dust. Books, tableware and a stove were both very old and almost unidentifiable. 'Helooooo' Abdulatif called out........ 'Welcome there' a voice called out in response. Startled I turned and saw a very old looking Chinese man in ancient Chinese dress. The smile on his ancient features somewhat relaxed me.
'There was a plane crash, there are thirty of us, can we use your phone? Do you have a phone?' I said in a flurry words and emotion. Bewilderingly all the old man could say was 'Beautiful weather today, you may call me Yat-Sen Tang'.
After briefly introducing ourselves I asked again if we could use his phone. 'I have no phone child' he said in a calm manner. Feeling this was a dead end I headed towards the front door when 'I can help you' was quietly uttered from the lips of the Chinaman. I turned and edged closer to Mr Tang and before I could open my mouth to speak he said 'But you have to do something for me'.
@ sutty - Let's hope they can survive.  |
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| duxili |
Posted on 08-11-2013 06:31
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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The Rider wrote:@ sutty - Let's hope they can survive.
Let's hope indeed.
How unfortunate you are to crash in the 1st economical power and most croweded country in the world and be lost in a no man's land with just an old man with no phone, asking for your help
Btw, I find your Chinese adventure banner amazing 
Edited by duxili on 08-11-2013 06:32
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 08-11-2013 12:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Maybe the old man is a wizard and can give you Magical powers when you are on the bike  |
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| The Rider |
Posted on 10-11-2013 19:16
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Part 4/5:
Later that evening Abdulatif managed to rustle together some wood and start a fire in the opening to a small damp cave where we would spend the night.
Mr Tang told us he could help us if we helped him. It seemed foolish to go along with the old man but one look into his eyes and for some indescribable reason I lost all will to disagree with him. So, after three hours of walking, me and Abdulatif were squatting in a damp cave which may not have seen a human soul for hundreds of years. But is was fine, if Mr Tang was to be believed we were almost at our destination.
We woke up at dawn the following morning and after eating our last reserves of airplane peanuts we quickly reached the destination where Mr Tang had told us where the three relics were held. The previous day Mr Tang told us to go to in the direction of the highest peak on the horizon and enter the limestone cavern at the bottom of the mountain and retrieve three relics from the entrance ( 1 mask and 2 broken vases).
After Abdulatif beat away some bushes with his makeshift staff we were there. It was just as Mr Tang had said. Impossible I thought, Mr Tang was an elderly man and surely had no means of making his way here over the rough terrain, to the middle of nowhere. A reflection of light caught my eye from inside the cave and there lying undisturbed were the three items, just like Mr Tang had said.
Just as I was adding all this up..... I heard a voice. Non distinct, but a human voice, I swear it. "Shhh" I told Abdulatif as for what seemed like an age I strained me ears to pick up on anything. But no more sounds were made other than the cawing of distant birds.
We edged closer and I said " You take the vases and I'll take the mask." I stared at the mask and having never seen anything as old and as unique as it before I felt recognition as if I had seen the image somewhere before. I withdrew my gaze and saw Abdulatif was unwittingly walking further into the cave where nothing but darkness resided.... I grabbed his arm and he shook his head as if adjusting to his surroundings.
We retraced our footsteps and headed back to Mr Tang's hut with the three relics in hand.
@ sutty68 - That would help us out!
@ duxili - That's great mate. But personally I prefer the banner I did for 'Lost in Langkawi' on PAGE 5! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 10-11-2013 19:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Where the hell is this going, mate?  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-11-2013 23:20
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Ian Butler wrote:
Where the hell is this going, mate?
Err............mmmmm...........somewhere in China i think........... |
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| duxili |
Posted on 11-11-2013 07:28
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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It is turnng into an Indiana Jones rebranded story
Let's wait for the last part to find it all out!
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| The Rider |
Posted on 19-11-2013 22:54
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Part 5/5:
The sun was at its zenith, unrelenting over the barren Chinese wilderness, as myself and Abdulatif once again came up to Mr Tang's cabin. We came to the door and found it to be ajar so I carefully pushed the door open. Tension heavily filled the air with the thoughts in my head racing only for Abdulatif to break it by shouting " MR TANG, ARE YOU HERE SIR".
We briskly searched the few rooms in the house and found no sign of its resident. After moments had passed we placed the items on a forlorn dusty wooden table top before we headed for the exit to the cabin.... Abdulatif was outside and I was on the threshold when I heard the distinctive voice of Mr Tang say " Thank you"...
I turned around instantly, astonishment and fear washed over me for the three items has vanished and there was no sign of Mr Tang.
Half an hour passed before Abdulatif had managed to calm me down and convince me to head back to the plane. I resisted at first but as we were out of food I had little choice. " Let us hope old Mr Tang will keep his part of the bargain" Abdulatif said hopefully as we marched back to the plane, I wanted to slap Abdulatif square in the face there and then for not taking the severity of the situation seriously.
We approached the plane as the sun was setting later that day, nothing had changed since we left the previous day, and the passengers rose one by one to meet us wearing expressions of dread for all to see.
BUT then a noise... then another.... then another...mechanical....human.... seconds later three helicopters appeared in plain sight around the tops of the trees just as we approached the survivors . WE WERE SAVED...... Mr Tang did live up to his bargain after all.
@ Ian Butler - After Lost in Langkawi (PAGE4/5) this could be the screenplay for the sequel in the 'Qatar Optics' series of movies. 
@ Sutty68 - Yeah but we are heading back to Qatar now then Europe for the start of the TDF.
@ duxili - Thank Qatar everyone get out of rural China alive! Now onto the TDF!
Edited by The Rider on 19-11-2013 22:56
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| duxili |
Posted on 20-11-2013 06:38
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 18-09-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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What a relieve. TdF we will get!
Nice picture of the choppers and good end of the episode too
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 20-11-2013 12:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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I bet they are glad this nightmare is over.................or is it |
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| The Rider |
Posted on 20-11-2013 16:14
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Selected national champions from the NC's taking place in June 2020:
Austria: (RR) D Schorn
Belgium: (RR) N Maes (TT) T de Gendt
Canada: (RR) G Boivin (TT) D Boily
Denmark: (RR) S Lander (TT) K Andreasen
Estonia: (RR) S Saharov
France: (RR)A Jeannesson (TT) A Roux
Germany: (RR) P Martens (TT) T Martin
Hungary: (RR) I Cziraki
Ireland: (RR) N Roche
Italy: (RR) E Viviani (TT) L Barla
Kazakhstan: (RR) R Chelyakov
Lithuania: (RR) A Kroupis
Netherlands: (RR) M Kreder
Norway: (RR) H Pettersen
Poland: (RR) H Grabowski
Portugal: (RR) Brandao (TT) N Oliviera
Russia: (RR) T Kritskiy (TT) T Kritskiy
Spain: (RR) I Salas (TT) J Castroviejo
A special congratulations to de Gendt, Cziraki and Kritskiy on our team. Kritskiy, for the second time, wins both NC's whilst it is a good sign that de Gendt wins the Belgium TT title. Sicard also showed well in the French RR, he lost the two man sprint with Jeannesson of FDJ.
Edited by The Rider on 20-11-2013 16:18
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