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A Day in the Life | Sweet Delight
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 02-02-2014 09:20
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7756
Joined: 11-04-2012
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A good start. Cav and Boonen already opening up their accounts!!
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 02-02-2014 10:59
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7592
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 300.00
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Cav at Lotto... I think I might cry 
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-02-2014 11:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Jakstar22 - They sure are.
the_hoyle - Why? Look at the lead-out he's got. And VDB and Vanendert are gone so Lotto going all in for sprints  |
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 02-02-2014 11:08
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 847
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck in Argentinia, in the mountains
Edited by VoetsT on 02-02-2014 11:08
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-02-2014 12:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Voets - Thanks, it's a different start than the usual Tour Down Under. Maybe more suited to Henry  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-02-2014 12:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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And the race goes on!
 Tour de San Luis
Devenynsreally came here to test his legs. He went into the break.
Things didn't went to smoothly for me the first two days. But I was really pulling through today. I moved up to the front.
Devenyns took enough points to wear the Mountain Jersey tomorrow.
When they got caught and the final climb was drawing nearer, I felt better and better. Malori caught my eye and I nodded. He went to the front and turned up the pace.
As soon as we hit the climb, I accelerated! Cataldo tried to follow but couldn't hold my wheel.
I created a gap. 3 kilometers to go. Could I hang on?
I looked over my shoulder and noticed Henao was coming. Remembering losing to him in the sprint in Lombardia two years ago, I wanted to hold him off at all costs.
It's still early in the season, so I'm definitely not 100% yet. But neither is Henao. He was unable to bridge the gap!
Oh, this feels so sweet! I could only hope my first Rainbow victory would come so soon. At least that pressure is off my shoulders now!
Result
It wasn't my best time trial. But it was enough to keep the leader's jersey. With three more stages (mountain, hilly and flat), I have a fairly good chance of taking the Tour de San Luis and start my season much better than last year.
Result | 1 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 22'48 | | 2 | Andriy Grivko | Vini Fantini - Selle Italia | + 1 | | 3 | Adriano Malori | Team Celesio - Macquarie | + 2 | | 4 | Tejay Van Garderen | Cannondale Pro Cycling | + 3 | | 5 | Jérémy Roy | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 9 | | 6 | Dario Cataldo | Sky Procycling | + 11 | | 7 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ.fr | + 15 | | 8 | Jonathan Hivert | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 18 | | 9 | Maxime Monfort | Lampre - Merida | + 19 | | 10 | Thor Hushovd | Astana Pro Team | + 20 |
General Classification | 1 | Henry Vergnaud | Team Celesio - Macquarie | 11h33'45 | | 2 | Sergio Henao | Lotto Belisol | + 19 | | 3 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 24 | | 4 | Dario Cataldo | Sky Procycling | + 43 | | 5 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ.fr | + 47 | | 6 | Ryder Hesjedal | Cannondale Pro Cycling | + 56 | | 7 | Rigoberto Urán | Sky Procycling | + 59 | | 8 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre - Merida | + 1'10 | | 9 | Tejay Van Garderen | Cannondale Pro Cycling | + 1'24 | | 10 | Jelle Vanendert | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 1'40 |
I will fight for the General Classification. A win is not a must, however. If I want my season to last all the way to the World Championships in September, I have to stay smart and not blow my legs up too soon and too early.
My Rainbow Year - Days 3 & 4
As soon as I received this beautiful jersey, a little voice inside my head started whispering: "you need to win now. You can't wear this jersey and not win..."
I'm real happy and proud to win my first race in this jersey, I hope it's not my last. At least a big part of the pressure is off my shoulders now. I can work towards Paris - Nice, my first goal, more relaxed.
Edited by Ian Butler on 02-02-2014 12:06
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 02-02-2014 12:09
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4112
Joined: 29-01-2013
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Ah that's nice, proving there's no such thing as the curse of the rainbow Jersey right from the start.
Spoiler Or did i speak to soon? 
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 02-02-2014 12:15
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7756
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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A great start for Henry  No curse so far let's hope it stays that way
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 11-09-2026 12:45
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Bot Agent
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Joined: 23.11.09
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 02-02-2014 12:38
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 847
Joined: 29-06-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Back to winning mode 
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 02-02-2014 12:46
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7934
Joined: 22-06-2009
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All he does is win... No matter what... Got Rainbows on his mind... It will never be enough. 
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| FonsDeSpons |
Posted on 02-02-2014 13:33
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Stagiare
Posts: 160
Joined: 30-10-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Perfect start of the new season! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-02-2014 14:49
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Great picture of Henry winning in the World Champion Jersey, the first of many i hope |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-02-2014 18:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Dippofix - Don't speak too soon, but it is a good start 
Jakstar22 - I couldn't agree more
VoetsT - That's his favorite mode
Mresuperstar - I guess 'Extreme' will work out after all. I'm curious what Henry's palmares will look like at the end of his career!
FonsDeSpons - Indeed. Maybe we can do even more and take the GC as well.
sutty68 - I hope so, too, thanks |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-02-2014 18:51
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18071
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
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So i finally decided to read one of your stories properly from start to finish.... Only 17 pages in (roughly one season) so i'll save a big comment until i catch up. But (and this has every chance of changing, although you won le Tour at 24 so maybe not) you seemed to fall into your classic problem of being too good too young. Certainly not a killer for me like in the old ones because of the nice personal touches though.
And back to reading...
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 02-02-2014 18:52
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2304
Joined: 29-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Good to see Henry get that monkey off his back
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-02-2014 19:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
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TheManxMissile - Glad to hear you're reading it from start to finish, at least what is the finish right now. Henry wasn't too strong to start with. Development was even on 0.2, but Henry developed quite fast so I think his personal development was just too high (may have to do with potential 8).
But in the end, it doesn't bother me at all now. Winning the Tour at 24 is not unique. World Champion at 24 is far from unique (Monsere was only 20).
I guess I just like riding with successful riders and at least this time I feel I made the journey, from scratch to world rider. True, he was strong when he was young, but then what about Sagan?
Also, I once compared it to the story about Cavendish, and someone (could've been you, not sure) said: yes, but the difference is we expect Cavendish to win.
I just wanted to make this story like that. He worked himself up in a few seasons, but he's coming at a time where people expect him to win.
Hope you enjoy it nevertheless
welker3257 - Yeah, I was relieved, too
Next (and final) update of today will be posted a little later! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 02-02-2014 19:34
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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More racing from Argentina!
Tour de San Luis
The attacks started before the climb, but I wasn't worried.
Right before the climb, we caught them. I decided to do the pacing on the climb, see it as a nice training. I wouldn't pay any attention to the competition.
Things went good, and I was somewhat surprised to see my pace was hard enough to tire out most of the competition.
As the climb progressed, I felt growing stronger. It's been more than a year now since I stopped training time trialing. But that also means it's been more than a year I've been training only exclusively on climbing!
I had quite a gap at the top of the mountain and I decided I shouldn't wait around. Only 10 kilometers to the finish now.
Three chasers, but they gained no time. In fact, they were still losing time to me. I guess most of them were thinking about place 2 and 3 now.
The final kilometer was a triumph ride for me. I loved it!
Too bad I don't have my Rainbow Jersey on right now. But that matters little. Today I was simply the strongest and that's what matters most!
Result | 1 | Henry Vergnaud | Team Celesio - Macquarie | 4h01'24 | | 2 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ.fr | + 1'38 | | 3 | Tejay Van Garderen | Cannondale Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 4 | Rigoberto Urán | Sky Procycling | s.t. | | 5 | Nairo Quintana | Sky Procycling | + 2'34 | | 6 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 8 | Daniel Moreno | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 9 | Miguel Rubiano | Colombia | s.t. | | 10 | Jonathan Hivert | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. |
General Classification | 1 | Henry Vergnaud | Team Celesio - Macquarie | 15h34'49 | | 2 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ.fr | + 2'33 | | 3 | Rigoberto Urán | Sky Procycling | + 2'57 | | 4 | Sergio Henao | Lotto Belisol | + 3'13 | | 5 | Tejay Van Garderen | Cannondale Pro Cycling | + 3'14 | | 6 | Michał Kwiatkowski | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 3'18 | | 7 | Ryder Hesjedal | Cannondale Pro Cycling | + 3'50 | | 8 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre - Merida | + 4'04 | | 9 | Nairo Quintana | Sky Procycling | + 4'48 | | 10 | Jonathan Hivert | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. |
Rainbow Victories: 2
The year couldn't have started better for me. I'll be honest, after a mediocre winter full of rainbow obligations, I was afraid I had not been spending enough time on the bike. But these two victories prove I'm right on track. Once I hit a mountain, something inside of me just takes over and doesn't stop until I hit the summit.
I want to do this jersey honor, and I think I'm doing exactly that right now!
Henry
Spoiler Is it possible Extreme is easier than Hard?
I guess the competition has a different fitness schedule
Edited by Ian Butler on 02-02-2014 19:39
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| VoetsT |
Posted on 02-02-2014 19:34
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 847
Joined: 29-06-2013
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Once you win, you keep winning
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 02-02-2014 19:48
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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That was a Great solo win for Henry |
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| 24sebaf1 |
Posted on 02-02-2014 20:21
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Under 23
Posts: 69
Joined: 22-01-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Yeah!!!, I wanted to see this since the story started, Henry winning in my home country |
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