Nestled in the corner of Spain and France lies a region, a region where the people may not consider themselves Spanish first or French first, but Basque first. Political borders are transcended by a shared culture that is one of the oldest and most unique in Europe. The scenery is beautiful, the language is like no other, the food will make you want to stay forever, and the passion for cycling is perhaps unparalleled. While many are familiar with the orange of Euskatel, it is now time for another Basque cycling power to emerge and thrill the Basque fans that line the roads of Europe's favorite races......................
That team is AMPO-Eroski. A blend of both Spanish and French Basque riders, they are sponsored by the Basque companies AMPO and Eroski (emerging Basque grocery conglomerate). Based out of Biarritz they will be directed by ornery, but knowledgeable, director Pierre Rangere. Lured out of retirement by a chance to coach and direct his grandson (Brian Rangere, fictional characters, couldn't help myself had to live vicariously through the videogame).
Team Goals: (it is a custom team, didn't like all the goals the computer chose, so here's mine, slightly ambitious)
1) Gain promotion to ProTour
2) Wildcard Tour de France (possible stage win, best young rider)
3) Wildcard Vuelta a Espana (stage win, best young rider)
4) Pais Vasco (stage win, top 10 overall)
5) Clasica San Sebastian (wildcard, top 10)
6) win Criterium International overall
7) win Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
8) win Klasika Primavera
9) win Tour de San Luis overall
10) win Chrono des Nations
Squad List: (Led by Brian Rangere, Romain Sicard, and Benat Urain, I obviously tweaked a few stats to be competitive this first year)
Few individual stat screens (leaders)
First race up will be the Tour de San Luis. Looking forward to racing in front of our South American Basque fans.
Riders entered:
Brian Rangere
Benat Urain (sprinter)
Mikel Landa
Imanol Erviti
Markel Irizar
Victor de la Parte
Jon Pardo
Garcia Acoste
Using a custom jersey by AnFreeman and a custom mini-maillot by JSeadog. Much thanks to those guys and all the hard work done by the PCM community on the Expansion Pack (and especially thanks for Crue and the moderators who put up with our incessant questions they've probably heard way too many times)
sorry my screenshots aren't under spoilers, I'm trying. Got it to work before, not working now (frustrating!). Race results to come soon
Fresh off a training camp in France and excited to unveil the new colors and riders of AMPO-Eroski, the team has sent a strong contingent of riders to Argentina for the Tour de San Luis. The Basque diaspora is fairly large in South America and the sponsors would love a good result (shooting for a definite stage win, an overall title for Brian Rangere, and the overall team title)
Stage 1: Flat stage for the sprinters, chance to continue to get into form for the the team, looking to set Urain up for a chance at the win
Mikel Landa gets into the break, looking for KOM points (which he did win the sprint, sorry got excited didn't get shot)
Spoiler
Chased down break, setting up train for sprint finish
Spoiler
Urain gets a decent lead out, but Van Hummel is stronger today
Second Stage: First hill stage, chance to gain some time on the GC contenders, looking to keep Rangere in contention (he's a slow starter so still not in good form)
Spoiler
Landa in KOM jersey (looks good with the kit!)
Spoiler
Daniel Lopez from Movistar is going to win the stage, but an impressive stage for AMPO-Eroski. Keeping their hopes alive for the Tour with a TT to come later and two other hill stages
Spoiler
Spoiler
With the time bonus, Rangere will trail Lopez by 8 seconds (and is a much better TT rider than Lopez). More stages to come manana
great start mate. i wouldnt worry about spoilers. they are a pain and dont know if just my computer but they dont always open (in this case - only 2 opened for me). so id just stick them as is like all other stories
thanks for the feedback JD, the spoilers are a pain (they should be working tho!), and i'm done with them!
Third Stage: Flat stage again for the sprinters, no KOM sprints so just spinning the wheels (big TT tomorrow)
Rangere in white jersey, Landa in KOM jersey
Little disappointed in the Movistar team, they didn't really chase the break for Lopez, we did the work but weren't able to catch the break. Though we got it back to the same time for the peloton
AMPO-Eroski with a solid lead in the overall team standings. Huge TT tomorrow
Fourth Stage: Hilly TT, 19.5 kms.....looking to win the stage and get Rangere into overall lead
Rangere and Erviti on course. Irizar blazing through course (so fast I didn't get a shot of him!)
Irizar wins stage! Rangere vaults into lead! Great stage for AMPO-Eroski
Rangere will wear yellow. Have to get some rest tonight, have to defend the jersey tomorrow. Serious hills and summit finish coming up in next two stages
