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Forever Agostinho - the return of a national Hero
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 13-09-2012 23:20
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Posts: 1020
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Desperating for a Database which included Joaquim Agostinho, the best Portuguese rider ever, i decided to recreate his story and play with him in PCM 2012.
Edited by kimiopn on 13-09-2012 23:25
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 13-09-2012 23:23
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Posts: 1020
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Agostinho’s story, a truly epic one, is about a man that only started to compete at the age of 25. Out for a ride as a youth, he encountered Sporting Clube de Portugal's cycling team on a road near Casalinhos de Alfaiata -Torres Vedras. He began an impromptu race; the team could not catch him, even though Agostinho was riding a standard steel bicycle.
Agostinho fought for three years with the Portuguese army in Angola and Mozambique during the Portuguese Colonial War, and it was his captain in Mozambique who discovered him, when he was carrying messages on a heavy bike and took two hours to ride 50km when the others took five.
Edited by kimiopn on 09-11-2012 22:49
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 13-09-2012 23:25
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Posts: 1020
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For 16 years he was a professional cyclist with 110 victories, the most epic in Alp D’Huez in 1979, achieving 3rd place in Tour twice, a second place in Vuelta, 3 Volta a Portugal and 6 times Portuguese champion. Had he started younger and had he some background as a cyclist and for sure he would have achieved better results.
He died during a Volta ao Algarve at the age of 41, when he hit a dog. He finished the race with the yellow jersey, but 10 hours later he was interned in coma, dying sadly 10 days after.
A very aggressive rider, who puts everything on his bike, not only in mountains he attacked, he could surprise the entire peloton with his attacks. He won 12 time trials, which shows he could defend pretty well.
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 13-09-2012 23:29
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Posts: 1020
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So let’s try to re-write his story…
So, in 2012, Joaquim Agostinho reaches the spanish team of Movistar indicated by his countryman Rui Costa. He heard wonders about this guy who never had been a pro, and that last fall during a training camp in Portugal, speeded up the mountains on front of him. He managed to get him on the descent and they became friends after that. Just 3 days experiencing Movistar exams and the team manager Eusebio Unzué already was counting on him for the next season.
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 13-09-2012 23:37
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So Agostinho and Movistar travelled to Australia, preparing for the next season. This new life should be hard for him, since he was not a pro and he is now amongst the best. 6 days training for the first races of the season, with nowing already that his first race will be in his own country, with his friend Rui Costa in the 38th Volta ao Algarve.
His skills are getting better, and he expects to cause a good impact that could give him his way to be a pro.
During these days he should know more about what the team expects from him. He expects to be riding a Grand Tour with Valverde and Rui Costa, and try the Belgium hilly classics.
Edited by kimiopn on 16-09-2012 15:24
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 05:48
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| Schleck96 |
Posted on 14-09-2012 00:10
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Now that's a story!! Great idea! Proud to be a  guy.
Edited by Schleck96 on 14-09-2012 00:15
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| jseadog1 |
Posted on 14-09-2012 01:34
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 9595
Joined: 18-07-2010
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Good Luck
PCM.Daily Survivor Season 2 Fan Favorite Winner
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012
PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013
PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 14-09-2012 01:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Great write up and Good Luck  |
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| HaRe |
Posted on 14-09-2012 07:04
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Neo-Pro
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great, and good luck! |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 14-09-2012 08:51
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Classics Specialist
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Interesting idea, so good luck!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-09-2012 09:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Nice write up, and the best of luck with it 
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 14-09-2012 22:24
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Posts: 1020
Joined: 07-04-2010
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Thank you everyone, specially Master Ian Butler and Schleck96 who definitively knows about Agostinho. I'm being ambicious since this is my first story and i'm talking about a true myth. Any tips are welcome!
Obrigado!
Edited by kimiopn on 14-09-2012 22:25
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 14-09-2012 22:39
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"When I remember the war, I laugh at those who say the Ventoux climb is hard"
So as the training camp goes on, Agostinho is feeling better everyday, with the special help of Costa, but as well with Valverde, Intxausti and Quintana. They all give their best and the team spirit is increasing. Meanwhile, the team managers have spoken to the squad about the main objectives of the season and then personally to every rider. Agostinho was told which races he would race on the first 3 months of the season, Algarve, Murcia and the Criterium International.
The team selected the riders for Santos Tour Down Under and Agostinho and the rest of the folks travelled back to Spain, to Palma de Mallorca where they will prepare the other races on the calendar.
In Santos TDU, the team did great with Lastras in 4th overall, Visconti being the KOM, Jesus Herrada being the best youngster and the Team being 3rd overall. That’s a great start of the season!
General Results
Rank Name Team Time Player
1 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 9h37'45
2 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 1
3 Xavier Florencio Katusha Team + 4
4 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t. kimio1
5 Martin Kohler BMC Racing Team + 6
Edited by kimiopn on 14-09-2012 23:00
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 14-09-2012 23:18
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Posts: 1020
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The spanish press is now interested on this unknown rider, and the first report about him comes on Movistar's web page. He has won a couple of amateur races and he's now on the biggest spannish team. Agostinho is a shy guy, and gently refuses any interview.
As the team election for Vuelta a Mallorca is know, the rest of the team travells to Portugal where the team is focusing on the next goal: Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta! The training field has made Agostinho even stronger, and he is now the rider in best shape from those who have 0 days of competition. But Agostinho knows he's still far from being a team leader. Costa is confirmed on Algarve as well.
As the third day of Greipel uncontested domination in Mallorca goes on, Rui Costa is feeling sick and he is now in doubt for Volta ao Algarve. Without Rojas or Ventoso the first days in Vuelta a Mallorca where just to shape up. Now it's time to Kiryienka, Pardilla and Javi Moreno to show what they're made of. |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 14-09-2012 23:33
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Posts: 1020
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Luis León Sanchez got the best on Mallorca's last stage, while Kiryienka finnished 11th overall. Not as good as Santos TDU but the talent of Jesus Herrada has raised again. On his 2nd year as a pro, this guy is definitively someone to look at.
General Results
Rank Name Team Time
1 Luis León Sánchez Rabobank Cycling Team 13h06'27
2 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale + 1'34
3 Roman Kreuziger Astana Pro Team + 2'07
4 Christophe Le Mével Garmin - Sharp s.t.
5 Daniele Ratto Liquigas - Cannondale + 2'31
6 Michal Golas Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team + 2'47
7 Tony Martin Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team + 2'50
8 Daniel Moreno Katusha Team + 3'10
9 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10 Julien Simon Saur - Sojasun + 3'32
11 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team + 3'38
12 Danail Petrov Caja Rural + 4'17
13 Stijn Devolder Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
14 Jesús Herrada Movistar Team + 4'19
15 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Pro Team + 4'30
As Rui Costa is back to training, Agostinho feels the time coming. The team is now travelling to Castelo de Vide, where the hilly roads should provide some more preparation for the season, while the guys that went to Mallorca have some days off.
Edited by kimiopn on 14-09-2012 23:35
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 15-09-2012 00:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5194
Joined: 18-08-2011
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Nice concept, good luck with it!
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 15-09-2012 11:29
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
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Great result Down Under! |
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| kimiopn |
Posted on 15-09-2012 19:23
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VOLTA AO ALGARVE
STAGE 1
The last hours before the stage begin made Agostinho feel a bit nervous, and the weather that had been so nice the previous week had changed, and it was now raining.
With a team made of climbers and a stage with lots of hills, the team manager decided Movistar should keep the pace high, while protecting Rui Costa, so that sprinters like Cavendish should have no chances. The biggest treats should be Froome, Basso, Mollema, Gilbert, Coppel and the triple that Astana brought to Portugal: Brajkovic, Iglinskiy and Vinokourov.
Here is the stage profile:
With 110 Km to go, and finishing a 3rd category climb, Cavendish holds on the back of the peloton while 60 riders have already been left behind. Hard pace by Movistar.
After a great work from Movistar only 70 riders come on the peloton with 25km to go. Cavendish finally surrendered. Surprisingly, Gilbert also comes to the front of the peloton when a strong group of riders tries to escape.
With 8km to go Boonen tries to dig a gap, and it is very dangerous.
Movistar riders ready for the finish, with Agostinho managing to keep near Costa.
With less than 2km Boonen seems unreachable, Gilbert attacks, with Di Luca, Garzelli, Porte and Van Avermaet well placed. Movistar train is going for Costa, with Agostinho feeling strong.
And Boonen takes the win! Let's see what Movistar can do now...
Manuel Cardoso beats Rui Costa in a Portuguese sprint for 2nd place.
Agostinho takes the 6th place behind Kohler and Ratto!
Omega Pharma-Quickstep puts four guys on the top 10, the last two are candidates to win the Volta: Velits and Martin. Rui Costa has confirmed his status on his own country. Agostinho is right back. Great start of carreer!
Edited by kimiopn on 17-09-2012 20:45
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 15-09-2012 19:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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A Great sixth place for Joaquim |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 15-09-2012 19:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Costa is doing good. |
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