We are happy to present a new Nordic Cycling team, to the 2013 season. With the electricity company, Vattenfall, as our sponsor, we gladly present: Vattenfall Cycling; A new Nordic-based cycling team. Even though our base is in the Swedish capital Stockholm, we try to get the best riders from all over Scandinavia. If that includes more riders from Norway or Denmark, so it is. Welcome to Vattenfall Cycling!
Team Philosophy
At a Scandinavian team we preferred riders from Scandinavia. A few riders from the Baltic States and Finland are also allowed, but we like to keep the team Nordic. Also we rather focus on our own riders, and see if anyone can replace riders, who search for other challenges, instead of buying someone for it. But if no one is ready for the task, we are willing to make a deal � no doubt.
For the first season we aren�t going to expect something. We hopefully gain important knowledge, so we already from the 2014 season, can strike a lot higher!
Captains:
Gustav Larsson
13th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1 Guytan Lilholt 42th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1
42th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2
39th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
47th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4
32th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5
56th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6 1th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 29th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall 6th in Tour de Bretagnes KoM
Sprinters:
Christian Ranneries 48th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1
43th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2
39th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
53th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
66th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4 9th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5
58th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6
57th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 58th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall Patrick Moren 9th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1 2th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2 1th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
16th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4 7th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5
14th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6
12th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 12th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall 4th in Tour de Bretagnes Points Marcos Crespo 5th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1
23th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2 3th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
38th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4
23th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5
18th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6
30th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 36th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall
Free:
John Kronborg Ebsen 79th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
75th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
26th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
72th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
38th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
103th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
54th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 52th in Tour de San Luis Overall
32th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1 Anders Ekh Dahlberg 49th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
56th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
41th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
81th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
64th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
112th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
53th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 53th in Tour de San Luis Overall
35th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1 Simon Galle 7th in Trofeo Luis Puig
34th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
44th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
38th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
107th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
59th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
79th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
58th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 58th in Tour de San Luis Overall Lasse Norman Hansen 40th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
40th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
118th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
21th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
58th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
95th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
89th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 103th in Tour de San Luis Overall Alexander Gingsjo 37th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1
33th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2
33th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3 10th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4
22th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5 4th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6
15th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 5th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall
41th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1
Helpers
Sami Tiainen 12th in Trofeo Luis Puig
43th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
58th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
74th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
84th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
79th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
99th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
60th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 71th in Tour de San Luis Overall Mikhel Ronimois 32th in Trofeo Luis Puig
56th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
60th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
83th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
105th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
34th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
101th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
59th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 72th in Tour de San Luis Overall
25th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1 Artis Pujats 55th in Trofeo Luis Puig
65th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1
41th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2
59th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
55th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4
39th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5
55th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6
66th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 56th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall Kristoffer Skjerping 36th in Trofeo Luis Puig
74th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 1
78th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 2
51th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 3
101th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 4
46th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 5
104th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 6
102th in Tour de San Luis - Stage 7 57th in Tour de San Luis Overall
59th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1 Florian Scheit 31th in Trofeo Luis Puig
21th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 1
34th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 2
29th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 3
27th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 4
65th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 5
26th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 6
24th in Tour de Bretagnes - stage 7 41th in Tour de Bretagnes Overall
100th in Volta a Galicia - Stage 1 Nicolas Brolin 53th in Trofeo Luis Puig
Patrick Moren with our fist victory. 3rd stage in Tour de Bretagnes, ended up with Moren as winner, and Crespo as 3rd as well
Vattenfall in the front of the peloton, with the yellow jersey. Unfortunately Moren looses the lead, on the last climb.
Guytan Lilholt wins 7th stage in the French stage race, Tour de Bretagnes after a breakaway. Amazing drove by the danish cobbler!
Anders Ekh Dahlberg leading the breakaway in Volta a Galicia. Unfortunately it didn´t end with a succes.
Sponsors
First of all we are happy to present our main sponsor for this year, Vattenfall. The Swedish electricity company may not be the biggest, and most famous company to the cyclingworld, but it is truly big enough for us. We are happy that we come to an agreement with them, and look forward to the season.
Volvo is our secondary sponsor, but will as well have their influence on the team. With to great sponsors, we now have the capital to, hopefully, create a team, strong enough to be seen this season, even though our goal, isn�t permission.
We are looking forward to the 2013 season. If anyone have some questions, please ask below, and I will try answer them, as best as possible.
Edited by MrOBJ on 23-02-2013 08:41
Welcome! Overall we only have one thing on program today, and that is introducing our jersey, for the 2013 season. A bit of the shirt was announced earlier, but today we have the final shirt to present. With one of the best designers in the world to design our shirt, it couldn´t go entirely wrong. As a third sponsor, Focus has found their way into this jersey. We will be riding their bikes, the next season as well. But enough talk, let’s see the product!
Jersey
Searching for Riders!
The search for riders to the next season is also progressed. There may be a bit of silence about the team, but in the background, everyone is working to get the best terms next season. As said before, we are looking for riders all over the Scandinavian. We have already found some interesting riders, but we wouldn´t announce any names, until the transfer period begin.
tastasol wrote:
You can stick with the Swedish and Danish riders
But seriously, looking forward to the competition. Future rivals?
I go for all the Norwegian, no matter what!
No, seriously I guess my team is going to be a mix of all Scandinavian riders, so there may be a couple of Norwegians at my team. But I look forward to the transfer period, and the fight a might get with you
Future rivals?
Hopefully, but there are many Scandinavian teams in the cycling world right now..
It is succeeded the Swedish newspaper, Expressen, to obtain a short list of riders, which should be the new Swedish Continental team, Vattenfall Classic´s wishlist to the upcoming season. Right now the list only contains six riders, but according to the newspapers sources, there are a lot more to come. The biggest name right now, are the Danish TT rider Brian Vandborg. It won´t be easy, because the Danish rider is also on The Oz Cycling Project wishlist, for next year.
The list also contains the young Norwegian, Vegard Stake Laengen. The young climber has long been rumored to the Swedish team, and a transfer don´t look to unrealistic. When the newspaper contacted MrOBJ, he only had a short comment, to the latest rumors: All riders on the list, looks very interesting, but I can´t say neither yes or no, to any of the riders, right now. But we are searching the market for riders, and I would lie if I said we haven´t found anything we want. Besides Vegard Stake Laengen and Brian Vandborg, the list contained Christoffer Juhl-Jensen, Sami Tiainen, Anders Ekh Dahlberg, and Sebastian Lander.
We are more than happy to present the teams first and second signings ever. It is to signings which will increase the teams chances in the mountains, as well in the longer stage-race. But enough talk - lets see who the to riders are:
John Kronborg Ebsen
John is 25 years old, and he may be one of the best climbers in Scandinavia. Even though he might already have reached his maximum potential, he is a climber of high class. He may get a few chances during the year, but his main task will be protecting, and helping our new captain.
Gustav Larsson
Words can´t describe how happy we are, to present the Swedish Champion, in both Road Race and Time Trial. After a long talk with the Aker - MOT manager, Ember, we manage to make an agreement, we both could agree with. Therefore the best rider in Sweden, is now a Vattenfall Rider. Gustav is a solid climber, who also is incredible in Time Trials. We hope he can live up to the high expectations we have, and as well take a couple of victories.
DerbyJack wrote:
Great signings MrOBJ, I think Larsson will dominate at this level.
Thanks. I do really hope he can meet my high expectations. He is going to win a lot of stages, and hopefully a couple of overall standings
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Brilliant signing in Larsonn! He will create a hard time for the other stage racers during races with a TT. Great job.
As far as I can see, he is one of the best climbers and "time trial rider" in the Continental Tour. So I would be quite disappointed if he don´t win anything. But yeah, in races with TT, i expect him to win!
CountArach wrote:
Yeah great signing there. He could even do well in quite a few C1 races!
I´ve chosen to focus on C2 Races, so he won´t ride any C1 races (Except for Post Denmark Rundt, if we manage to get a wildcard).
In the middle of this "Transfer Jungle" we are happy to present 10 new riders! We have a mix of sprinters, climbers and a bit of talent to present. But with 11 new faces we have a lot to do, so let´s just start the presentation!
Sami Tiainen
Sprinter
73 Sprint, 74 Acceleration
The first new rider we signed is the Finnish rider Sami Tiainen. The 24 years old rider, is chosen to be one of our main-sprinters, but with the approaching of many others strong riders, he may not get as many chances as we first thought!
Lasse Norman Hansen
TT
72 TT, 74 Prolouge, 70 Sprint
We are very happy, that the young and strong Dane, Lasse Norman Hansen had joined our team. He is only 21, and have a lot of years to become even better. Even though he is young, we have high expectation to him, but the do not doubt he can complete them, and maybe even more!
Anders Ekh Dahlbert
Climber
73 Mountain, 72 Hill
Another Swedish rider, to our Nordic Team. He is 25 years old, and step in to the team, as a helper for our other strong Swedish rider, Gustav Larsson. But that ain´t his only task. He do have the potential to be Captain him self. He is also a fighter of very high class, so see him in a breakaway, won´t be to strange!
Christian Ranneries
Sprinter
74 Sprint, 78 Acceleration
Christian is a very solid sprinter, who may not have the highest top speed, but he do have one of the best accelerations, in Scandinavia. We are happy he have joined the team, and together with a lot of other sprinters at our team, he can get a few victories during the season!
Simon Galle
Sprinter
73 Sprint, 72 Hill
Simon is a strong all rounder, and will strengthen the team, in many different terrains. He is a decent sprinter, but he is strong on the hill as well. He is our man, in the hilly classic, who might end in a mass sprint.
Mikhel Ronimois
Climber
70 Mountain, 71 Hill
Mikhel may not be a Scandinavian, but he come from the other side of the Baltic Sea - Estonia. He step into the team as a helper in both the hilly races, and mountain races. Otherwise he is just like Simon Galle - a strong all rounder, who is dangerous in a breakaway!
Patrick Moren
Sprinter
73 Sprint, 74 Acceleration
Patrick is yet another sprinter, who joined our team. He is just like Ranneries and Tiainen, but when the terrain raises, he is much stronger than those two.
Artis Pujats
Fighter
82 Fighter
Yet another rider from the other side of the Baltic Sea. Artis may not be the strongest climber, and may not be the best sprinter, but he is a damn good fighter! Breakaway is the right recipe for him.
Guytan Lilholt
Cobbles
73 Cobbles, 70 Flat
The best and only cobble rider, at our team. We are aware that he ain´t the best rider, but still we have high hopes in one of the few cobble-classics we are taking part in. But he is a solid rider, and hopefully he can hit the right breakaway, or follow the frontgroup in some races.
Kristoffer Skjerping
Talent
67 Mountain, 69 Hill
Kristoffer is a huge talent, who might be the future of this team. He already have shown high class in many terrains, and we hope he can continue this form. He is the only Norwegian in our team, because some of our main target, Vegard Stake Laengen and Enger Sondre Holst, shown to be too expensive.
Florian Scheit
Talent
69 Hill
Florian might be the biggest talent in our team. He come from the Pro Continental Tour team, Rothaus - Aegon, who was willing to sell him for a fair price. I may not fit in this Nordic Team, but such a young and talent rider were to good to decline the offer.
At last we won´t to wish everybody welcome to our team, and then we hopefully can present two more riders, later today!
Scheit should get 76 hill or so when maxed. So a good domestique for better riders then or a CT puncheur.
Will be interesting how he rides for you as he never really got the chance in my team.
First we have the two Swedish riders, Alexander Gingsjo and Nicolas Brolin. Alexander is a strong rider at the hills. He is a huge fighter, and will definitely become one of our biggest riders next year. Nicolas may not be the best climber, but he have a strong physic. He will become a very strong helper!
At last we can present a "outsider". He is not a Scandinavian, or neither a Baltic rider, but instead he´s Argentine. We are happy to present Marcos Crespo. He is a strong sprinter, who will become our leader, in the flat races. He will hopefully bring home a lots of victories.
With only one race on our program, we went to Spain, hungry after starting out season and our history. We started out season with the one-day race Trofeo Luis Puig. A short race, with some hills at the start, but rather flat in the end. Simon Galle was our main captain, and Sami Tiainen as sprinter - or leadout for Simon.
We were quite invisible and were only showed in the start and end of the race. We didn´t participate in the breakaway even though it was our plan. That meant we just lay in the middle of the peloton, waiting for the final kilometres.
Waiting for the race to begin. Out first race ever was about to begin.
At the final km. we weren´t able to go with the best, but Simon showed great skills, and ended 7th, after a fine sprint. Sami ended 12th. Die Berg Komt Er and Iberia were simply better.
Simon (Top Right) sprinting for the victory, ending up as 7th.
So now February is on the program, starting out with Tour of Bretagnes and Tour de San Luis. We have a strong team completing in both race, and we are hungry for victory.
Remember you always can see our riders performances in the first post!
Only one word can describe our race in France. Amazing! We came with hopes of Gingsjo and Crespo, but ended up with much more than we ever dared dream of. It´s time to take a review of what, might already be our race of the season!
Review
1. Stage
We were quite invisible until the last part of the stage, were both Crespo and Moren showed great skills in the sprint. Crespo ended 5th, and Moren 9th, which just were the beginning of a great fairytale.
Crespo ending 5th, and Moren 9th at the first stage in France
2. Stage
Crespo disappointed, but then it´s good to have someone to do his job. Again, we were passive most of the day until the final sprint!
Moren leading the pack with only 500 Meters left.
But in the end Cardoso was just a bit to strong, leaving Moren and the 2nd place, instead of winning our fist stage. But Moren wasn´t finish, even though he got beaten
Moren got beaten at the finish line. But the Swedish rider had much more to come up with
3. Stage
Once again we didn´t showed much until the final sprint. But there you could be damn sure we manage to show us self. Both Moren and Crespo were on top of the sprint, and in the final bend, the were 2nd and 3rd.
Moren and Crespo trying to catch Nardin
And it finally succeed. Moren caught Nardin and took Vattenfall´s first victory ever. But not the last in this race. Crespo ended 3rd, and cemented our domination
Moren wins 3rd Stage of Tour de Bretagnes
4. Stage
We were in the front of the peloton most of the day, chasing the breakaway, trying to keep Moren in yellow. But Furdi was simply too strong, and even though Moren fought the best he could, Furdi was just too strong.
Gingsjo ended 10th, and were now our man in the GC
Moren got broken only one km. from the finish line
5. Stage
With a big hill short before end, we hoped that Gingsjo were able to make a good result. We though Moren was too tired after yesterdays defend on the yellow jersey, but we got us a big surprise. Even though there were attacks it all ended up in a sprint, and Moren was 7th. Another great result from the Swedish guy.
Moren once again sprinting and ending 7th. He didn´t seemed to get tired at all this race.
6. Stage
Today were the day, if Gingsjo should ending higher in the GC. He was more than one minute after Furdi, so attack were the only recipe. After a lot of attacks Gingsjo ended in a group of five, taking almost one minute on Furdi. He ended 4th, and moved up on a 5th in the GC. Even more impressive were Morens 14th.
Moren ended 4th on the uphill sprint. Great result!
7. Stage
Lilholt participate in the breakaway together with Vojtech Hacecký
Morens first attack out of many today
Moren were off again!
And Again!
At the same time Lilholt took the chance alone, and drove alone on two circuits, ending up with a beautiful victory!
it isn´t a surprise who once again attacked. Moren were once again off!
Lilholt take a beautiful and Vattenfall´s second win!
Conclusion
Our new star is named Patrick Moren. He was amazing the week, and deserved his stage win. He were everywhere and I´m not afraid calling him the best rider in the race, even though he didn´t win. It´s hard to find someone who disappointed, so I leave that title alone. This was just a wonderful race, and it´s hard to see anything outdo that!
Congrats to Risa and Michael Olsson!
NOTE: All result from any race, can be found in the first post, were every riders results will be shown. Top 10 results will have a link to the race, and overall result will be mark blue. We also update our "Results" and "Memory Lane" almost every day, so take a look
Congrats on the win's in Bretagne. I think your a team is overachieving, as many consider it to be a team to be candidate to be in the last places of the Continental Classification.
Gustav Larsson
Guytan Lilholt
Marcos Crespo
Sami Tiainen
Mikhel Ronimois
Artis Pujats
Kristoffer Skjerping
Florian Scheit
Top 5 Tour Alsace (C2)
