Right now I'm waiting to go up for my Geography exam, so I've decided to translate my story from PCMGeeks, so that it would get more readers.
After simming one, and playing one season, 2009 started as the first season, where I think I could actually do something about the GT's. Why - read the rest of the post.
And for the last information. Team Telstra is a Australian team, which is made over Cofidis, and that is why, many of the riders is former Cofidis riders.
Team Telstra - 2009 season
Malone steps on to the scene
"Hi, my name is Simon Malone, and I've had the honor of being the general manager of the Australian/French team, Team Telstra, for the last two seasons. In last season, we had a great spring, winning both Ronde van Vlaanderen and Gent Wevelgem, Amstel Gold Race and La Fléche Wallonne, and ending second in Vuelta a la Pais Vasco. After the Giro, it was short with winnings, and one of the best results was probably Ande Schleck's 6th in the Vuelta. That is why we've hired 6 new riders. But before I present them, we had to say goodbye to six other riders. These are: Bessy (ended his career), Verbrugghe (Lanbouwkrediet), Moncoutie (Discovery), Zoricich (Chocolade), Bunce (Chocolade) and Stick (Chocolade). And Euskatel decided to make an offer on Pier Antonio Fagnoni, that I couldn't refuse, so he's joined them. I wish all of them a great future.
In May last year, we made trial contracts with two young spanish riders. Baltasar Lizondo Cortés (20) and Edorte Barroso (20). We've chosen to extend their contracts, so that we now have them until at least 2011 and 2010. The two other trial riders we had last year, Edvinas Gardzijauskas (21) and Karl Grimshaw (20) has also gained contracts until 2010.
Now, before we present the new team, I'll hand out some awards to some riders, who made special award-worthy things last year.
The first award is for the rider who has evolved the most last year. And the winnier is: Mario Infantes, who has evolved from a nervous young rider, to a self secure climber.
The next award was a close race. I had my doubts if it was Andy Schleck's 6th in the Vuelta, Schumacher's many good results, or this result that was the best. But the best result is: Nick Nuyens winnings in Ronde van Vlaanderen and Gent Wevelgem, which was also one of the main reasons that we won the Pro Tour last year. Nick Nuyens also wins the award for most beautiful victory, after his 40 km solo ride in Ronde van Vlaanderen.
And now to the more boring part. Because the really big results wasn't coming our way in 2008. But it has to be said, that Alejandro Valverde (Caisse) won the Pro Tour, with only one point to Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel). Number three was Fränk Schleck (CSC). But at least we won the team competition, in front of Discovery Channel and T-Mobile. That is a victory that affected the sponsor confidence last year. In the Contineltal Tour Steffen Wesemann won, while Landbouwkrediet took the team competition. We also got a new world champion this year. The double world champion Paolo Bettini didn't have the power to defend the jersey, and had to give it to Damiano Cunego (now Euskatel). Predictor's Jurgen Van den Broeck became champion in Time Trial. This year, the route is to be rode in Yekaterinburg, and the terrain is much like this year.
The three grand tours was won by: Cunego (then Lampre, now Euskatel), Popovych (then T-Mobile, now Saunier Duval) and Marchante (then Saunier Duval, now Discovery).
That was last year, but now it's this year!
Last year, it was released that Bernhard Kohl had written a contract with the team. That is correct, and it goes until 2010. But as I said earlier, we had 6 new riders. 4 talents, Kohl, and this guy
He's a man, that was able to be second in the Pro Tour in 2007, and in 2008, he was better! The new captain is: Alejandro Valverde!
Valverde drives onto the scene on a Look 585, in red and yellow colors
"This year I've chosen to change to Team Telstra, because I like the idea with the team. It seems like really good place to be, where you can evolve yourself, as well as meeting a lot of nice people. I already know Vladimir from Caisse, and he have only said nice things about the team. I also like the group of riders, that are already on the team, and I hope they can help me wining the tour this year. I will go for the Grand Tours mainly, because the team already have good riders for the Ardenner classics, and I would rather go for the Tour and the Vuelta 100%." Said Alejandro Valverde
As Valverde's helpers in the Tour and the Vuelta, we have Bernhard Kohl, Pieter Weening, Vladimir Efimkin, Mario Infantes and Fabrice Giuly. Andy Schleck will go for the Giro, and that'll be his main goal this season. Shumacher will be our captain in the Ardenner classics, helped by Maxime Monfort, and of course Paolo Bettini. In the mass sprints, we will mainly go for Ciolek and Hagen butDuque, Farrar and later in the season also Ricky Viljoen will be reserve sprinters.
In the cobble classics, Nick Nuyens will try to win all three, and this year, there's help from Gardzijauskas, Minard, Ciolek and Valentin.
Other important riders include Kai Reus, Nicolas Hartmann, Markus Eichler, Matt Hay, Yann Huguet, Maryan Hary, Geoffroy Lequatre and many more.
It's this group, that shall try to exceed the sponsor goals. We must win: Paris - Roubaix, Tirreno - Adriatico, Tour de France, Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian as well as wining the sprint jersey in Vuelta a España. Amstel Gold Race is also important for the team.
The first race this year - except Australian Championships - is Telstra Tour Down Under. Telstra, our sponsor, has invested a great lot of money in the race this year, and we have to make a result!
Well, on first stage, everything was looking good for us. We had Ricky Viljoen, who could make a result for us, and we did everything we could to keep the peloton together. We succeeded, maybe because the stage was only about 50 kilometers long, and was very fast ridden. Everything looked good just before the sprint. We had Karl Grimshaw in front, with Sutton and Viljoen on wheel. But then it happened! A fall in front of our train took Viljoen with it, and suddently, our biggest favorite was gone. But we still had two riders, and some of the other favorites was gone as well. But then it happens again, and this time it's Sutton and Matt Hay, the last has to withdraw from the race, after only 40 km in the saddle. Then the sprint is between Landschoot from Health Net, Haussler from CSC, our former rider Zoricich from Chocolade and our own Grimshaw. Zoricich was the one with best conditions, because he had Bunce sitting in front of him. But it is Landschoot that are the strongest, and win the stage. Haussler becomes second, and Zoricich just get in front of Grimshaw and takes the last podium spot. I'm satisfied with the result, as our biggest star falls. Good result from the new guy Grimshaw.
Interview with Viljoen right after first stage We're doing pretty good in the start of the race, but with ten to go, it goes wrong. I'm concentrating on Chris' back wheel, and haven't got time to react, when the Ag2r rider suddenly is on the road in front of me. Luckily the tempo isn't that high at that point, and I'm pretty lucky that I don't got hurt to bad. I just had a glimpse of Matt at the side of the road, not looking good, might have been another crash. I heard that Karl was fourth, and I'm happy for him, since he's all new and stuff
The next three stages was pretty much like the first, just without crashes. Viljoen was hurt more than he first thought, and didn't a figure of himself in the sprint. It was Grimshaw that stole the camera time from him. He became third at both 3rd and 4th stage. 4th stage was more hilly, and he only became 8th in the sprint. The really hilly stage, 5th, was won by Piveteau from Bouygues. But he had lost time on one of the other stages, so it was Milram's Sladkov that won the race. On last stage, Viljoen was over his injury, and became 6th in sprint, after being poorly positioned before the sprint. He was also our best in the GC, being number 22.
After the race, everybody was pretty satisfied. Viljoen was a little sad that he didn't do better, while Grimshaw was so happy, that he made such good results. Matt Hay was also waiting to get back in the saddle, more motivated than ever.
Tour of Qatar
In the second stage race in January, Tour of Qatar, we had a team, which was very strong in the sprint. Ciolek, Viljoen, Grimshaw, Eichler and Lequatre is all good sprinters. The last spot was taken by Nick Nuyens. And on first stage we shoved them that we were strong. 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th was our positions, best vas Ciolek. At second stage, we made a sprinter train worthy of Fassa Bortolo. Lequatre was first, being best on flat. Then it was Grimshaw, that started the fast pace. Then it was Viljoen, who was very motivated after the fall in Australia. And everybody saw that! He actually sprinted from Ciolek and took the Victory! Ciolek said after the stage, that the topform isn't there yet, which is good, since he's important later in the season.
At third stage Boonen was the strogest, and took the leaders jersey. Ciolek and Viljoen took third and fourth position.
Fourth stage, and we couldn't get them. Five riders got away, and Nick Nuyens could go with them. We couldn't get them, and they won the stage. It was more annoying for Viljoen that for the second time in 3 days, beat both Boonen and Bennati.
Fifth stage was won by our Ciolek. It's the second time in a row that we end five in the GC, and second time in a row that we win the last stage.
Other races this month, with participation by Team Telstra: Australian Championships
1 – Karl Menzies – Health Net Presented By Maxxis – 4h53’22”
2 – Rory Sutherland – Gerolsteiner – + 1’28”
3 – Matthew White – Unibet.com – s.t. 7 – Matt Hay – Team Telstra – + 5’05”
Doha International GP
1 – Tom Boonen – Quickstep Innergetic – 3h39’09” 2 – Gerald Ciolek – Team Telstra – s.t.
3 – Ricky Viljoen – Team Telstra – s.t.
FOCUS --- Ricky Viljoen
This month we focus on our talent Ricky Viljoen. Ricky Viljoen was taken in by Team Telstra from a little cycling club in Geelong, after taking a victory in a 500 meter long sprint. Back then he was 19, and we thought he would be one of the great sprinters of the future, and we still think that. ”I was like so happy. I mean like I knew I'd done well, and I knew that there was like... like scouts there, but I had never thought it would be a Pro Tour team that contacted me.” Viljoen in one of the sprints in this years Tour Down Under
Viljoen is a sprinter, and that's it. He prefer not to accelerate to much in a sprint, and he likes being number two or three in the line. ”My greatest victory must be here in Qatar. Well, Bayern Rundfahrt is a bigger race, but here i beat three of the best sprinters in the world, and I'm really proud of that." Viljoen has two victories, 5th stage in Bayern Rundfarht 2008, and 2nd stage of Tour of Qatar 2009. He was also in Vuelta a España 2008, which he defines as he's biggest experience. He came in 7th at third stage.
That was FOCUS for this time, next time it's all about Bjørn Kruse Holt
