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Agritubel - A French Revolution
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| Crommy |
Posted on 02-02-2008 17:08
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Tours, January 1-2008
Stepping off the train from Paris, I was greeted by the man who I had grown to know over the past 6 months, but had never actually met. David Fornes greeted me with a gruff handshake, and a salutation, as though we were old friends. Which we were. Theoretically. He took me to his car, and began the short drive to Loudon, my new home.
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Tours station - a damn sight better than Britain
"You will love Loudun," he told me, "It has the Porte du Martray, a fabulous castle, and the weather is always sunny - not what you English like though, huh!" He chuckled at his own joke, whilst I just grunted in reply. This was going to be a long trip, but it would be worthwhile - in fact, it would change my life.
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| dave92 |
Posted on 02-02-2008 17:09
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2946
Joined: 21-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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good luck with this one
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-02-2008 17:10
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Crommy with a french team 
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| Valve |
Posted on 02-02-2008 17:53
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Stagiare
Posts: 165
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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When you say A French Revolution will you so get with of all the teams star (the spanish riders :lol
I hope you dont |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 02-02-2008 18:41
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Loudun
David pulled up in Loudun, having just listed 99 reasons why France is better than Britain (I chose not to retaliate). I was anxious to get started, to meet the people I had dreamed of working with.
"Now, I bet you are anxious to start, to meet the people you have dreamed of working with," David said, "But first, we would like to give you your team clothing - to say you are one of us!"
He took out a team coat, a hat and a jersey, and handed them to me. I was overcome with gratitude, because, quite frankly, I was extremely glad to get them - the whole thing had been like a dream, and actually getting my hands on something made it reality.
"Now go change!" He ordered me.
"Where?"
"In that building, there."
Now, I swear I we'd pulled up in a quiet residential street, but just 200m away, was a sleek, stylish building, covered in glass.
"That is your new home - now lets meet the team!"
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First up was the rest of the management team - the assistants to David.
"This is Emmanuel...Denis...and Frédéric." Quick handshakes, polite greetings, and then I was off again.
"And here are the riders - the people you will be working with from now on."
The riders were ready to go off on a training ride, so no time to say hello - it was rushing to the team car, getting ready, and then drooling over some of the bikes on show. This was the big time league, not the rusty old bikes I was used to when I coached back in Britain.
We set off, and David talked me through how everything worked, about the glory days of French cycling, the UCI (he spat every time he mentioned them) and how ASO were the future. This man had strong opinions, and I had a very strong character as my boss.
But what was the most astonishing thing about that trip was the riders. They looked so professional with matching jerseys, incredible bikes and speeds which most people can only dream of cycling. And they weren't even trying!!!
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Extract from Agritubel Emergency Metting
Date: July 2007
Present: Agritubel board, David Forne
Board: How is your planning for next year going?
David Forne: It is going well - here is the current squad for next year [Hands over a document]
B: That is most impressive - not as French as we want, but impressive none the less
DF: Thank you
B: And what about your management next season - any new assistants you want?
DF: Just the one
B: Who?
DF: He is called Joey Jones
B: Who the *** is he?
DF: He is...something new, something different
B: New isn't necessarily good - nor is different. Where is he based?
DF: He is based...in England...
Edited by Crommy on 31-03-2008 13:32
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 02-02-2008 18:48
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8915
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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good luck
YORKSHIRE BORN, YORKSHIRE BRED... |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 02-02-2008 18:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Good Luck! DB?
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Crommy |
Posted on 02-02-2008 19:41
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks everyone - I'm using PPDB v8
Adelaide - January 10
I'm Down Under with the team, as we are entering the Classic and the actual Tour. I'm really looking forward to it, I'll be David's assistant, and already I've picked up all my French I'd thought I'd forgotten.
The past 10 days have been fantastic - I've talked to all the riders, the staff, even the board, and everyone has been really nice - although I had some odd looks from a couple of board members. I've been flung into the whole training routine already, and have even taken some sessions with some of the riders! How great is that! After Australia, I may be going to Qatar with for the final race of the month, but after Australia, I'll find out my schedule for the next few months
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...B: England! Now, we're happy with letting some other Europeans on the team, but England is only good for track racing
DF: Yes, but he is something new
B: Yes, you've said that, but you haven't said why. Tell us more about him
DF: Like what?
B: What experience has he had?
DF: Well, he was a junior assistant at Recycling.co.uk for 2 years, and has now spent just over a year as an assistant at PlowMan Craven...
B: Is that it?
DF: You wanted more?
B: Jesus, David, we have gone along with all of your changes so far, but this one just seems ridiculous.
DF: Trust me on this - he will make us great...
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:31
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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France?! Oh come on!
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:37
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Im intrigued as to how youll get this to work with all the management game jerseys
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 06:40
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Bot Agent
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:40
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Crommy wrote:
Thanks everyone - I'm using PPDB v8
PPDB Unlimited was released two hours ago *cough cough*
Edited by Waghlon on 02-02-2008 21:41
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| issoisso |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:50
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Waghlon wrote:
Crommy wrote:
Thanks everyone - I'm using PPDB v8
PPDB Unlimited was released two hours ago *cough cough*
you mean for those that have an account at PPDB
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:52
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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issoisso wrote:
you mean for those that have an account at PPDB
Yes, just like you should have.
I've just started a career with Mongolia 
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:56
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Do a story with them! Go on!  With so little races, you should finish a season
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| issoisso |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:57
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Waghlon wrote:
issoisso wrote:
you mean for those that have an account at PPDB
Yes, just like you should have.
I've just started a career with Mongolia
sorry. a certain person's bad attitude and "I'm never wrong, no one is allowed to disagree on anything" mentality ticked me off, so I'll never register.
have fun
Go Jamsran Ulzii-Orshik! (There's no way in hell I spelt that right )
Edited by issoisso on 02-02-2008 21:58
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:57
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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SportingNonsense wrote:
Do a story with them! Go on! With so little races, you should finish a season
Honestly, im tempted to do it
More encouragement and I might do it
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| issoisso |
Posted on 02-02-2008 21:59
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Waghlon wrote:
More encouragement and I might do it
see last line of previous post (the one with impossible-to-spell veteran's name)
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Waghlon |
Posted on 02-02-2008 22:01
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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"Mongolia: Jamsran Ulzii-Orshik and Nanga Kangarid's quest for love, money and wanton destruction"
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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| issoisso |
Posted on 02-02-2008 22:04
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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You mean I spelt it right? Seriously, did I? If so, I am officially sad...
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Crommy |
Posted on 02-02-2008 22:15
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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I'm not using the unlimited because adding those small teams doesn't do anything for my gaming experience.
issoisso wrote:
Go Jamsran Ulzii-Orshik! (There's no way in hell I spelt that right )
Congratulations - you're in heaven
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