Story Information
Database: PCM.Daily Expansion Pack 2014 V1 (edited slightly)
Difficulty: Hard - Extreme (depending)
Evolution of Attributes: 0.2
WARNING, read the opening post first.
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After re-reading most of Double Feature, probably my best story so far, I really wanted to give another shot at a long career/story. I already played an entire season with the character so I'd be sure it's a match at least. As you may notice, Matt is a lot like Stijn in his abilites. You'll come to learn he's not entirely the same, though.
Starting stats are lower than usually (still hope to get it entirely right one day), but if you've followed a story of mine before, you know I'm only interested in talented riders. This is no exception. However, I'm planning to make the rise to stardom a bit more realistic and gradual than usual.
Also bear in mind that this is a story, not a career. I will possibly script certain events and edit stats along the way. I want to give you the best possible story I can make.
Lastly, I just hope to get another Double Feature here. May it continue for a long time and may you be just as great as you were then. A story can't live without readers.
Criticism is always welcome, but please do it gently
I hope we all have fun!
Ian
PS. I won't be finishing the Europcar short story because I'm more interesting in a longer story at the moment. (so this )
Introduction
The falling leaves mark the end of our cycling season. I have just returned from Italy, where I put in my final performance for 2013. I'm 21 years old, but my birthday is just around the corner. Italian roads are quite different from those where I come from, Flanders, but racing is the same wherever you are.
An entire peloton chases after the victory, where only one man can win. Attackers look for their perfect moment to go the distance, while the speeding pack waits for no one. Within this massive movement, sprinters start to get ready, things get nervous. There are dangers everywhere. Falls happen daily and it's a matter of staying on your bike if you want to survive. Losing your concentration for a split second can set you back months, even years. There's no contract for the injured.
We don't earn nearly as much as football players, golfers or tennis players. We spend hours a day on that bike, whether it rains, freezes or worse. We have to stay sharp all year round, mentally and physically. We are cyclists. This is my dream job.
Who am I?
I'm one of the guys in the peloton you never notice, carrying bottles back and forth, trying hard to get in the break of the day. So far, I've been more or less anonymous. But I hope that's about to change. It's the natural order of things. We are the future, and I want to be part of it.
My name is Matthias Vleminckx.
But you can call me Matt.
History
I grew up in Deinze, a city with a population of about 30.000. You will probably know it best from the WT event Gent - Wevelgem, which actually starts in Deinze.
As an only child, I was quite lucky to have two mates a little further down the street. We spend our entire youth outside, either playing football or getting chased by Mr. Achille, who owned the land where we built our camps. As we got older, we started racing each other on the bike.
This opened up the entire world for me. By the time I was sixteen, I took my bike everywhere. With the permission and support of my parents, I started to pursue my dream of becoming a professional cyclist. Just one year ago, I found my way in!
I didn't think I was more talented than any other guy in my team. However, one performance got me noticed by a ProContinental Team. It was at the big goal of my season, the Tour of Flanders for Juniors. I was branded an outsider thanks to my consistent results in all the races that led up to it. Somewhat disappointed, I finished 2nd. But it was enough to sign a big contract. It was a big step up. My team for the 2013 season would be Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator (which changed to Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise after I joined the team, before the 2013 season started).
My final race, I say, because my good results in the latter part of the season have not gone unnoticed. I was quite surprised when I saw what team offered me a contract. Suffice it to say I needn't think twice about it. It's a huge step and it's my big shot. I can't - no - I won't blow it!
Who my team for the 2014 season will be, I'll reveal in a next post. Growing up with a Hitchcock fan (my mother) leaves you with some fondness for suspense.
Abilities
I'm only almost 22 years old, which means I have a lot of potential progress. It's hard to say what kind of rider you'll turn out to be at my age. I still have to develop power and that'll be essential to my career. However, I can tell you what my strengths and weaknesses are at this point.
But growing up in Flanders there's no going around it: I love cobblestones. My favorite races are the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix and like many in the peloton I dream of winning them one day. I ride on cobblestones quite well, and I keep getting better at them as my muscles develop to full maturity.
I'm very explosive and that comes in handy on short climbs as well. The roads in the Flemish Ardennes have no more secrets for me. I try to get up to the real Ardennes once in a while, too. Some of those hills can be a tad too long for me, though. But I'm working on it.
There's nothing like being in a race. I read people very well and I love making the race. Therefor, I couldn't ever understand someone who loves to time trial. At Topsport Vlaanderen, I had the chance to train with such bikes, but so far I had no success. Maybe it's a matter of experience, who knows.
The Digital Age
We live in the digital age, and we mustn't stand still. I'm part of the generation that grew up with computers. So look no further for the reason I'm doing this. I want to share every step of the way of my cycling career. I have no secrets.
Thanks for your time,
Matthias
Edited by Ian Butler on 05-06-2014 18:00
Thanks guys. Feels great to have followers like you even before the story has started
Dippofix - A Day in the Life was pretty good, too. Though that WC of Double Feature was the absolute top of my story writing career, in my opinion
You'll have to see what team has signed him!
welker3257 - I hope so, too, thanks
Jakstar22 - I'll do my best. Glad to have you on board.
cunego59 - an amazing compliment from a very great story writer, thanks! Brad Pitt is awesome in that movie
Selwink - Thanks. I was hoping it wouldn't be too long!
nacho63 - Hope it stays good. Thanks for the compliment
You can expect the next post later today, I have quite some time on my hands.
Story comment etc etc 85's etc etc
I'm happier to see you back more fully and feeling in a place where you can write again. Welcome back and pre-congrats on your NSotM and eventual multiple SotM awards
I've been thinking about a Topsport + 1 custom rider story for a very long time, but never got around to doing it. Glad to see you actually getting there. Good luck!
Jesleyh - Lotto is a nice guess. But I played a bit too much with them already
TheManxMissile - It's taken a while but I think I'm back in that place where I can keep up a story again. Thanks a lot. Of course he'll have all 85s, what else
tpinot - Hope so, too, thanks!
krisa - Glad to hear!!
Ollfardh - Well, Topsport is his history, he won't be starting there. So you can still start up a story like that I really like Topsport vlaanderen as a team!
Shonak - I was hoping you'd be in. I'll try to make this worth your while
I'm not going to beat around the bush here. Let me present to you the team that has given me the chance of a lifetime. (Though don't think I'll forget Topsport Vlaanderen, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here today) So without further ado, this is my team for the next season:
Contract & Expectations
Status: Young Rider Salary: 4.500 €/month Contract Length: 2 years Minimum of Race Days: 45 Minimum of World Tour Events: 2
Matthias Vleminckx' Date of Birth: 25/10/1991 Matthias Vleminckx' Weight: 76 kg Matthias Vleminckx' Height: 182 cm
Notice the contract length. Orica offered me a two-year contract, which gives me the time I need to adjust to the World Tour and grow. That's really important. If I only had a one-year contract, I would have to start proving myself from day one. Now I can take the time to grow and adapt, which will benefit me in the long run. Don't pay too much attention to the race days, that's just a technicality. I completely trust the team's staff, they know what they're doing and they'll give me a calendar which suits my development best.
My status as a young rider is very important, it might've been the only point of negotation on my behalf. I have no problems with water bottle duties during races, but I also want to have certain races where I start as a free man. As a young rider, I am guaranteed to start in several lower category races as a free element, to ride to my own abilities.
So what does the team expect from me? They told me they want to play me out on three fields:
1. As part of a lead-out for Michael Matthews, a young talented sprinter
2. As part of the cobbled classics squad, supporting Hayman and Keukeleire.
3. As a free element/sprinter in smaller races.
Our upcoming team camp will create clarity in objective n°1. They'll see if they find me a place in the lead-out for Matthews. I will do my best!
Squad
Leaders
Simon Gerrans
Simon is just an amazing guy. I've already met him twice and he's just so cheerful. He's also extremely talented on the bike. I'll learn a lot from him. He already confirmed his main goals for the 2014 season: Tour Down Under, Milan - San Remo, Tour de France and the World Championship Road Race. A fit Gerrans can pull stunts on all four occasions.
Michael Matthews
Michael is only one year older than me, but is already an established rider in the World Tour. He's got a mean sprint and can survive a few hills. He'll be our man for the future in races like Milan - San Remo.
Michael Albasini
Michael is very strong. He's a puncher mostly but he really gets around on all terrains. His palmares is very impressive and he's always good for a few victories each season.
Full Squad
This is one of the top teams in the World Tour, if you ask me. I'm very happy to make my debut in the World Tour with these guys at my side. Orica - GreenEdge looks like the perfect mixture between experience and young talents. I hope I'll find my place within the team soon enough.
Calendar
So what's coming up in the next few weeks? Well, with the season ending, I'm taking a week off. I'll be going away to The Netherlands and enjoy the beach in the Fall with my mates. After that, I'll start preparing for the next season.
Orica - GreenEdge is a very professional team. I'm already in contact with my personal coach, who will be watching my progress and who will guide me daily(!) with the proper diet and training.
In November, there is a first team camp in Spain. So far there'll be 12 riders present. It's not obligatory, but I'm going anyway. This is mostly for the new arrivals such as myself, to get to meet part of the team. The Yates brothers and Caleb Ewan will also be there for sure.
In December, I'll be going to Australia, for our first full team training. We'll also discuss season goals and schedules there. Depending on our early schedule, I'll either stay in Australia (if I'm racing Tour Down Under or the Herald Sun Tour) or return to Europe to do extra training on European roads and prepare for the season that way.
Well, that's it for today. I've nothing more to say, except maybe that I'm really excited to join this winning team. I hope the team will make me stronger and that I'll give the team some victories in the next two years.
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
