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Il Bimbo d'bronzo | Giro d'Italia 2015
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 25-06-2014 17:11
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Spoiler After 3 years without touching a PCM game, I found myself beginning to play it again this year. Now I’ve decided to make a bit of a story in the game to make this new play-through more interesting and immersive. The rider in this “story” is ranked 28th overall when ranking the U25 riders in my DB at the start of my career. (Which is in 2014. The Prologue starts in 2012 and ends in 2013.) So if you don’t like stories about riders who jump up out of nowhere, you’ve been warned. I don’t think he’ll be winning P-R or the Tour anytime soon though.
This story started out with a completely different prologue, but I ended up deciding going less for a story driven career and more game driven. So apologies if it’s disjointed.
Database: PCMFocus FDB14 v1.5 (Adjusted)
Difficulty: Hard
Development of attributes: 0.5 -> 0.2
Random potential: No
Edited by Re Leone on 25-08-2014 20:24
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 25-06-2014 17:12
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Edited by Re Leone on 30-07-2014 14:49
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 25-06-2014 17:12
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Spoiler | • 1st | XC European Under-23 Championships | Dohnany | | • 3rd | XC World Under-23 Championships | Champéry |
| • 3rd | XC World Under-23 Championships | Leogang-Saalfelden |
| • 4th | General Classification | Tour of Gila | | • 1st | Youth Classification | Tour of Gila |
| • 1st |  XC World Under-23 Championships | Pietermaritzburg |
| • 1st | Mountain Classification | Tour Mediterraneen | | - | | • 2nd | Strade Bianche | | - | | • 1st | Stage 6 | Tour of Utah | | • 2nd | General Classification | Tour of Utah | | • 1st | Mountains Classification | Tour of Utah | | • 1st | Youth Classification | Tour of Utah | | - | | • 1st | Stage 3 | Vuelta a España | | • 9th | General Classification | Vuelta a España |
Edited by Re Leone on 01-08-2014 15:25
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 25-06-2014 17:14
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Locking up my Cannondale MTB in our shed felt a bit like locking up a child in a basement while only giving him Brussels sprouts as food. Once upon a time I was compared to the likes of Peter Sagan (for both my exploits on the mountain bike as our way with the ladies), but just like he once did it was time to move on.
As many before me I have come to realize that nobody, but a select few care about mountain biking. Meaning there is little money to be made in it. After two podium finishes in the U23 World Championships and one title as the U23 European Champion my financial prospects hadn't changed much. My girlfriend still left me because I couldn't drive her around in a fancy car or any car really. (Though that mostly had to do with me spending the little money I had on a new bicycle instead of a car.)
The most I have achieved in financial success is a series of television commercials for one of the local supermarkets promoting their home brand hair conditioners. (Granted I do have beautiful hair.)
So there I was a 22 year old college graduate, who did not enjoy the idea of slaving his life away within the walls of an office cubicle. Riding across the steep cobbled hills of Flanders in the biting cold, while dropping those inferior to me at the turn of a pedal. Conquering the cold Alps, the hot Pyrenees. Images that filled my head for most of the day.
I wanted to be a professional cyclist, which is why I was sitting here with my HTC smartphone in hand, texting the number of an obscure little pharmacy halfway across the world.
Edited by Re Leone on 25-06-2014 17:17
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 17:24
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 25-06-2014 17:21
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks for mention. It really is a pleasure to be inspiration to something and someone, especially to story with a big potential (yep, that's this one definitely). Good luck!
Also, it's Trek not Treck and try to delete "/" at the end of each PCMdaily link, as all of them are broken because of it, at the moment. Not really a big deal, anyways. 
Welcome to the forum!
Edited by admirschleck on 25-06-2014 17:25
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| Shonak |
Posted on 25-06-2014 17:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Very nice first read, like the writing style. A bit puzzled at the last sentence though, hm...
Oh and welcome to the forum.
Edited by Shonak on 25-06-2014 17:22
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 25-06-2014 18:09
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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1. Welcome to the forum!
2. Thanks for the mention. Nice to see my story is listed with some other great reads and it has inspired you
3. Good luck!
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 25-06-2014 21:10
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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@admirschleck
Fixed those mistakes.  And thanks for the support.
@Shonak
Thanks, that's really encouraging.
That last line was just a lazy cliffhanger on my end. 
@the_hoyle
Thanks. And your story is one of my favourites right now.
I used to be on these forums ages ago, I just forgot my username/password. But thanks for the welcome! |
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 25-06-2014 21:16
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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My sister has been a certified pharmacist who owned her own pharmacy in the Arizonian desert (where she got swept away by some American jock) for quite some time now, but even before that she has always taken care of my diet and training schedule. Now I needed her help with something else though. As just like she had realized before me, our little home country of Malta was just too small for me.
Oh my dear reader, I bet you thought it was something more... performance enhancing that I was after? No my dear friend, the great Nicholas Arcier needs no fancy doctors magic to lay his will upon the peloton. A sandwich, glass of milk and lovely girl will do just fine!
Spoiler The photo used in the whatsapp profile is of the lovely Eva Carneiro a physio at Chelsea FC.
Edited by Re Leone on 25-06-2014 21:21
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 25-06-2014 22:36
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Very, very promising. A first story is always exciting. The best of luck and I'm glad you took some inspiration from a story of mine!!  |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 25-06-2014 22:44
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice start! Nicholas' sister is hot!
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 25-06-2014 23:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Good Luck with this |
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 26-06-2014 10:53
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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@Ian Butler, @sutty68
Thanks
@the_hoyle
I know right.
Edited by Re Leone on 26-06-2014 12:01
One Rider Story
Team Story |
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 26-06-2014 10:58
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Tonight is the night, we’ll fight ‘till it’s over.
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us.
The lyrics of “rap” artist Macklemore his recent hit song where sounding over the radio for what must have been the 123th time since my arrival in California. Sure the scenery was nicer, the women prettier and the cars fancier, but the music was questionable to say the least.
Nonetheless I had to agree on one thing with the man who had copied my hairstyle. (Though his cut looked like a parody of mine.) The ceiling wasn't going to hold me, nor would anything else. Words I've slowly given power during this week’s Tour of California. Almost a year after I send my sister that all deciding text message.
After finishing 9th in the time trial earlier in the week, I've managed to shine in my role of domestique during the rest of the Tour. Helping our leader Janier Acevedo to a 3rd place in the general classification, easily the best result of our team this season. Your humble narrator might not have finished high in any of the classifications, but anyone paying attention throughout the week would have easily noticed I was one of the stronger riders in the peloton. And it seemed that some were indeed paying attention.
Right after the final stage in Santa Rosa a spokesperson from the Radioshack-Leopard team approached me. The man who was sporting goofy round-cut glasses explained to me how he had come to scout me after my top 5 finish in the Tour of Gila earlier in the year. He introduced himself as one of the directeur sportif at Radioshack.
Fancy title. Couldn't say the same for the Nissan he was driving through.
One Rider Story
Team Story |
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 26-06-2014 11:22
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Team Leader
Posts: 6690
Joined: 11-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Seriously, this is great so far. Cool layout and great texts = keep these updates coming!
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 26-06-2014 11:55
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4478
Joined: 30-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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No mention 
Just kidding, really good start, and good luck
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-06-2014 14:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Radioshack - Leopard ?????, could be a good move |
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 26-06-2014 17:37
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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After I signed an agreement with the swift flick of a pen. (A confidential one, not a contractual one. Secrecy you know. The pro peloton sometimes felt like walking into the CIA.) The Radioshack directeur sportif proceeded to explain the reason of our meeting.
With both Radioshack and Nissan retreating from the sport of cycling the team had been left in the dark about its own future. Luckily after extended negotiations the directeur sportif assured me, the team has reached an agreement with a still to be named sponsor. ‘Luk’ as he liked me to call him could confirm however that the centerpiece of the team would be Cancellara and that they have also reached an agreement with the Schleck brothers. (Do those guys still compete?)
Their plans were to build an international team of experienced riders and exciting new talent. With the goal of winning right now and to stand on the frontier of a new and cleaner (the latter being something Luk insisted on) era in cycling. He made sure to add that. “The performance you showed in the Tour of Gila made you an instant favourite with the American fans, which is a hard crowd to please.”
“So when do I get to see a contract?” I asked looking up from the Radioshack folder, heavy with what mostly felt like Cancellara his palmarès.
“I can’t say yet.”
“So you don’t even have anything official yet?” This meeting was getting rather annoying.
“We plan do so soon, we just wanted to let you be aware of our interest and the role we have in mind for you within our team.” Luk responded. “Once the final paper work has been finished with the sponsor we will start approaching cyclists with official offers.”
An exchange of contact details and handshake later, I found myself in the elevator back down the fancy hotel. Rather annoyed at the carrot being held in front of my face, but untouchable for now.
One Rider Story
Team Story |
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 26-06-2014 17:40
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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@admirschleck
Thanks!
@Cycleman123
I haven't read your story yet actually. Thanks nonetheless.
@sutty68
It would be fun to join Spartacus and his gladiators, we shall see.
One Rider Story
Team Story |
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| Re Leone |
Posted on 26-06-2014 20:56
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 322
Joined: 25-06-2014
PCM$: 200.00
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Just four days after the Tour of California had finished I received my first official offer in my inbox from the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, a very strong pro-continental team. However it was another email that became the focus of my attention. A certain Nick from Team Sky was interested in meeting with me to discuss his team their interest in securing my signature for the upcoming season. The very next morning I found myself on a plane to Tennessee (all taken care of by Sky) where the US National Road Race Championships were to be held.
As was to be expected of Team Sky they were holed up in one of the fancy Hampton Inns in Chattanooga. Nick a jovial Frenchman did not beat around the bushes as he sat me down for a one on one meeting.
“We've been following you since your win in the European Mountain-bike Championships two years ago and we're glad you've decided to take up the challenge of racing on the road. I am confident that the structure we have set up here at Team Sky can help you achieve the success you're after.”
One had to admit. Nick had a way with words.
Nick continued. “We would like to come to a preliminary agreement, for us to sponsor you in this year’s Tour de l’Avenir. We know Malta don’t have a team, but we could pull strings at the UCI to make it work. If you perform to our expectations we would be more than happy to include you in our team next year.”
Right away the little bit of excitement I had built up, was swiftly erased. You see the Tour de l’Avenir would be held at the same time as the World MTB Championships in South Africa, my final goal I had set up for me in the MTB community.
Decisions, decisions.
There wasn't much I could do besides tell Nick that I would seriously think about their offer. My dream was this close, but did I really have to sacrifice my last hoorah?
One goodbye that remained as planned was the one between me and my sister. With my contract running out with the American team for whom I signed it was time for me to return home.
Edited by Re Leone on 27-06-2014 00:35
One Rider Story
Team Story |
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