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A Climber's Tale-- Through the mountians of Europe.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 13:55
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| allez21 |
Posted on 31-05-2007 16:28
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Press Release
On behalf of the Team Slipstream PB Chipotle Squad, I would like to welcome to the team, Riley Majeune; a young rider from the U.S. with tons of potential. He will be a key element in the season to come, and will help our team tremendously.
Director Sportif,
Jonathan Vaughters
Editor's Note: This new story will follow around one rider alone, and the seasons will come and go quickly as only races Majeune has participated in will be reported. So, the beginning seasons will be especially short as he will only be riding 20-35 days. Thanks for reading along!
PS: this was inspired by the recent revelations of Crommy and Sportingnonsense |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 31-05-2007 16:32
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Looks good - could you give me the stats you are using for Riley Majeune? - so that I could use them in The Eurosport career where he is riding for Tinkoff. |
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| allez21 |
Posted on 31-05-2007 16:33
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Look back to the other post, i changed that guys name so there isnt confusion, but make him a pure climber. I think too many people in that story are 8 potential stage races, but i suppose that will make for intense stage races. |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 31-05-2007 16:35
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Pure climber it is. Good luck for the Slipstream career! |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2007 16:58
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Good luck, it'll be an interesting read. Especially interested to see how Riley Majeune does in comparison to my rider Chris Robinson 
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| allez21 |
Posted on 31-05-2007 17:05
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Crommy, it will be a lot more of a struggle for my guy, his TT wont be the best.
Well, I was selected to ride our spring Europe program, so I'll be in Tour de Besseges and Tour Med. My first pro races! its going to be a learning experience and im just going to try to stay with the peleton. I'm a bit disappointed in not being selected to ride the Tour of California. More to come soon, including pictures and reports on the races. |
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 31-05-2007 18:38
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sounds good, best of luck |
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| allez21 |
Posted on 01-06-2007 15:23
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Etoile de Bessèges
Last year's winner: Frederick Wiliems
This stage race can be described in one word for me: owch. 
STAGE 1
Well, rolling up to the start line my heart is pumping. Im extremely nervous, and barely hear the many languages that make up the Pro Peleton. I've been assigned to protect and take care of our sprinter, Huff. We start the race:
The pace is very slow, so our own Huub Duyn makes an attack, and is joined by 9 others. They gain a decent lead.
I try to hang on as the pace really picks up in the finish, the pack isn't sure if they can catch the break so they put the hammer down, and I explode. This sucks.
The break just barely holds off the lead, Mangel of Ag2r takes a nice win.
Stage results:
1 Laurent Mangel Ag2r Prévoyance 4h40'43
2 Sébastien Minard Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone s.t.
3 Pasquale Muto Miche s.t.
4 Aivaras Baranauskas Agritubel s.t.
5 Nicolas Crosbie Bouygues Telecom s.t.
6 Robbie McEwen Predictor-Lotto s.t.
7 Jeremy Hunt Unibet.com s.t.
8 Nick Nuyens Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone s.t.
9 Martin Elmiger Ag2r Prévoyance s.t.
10 Lars Ytting Bak Team CSC s.t.
89 Riley Majeune Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 7' 12"
Stage 2
So, I was off to a horrible start to my pro career, and morale is down. Then again, its all a learning process. I suppose I'll re-adjust my personal goal to just finish with the peleton. 
The breakaway well... breaks away. American Aaron Olson is the best sprinter in the bunch, and thus is best placed to win the stage.
Robbie McEwen is on fire this season and easily takes the win.
Me, limping in behind the bunch. I feel horrible and will have a lot of training to do if i want to become the world's best.
Stage Results:
1 Robbie McEwen Predictor-Lotto 3h06'10
2 Lars Michaelsen Team CSC s.t.
3 Saïd Haddou Bouygues Telecom s.t.
4 Sébastien Chavanel Française Des Jeux s.t.
5 Juan José Haedo Team CSC s.t.
6 Bernhard Eisel T-Mobile Team s.t.
7 Martin Elmiger Ag2r Prévoyance s.t.
8 Charles Bradley Huff Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle s.t.
9 Tyler Farrar Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone s.t.
10 Hans Dekkers Agritubel s.t.
95 Riley Majeune Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle + 2'35
Overall GC:
1 Laurent Mangel Ag2r Prévoyance 7h46'25
2 Robbie McEwen Predictor-Lotto + 8
3 Sébastien Minard Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone + 14
4 Pasquale Muto Miche s.t.
5 Lars Michaelsen Team CSC + 16
Stage 3
A completely flat stage with 3 little small bumps, I just might be able to stick with the peleton.
The break, De Schrooder is the favorite in the group.
McEwen takes the win again, but the wind is so strong an echelon is set up and tears the peleton apart. Only 20 riders are up in the front group. Once again, I have a bad day-- in fact, I have the worst day.
Stage Results:
1 Robbie McEwen Predictor-Lotto 3h33'37
2 Saïd Haddou Bouygues Telecom s.t.
3 Fred Rodriguez Predictor-Lotto s.t.
4 Martin Elmiger Ag2r Prévoyance s.t.
5 Nick Nuyens Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone s.t.
6 Jeremy Hunt Unibet.com s.t.
7 Lars Michaelsen Team CSC s.t.
8 Juan José Haedo Team CSC s.t.
9 Nicolas Jalabert Agritubel s.t.
10 Laurent Mangel Ag2r Prévoyance s.t.
101 Riley Majeune Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle + 10'15
Overall GC:
1 Robbie McEwen Predictor-Lotto 11h19'50
2 Laurent Mangel Ag2r Prévoyance + 12
3 Saïd Haddou Bouygues Telecom + 20
4 Lars Michaelsen Team CSC + 28
5 Fred Rodriguez Predictor-Lotto + 32
99 Riley Majeune Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle + 20'42
Ok, new goal: dont finish last
The rest of the race will come later today, as well as most, if not all, of Tour Med |
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 01-06-2007 16:16
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you'll finish in the peleton eventually
no it's not that bad getting dropped with this high-class field, especially for a young rider, how old is Majeune by the way? |
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| allez21 |
Posted on 01-06-2007 16:20
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He's only 19, with experience of 1, and playing on hard difficulty. so it will take time, but he'll develope. I decided to start him lower because the seasons will be short, i mean as a youngster im not willing to over race him and lose potential |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 01-06-2007 16:34
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Yep, my man Chris Robinson is exactly the same. He can't stay on the peloton, even when it's flat
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 01-06-2007 18:17
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just incase you didn't know, youngsters in the game can ride, i think, between 20-30 days without losing potential |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 01-06-2007 18:22
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Once he starts progressing in skill points he will be able to hang on to the peleton, maybe he should go for a breakaway until then, he probably wont make it but its better than just dropping off the peleton! |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 01-06-2007 18:29
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Also, it would be nice if you removed all the menus off the screenshots. Just a suggestion
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 01-06-2007 18:30
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i also think it would be nice, but it's your story so do as you wish |
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| allez21 |
Posted on 01-06-2007 22:02
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Okay, i have removed the menus. The pictures might be a little more fuzzy now that they are bigger, but I'll up the graphics so its still good quality. However, I've already played thru Tour Med so it wont be until the next race after that. Thanks for compliments + suggestions. To Addy: yeah I was planning on racing him for about 33-35 days.
Stage 3
I'm really having a rough time at my first pro race. Jason Donald, one of the older guys isn't too worried about my performance; he says its just early season form and a lack of experience. However, due to the fact I was national junior champion last year and hold several mountain climbing records, my manager Vaughters has threatened to cut me from the squad! It's do or die.
The break gets away as usual, Brit Wiggins is in the break, but the 6 riders never get a large lead as its a very hill/mountainous stage and the GC boys are smelling blood.
Me grinding my way up one of the steep hills that were abundant in today's racing. However, the day after day of racing is already getting to me. I'm not used to it at all and I'm just awed at how riders even complete a Grand Tour.
Carrara of Unibet.com takes a nice win. I was able to stick with the leading group until the 2nd to last small rise, at which point letting of the gas was needed or I was going to pop. You can see the stage profile at the bottom of the photograph.
Stage Results:
1 Matteo Carrara Unibet.com 5h33'21
2 Martin Elmiger Ag2r Prévoyance + 21
3 Sébastien Joly Française Des Jeux s.t.
4 Chris Sörensen Team CSC s.t.
5 Bradley McGee Française Des Jeux s.t.
6 Nick Nuyens Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone + 1'34
7 Lars Ytting Bak Team CSC + 2'16
8 Matti Breschel Team CSC + 2'38
9 Giuseppe Guerini T-Mobile Team s.t.
10 Johan Van Summeren Predictor-Lotto s.t.
80 Riley Majeune Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle + 23'53
Overall GC:
1 Matteo Carrara Unibet.com 16h53'31
2 Martin Elmiger Ag2r Prévoyance + 29
3 Bradley McGee Française Des Jeux + 41
4 Sébastien Joly Française Des Jeux + 1'31
5 Chris Sörensen Team CSC + 1'39
Stage 5
McEwen dominates the bunch sprint. He's unstopable at this point: 4/5 stages in the Tour Down Under, 3/5 at Besseges. At least its finally over. I'll have two days to rest up (and by rest I mean train like a man possesed to try and get some form to stay with the peleton) and then im of to Tour Med. See you then!
I lost the stage results for this stage, but same GC and McEwen won the stage. Also, I may or may not post Tour Med stuff today, but definately tomorrow i will |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 01-06-2007 22:07
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Youve got a pretty hectic early schedule for a young rider! |
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| allez21 |
Posted on 02-06-2007 00:41
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Tour Méditerranéen
I got some more training in during the "break" with my teammates, and they did a lot to boost my confidence. My manager, Jonathan Vaughters, gave me a hard time up front, but I think he was telling my teammates to help. Anyways, here are the profiles of the first three stages just to give you a preview. I hope to do well in stage 2, as its my favorite environment: the mountains. Stage 3 is a team time trial, and we've been practicing our tactics... lets just say it hasn't been going well. THe team is so young our riders don't know when to pull off or when to put in an extra effort. We basically just yell at eachother for the however many kilometers... anyway. Here they are:
Stage 1
Four riders leave the peleton, the most dangerous being Pena if he is in form. At this point I am feeling really good, enjoying the scenery and even practicing my French with some riders from Ag2r.
Hushovd takes it on the line. Look closely and you can see me in the peleton! My first victory...well, sort of.B) |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-06-2007 01:14
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Gratz on your semi-victory! Looking forward to Stage 3's TTT? |
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| Addy291 |
Posted on 02-06-2007 11:10
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well done |
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