Hello everyone ! It's been a long time since I've played with this beautiful game,but with this years game I got into the feeling again . As I saw there's not that many of stories in the forum but I like to do one .
The team is
The team leaders :
Peter Sagan
After last years DSQ,he want to take the green yersey back from Michael Matthews,so this year he will be focusing on the Tour de France once again. At the first half of the season the cobblestones will be his main objective Peter wants to get the Paris-Roubaix trophy in his cabinet. For the last part the defending of the World Championship jersey will be on charge to make it for in a row .
Season goals :
Win a stage and take the green jersey at the Tour de France
Win at least one monument
Defend the world champion title
Rafal Majka
Last year was not the best at the grand tours for Rafal,this yea he will take part on both Le Tour and Vuelta a Espana to get at least one good results from this two . He's first objective of the season will be the Paris-Nice .
Season goals :
Make at least one top 5 GT place
Win a GT stage
Get at least one podium of a world tour stage race
Secondary leaders :
Sam Bennett
Sam will be the main sprinter at the Giro'd Italia. Other than that he's gonna have many flat one day classics to race at .
Season goals :
Win a stage at the Giro
Win a smaller classic
Win a stage at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
Davide Formolo
After last years top 10 at his home Grand Tour we want him to do the same thing,but this year he will have to race at the Ardennes to get a good result from there too .
Season goals :
Top 10 at the Giro
Make at least one top 10 at the Arrdennes
Jay McCarthy Rüdiger Selig Juraj Sagan Michael Kolar Pawel Poljanski Cesare Benedetti Andreas Schillinger
Startlist
Spoiler
Expectations : Our dude Jay McCarthy make the podium last season,we want him to do it again or win a stage for us.
Stage 1
An easy flat stage with probably a peloton sprint for the stage win .
There was a six man breakaway with three riders from UAE(Bystrom,Marcato and Laengen) with Per,Rast and Vermote. As the big sprinters team dominated the road they had max. 3 minute lead. Lotto-Soudal,LottoNL and Katusha lead the way to the end. The breakaway riders catched 13km before the final sprint,but none of the big teams made a great train,but with the class of Kittel he managed to take the victory ahead of Groenewegen and Greipel,but it was a good day for us as McCarthy finished 4th ahead of Selig .
1 Marcel Kittel Team Katusha Alpecin 3h33'13
2 Dylan Groenewegen Team Lotto NL - Jumbo s.t.
3 André Greipel Lotto Soudal s.t. 4 Jay McCarthy BORA - hansgrohe s.t. 5 Rüdiger Selig BORA - hansgrohe s.t.
Stage 2
It's a half flat half hilly stage cause it's a little bit. 7 rider in the breakaway today,as the Quick-Step and LottoNL lead the peloton they catched 4 of us,cause Poljanski from us also in it,but only Gildich,Vermote and Laengen left in the front group. 10km left the peloton is now at the front Selig will lead McCarthy till the end to get a good position for the sprint. McCarthy started in the best position possible,but that was not good enough against Caleb Ewan as he won the stage. McCarthy finished 2nd and Theuns 3rd.
1 Caleb Ewan Michelton - Scott 3h47'59 2 Jay McCarthy BORA - hansgrohe s.t.
3 Edward Theuns Team Sunweb s.t.
4 André Greipel Lotto Soudal s.t.
5 Dylan Groenewegen Team Lotto NL - Jumbo s.t.
Stage 3
The last chance for the sprinters before the last stage.
The 6 breakaway riders made until the 3km flag,but there's no chance for them they only had 2 minute lead max. all day. As the sprinter trains got into there job we are in the front again with Mitchelton and LottoNL. McCarthy did a good job like yesterday,but the really big names beated him today.Kittel won the stage ahead of Groenewegen and Ewan. McCarthy finished 4th,Selig also made the top10 he finished 9th.
1 Marcel Kittel Team Katusha Alpecin 3h31'11
2 Dylan Groenewegen Team Lotto NL - Jumbo s.t.
3 Caleb Ewan Michelton - Scott s.t. 4 Jay McCarthy BORA - hansgrohe s.t.
5 André Greipel Lotto Soudal s.t.
Hilly stage before the Willunga,probably end up in a group stage. Big chance for guys who can sprint and also good at climbing.
We took Benedetti into the breakaway with 5 other dudes,the KOM leader Bystrom also in it . Benedetti and Thwaites tried to attack in solo,but the peloton got everyone 17km before the end. Juraj and Poljanski lead the way to the top of the hill,but Kwiatkowski attacked 1km before the top! As Poljanski get up to him,McCarthy tries his strenght,as Woods,Alaphilippe and Kwiatkoski follows him. A 7 man group joined to us,but theres no chance against Jay in the final sprint! Victory for BORA! Woods finished 2nd and Alaphilippe 3rd. We have the leader jersey now!
Stage Result :
1
Jay McCarthy
BORA - hansgrohe
3h13'27
2
Michael Woods
Team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale
s.t.
3
Julian Alaphilippe
Quick-Step Floors
s.t.
4
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team Sky
s.t.
5
Fabio Felline
Trek - Segafredo
s.t.
Stage 5
The Willunga hill the real challenge for everyone,the race winner will be decided here. Hard to defend the jersey but we will doing our best.
The 8 man breakaway had a 2 minute lead after the first climbing. 10km left Dennis,Schar,Lutsenko and Cummings leading 1 minute ahead the 40 man "peloton". Benedetti left for Jay, as Pawel did his job for today. Dennis attacks at the front right after the 3 km flag,Alaphilippe also attacks from the leaders group . Benedetti did his job as he got everyone in the front the breakaway riders and also Alaphilippe . Now it's time for Jay who can't miss after what the team did for him today,TWO IN A ROW! We have the same top4 as yesterday. Alaphilippe 2nd,Woods 3rd and Kwiatkowski 4th
Stage Result :
1
Jay McCarthy
BORA - hansgrohe
3h13'27
2
Julian Alaphilippe
Quick-Step Floors
s.t.
3
Michael Woods
Team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale
s.t.
4
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team Sky
s.t.
5
Alexis Vuillermoz
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Stage 6
A fully flat stage around Adelaide. A chance for Kittel to get his third win.
Wyss,Boom and Korsaeth in the front with Eisel and Bystrom joined a bit later. But they don't live long as the Katusha triing there best to make the position for Kittel. For us the race winner McCarthy will try to get into the top5 again. Katusha and us lead the way,the sprint was started but none of the big names good enough today as suprisingly Fabio Felline won the stage,ahead of Drucker and Theuns. McCarthy finished 4th,with this he not just won the race but also managed to get the sprinters jersey!
1
Fabio Felline
Trek - Segafredo
1h51'39
2
Jempy Drucker
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
3
Edward Theuns
Team Sunweb
s.t.
4
Jay McCarthy
BORA - hansgrohe
s.t.
5
Caleb Ewan
Michelton - Scott
s.t.
General Classification :
Mountain Classification:
Point Classification :
It was a fantastic way to start our season! Two stage victories an overall and a point classification winned! See you soon in Mallorca .
Sam Bennett Maciej Bodnar Jay McCarthy Juraj Sagan Andreas Schillinger Michael Schwarzmann Rüdiger Selig
Startlist :
Favourites :
*** Sam Bennett
** Edward Theuns, Jens Debusschere
* Heinrich Haussler, Fabio Felline, Jens Keukeleire
Race report :
Rossetto,Denz,Zakharov,Clarke and Bookwalter try his strenght today,they had a lead around 3 minutes all day. Us and the two Lotto team Soudal and Jumbo lead the peloton all day.
BIG CRASH! Many of the favourites in it Debusschere,Janse Van Rensburg,Felline,only 26km left from the race it's over for them. Lars Boom attacks followed by Jay McCarthy,Kragh Andersen,Cummings and Claeys. Wynants,Goncalves and Haussler joined to us. This 8 man group will sprint for the win. Kragh Andersen won the race! Goncalves finished second and Lars Boom third. Jay don't have the energy today he finished 7th.
Erik Baska Cesare Benedetti Marcus Burghardt Michael Kolar Leopold König Matteo Pelluchi Pawel Poljanski
Startlist :
Favourites :
*** Alejandro Valverde
** Bauke Mollema, Domenico Pozzovivo
* Tim Wellens, Ilnur Zakarin, Steven Kruiswijk
Stage 1
A big crash happened right before the peloton catched the breakaway. Some of the big names like Terpstra and Gilbert in it,from us luckily it's just Cesare who part of this crash. The FDJ,us and the Bahrein-Merida done there leadout trains everyone else is just following. Pelluchi started to sprint a bit late,cause of that he only finished 4th right behind Kolar. Sarreau won ahead of Colbrelli.
1
Marc Sarreau
Groupama - FDJ
3h58'03
2
Sonny Colbrelli
Bahrain - Merida
s.t.
3
Michael Kolar
BORA - hansgrohe
s.t.
4
Matteo Pelucchi
BORA - hansgrohe
s.t.
5
Matti Breschel
Team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale
s.t.
Stage 2
After involved in yesterdays crash it's a good chance for Cesare to get points in for the KOM Classification. He managed to get the second and third mountain of the day,ahead of the 2 Lotto-Soudal guy Monfort and Armee,the peloton dictated a slow tempo all day,with that the 3 man leading group had a chance to fight for the stage. As we started the last climb 3km left and the peloton 3 minute behind us. Monfort attacked with 2km left and Cesare don't have a chance to keep up with him. Monfort won the stage,but that's a solid second place for us. Valverde managed to get a 8 second gap ahead of his rivals,he's the new overall leader. Poljanski and König finished in the favourites group.
1
Maxime Monfort
Lotto Soudal
4h08'32
2
Cesare Benedetti
BORA - hansgrohe
+ 34
3
Sander Armee
Lotto Soudal
+ 1'19
4
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 2'32
5
Domenico Pozzovivo
Bahrain - Merida
+ 2'40
Stage 3
The main for today is to keep the Mountain jersey in our team,so that's another breakaway ride for Cesare. Monfort involved in a crash at the first climbs downhill. The peloton dictated a horrible fast speed all day,they cought up to the breakaway even before the first second category mountain. Devenyns and Benedetti attack on the second 2nd category climb. Cesare just came for the points,now there's no way he can't win the classification,at the start of the downhill they had 3 minute gap,Cesare only 1'04 behind the overall leader Valverde. Devenyns attacked in the last hill,no way to follow him. Devenyns won the stage,Benedetti second again,BUT Valverde finished third close to 2 minutes behind him! Cesare is now the leader of Overall,Mountain and even the Points classification!
1
Dries Devenyns
Quick-Step Floors
4h32'46
2
Cesare Benedetti
BORA - hansgrohe
+ 44
3
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 2'43
4
Gianluca Brambilla
Trek - Segafredo
s.t.
5
Bauke Mollema
Trek - Segafredo
s.t.
Stage 4
Nothing really happened,the peloton catched the breakaway at the 10km flag as the sprinter teams prepared for the sprint. Our leadout managed to get Kolar in the top position,and he WON! Welten from Fortuneo got second and Sarreua was third
*** Caleb Ewan
** Marco Haller , Rüdiger Selig
* Andrea Pasqualon, Daniel McLay, Adam Blyhte
The race :
The little hills in the middle did not changed anything 100 riders in the peloton as the sprint starts. Kolar in the front Selig behind him in the best possible position. And he did his job! Selig won! Dupont and Bennati in the podium with him. Caleb Ewan just finished fifth.
The main man for today will be McCarthy,cause of the speed of FDJ and Mitchellton there is no chance to get Pelluchi into the final sprint . As we get into the last 20 we started to being in the front,König leads the front group, only 25 people left in it. At the last climb Bakelants and Impey tried to attack,but Poljanski get the group back every time. 3km left Bakelants attacked again,but that's not enough the small front group will sprint for the win AND MCCARTHY WON THE RACE! De Kort second and that's a double podium for us Benedetti finished third!
It was the perfect stage for the sprinters and also for us to take the leader jersey. Ackermann did his job and won the stage! It was a close one between him and Malucelli. August Jensen finished third and everyone finished with the same time .
1
Pascal Ackermann
BORA - hansgrohe
3h55'49
2
Matteo Malucelli
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
3
August Jensen
Israel Cycling Academy
s.t.
4
Sean De Bie
Véranda's Willems - Crelan
s.t.
5
Kevin Deltombe
Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
Stage 2
Another silly stage,Ackermann did not felt that good like yesterday. De Bie started to celebrate too early,Battaglin only lead for 5 meters at the stage,but it was the best meters too lead. De Buyst get third ahead of Ackermann.
1
Enrico Battaglin
Team Lotto NL - Jumbo
4h06'18
2
Sean De Bie
Véranda's Willems - Crelan
s.t.
3
Jasper De Buyst
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
4
Pascal Ackermann
BORA - hansgrohe
s.t.
5
August Jensen
Israel Cycling Academy
s.t.
Stage 3
Ackermann makes it 2! For the last sprint stage he get his leadout again had no mercy for the rivals. Felline got second and yesterdays winner Battaglin got a podium place again.
1
Pascal Ackermann
BORA - hansgrohe
4h42'05
2
Fabio Felline
Trek - Segafredo
s.t.
3
Enrico Battaglin
Team Lotto NL - Jumbo
s.t.
4
Jesús Herrada
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
5
August Jensen
Israel Cycling Academy
s.t.
Stage 4
A short but brutal climb will end the stage today. Ackermann will lost he's leader jersey,but we gonna try to keep it in our team. Grosschartner had a little injury so Kennaugh will be our leader for today. Ackermann lost the contact on the first climb,but managed to get back to the front . As the last climb starts Chernetskiy attacks,Kennaugh can't get to the front. Teuns catch up to Chernetsky as,the whole peloton became one again. Bernal attacks with 500m to go he have the space and overtook Teuns and won the stage! Kennaugh get only 22nd with +19sec to Bernal,very bad day for the team.
1
Egan Arley Bernal
Team Sky
4h55'32
2
Dylan Teuns
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
3
Sergey Chernetskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
4
Hugh Carthy
Team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale
+ 19
5
Marc Soler
Movistar Team
s.t.
Stage 5
Nelson Oliveira managed to get home! Nothing happened today in the favourites part of the race,Oliveira just got home with a lead close to nothing to Masnada who won the group sprint. Kennaugh did good today he's goot 4th.
1
Nelson Oliveira
Movistar Team
4h07'42
2
Fausto Masnada
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
3
Tomasz Marczyński
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
4
Peter Kennaugh
BORA - hansgrohe
s.t.
5
Ben Hermans
Israel Cycling Academy
s.t.
Stage 6
The last climb of the race will decide everything,only 29seconds between the top 14. Kennaugh will do everything to get into the top10 maybe top5.
The breakaway started the last climb with a 2 minute lead at the peloton the sky dictating. Nothing happened until the last 6km,Felline attacks. 2.5km left Felline with the last 2 riders from the breakaway is leading the race. At the peloton no one wanted to pace,Kennaugh trying his luck and attacks. Máte beats Felline and won the stage!Kennaugh finished sixth in the group with Bernal.
Ehm, it's not so exciting when you win, if you win that much. Please bump up the difficulty once or perhaps twice? Otherwise, nice reports, but i don't feel like you're fighting for victories as it is
purepasd wrote:
Ehm, it's not so exciting when you win, if you win that much. Please bump up the difficulty once or perhaps twice? Otherwise, nice reports, but i don't feel like you're fighting for victories as it is
Yea i'm also on to get it to extreme,it's on hard at the moment if it keep it going like this i will change it. And thank you i'll try my best .
Selig survived that tricky middle section,where is many short but hard hills we had. Many split happened in the last 20km's,but a 60 man group left in the front. Hofstede did a brilliant job for the sprinter of Sunweb Phil Bauhaus,but Selig got him! Selig won the stage! Bauhaus second and Debusschere third.
1
Rüdiger Selig
BORA - hansgrohe
5h23'41
2
Phil Bauhaus
Team Sunweb
s.t.
3
Jens Debusschere
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
4
Søren Kragh Andersen
Team Sunweb
s.t.
5
Kristoffer Halvorsen
Team Sky
s.t.
Stage 2
No action in the day. The train went well again and Selig makes it 2! Debusschere second and Bauhaus third today.
1
Rüdiger Selig
BORA - hansgrohe
5h14'24
2
Jens Debusschere
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
3
Phil Bauhaus
Team Sunweb
s.t.
4
Søren Kragh Andersen
Team Sunweb
s.t.
5
Lasse Norman Hansen
Aqua Blue Sport
s.t.
Stage 3
Hilly stage,McCarthy will be the first man for today. Sky lead the whole day for Chris Froome,but Henao the first who attacked with 5km to go. Marczynski lead the first half of the last hill,to get the sprinter Debusschere into a good position. Henao fellt back to the group and Warren Barguil had the best sprint and won the stage!Froome second and Masnada third,McCarthy did well he got fourth.THE REAL SURPRISE is Selig,who finished 22nd and in the first group!Kept hes leader jersey for 1 more day. Bodnar also finished in the first group,good starting position for us before the TT!
1
Warren Barguil
Team Fortuneo - Samsic
5h16'46
2
Chris Froome
Team Sky
s.t.
3
Fausto Masnada
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
4
Jay McCarthy
BORA - hansgrohe
s.t.
5
Søren Kragh Andersen
Team Sunweb
s.t.
Stage 4
If Maciej have a good day it's a chance to beat Froome who's the team think the best time trialist after Maciej,and Bodnar can win the GC if he do great today. Bodnar got fourth at the moment he finished. Froome did great and won the stage and probably the GC also.
1
Chris Froome
Team Sky
50'25
2
David De La Cruz
Team Sky
+ 21
3
Wout Poels
Team Sky
+ 43
4
Larry Warbasse
Aqua Blue Sport
+ 48
5
Fausto Masnada
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 1'02
Stage 5
100% sprinter stage fully flat. The leadout did the job,but Bauhaus is stronger than Selig today.Debusschere finishing the podium.
Peter Sagan
Rafal Majka
Sam Bennett
Davide Formolo
Santos Tour Down Under 01/16-01/21
Rüdiger Selig
Michael Woods
Julian Alaphilippe
Jempy Drucker
Edward Theuns
Søren Kragh Andersen
José Gonçalves
Lars Boom
Stephen Cummings
Francisco José Ventoso
Leopold König
Ilnur Zakarin, 
Jan Tratnik
Colombia Oro y Paz 06/02-11/02
August Jensen
Larry Warbasse
