Juan Antonio Flecha Spain
Born - September 17, 1977 (30 years old)
Specializes in 1 day classics and gritty breakaway victories.
Program
This year Flecha will be focussing once again on the Cobbled Classics. His secondary goal is be a super-domestique for Menchov in the Tour de France (and possibly picking up a stage win or two).
Robert Gesink Netherlands
Born - May 31, 1986 (22 years old)
A true climber. Gesink is a great young talent who has a bright future in front of him.
Program
This year Robert will be riding support for Denis Menchov in the Tour de France. But, his major goal is to finish in the top 5 GC at the Vuelta a Espana. Being somewhat weak in recovery and only moderate in the time trials, Robert will need to put the hurt on his opponents in the Pyrenees.
Denis Menchov Russia
Born - January 25, 1978 (30 years old)
Denis is one of the top Grand Tour riders in the world. His balance of mountain prowess and skill in time trials mixed with an amazing ability to recover give Denis the tools needed to podium at any Grand Tour.
Program
This year Menchov is putting all his eggs in one basket. He will be building his form for the Tour de France in July. He should have plenty of support to make a run at the overall victory. After a few early season tune-ups, Denis will race sparingly in May before he ramps his fitness up for the grueling summer in France.
Thomas Dekker Netherlands
Born - September 6, 1984 (23 years old)
Thomas is a prodigy. One of the most talented riders in the world, Dekker is beginning to live up to the potential ascribed to him. Dekker is a world-class time-trialer with skills in both the hills and mountains and the ability to go all day long, he is clearly one of the most well-rounded cyclists in the world.
Program
I'd race him every day if I could. Becuase Denis is such a fantastic Grand Tour rider, and Thomas is still catching up to the elite racers in recovery, I decided to focus his efforts on the Ardennes Classics and the World Championships. My goal is for Thomas to podium at all three Ardennes and take away one of the World Champion jerseys (either one will do, and is possible).
Oscar Freire Spain
Born - February 15, 1976 (32 years old)
Oscarito is the greatest sprinter in the world. There are few who can hold his speed and even fewer who can match his acceleration. However, his ability in the hills is often underestimated. Not sure why, Oscar has won the World Championships 3 times.
Program
This is going to be a big year for Oscar the Cat. He is going to take home the Green Jersey in the Tour de France and claim his 4th World Championship. He will have a strong Dekker to play off of in the Worlds, and will look to ride the trains of the other sprinters in the Tour.
Look at those jerseys. Walker in the Australian NC Jersey, Ardila in the KOM Polka Dot Jersey, Brown in the Green Sprinters Jersey, and Hayman in Yellow.
Hayman attacks for the intermediate sprint. He wants that time bonus; he must like being in yellow.
Fischer is not ok with that idea. He pursues Hayman.
Hayman holds Fischer off. He gets the points and a valuable 3 second time bonus.
Thuaux and Wiggins break away! They are followed by Pagliarini and Fornaciari.
Wiggins takes the first sprint!
Fornaciari takes a drink at an inopportune time!!! With the sprint in sights, he reaches down and takes a swig, leaving Thuaux, Wiggins, and Pagliarini to battle it out for the points.
Thuaux wins the second intermediate sprint! Pagliarini takes second and Wiggins comes in third. Fornaciari is still sipping his bottle.
Liquigas taking control of the chase. They must feel good about Pozzato today.
Thuaux is the last man standing from the break. But he is pulled in by a powerful Liquigas chase.
Ljungqvist sneaks away!! He has the strength to hold off the charging peleton. Woops, that didn't go well for anyone but CSC.
Haselbacher and Pozzato finish second and third respectively.
Brown couldn't keep up. Too much energy spent getting up and over those hills.
Mountain
1 Mauricio Ardila Rabobank 4
2 Bradley Wiggins Team Columbia 4
3 Yon Bru Euskaltel - Euskadi 2
4 Philip Thuaux Drapac Porsche Development Program 2
5 Luciano Pagliarini Saunier Duval - Scott 1
Points
1 Filippo Pozzato Liquigas 40
2 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto 31
3 Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux 28
4 Matthew Hayman Rabobank 28
5 Marcus Ljungqvist Team CSC - Saxo Bank 25
Mauricio Ardila Columbia
Born - May 12, 1979 (28 years old)
A true climber. Ardila's tiny size only aids him in flying up the mountains.
Program
Ardila is focussed on supporting Menchov in the Tour de France. This is our teams biggest goal, and we need all our quality players on board in order for Denis to win it all.
Lars Boom Netherlands
Born - December 20, 1985 (22 years old)
Boom is a new signing to the team. Actually, he was promoted, in a sense. After years of riding for the Rabobank Continental team, Boom has been brought up to the main squad. His cyclocross background will transfer well to the more difficult road races.
Program
Boom will be asked to do a lot in his first year with Rabobank. He is going to be asked to help Thomas Dekker achieve his goals in the Ardennes. Then he'll shift his focus to supporting the team at the Tour de France. It will be a long season for this young cyclocross star, but he should have no trouble.
Sebastian Langeveld Netherlands
Born - January 17, 1985 (23 years old)
Sebastian is a talented young rider. His gifts suit him perfectly for a future podium at Ronde Van Vlaanderen. He is strong on the hills and skillful in navigating the paved sections.
Program
Langeveld will be the right hand man for Flecha in the cobbles. His mix of handling skills on the cobbles and strength in the hills will be a must if Flecha wants to win Ronde Van Vlaanderen. After the cobble season, Langeveld will take it easy during the summer. Then he will ramp the fitness back up to be a helper in the important late season races.
Manuel Lloret Spain
Born - April 8, 1981 (26 years old)
Lloret is a new addition to Rabobank. He was signed because of his incredible talent. He is a very balanced rider and can help the squad in all facets.
Program
Lloret will be training for one goal, and one goal only. He will be responsible for helping Robert Gesink get through the Pyrenees. Because the Vuelta includes a Team Time Trail, Lloret will also help Gesink gain some time over his rivals.
Joost Posthuma Netherlands
Born - March 8, 1981 (26 years old)
Joost is a very talented time trialist. He is also strong on hilly sections and can even get over mountains without too much difficulty. He is also a decent rider on the pavers. He is a very balanced, strong rider.
Program
Posthuma will be helping a lot in the early part of the season. He will be riding for Dekker in the Ardennes and Flecha in the Cobbles. Like Langeveld, he'll take the summer off before ramping the fitness up for the late season races. Posthuma will be looking for a good showing at the World Championship Individual Time Trials.
Pieter Weening Netherlands
Born - April 1, 1981 (26 years old)
Weening is the designated domestique for the squad. He is an exceptionally strong rider and handles the hills and mountains better than most. His good time trialing ability and decent recovery make him a player in smaller stage races.
Program
Weening will hold high fitness for most of the months of April, May, June, and July. He will be a huge asset in the Tour de France. But his role goes beyond that. He will be ensuring that Rabobank finishes high in the late spring stage races.
Hayman and Ardila sporting the fruit of their labor.
Ardila defends the KOM as Cozza attacks.
Thirteen seperate from the pack. Another group of five are trying to part ways as well.
Two breakaway groups merge into one big one.
Ardila third up the mountain. That's enough to nearly secure the KOM jersey!
Wrolich takes the first sprint of the day.
Wrolich makes it two for two on the sprints.
Liquigas chasing hard to reel in the break.
Wrolich is reeled in in a very uniform fashion. 10km to go. Thanks Liquigas!
Hayman choosing his line for the sprint
Hayman looks strong. Can he get his second stage?
Hayman narrowly misses his second win of the Tour. He finishes second and should hold onto yellow.
THIS STORY WILL NOT BE CONTINUED. THERE IS ALREADY A RABOBANK STORY, SO I HAVE DECIDED TO START A NEW CAREER WITH NEWLY REVAMPED TEAM COLUMBIA. PLEASE CHECK THAT STORY OUT.
