It has been a long time since I really wanted to get into story writing, and whilst I have had little success with the PCM games in general, as well as stories on Daily since probably PCM13 days, I am really getting into PCM19.
I'm not sure what it is, whether it is the sudden love for cycling in general again, remembering the simple pleasures of PCM again, I don't know, but after two Grand Tour run throughs (1 TdF with FDJ and 1 Giro with Astana) I have started a career with Mitchelton - Scott.
Initially, I was just going to play it through, but then had the idea to work it as a story on here.
I hope you enjoy!
Game Information
Database: PackITA 2019 (with additional graphics pack) Patch: 1.0.5.5 Crash Frequency: x 1.1 Difficulty: Normal (I need to get used to the game again)
Welcome back to the story section. Looking forward to this one. Should be an interesting team. Personally hope you can bring Chaves back to his former levels.
valverde321 wrote:
Welcome back to the story section. Looking forward to this one. Should be an interesting team. Personally hope you can bring Chaves back to his former levels.
Thanks a lot. Not sure on the speed of the story but it is something I am wanting to stay committed to on here.
Chaves will 1 of the team's leaders and will be key to success. Mitchelton Scott are an interesting choice but very much picked because of the Yates twins
2018 was a big year for Mitchelton-Scott. Taking 33 victories across the season, it was their year to really show they area team to be reckoned with, not only week-long races, but at some of the biggest one-day races and at the Grand Tours. Simon Yates' time in Pink will only be eclipsed by the team first Grand Tour GC victory at the Vuelta a Espana.
In 2019, will they go one better and start to disrupt the dominance of Deceuninck - Quick Step or Team Sky (now Team Ineos)...
.:Key Riders:.
Simon Yates | GBR | 26
Our main man for 2019 after a fantastic 2018 on the road. Simon has unfinished business with the Giro d'Italia and will be racing aiming for Pink.
He is a now a proven Grand Tour GC leader, taking victory in the Vuelta a Espana in 2018, and will target the likes of Paris-Nice and Ruta del Sol during the season.
Adam Yates | GBR | 26
Twin brother of Simon, Adam will be the 2nd leader at the Grand Tours in 2019. Targeting the Tour de France as his main aim, he will be a key player in the Ardennes Classics in the spring.
Proved winner on the grandest stage, he will be looking to add to his high finishes at the Criterium du Dauphine and his 2018 victory in San Sebastian this season.
Esteban Chaves | COL | 28
The smiling assassin on two wheels, 2018 was a year to forget for Esteban. After early season promise with victory at the Herald Sun Tour and in the Giro d'Italia support Simon, it would be illness that would strike him down and hamper the rest of his season.
His victory at Il Lombardia and two GT podiums in 2016 shows he has the prowess to one of the best in the world, but can he recover back to his best?
Matteo Trentin | ITA | 29
With Caleb Ewan leaving to Lotto-Soudal and pastures new in 2019, the team's sprints will fall on the shoulders of Matteo Trentin. The current European RR champion, he will lead the team in the Cobbled Classics and hope to pick up some big results during the season.
Jack Haig | AUS | 25
A rider for the future, Jack Haig will be looking for a big season as he continues his development into a race leader on the team. Watch out for him for when the roads begins to get steep, as his home is on the hills and in the mountains. The Ardennes Classics and maybe the Tour de France will be part of his 2019 schedule.
The first races of the season come in Oceania with the National Championships of Australia and New Zealand. With favourites amongst our ranks in both the Time Trial and the Road Race, pressure was high on the team.
*****
The Australian Time Trial championships was up first, with a team consisting of Michael Hepburn, Cameron Meyer, Alex Edmondson, Damien Howson and Luke Durbridge contesting for the first Green & Gold jersey.
The big hope of a victory fell with Durbridge, but Cam Meyer would surprise us all with the great ride that would be put him in contention at the end. Rohan Dennis's (TBM) presence on the start list was huge and no-one could get close to him. Richie Porte (TFS) would be nearly 2 minutes back on the World Champion, and Cam would finish off the podium a further 35" back.
Results
1.
Rohan Dennis
Bahrain-Merida
44'23
2.
Richie Porte
Trek-Segafredo
+ 1'50
3.
Cameron Meyer
Mitchelton-Scott
+ 2'25
A short trip across to New Zealand, and the Time Trial await Jack Bauer and Sam Bewley, who were aiming for the National Jersey at the end of the day. Like the Australian TT race though, it would be a case of so close, yet so far! Jack was the man in form for us, but Patrick Bevin (CPT) would be too strong on the road. Finishing just 26 seconds down on the CCC man, he would hve to settle for Silver, ahead of Tom Scully (EF1) in 3rd place.
Results
1.
Patrick Bevin
CCC Team
47'46
2.
Jack Bauer
Mitchelton-Scott
+ 26
3.
Tom Scully
Mitchelson-Scott
+ 39
Road Race glory in Australia and the Green & Gold with Mitchelton-Scott in 2019
The Road Races were going to be hotly contested in both Australia and New Zealand, so it would be key to make sure the Mitchelton-Scott boys were part of the big moves.
New Zealand was first, and we had Dion Smith join the pair from the Time Trial for the Road Race. The course suited Dion perfectly, and it would be worked for a sprint finish for him. Jack went up the road early in the day, just to take off the pressures behind on Sam to control the race in aid of Smith.
Bauer would be joined by James Mitri (BBH) up the road and the pair were set for a long day in the saddle. The gap to the lead group maxed at 8'23" halfway through the race, and as they got closer and closer the finish, the gap started the reduce.
However, sudden disorganisation hit the peleton, and our lead pair came into the final circuits with around 4 minutes advantage. Attacks exchanged between the pair were nullified by both and as they approved the finish, the experience of Jack took over. Sprinting off the wheel with 150 metres to go, it would be comfortable for our Kiwi man!
4 minutes later, the peleton came in, with Dion Smith showing his prowess to take the Bronze medal and round out a great day.
Results
1.
Jack Bauer
Mitchelton-Scott
4h53'14
2.
James Mitri
Burgos-BH
s.t.
3.
Dion Smith
Mitchelton-Scott
+ 4'12
From the delight of New Zealand to the delight of Austrlia, as the Mitchelton-Scott boys did us proud in Ballarat. Jack Haig and Nick Schultz came into the team, with Michael Hepburn dropping out to make it a team of 7 aiming for the win. Alexander Edmondson went up the road early in the day, taking pressure of the team supporting Haig on the road.
Alex would be joined by Jonathan Clarke (FPC) and Nathan Earle (ICA) from the flag drop, before Mark Renshaw (DDD) jumped across the gap after 30km to make it a quartet in the break. They would be allowed some breathing room and opened up a gap of 6'46" on the peleton.
With Sunweb and Lotto-Soudal working behind for Matthews and Ewan respectively, there would be no repeat of a solo break in Australia like we saw in New Zealand. With 5 laps to go, the gap would be down to less than a minute, and just 1 lap later everyone would be back together and status quo fell on the peleton.
No one really wanted to lead the group, and as the pack slowed with 2 laps remaining, Jack Haig made his move, surprisingly followed by Jonathan Clarke (FPC) who still had the legs after a day up the road. On the descent, they opened up a 30" gap, and Luke Durbridge jumped over the gap with no one on his wheel to offer support. Drilling hard on the front of the new lead group, Luke's job was done, and Jack attacked again on the final ascent of the day to break the resistance of Clarke.
Soloing to victory, he would take a great win and seal the Green & Gold jersey for 2019 with 29" to spare over Michael Matthews (SUN), who left it too late to follow the attacks, and Jonathan Clarke, who deserved his podium spot.
The first race of the season and the World Tour opener in Australia. The Tour Down Under is celebrating its' 20th year on the cyling calendar, and as always this year's edition is expected to be the best yet with some great early season racing.
A strong startlist lined up on the start in North Adelaide. Elia Viviani (DQT), Dylan Groenewegen (TJV), Arnaud Demare (GFC) and Pascal Ackermann (BOH) all spearheaded their team's sprint trains, whilst Michel Kwiatkowski (INS), Peter Sagan (BOH), Daniel Martin (UAE) and Michael Matthews (SUN) all had eyes on the GC.
Mitchelton-Scott cameto Australia with a strong side, looking for stage wins and a high position on GC. Daryl Impey and Jack Haig carried a joint leadership, supported by Luke Durbridge, Alexander Edmondson and Michael Hepburn. Jack Bauer and Tsgabu Grmay complete the team, riding in more of a free role.
*****
The sprints were hotly contested through out the race, with Alexander Kristoff (UAE) taking the victory on Stage 1 into Port Adelaide before Dylan Groenewegen took the Leader's jersey on Stage 2 in Angaston and held onto it after Stage 3 despite a tough finishing circuit around Uraidia, where Bora-hansgrohe took a 1-2 with Peter Sagan ahead of Max Schachmann.
The sprinter's battle on Stage 2 won by Dylan Groenewegen
Daryl had been there or thereabouts in the sprints, never finishing outside of the Top 10 on each stage, but the first GC stage came with the climb over the Corkscrew on Stage 4. Attacking with a group containing Sonny Colbrelli (TBM), Tanel Kangert (EF1), Philippe Gilbert (DQT), Wilco Kelderman (SUN) and Max Schachmann.
Knowing the threat and turn of speed of Gilbert, Impey took the wheel of the Belgian, and until the last 50 metres, it looked like the South African had won the winning ticket. Jumping off his wheel, it would be a late lunge to the line from Sonny Cobrelli that would take the win for Bahrain-Merida. Daryl would take 2nd place, but in the knowledge that Willunga Hill would be the battle to take the GC!
Close but no cigar for Daryl on Stage 4
Stage 5 was a day for the sprinters again as Groenewegen took his 2nd victory of the race in Strathalbyn, and then we headed to the showdown on Willunga Hill.
It would be two ascents of the famous climb, with the 2nd time over the line deciding the winner on the day and the 2019 champion no doubt with it.
Following a crash on Stage 3, Jack Haig was given the freedom to head off in the day's break, showing the Australian fans his new Green & Gold NC jersey for this year. He would also be joined by teammate Tsgabu Grmay, whose hard racing all week was enough to earn him the KoM jersey for his efforts.
Aussie Nat. Champ jersey on display in the breakaway on the final stage
All would come back together shortly after the first ascent of Willunga Hill, and it was all lined up for who would be the strongest when it mattered. Mochel Kwiatkowski would be the first to attack with around 1.2kmto go, and it was closer followed by Impey. A gap opened, but as the pair tired with 500m to go, Dan Martin would storm through to take the win. Kwiatkowski would hold on for 2nd, ahead of Tanel Kangert.
Daryl would take 7th place on the stage, and whilst Colbrelli would lose 37 seconds on the climb and with it the Leader's Jersey, Max Schachmann would be there at the front to take the GC win, ahead of Impey in 2nd and Kwiatkowski in 3rd place, both just 4 seconds back on the German.
A majority of our team remained in Australia for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, around Geelong, Victoria. Now in it's 5th year, the race has gone considerably over the short history, with winners in the past coming in the form of Gianni Meersman, Peter Kennuagh and most recently Jay McCarthy.
Despite every edition so far being won by small group or a solo attack, we had a squad built up around a sprint finish. Luka Mezgec came into the tam to replace Jack Bauer, whilst Daryl Impey, Jack Haig, Luke Durbridge, Alexander Edmondson, Tsgabu Grmay and Michael Hepburn continued their racing Down Under after all taking part in the Tour Down Under.
Luka and Daryl would be the leaders in the event of a sprint, and would be up against some up and coming opposition. Niccolo Bonifazio (TDE), Ryan Gibbons (TDD) and Adam Blythe (LTS) were all present on the start line, and whilst they might not pack the same punch as Viviani, Groenewegen or Sagan, they would still give us a challenge.
*****
Knowing that pressure would be on Mitchelton-Scott to take control of the day, the decision was made to send Luke Durbridge up he road in the day's breakaway. Joined by Ben O'Connor (TDD), William Clarke (TFS) and Lawrence Naesen (LTS) it was clear that Lotto-Soudal and Dimension Data had the same idea. The quartet managed a gap of 5'43" up the road before the likes of Total and Katusha worked to bring them back.
22km was remaining of the race when all was back together and an attack from Luke Rowe (INS) with just 7km to go, would cause chaos in the peleton, and as Jack Haig drove hard on the front to pull him back, a small group of 10 could only follow his wheel. Daryl and Luka were perfectly placed behind Jack and a lot of the other riders looked like domstiques of the other teams. We could believe our luck!
Sadly, an error with 2km to go from Luka choosing to pause for a moment on Rowe's wheel instead of keeping the pace high meant the peleton came back together under the flamme rouge, and the other teams were coming back quickly.
.:Oceania National Championships:. 
Alexander Kristoff
Dylan Groenewegen
Peter Sagan
Sonny Cobrelli
Dan Martin
Max Schachmann
Daryl Impey
Michal Kwiatkowski
Tanel Kangert
Alexey Lutsenko
Philippe Gilbert
Tsgabu Grmay
Clément Venturini
Michael Mørkøv
Adam Blythe
