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New Sponsor. New Manager. New Message. A Fuji-Servetto Story
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 11-04-2009 01:44
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On Stage 10 of the Tour de France in 2008, Leonardo Piepoli and Juanjo Cobo Acebo were on the Hautacam on Bastille Day. Piepoli won the stage. Riccardo Ricco took the lead in the King of the Mountain and White Jersey classifications. The next day, Ricco arrested after a positive dope test. The end of Saunier Duval came. Scott-American Beef really didn't eliminate the "allegations" within the team.
Now in 2009, Fuji-Servetto emerges. In the new blue and red strip the team looks to recollect their talents in the mountains under a new clean message. With doping wrecking their sport, the new Fuji-Servetto manager has said that they want to avoid the ways of the old Saunier Duval team which has hurt many of the riders in our program.
One of those names who was hurt the most with last years unfortunate ending, current team leader and GC man, Juanjo Cobo. When the team left the Tour de France last year due to Ricco and Piepoli's positive dope tests, Cobo was sitting in 9th place overall. He was very disappointed, however he said that this season he's looking not only to surpass that but to do it with people who want to do it the right way. Cobo is slated to ride the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana as well as the teams other main objectives: The Challenge Vuelta a Mallorca, the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.
The team has also shifted its gears to the development of young talent. A couple names to look out for this season are Benat Inxausti and Eros Cappechi. Both under the age of 25 have superior prowess in the mountains and are said only to get better by the team management. Inxausti will work for Cobo in most races while Capecchi will get the go at the Giro before heading to the Vuelta to work for Cobo.
While the GC will be the main aspirations in the Pro Tour races this season (meaning that they've singled out most of the classics for the time being), the sprints will be a luxury to get as they will be a challenge. The team feels that the sprints will be the most difficult this season, moreso than the Individual Time Trial. But they feel that the team will develop in the sprint department. Hilton Clarke, Ivan Dominguez, and Davide Vigano are the teams top sprinters. A name to look out for will be Boris Shpilveski.
The team is in order, the season has come, and it's time to win and win it the right way. With a new direction, a new season, a new manager, and more importantly a second chance, the new Fuji-Servetto outfit is looking to take the ProTour by storm this year.
Database: PCM Daily 2009 V2.1
Difficulty: Hard
First Race: Cancer Council Classic |
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| Shifty |
Posted on 11-04-2009 02:01
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Looks good man looks like you've put a lot of thought into it thusfar and, as much as i like stories with bigger teams like Alex's epic Columbia story, i always love reading stories with the smaller teams fighting tooth and nail for what they can get, way more interesting to play and a lot more exciting to read i think, hope you keep the same attitude throughout that you have in the intro, it'll certainly be one to keep reading =] best of luck and have fun man hope to be reading updates soon
Shifty
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 11-04-2009 13:56
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
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Shifty: Is not that epic.
Good luck with the new story. But you aren't playing the Aussie Champs cause you would have a good chance in a winning breakaway with Walker?
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 11-04-2009 14:50
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
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alexkr00 wrote:
Good luck with the new story. But you aren't playing the Aussie Champs cause you would have a good chance in a winning breakaway with Walker?
Normally I wouldn't skip the Aussie championships, but since the Challenge Vuelta a Mallorca is a very early season objective, I used the time to do a preseason training camp with the entire team. Walker is probably going to ride Mallorca after the TDU.
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I'll have the Cancer Council Classic up in a bit. |
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 11-04-2009 15:05
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3212
Joined: 07-06-2008
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If you keep things like that ^^, i'll keep reading. Awesome presentation. |
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 11-04-2009 16:22
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
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Cancer Council Classic / Tour Down Under Preview
In what will be sprintfest, we've decided to send Hilton Clarke, our teams top sprinter to both events to try and come out with at least a Top 5 finish on a stage. With what we know will be a very harsh startlist in terms of sprinters and classics riders at the TDU, Josep Jufre and Ricardo Serrano will look to tame the stage to Willunga.
In the short Cancer Council Classic (51 km), Clarke will probably have to keep himself near the front end of the main field because if it's a windy day the peloton will definiately split with the temperatures. Jesus Del Nero will be there to keep Clarke with the peloton and Boris Shpilveski will look to steal one in the TDU on days where most sprinters are tired (though going up against Pipo and Ballan won't be too easy).
Our team for TDU:
Josep Jufre
Ricardo Serrano
Boris Shpilveski
Jesus Del Nero
Hilton Clarke
Will Walker
Aiktor Duranz
Frederik Kepsselhoff (yeah I don't remember how to spell his name  )
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While those races start our season, it's never too early to look to next year either. Our scouts have spread out across Spain and Italy looking for big time climbing talents.
Juanjo Cobo said after hearing of the teams make-up early on and for the future:
"I can finally say that I'm in an environment where it feels more like a project than just a team."
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Races up ASAP |
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 11-04-2009 18:04
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Posts: 34
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Cancer Council Classic
Clarke is the hope in a bunch sprint.
A 12 man breakaway goes clear including Fuji-Servetto's Will Walker.
The Saxo Bank squad took over and lifted the pace eventually reeling in the breakaway but causing even more damage on top of that.
Another breakaway would go clear however this time the riders wouldn't get away too far. But they managed to get in front of the Saxo train that was cooking and hurting people behind.
The work being done by Saxo Bank was tremendous causing a split in the peloton. Matthew Goss would be at the head of a group that didn't have too many sprinters. Katusha would take up the pace making in the second group but they would never manage to get back to the group in front. Will Walker would be the only rider in that lead group but he'd slip off the pace. Hilton Clarke would miss his chance at race glory.
The attacking continued however none of them would really manage to go clear and really do any damage whatsoever. Saxo Bank was very much controlling the group.
The sprint opens with Goss, Ljungblad, and Isasi. Advantage has to go to Matthew Goss here.
When the peloton caught back up to the lead group the damage had already been done as the main sprinters have a huge lead on the sprinters in the main bunch.
Matthew Goss delivers home the victory for Saxo Bank making their work not go for granted. In what seems inevitable where Goss' path was blocked by the mini van for riders being lapped, Goss swerved around and took victory. Ljungblad second for Silence-Lotto and Isasi 3rd for Euskatel.
Clarke would come home in 16th.
Results
1 Matthew Goss Team Saxo Bank 1h07'18
2 Jonas Ljungblad Silence - Lotto s.t.
3 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
4 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
5 Cameron Meyer Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
6 Michael Friedman Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
7 Alex Rasmussen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
8 Mark Renshaw Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
9 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
10 Gorik Gardeyn Silence - Lotto s.t.
11 Magnus Bäckstedt Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
12 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
13 Domenik Klemme Team Saxo Bank s.t.
14 Yukiya Arashiro Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
15 Andrea Grendene Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
16 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto s.t.
17 Jacopo Guarnieri Liquigas s.t.
18 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank s.t.
19 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
20 Fran Pérez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
21 Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
22 Glenn D'Hollander Silence - Lotto s.t.
23 Claudio Corioni Liquigas s.t.
24 Guennadi Mikhailov Team Katusha s.t.
25 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
26 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
27 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
28 Alexei Markov Team Katusha s.t.
29 Michael Mørkøv Team Saxo Bank s.t.
30 Marcin Sapa Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
31 Matthew Hayman Rabobank s.t.
32 Alexandre Blain Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
33 Frank Høj Team Saxo Bank s.t.
34 Angelo Furlan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
35 Nikolai Trussov Team Katusha s.t.
36 Wilfried Cretskens Silence - Lotto s.t.
37 Nicki Sörensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
38 Markel Irizar Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
39 Maciej Bodnar Liquigas s.t.
40 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
41 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
42 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
43 Denis Galimzyanov Team Katusha s.t.
44 Michael Barry Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
45 Alessandro Vanotti Liquigas s.t.
46 Kevin Hulsmans Quick·Step s.t.
47 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
48 Matthew Lloyd Silence - Lotto s.t.
49 Francis De Greef Silence - Lotto s.t.
50 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
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Hilton Clarke spoke to the media after the race:
"It was a really tough day to open the season. Never would I have thought that a 51 kilometer criterium have caused so much attacking. I knew the tempo would be high, but I didn't think there would have been a split. Del Nero kept me rather close to the front to the point where I wouldn't be exerting too much energy. I guess we misjudged Saxo." |
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 11-04-2009 23:39
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
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Tour Down Under - Stage 1
Hope is for Hilton Clarke in the sprint.
Hoping to try and grab some early glory in this race, Josep Jufre (one of our leaders) tried to grab the King of the Mountains lead. He however would be denied in his quest by Nick Nuyens.
This would lead to the formation of 2 men off the front. Mikael Cherel (FDJ) and Will Walker (FUJ). Cherel would never allow Walker to catch up as Cherel would fly on the early part of the stage. Walker would be caught very early as he was never able to bridge the gap despite them attacking at the same moment.
Nothing very special came, and everybody wanted to give it a crack to grab the first ProTour leaders jersey of the entire season. Unfortunately for some, they were stuck in the second group on the rode as the peloton split in the early part of the sprint and with 1.5 km to go a clear gap was noticeable.
A big surprise it was when Columbia led out for...Marcus Burghardt. Burdghardt would take everybody by storm as the power house and classics rider would take the lead on the sprint from his teammate Marcel Sieberg. Pozzato, Steegmens, Ballan, and the other main favorites were back. Clarke was in the mix...for the time being.
A MONSTROUS gap for Burghardt as he'll take the stage victory easily. Good job by Sieberg as the Columbia team shocks the sprinters.
Clarke would finish 11th. Walker would be the only rider on the team to lose time today. 4'49 to be exact.
Stage Results
1 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road 2h50'07
2 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
3 Bram De Groot Rabobank s.t.
4 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux s.t.
5 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
6 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
7 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
8 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
9 Pedro Horrillo Rabobank s.t.
10 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
11 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto s.t.
12 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
13 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 Jurgen Van Goolen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
15 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team s.t.
16 Jeremy Hunt Cervélo Test Team s.t.
17 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
18 Haimar Zubeldia Astana Cycling Team s.t.
19 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
20 Dimitri Muravyev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
21 Michael Mørkøv Team Saxo Bank s.t.
22 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
23 Alexei Markov Team Katusha s.t.
24 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas s.t.
25 Graeme Brown Rabobank s.t.
26 Simon Gerrans Cervélo Test Team s.t.
27 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank s.t.
28 Boris Shpilevski Fuji - Servetto s.t.
29 Matthew Hayman Rabobank s.t.
30 Brett Lancaster Cervélo Test Team s.t.
General Classification
1 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road 2h50'01
2 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux s.t.
3 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road + 2
4 Bram De Groot Rabobank + 4
5 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
6 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 5
7 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
8 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux + 6
9 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
10 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
11 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
12 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
13 Pedro Horrillo Rabobank s.t.
14 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
15 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto s.t.
Points
1 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road 25 25
2 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road 22 22
3 Bram De Groot Rabobank 20 20
4 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux 18 18
5 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road 16 16
Mountains
1 Nick Nuyens Rabobank 4 4
2 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto 2 2
3 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux 1 1
===========================
Team manager Alberto Gonzalo-Martinez spoke to the media:
"Definately a tough day. Congrats to the Columbia team though for mastering the first stage sprint which I personally thought would be a free for all. We're lucky that the time split didn't take place despite the break in the group meaning that Jufre and Serrano will live another day. Hopefully Clarke can break into the top 10 or even top 5 because we know he has the ability to contest guys like Pozzato and guys very much like Ballan. Staying fresh will be key." |
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 12-04-2009 20:19
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
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Tour Down Under - Stage 2
Hope is for Clarke in sprint. If not fresh then Del Nero or Shpilveski will give it a go.
Huge breakaway got away today, but it wasn't very threatening whatsoever to the stage hunters. The sprinters teams gobbled up the breakaway perfectly timed as expected.
Hilton Clarke was having a decent day. Jesus Del Nero was on very good form for that day so he was gonna give it a go with Clarke on his wheel if he could hold on. However Del Nero touched the wheel of Gert Steegmans and down went Del Nero. His crash caused massive carnage to the rest of the peloton.
Del Nero, Shpilveski, Clarke, and Kessiakoff would be involved in the crash. All four of them would finish the stage with a large bunch of riders 2'21 down. The sprint however did go as planned, not for us though. Jufre and Serrano would avoid the crash being able to finish with the group able to live another day.
Pozzato opened the sprint with a quick kick showing that he was the freshest of all the sprinters with the rolling hills at the end of the stage taking a hit on the some of the sprinters.
Pozzato would take the sprint and the yellow jersey easily.
Stage Results
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 3h32'03
2 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
3 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
4 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
5 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
6 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
7 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas s.t.
8 Gianni Da Ros Liquigas s.t.
9 Dimitri Muravyev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
10 Iñigo Landaluze Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
11 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
12 Daniel Oss Liquigas s.t.
13 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank s.t.
14 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
15 Markel Irizar Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Alexei Markov Team Katusha s.t.
17 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
18 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank s.t.
19 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
20 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
21 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
22 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
23 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
24 Alan Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
25 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
26 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
27 Sergio De Lis Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
28 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
29 Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
30 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
General Classification
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 6h22'04
2 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
3 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux s.t.
4 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux + 2
5 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
6 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi + 4
7 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
8 Bram De Groot Rabobank s.t.
9 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
10 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 5
11 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
12 Matthew Goss Team Saxo Bank s.t.
13 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha + 6
14 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
15 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Dimitri Muravyev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
17 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas s.t.
18 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
19 Alexei Markov Team Katusha s.t.
20 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
21 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux s.t.
22 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
23 Gianni Da Ros Liquigas s.t.
24 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
25 Daniel Oss Liquigas s.t.
26 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
27 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
28 Markel Irizar Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
29 Sergio De Lis Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
30 Alan Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
Points
1 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux 22 36
2 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road 0 25
3 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 25 25
4 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 16 22
5 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road 0 22
6 Bram De Groot Rabobank 0 20
7 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team 20 20
8 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C 7 18
9 Frederic Guesdon Française des Jeux 0 18
10 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream 18 18
Mountains
1 Nick Nuyens Rabobank 0 4
2 Rhys Pollock Drapac Porsche Cycling 4 4
3 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto 0 2
=============================
The media spoke to several team managers this afternoon and most would not comment with much detail. Alberto Gonzalo-Martinez had this to say:
"The only thing I can say today was, ouch. Katusha managed to avoid the crash with their main guns and won the stage. Pozzato looks dangerous for the stage to Willunga with the form that he's on." |
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| Shifty |
Posted on 12-04-2009 20:29
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 298
Joined: 10-03-2009
PCM$: 300.00
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alexkr00 wrote:
Shifty: Is not that epic.
Good luck with the new story. But you aren't playing the Aussie Champs cause you would have a good chance in a winning breakaway with Walker?
Don't be modest Alex you write quite a new story!
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 12-04-2009 20:31
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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Shifty wrote:
alexkr00 wrote:
Shifty: Is not that epic.
Good luck with the new story. But you aren't playing the Aussie Champs cause you would have a good chance in a winning breakaway with Walker?
Don't be modest Alex you write quite a new story!
I think we should end spamming his story
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 12-04-2009 20:32
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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It's nice to see someone at least reply for something. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 12-04-2009 20:35
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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FutureChampion wrote:
It's nice to see someone at least reply for something.
 sorry man. But for me TDU is not such a fun race, as nobody is in shape there, but belive me the replies will come with the time. Just keep reporting
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 12-04-2009 21:03
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Tour Down Under - Stage 3
Hope is for Clarke. After of course Del Nero and Shpilveski (though he seems injured and doesn't want to leave Australia).
Break of 5. They built up a pretty good lead during the day. When Katusha started to lift the tempo they got some company.
A couple of crash victims decided to bridge the gap and try and get them to stay away with an increased tempo. They couldn't match Katusha's tempo and a sprint will result.
Clarke got himself an extremely luxurious position. The wheel of the yellow jersey who got himself to the head of the main field. Clarke's hope of getting a stage victory could very well come to fruition.
Pozzato opened and Geslin came firing up the outside. Clarke struggled to keep the wheel of Pozzato. Turned out to be Pozzato vs. Geslin however the Frenchmen just wasn't strong enough.
The Italian classics rider and current leader, Pipo Pozzato grabs his second stage win and is really throwing the hammer down on this race.
Clarke finishes 4th after Weylandt came strong in the final sprint.
Stage Results
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 3h01'32
2 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
3 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
4 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto s.t.
5 Graeme Brown Rabobank s.t.
6 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
7 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
8 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
9 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
10 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
11 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
12 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
13 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank s.t.
15 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
16 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
17 Wim Stroetinga Team Milram s.t.
18 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
19 Sergio De Lis Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
20 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
21 Roman Kireyev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
22 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
23 Kevin Hulsmans Quick·Step s.t.
24 Matthew Goss Team Saxo Bank s.t.
25 Michael Schär Astana Cycling Team s.t.
26 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
27 Jos Van Emden Rabobank s.t.
28 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
29 Alexei Markov Team Katusha s.t.
30 Daniele Righi Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
General Classification
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 9h23'30
2 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux + 4
3 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux + 6
4 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
5 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road + 8
6 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi + 10
7 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
8 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
9 Bram De Groot Rabobank s.t.
10 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
11 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 11
12 Matthew Goss Team Saxo Bank s.t.
13 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
14 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C + 12
15 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
17 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
18 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
19 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
20 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
21 Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
22 Sergio De Lis Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
23 Alexei Markov Team Katusha s.t.
24 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
25 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
26 Daniel Oss Liquigas s.t.
27 Gianni Da Ros Liquigas s.t.
28 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
29 Roman Kireyev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
30 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
Points
1 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux 22 58
2 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 25 50
3 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 15 37
4 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C 14 32
5 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team 9 29
6 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha 13 28
7 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto 18 28
8 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 11 26
9 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road 0 25
10 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream 5 23
Mountains
1 Nick Nuyens Rabobank 0 4
2 Rhys Pollock Drapac Porsche Cycling 0 4
3 Stéphane Augé Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 4 4
===========================
Hilton Clarke spoke to the media:
"It was nice to grab a top 5 in my home country. I was lucky enough to grab Pipo's wheel, but he was just tremendous again today. It would've been nice to have some help from Shpilveski today, but he struggled and it was really hard to see him ride today through all that pain. Del Nero did a solid job delivering me to the front. I'm feeling great, and I think I can grab a stage before I head to Europe. Very happy today. Now I hope that in two days on Willunga we'll have a yellow jersey to take home with us." |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 12-04-2009 21:10
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Team Leader
Posts: 6479
Joined: 09-04-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Future Champ, I am following this certainly. Early on, its difficult to be interested in the Tour Down Under tbh, but once we get into the early season things will kick up.
In every game I play Fuji are always really quiet throughout the season - so best of luck getting some results out of them.
I like the comments at the end of the stages and your introduction is great. |
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| Goldberger |
Posted on 13-04-2009 18:28
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Domestique
Posts: 504
Joined: 14-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Good start FutureChampion , but i would have liked you to not focus or write so much about Tour Down Under, as it is a boring race. I hope that you can get some good results with Cobo later in the season. |
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| viking90 |
Posted on 13-04-2009 18:40
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4032
Joined: 24-01-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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great story so fare ! hope you get good resulst with F,Kessiakoff |
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 13-04-2009 21:52
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Tour Down Under - Stage 3
Hope is to win the sprint.
Break of 3. Vasil Kiriyenka and Arnaud Coyot are the two Caisse riders. Julien El Fares is the Cofidis rider.
After the first climb, Boris Shpilveski was really feeling the results of the crash he had two days ago. Yesterday he was feeling good, but today he was in abysmal pain. He would abandon the race.
Minus Shpilveski's abandon, nothing really happened. The break would be caught and the sprint would ensue. Clarke was also feeling the effects of the crash, not to the same level as the injured Shpilveski but he was feeling it. Del Nero took the head of the leadout at second wheel. In a good spot.
Taking Julian Dean's wheel was enough to propel Del Nero as he isn't the strongest of sprinters. Somehow, Alessandro Ballan was able to power through ahead of Pipo Pozzato.
Ballan wins. Pozzato stays in yellow. Del Nero came home 8th.
Stage Results
1 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C 2h58'45
2 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha s.t.
3 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
4 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
5 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
6 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
7 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank s.t.
8 Jesús Del Nero Fuji - Servetto s.t.
9 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
10 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
11 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
12 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
13 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
14 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
15 Mark Renshaw Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
16 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
17 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
18 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
19 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
20 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
21 Daniel Oss Liquigas s.t.
22 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
23 Kevin Hulsmans Quick·Step s.t.
24 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
25 Pablo Lastras Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
26 Marco Velo Quick·Step s.t.
27 Pierrick Fédrigo Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
28 Cameron Meyer Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
29 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
30 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
General Classification
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 12h22'11
2 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux + 8
3 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C + 10
4 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux s.t.
5 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
6 Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - High Road + 12
7 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi + 14
8 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
9 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
10 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step s.t.
11 Bram De Groot Rabobank s.t.
12 Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
13 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 15
14 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
15 Matthew Goss Team Saxo Bank s.t.
16 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road + 16
17 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
18 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
19 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
20 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
21 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
22 Daniel Oss Liquigas s.t.
23 Kevin Hulsmans Quick·Step s.t.
24 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
25 Aitor Galdos Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
26 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
27 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas s.t.
28 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
29 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
30 Mathieu Ladagnous Française des Jeux s.t.
Points
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 22 72
2 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux 11 69
3 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C 25 57
4 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 18 55
5 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream 20 43
6 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team 9 38
7 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 10 36
8 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha 8 36
9 Vicente Reynès Team Columbia - High Road 15 32
10 Murilo Fischer Liquigas 16 28
Mountains
1 Nick Nuyens Rabobank 4 8
2 Rhys Pollock Drapac Porsche Cycling 0 4
3 Stéphane Augé Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 0 4
4 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto 0 2
5 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 2
======================
Nobody from the Fuji-Servetto camp was able to speak to the media today due to the focus on getting Shpilveski medical attention. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-04-2009 22:32
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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Ballan winning a mass sprint finish, this is even better than Cancellara doing that
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| FutureChampion |
Posted on 14-04-2009 22:27
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Junior Rider
Posts: 34
Joined: 27-03-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Tour Down Under - Stage 5
Today is the decisive stage on the Willunga Hill. Team captains Josep Jufre and Ricardo Serrano are the hopes for the Fuji team. However a lot of pressure should come from Pipo Pozzato, Alessandro Ballan, among others.
Breakaway of 12 today.
Fedrigo and a Rabobank rider (who I'm pretty sure was Flens) try to bridge the gap.
On Willunga Hill, Ballan was the first to attack to bridge his way up to a front group that was very much cracking. Ballan would easily be able to bridge to the front group as he appears to be on solid form for the early season.
Scherlinkx and Gadret join the remnants of the breakaway over the sommet of the climb.
Behind them is Ballan, Nuyens, and Barredo.
Behind them Serrano is trying to launch Jufre. Jufre is on form today, much better than Serrano therefore he is looking to receive some help from his teammate to bridge the gap.
Jufre would be gobbled up as he was never even able to come close. Pozzato is still in the main group. Meanwhile up front, Kurt Asle-Arvesen is attacking and passing Fredrigo, Maaskant, and Nuyens. Not many people were thinking about Arvesen heading into the day.
Ballan is still your leader. Gutierrez is ahead as well as Gadret. In this group is Dessel, Arvesen, Maaskant, Fredrigo, and Horner.
Serrano and Jufre trying to bridge.
To no avail. Pozzato is off now to try and make his way to the front, but he may have left it too late.
Arvesen has launched his attack and he has seemed to have outsmarted the guys in the finale.
Kurt Asle-Arvesen wins in Willunga for Saxo Bank.
Serrano finished 84th. Del Nero was our best finisher on the stage 41st however lost time on GC in that crash. Jufre was best placed 64th overall.
Stage Results
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank 3h21'09
2 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale + 22
3 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
4 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
5 Martijn Maaskant Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
6 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
7 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
8 Cyril Dessel AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
9 Chris Horner Astana Cycling Team s.t.
10 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
11 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha s.t.
12 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 1'11
13 Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
14 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
15 Xavi Florencio Cervélo Test Team s.t.
16 Murilo Fischer Liquigas s.t.
17 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
18 Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
19 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team s.t.
20 Luca Mazzanti Team Katusha s.t.
21 Jakob Fuglsang Team Saxo Bank s.t.
22 Sylvain Chavanel Quick·Step s.t.
23 Dimitri Muravyev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
24 Manuel Quinziato Liquigas s.t.
25 Nicki Sörensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
26 Daniel Oss Liquigas s.t.
27 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
28 Matthew Lloyd Silence - Lotto s.t.
29 Simon Gerrans Cervélo Test Team s.t.
30 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
General Classification
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank 15h43'30
2 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha + 12
3 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C + 22
4 John Gadret AG2R La Mondiale + 24
5 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 26
6 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 28
7 Martijn Maaskant Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
8 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
9 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
10 Cyril Dessel AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
11 Chris Horner Astana Cycling Team s.t.
12 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux + 1'09
13 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux + 1'11
14 Grégory Rast Astana Cycling Team + 1'15
15 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Valerio Agnoli Liquigas s.t.
17 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 1'16
18 Mirko Lorenzetto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
19 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
20 Murilo Fischer Liquigas + 1'17
Points
1 Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha 10 82
2 Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.G.C 18 75
3 Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux 4 73
4 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 55
5 Julian Dean Garmin - Slipstream 0 43
Mountains
1 Nick Nuyens Rabobank 0 8
2 Rhys Pollock Drapac Porsche Cycling 0 4
3 Stéphane Augé Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 0 4
4 Peter Velits Team Milram 4 4
5 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto 0 2
=============================
Josep Jufre spoke to the media:
"Just couldn't get it done."
Edited by FutureChampion on 14-04-2009 22:32
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