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Francesco Ginanni
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| MrContador |
Posted on 21-04-2009 20:25
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 26-03-2008
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The beginning
Hi there! My name is Francesco Ginanni, and I’m a talented young cyclist. I’m a punchy rider with a good finish, who rides for the team with the long, difficult name: Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni – Androni Giocattoli. I’m happy to ride for the team, because the team hosts legends such as “Gibo” Simoni, and Davide Rebellin. Along with Bettini, Rebellin was one of my role models when I was an amateur.
As a hilly specialist with a good finish, I’m well suited for the hilly classics, like the Ardennes and Giro di Lombardia, and also Milan-San Remo. I’m not experienced enough to win any of them yet, though, so my target this season will be to win the Italian classics at the fall, and to ride well enough to get a place in the teams Giro d’Italia squad. My first race this season will be GP Costa degli Etruschi, which I will ride as a domestique for Loddo. After that race, I will ride some Italian one-day classics, and will hopefully make my ProTour debut in Tirreno-Adriatico. Anyway, I’ll check back with you guys later. Next up are GP Costa degli Etruschi, so stay tuned…
Edited by MrContador on 18-05-2009 17:02
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| Il Gladiatore |
Posted on 21-04-2009 20:30
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Neo-Pro
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Nice good luck! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 21:30
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Bot Agent
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| MrContador |
Posted on 22-04-2009 12:30
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 26-03-2008
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Damn, I was elected to ride as France in the Worlds... Anybody knows how to change it in the convertor? |
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| Il Gladiatore |
Posted on 22-04-2009 14:31
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Neo-Pro
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MrContador wrote:
Damn, I was elected to ride as France in the Worlds... Anybody knows how to change it in the convertor?
It's because your nationality as manager is probably france |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 22-04-2009 14:33
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
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no. Ussualy it's because of your team nationality. But I had to choice in my carrer between France and USA...
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| MrContador |
Posted on 22-04-2009 14:55
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Domestique
Posts: 540
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I didn't get a choice, I was just assigned as manager for France, and needed to accept it. But which column do I need to edit to change it? Anybody? |
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| Il Gladiatore |
Posted on 22-04-2009 15:19
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Neo-Pro
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You can choose between the nationality of the manager and the nationality of the team, but since Diquigiovanni is Venezuelan, which doesn't have an national team, your only choise is France, which was the nationality of the manager
EDIT: I don't know how to edit it
Edited by Il Gladiatore on 22-04-2009 15:19
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| MrContador |
Posted on 22-04-2009 16:03
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Domestique
Posts: 540
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Ah, no need to worry, I found it out.
Edited by MrContador on 22-04-2009 16:04
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| olabj |
Posted on 22-04-2009 16:40
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1105
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Looks nice
PS How did you edit the national team thing |
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| MrContador |
Posted on 22-04-2009 16:47
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Domestique
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Edited a column called fkIDuser_duplicate or something, I believed it was called, in DYN_team. |
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| MrContador |
Posted on 22-04-2009 16:53
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Domestique
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GP Costa degli Etruschi
Well, here we are in the sunny land of Italy! I’m back racing after a long break. I’ve spent the last months close to my home in Tuscany, preparing for this season. I’ve raced a lot with my teammate and good friend Leonardo Moser, son of the great Francesco Moser. He will not ride along with me today, because he’s focusing on mountain races this season. I chose to ride this race, because it’s not far from my home, and it’s a nice race to start the season with, since there’s not very much prestige in it. Despite that, we have some strong riders on the start list, among them Robert Hunter, Thor Hushovd, Oscar Freire and Alessandro Petacchi. Let’s see how it plays out:
Today we sent a rider in the breakaway, because we weren’t eager to chase down the escapees. Luis Angel Maté was the “lucky” one today. Of course, he wouldn’t stand a chance in the ocean to succeed, with so many great sprinters here, but he get the chance to show our teams colors, at least.
While Maté was working his ass off in the break, I relaxed at the front of the peloton. It was nice to start riding again, even though I’m feeling quite rusty after a long break. I hope to improve my form in front of Tirreno-Adriatico.
As the sprint began, it was clear that I wasn’t the only person feeling rusty. Rigotto and Loddo couldn’t keep up with the pace of the other riders, and couldn’t do anything about it. They just had to sprint as hell to secure a decent result.
At the finish line, Weylandt managed to edge out Hushovd, to take the victory. It was a close call, but Weylandt was clearly ahead of the Norwegian. I tried to put in a short sprint towards the finish line, just to test my legs, and ended up s number 39. I’m not very happy with my performance, but it’s early in the season, and my form is still improving.
Results:
1 Wouter Weylandt Quick·Step 4h05'06
2 Thor Hushovd Cervélo Test Team s.t.
3 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
4 Robert Hunter Barloworld s.t.
5 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
6 Luca Paolini Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
7 Francesco Chicchi Liquigas s.t.
8 Alessandro Petacchi LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
9 Matteo Tosatto Quick·Step s.t.
10 Sergio Marinangeli LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
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39 Francesco Ginanni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli s.t. |
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| Polkadott |
Posted on 22-04-2009 19:59
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Under 23
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Nice story! |
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| MrContador |
Posted on 23-04-2009 11:09
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Domestique
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Trofeo Laigueglia
Hello there! It’s finally time for my first hilly race, Trofeo Laigueglia. It’s not a very long race actually, just 183 km. I was hoping I would be assigned as the team’s leader, but unfortunately Davide Rebellin chose to ride. But I’m not complaining. Riding side by side with Rebellin, I can manage to learn more.
Today, Maté went with the breakaway once again. He was obviously having good legs, because Frapporti and Gardeyn could barely keep up with him going over the hills. After the second climb of the race, they had more than eleven minutes down to the pack! I was starting to believe they would last all the way to finish.
Here am I, sitting calmly at the second climb.
But as the peloton raised the speed, it was clear that they didn’t have more in their legs. At the bottom of the last climb, they only had two minutes down.
I was having a terrible day today, but despite that the manager ordered me to attack, just to raise the speed. I just didn’t have the legs to get a gap, so instead I took a relay at the front of the pack. Rebellin was having a good day, and gave me a slap on the shoulder when I was finished working. Oddly enough, I felt proud.
And then he attack! The peloton exploded, and there were lots of attacks. At the end, Rebellin was alone in the front, with Pellizotti chasing behind. Our own Bertolini was sitting in a third group with about seven men, while I was sitting in the peloton, struggling to keep up with the pace.
Here I am, having a hard time back in the bunch.
In the flat section towards the finish, Knees came up to Davide with 16 km to go. He didn’t want to cooperate, or he was just tired. Anyway, he wheel sucked Rebellin in good old Indurain style. Rebellin is clearly the best sprinter, but Knees may have enough energy left to beat him in the sprint?
No, he couldn’t do a thing with the great Rebellin, powering down to his first win for the season. I finished more than four minutes behind him, really tired. I haven’t got a good start to my season, so I’m just hoping I won’t be excluded from our squad to Tirreno-Adriatico.
Results:
1 Davide Rebellin Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli 4h42'11
2 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
3 René Mandri AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
4 Leonardo Bertagnolli Amica Chips - Knauf s.t.
5 Gabriele Bosisio LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
6 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas s.t.
7 Giovanni Visconti ISD s.t.
8 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto s.t.
9 Paolo Tiralongo Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
10 Jörg Jaksche Cinelli - OPD s.t.
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26 Francesco Ginanni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli s.t. |
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| MrContador |
Posted on 23-04-2009 12:14
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 26-03-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Hi again! Tomorrow I’ll head of to Monte Paschi Eroica, a grueling one day race, that hosts several gravel sections more than ten kilometers! It’s a tough race that is quite new on the calendar, first raced in 2007. I’ve been informed that this will be the race that will decide whether I’m in or out of the Tirreno-Adriatico squad. I’m really hoping to impress my manager.
Oh, and by the way, we got wild cards in both Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo.
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| beagle |
Posted on 23-04-2009 13:54
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
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I like your style of reporting, keep it up! |
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| MrContador |
Posted on 23-04-2009 15:41
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Domestique
Posts: 540
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Monte Paschi Eroica
Ah, it’s sunny and warm here in Italy. I need to impress my boss today, but how can I do that? I really suck at gravels, so going in a break is my only chance.
And that’s exactly what I’m doing! I’m pulling off with more than 180 km left. I’m just hoping I’ll get some strong riders with me…
But in fact, I don’t get any riders with me at all! Going solo 180 km isn’t a good option, but it’s my only opportunity to show what I’m made off. So I’m going alone! Damn, it’s hard working on my own in these grueling hills and gravel sections. But yet, I’m hammering down on my pedals, going “á bloch”.
After 100 km out in the front alone, I’m finally driven in. That’s very disappointing. I really blew my chances to get to Tirreno today.
Without any motivation left, I’m stepping off my bike. I’m totally exhausted after today’s solo break, and the dust from the gravel have made their way into my lungs, making me coughing.
Very disappointed, I walked into our team car, to get the message that I’m…
IN! I will ride Tirreno-Adriatico! Our team manager was impressed by my aggressive riding, and I’m going off to the prestigious race in four days from now. If I’m making a good figure there, I might even ride Milan-San Remo! I’m really happy right now.
Another rider that has the right to be happy is Jesus Del Nero, who won the race. It looked like Willems was going to win, but Del Nero had a really impressive sprint the last 100 meters, and won.
Results:
1 Jesús Del Nero Fuji - Servetto 5h41'07
2 Janek Tombak Cycling Club Bourgas s.t.
3 Frederik Willems Liquigas s.t.
4 Robert Hunter Barloworld s.t.
5 Bert Roesems Cinelli - OPD s.t.
6 Simon Spilak Lampre - N.G.C s.t.
7 Gatis Smukulis AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
8 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
9 Alexandre Pliuschin AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
10 Servais Knaven Team Milram s.t.
...
DNF Francesco Ginanni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli
Edited by MrContador on 23-04-2009 15:42
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| olabj |
Posted on 23-04-2009 15:51
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Protected Rider
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I can`t see Tombak in that picture still he got a second, impressing. maybe he is at the left side of the picture |
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| Goldberger |
Posted on 23-04-2009 16:05
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Domestique
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Very good story I also like your style of reporting, its refreshing to read a story about one rider again |
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| ringo182 |
Posted on 23-04-2009 17:47
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Classics Specialist
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the only critisism i have about this kind of story is that the reports take so long to write that the writers often get fed up quite quickly. very few last past a month or 2. hopefully this one will though. |
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| MrContador |
Posted on 23-04-2009 21:52
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Domestique
Posts: 540
Joined: 26-03-2008
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But on the other side, I don't need to write about as many races as if I was writing about the whole team. |
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