Since my Livestrong savegame is dead its time for another story which will (hopefully) last for a long time.
Team
Only 22 riders, not a lot for a pro tour team. Casar, Vaugrenard, Geslin, Joly and Chavanel are without a doubt the team's stars.
Goals
The Tour de France is important for us, guys like Casar, Chavanel, Di Gregorio and Vaugrenard will have to be aiming for stages there. Meanwhile we will also try to do well in other races troughout France.
Sponsors
Up first, the Australian Championship where Wesley Sulzberger will represent us.
Edited by JustinWK on 05-05-2009 11:17
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Wesley Sulzberger lacks the sprinting abilities to finish it off here and will definately not be able to keep up with the likes of Evans, Gerrans and Rogers. And so he breaks away early on.
Sulzberger in the break with McEwen, England and McDonald
But its going up and down constantly and with 4 laps to go its becoming too much for Robbie
Robbie McEwen has to let the group go!
Meanwhile the pack has made a calculating mistake and so it seems like the break will make it!
England, McDonald and Sulzberger, who will become the Australian champion?
And then we enter the final lap, Sulzberger takes over from England and then he ups the pace and when we're almost near the end of climb England and McDonald crack!
Sulzberger rides away with 5 kilometres to go!
It's only downhill after that, and England and McDonald dont manage to get him back, and so Wesley Sulzberger takes an amazing win!
Wesley Sulzberger is the champion of Australia!
Result:
01. Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux 4h34'10
02. Peter McDonald Drapac Porsche Cycling + 22
03. Richard England Amore & Vita - McDonald's s.t.
04. Robbie McEwen Team Katusha + 2'18
05. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 4'38
Up next: The Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Edited by JustinWK on 23-04-2009 18:13
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Veikkanen, Roy, Cherel, Le Mevel, Gudsell, Gerard, Roux
The first stage in this stage race in Gabon is also the most difficutl one and the one that decides the final GC. We bring Veikkanen and Le Mevel as our leaders here. Veikkanen attacks early on with 20 kms to go but he is caught. Then in the final km Le Mevel attacks and with the finishline in sight he suddenly finds himself up front!
Le Mevel up front with the finishline in sight!
However there are some riders sitting in his wheel and they eventually sprint past him, Le Mevel eventually ends 4th but the win does go to a Frenchman!
Cyril Bessy wins the first stage in front of Remme and Axelsson
The remaining 4 stages are all flat stages and this is the first one of them, the best sprinter that we brought is Arnaud Gerard. He lacks the strenght to finish it off but when positioned well he could surprise here in Gabon,
And there he is! Gerard in the front row, can he make it happen?
But unfortunately for him, Tombak and Van Vooren get past him, the latter one grabs the win today.
A few things have changed because I downloaded the newest Daily DB and I also tweaked the FDJ stats a bit (Hutarovich and Guesdon up in cobbles en Vaugrenard 1 point higher in hill) Also Duval and Vastaranta are now also a part of our team. NExt update will come when I'm back from London which will be around sunday. I will then start reporting with tthe Tour Down Under.
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
But even though the break got quite alot of room they wouldn't make it. With some big names here we didn't expect much from Meersman but in a strong field he still managed to end 15th today. Up front the fight was on between some strong sprinters.
Boonen up front with Fernandez and Pozatto on the left!
And so the first PT points are in the bag for Quick Step as Boonen wins the mass sprint!
Tommeke Boonen wins the first stage of the Tour Down Under
The second stage was again a flat stage but it did have some nasty hills in it which could prove to be difficult for some sprinters out there. Early on a break of 10 is formed.
Sergio De Lis and Damien Gaudin lead the break of the day
But just like yesterday, there are too many sprinters here and so the break doesn't stand a chance. In the sprint Boonen and Pozzato are yet again up front but this time it's Stuart O'Grady who's there aswell!
Stuart O'Grady takes an early lead with Vaitkus next to him and Boonen in his wheel!
Meanwhile behind Boonen its our very own Gianni Meersman who is following the wheel of Boonen and this would eventually lead to him finishing 5th and grabbing our first Pro Tour point!
Whoopdidoo!
Then many expected Boonen to jump out of O''Grady's wheel. But the Belgian couldn't get past the old Aussie.
Stuart O'Grady wins the 2nd stage in the Tour Down Under!
The 3rd stage brings us yet again a flat stage with a few climbs in it. And just like the previous 2 stages quite a big break is formed and today one of our guys is in there.
Break of 16 with Jerome Coppel in it and in the back Voeckler asking for assistance
They build up a nice lead, and with 6 kms to go a big part of the break including Coppel is caught but 3 others are still up front.
Hinault, Wrölich and Schär are still up front with 5 kilometres to go!
But with the finishline in sight they are also caught, in the sprint some are looking at Boonen, and some at O'Grady since those are the 2 who have won a stage thus far. But when the sprint starts we have surprising leader.
Murilo Fischer takes an early lead with the favs in his wheel but there's Thor Hushovd at his side!
But the Brazilian has quite some strength in his legs today and doesn't only push all of the favs to their max but also Thor has all the trouble in the world to shake the Liquigas rider of but eventually Fischer cracks and Hushovd finishes it of. Meersman is in the top 10 yet again, this time he ends 8th.
The 3rd stage sees yet again a different winner, this time it's Thor Hushovd!
The 4th stage is yet again almost the same as the previous ones. However today the pack didn't really let anyone get away and so it would be clear pretty soon that it would end up in a bunchsprint. We already had 3 different winners (Boonen, O'Grady and Hushovd) but could any of these guys perhaps get their 2nd win?
Boonen is positioned nicely with Fernandez and Haussler but there goes Graeme Brown!
It then seems like the Rabobank sprinter has taken off too early but Boonen doesn't really get any closer either! Meanwhile Meersman comes up too short today and ends 16th.
And so we have a different winner yet again! Graeme Brown wins the 4th stage!
