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Rabobank 2010 - behind the desk
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:21
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
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I wanted to start writing story a while ago but I still lacked something. Just few days ago thanks to CrueTrue, PCM daily team and their PCM daily db 3.2 and also thanks to beagle who helped me through few bugs I can finally start.
So thank you guys for help and also sorry to sjaak5 for having story about same team. It took some time to get to 2010 so don´t take personally.
Rabobank 2010 - behind the desk
Let´s start with fragments of diary assistant of manager Rabobank cycling team - mr. Michiel Merel.
1st of January 2010
I´m still wondering how I got into this situation. It seems like yesterday (actually it was on 12th of October 2009) when I entered my boss (Erik Breukink) office and demanded a raise. What was wrong on that? Thanks to my lead as supervisor of training and chief of personal department Rabobank was able to end season on second place just behind Saxo Bank. Moreover I persuaded some young talents and starlets like Theo Bos from our CT team, U-23 Champion René Joachim or great spanish climber JoaquÃn Checa to enter our team. Yes - I didn´t visit any of races and I forced some guys out of team like Tankink or Hayman but still... I thought that my raise demands were right. Pfff. I´ve hit the wall back then. My boss (after moments of hysterical laughing) answered: " Ok. But from now on you will do ALL my work behind the desk and you will be responsible for some races as well!" Me! Absolutely novice, without any experience in the field. Ups....
During rest of the year I reorganized my schedule and prayed for calm January with as less work as possible. But I received my christmaas present anyway. Mail with these words: "New season is here. Prepare yourself for La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and Tour down Under." So that is the reason why I´m sitting in my office and waiting for my first guest - Mauricio Ardila. Others will follow - one per day by alphabetical order.
Rabobank team
season goals
It will be extremely hard to fulfill all these goals - but we will try it anyway. who will try make what will come from riders presentation
Best Riders
Last years biggest succeses
3rd on Tour de France- Denis Menchov
1st on Ronde Van Vlanderen, Gent - Wevelgem - Juan Antonio Flecha
1st on Dutch Championship - Jonas Posthuma
1st on Eneco - Nick Nuyens
1st on Tirreno Adriatico - Robert Gesink
1st on Paris- Nice - Denis Menchov
Edited by Michal4444 on 04-05-2009 18:38
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:34
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Mauricio Ardila
let the diary speak for the moment...
2nd of January
Yesterday it didn´t work so easily - I tried to explain Mauricio that this year I weren´t going to give him any leader role in important races and he wasn´t happy about that a little bit. Only after my promise that one of GT´s he would be given a chance going for stage victory we made an agreement - who will come today? Boom? Oh - Mother of God.....
Last year biggest successes: 9th of Colombian Championship
This year expectations: Giro lieutenant - maybe some minor race leader. If in form then superdomestique during Vuelta Espana...
Edited by Michal4444 on 02-05-2009 22:38
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| olabj |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:47
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Protected Rider
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Sounds really nice |
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| t-baum |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:50
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2153
Joined: 07-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Are you going to go day by day every single day of the season?
Macquet wrote:
"We all know that wasn't the real footage of the Worlds anyway. That was just the staged footage to perpetuate the coverup that it was actually Vinokourov that won the race." |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 21:24
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:51
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Posts: 250
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Lars Boom
3rd of January
I really enjoyed meeting with Lars. We agreed on his leader role on Tour de Pologne, Criterium International and his help during Tour de France and Eneco. Personally - I am so impressed now that I think that he will be leader during Milan- San Remo but I´m not sure if it will be not too much responsibilty for this young guy. Today Theo Bos is coming...
Last year successes:
2nd - Dutch Championship
2nd overall - Tour of luxembourg + one stage win
5th - World ITT Championship
5th - Giro di Lombardia
This year expectations: Win - Criterium International, podium place Tour de Pologne... In case of Leader role during Milan - San Remo - Top 10 |
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:54
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Yes. I will go day by day. But sometimes it will be extremely short if nothing really happened. I wanted to take this story from more personal and management view than racing. (ok - my notebook sucks - so racing is really hard here) |
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| Batista15 |
Posted on 02-05-2009 22:56
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2704
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i think this will be a great story.
good luck michal |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 02-05-2009 23:24
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
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2nd Rabo story. Great. Good luck!
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 06:42
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Theo Bos
4th of January
What the hell! How can be anyone so proud, self-confident and annoying in this age? After few minutes with Young Theo I thought that i should fire him in few minutes but when he left my office with smile on the face I wondered how could I promise to him to be our leading sprinter during Tour de France... Promise is promise but his ability to overcome mountains (better said not to overcome) is scaring me...
Last year successes:
1st Campina Ronde van het Groene Hart
This year expectation:
sprinter jersey Tirreno Adriatico
maillot vert (TdF) wearer for at least one day
Edited by Michal4444 on 03-05-2009 06:44
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 06:59
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Graeme Brown
Yesterday I told our only left australian Graeme Brown that I expected good results from him during January and February in spite of fact that propably he will be not leading sprinter in Down Under. I wasn´t surprised that he was unhappy about that but he accepted and left. Personally - after yesterday meeting with Theo I don´t believe that this man has what it takes to be our main sprinter in tour. So he will be Theo lead-out man but if he will be not able to make any personal achievement in February - he will have to leave...
Bad news. One of Dutch veterans decided to retire after this season. It is a pity that we will no be seeing Steven de Jongh after this season anymore
Also Stef Clement signed new contract until 2012
Last year successes:
2 stage victories on Tour down under, 1 stage on Etoile de Besseges
This year expectations: at least 4 stage wins and one green jersey in February...
Edited by Michal4444 on 03-05-2009 07:13
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 07:12
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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JoaquÃn Checa
5th of January - later that day
And here he comes - proud of my scouts - JoaquÃn Checa. I hope that this guy can be our new Michael Rasmussen one day.
6th of January
Meeting was ok. We agreed on his training schedule and we believe that he can learn much from Robert Gesink. He is nice guy after all. Only thing I am really worried about is shorter hills. I hope that he will work on this very quickly.
Also Freire and Martens signed new contracts until 2012
Last year successes:
stage victory - Ronde de l´Isard
2nd overall - Ronde de l´Isard
This year expectations: none, just training, training and maybe wearing any climber jersey during this year |
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 07:30
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
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Stef Clement
7th of january
On 6th I met Stef Clement, our best TT guy. we share some thoughts and I informed him about his leading role during Dutch TT championship and his lieutenant role during Dutch championship, Tour de Suisse. I also had speech about my faith in his TT ability during Tour de France. he was quite happy about that.
More good news followed - Today Menchov signed until 2012 and Boom until 2013. Also organizers of Giro d´Italia, Paris - Nice and Tirreno - Adriatico introduced this year courses. I will describe them during February but one thing is sure - Monte Zoncolan is back
Last year successes:
Winner of Dutch TT championship
3rd place in Tour de Romandie prologue
This year expectations: Winning of Dutch TT championship. At least one stage victory in Pro Tour. If nominated to worlds - TOP 5.
Edited by Michal4444 on 03-05-2009 07:31
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| beagle |
Posted on 03-05-2009 07:41
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4200
Joined: 06-10-2007
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looks great, good luck!!! |
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| olabj |
Posted on 03-05-2009 07:51
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1105
Joined: 17-09-2008
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How the hell do you manage to make that many reports and not run out of ideas, that`s just amazing.
Anyway great story |
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 08:27
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Marc de Maar
7th of January - 18:00 CET
Marc is coming in minutes. Another young guy but I don´t think he will be able to do anything in near future.
7th of January - 20:00 CET
Ok. Meeting is over. He accepted his position as Team mate without problems. Maybe I will send him to Giro or Vuelta as a reward.
8th of January
Today Graeme Brown was in Australian TT. Thank god that I hadn´t to go to this race also. Result was tragic - 51st from 53 riders. It doesn´t look like he is in form for champs
Last year successes: 2nd place on TTT Volta a Catalunya
This year expectations: to not fall with water bottles. Cruel but true...
Edited by Michal4444 on 03-05-2009 08:34
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 08:33
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Running out of ideas has to come in future but I spent some time with preparations of these reports. Just now I have bigger problems with Tours presentations because my cycling knowledge aren´t so great.
Many thanks to you all for your wishes and praise. It is helping a lot |
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 08:54
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Juan Antonio Flecha
9th of January
I met with our first team leader yesterday. Juan Antonio Flecha had a great last year and I expressed my hopes of repaeting these achievements. I was extremely surprised how much he cared about his teamates. How much he knew about cycling and how much fun (and suffering) had to be cycling for him. I shyly asked him about council how to lead the team nad he really help me a lot! So this year slight changes for him - Flanders and after that Tour de France. Good luck.
Yeah by the way - i signed Pieter Weening and Marc de Maar for another 2 seasons
Last year successes: many - just the major ones
1st in Ronde van Vlaanderen
1st in Gent - Wevelgem
3rd in Paris - Roubaix
5 other overall wins
13th in UCI Pro Tour 2009
This year expectations: Win in RVV and Gent - Wevelgem, Podium place Paris - Roubaix, One TdF stage win. |
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 09:15
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
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Rick Flens
10th of January
One of the hardworkers - Rick Flens was here. T told him about his flaws and about my vision how he could be better than he is now. That this year he should be only a helper and about his need to persuade me that he deserves a chance. Just now - It couldn´t happen.
Last year successes:
6th Beverbeek Classic
8th Tro-Bro Leon
This year expectations: none. just helping others is enough.
Edited by Michal4444 on 03-05-2009 09:15
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 09:28
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
Joined: 15-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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So far so good, nice story
[url=www.Dark-Alchemy.com]  [/url]
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| Michal4444 |
Posted on 03-05-2009 09:53
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 250
Joined: 27-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Óscar Freire
This Sunday was exceptional. I agreed to meet with Óscar during his visit of Schoonrewoerd, where Leerdammer is being produced. We had some chatting about non-cycling stuff and after that I simply asked:" Do you want to be team sprinter during Giro and Vuelta?" He nodded and so it was settled.
When I returned to my office i received information that Van Emden signed new contract and that Trent Lowe from Garmin won Australian Championship, Graeme Brown was 50th from 53 riders. Really awful...
Last year successes: many
15th stages, one of them Tour de France
green jerseys in Down Under, Tirreno, Tour de Suisse,
7th Milan - San remo
This Year expectations: Vuelta sprinter jersey, Giro Top 3 sprinter jersey. |
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