The Combuijs Capers

[Combuijs]

In the last stage of the Volta de Catalunya Will Miller finished 17th, which gave him place 13 in the GC on just more than three minutes after winner Honoré Bontecou (Team Solex).

In Gent-Wevelgem we showed that this is a classic we really like: Adam Neeskens won, Julius Maalderink third and squashed in between them was Zatarra's Leroy Stamer. Garret Rose also finished in the top 10, which earned us almost a thousand points and more than 300K...

The Gent-Wevelgem result also gave us a sponsor deal with Ukrainian Naftogaz:


Division standings after Gent-Wevelgem:

1º      Zatarra   7030   6   4   2   
2º      Astanadena   6477   5   1   1   
3º      Combuijs   5120   2   3   5   
4º      Periquitos   4989   4   3   2   
5º      TeamSolex   4816   5   3   3   
6º      Skrimshaw   4306   0   0   1   

First tests have shown that Gary Fredickson has a mediocre talent and that Jeroen Vonk has a great talent.

[WinterIsComing]

Good to see we are both on our way to promotion to 1st division once again, Combuijs. Let's try and stay there next time, although that might be tough while training a new generation.

Sorry to hear Daelman isn't gifted with a high talent. 
Guess he still has got a lot of potential, but high talent surely helps a lot.

[Combuijs]

In Dwars door Vlaanderen it was now Zatarra's time to squash Adam Neeskens (2nd) in between Leroy Stamer (1st) and Nick Haringa (3rd), with Garret Rose on place 5 and Julius Maalderink on place 16.

In de Ronde Adam Neeskens just missed out on the podium (4th), Garret Rose just missed out on the top 10 (12th), and Julius Maalderink just missed out on the top 20 (25th). It was nevertheless enough to sway the Holy Spirit Bank to put some heavenly money in our team.


Division standings after the Ronde van Vlaanderen:

1º      Zatarra   9000   8   4   3   
2º      Astanadena   7102   5   1   2   
3º      Combuijs   6355   2   4   5   
4º      Skrimshaw   5026   0   0   1   
5º      Periquitos   4989   4   3   2   
6º      Luka_Warriors   4860   1   1   1   

We are surely on our way back to the World Tour, but I am afraid it will be a return ticket back to the Pro Continental Tour...

When you are training a new generation, you need experience with your other riders. This one is because of Julius Maalderink reaching 75 (experience, not age...)

[Zatarra]

Gent-Wevelgem was just a little too hard for Stamer. Luckily he could beat your guys in DDV and RVV. IT resulted in quite a gap... Let's try and maintain this.

Good luck in Basque county. We'll meet soon again!

[Combuijs]

We are out of the cup unfortunately. Julius Maalderink did not lose to Samuele Lodolini in a sprint a deux but to Fabian Cadamuro.

In the Itzulia Tristan Prins surprises in the second stage around Getxo with a third place. He is now 21st in the GC but he is on the rise.



Bert Kerkhof is a mediocre talent, but both Colin Cann and Yvo van Straelen are great talents.

[Combuijs]

Victory in Vitoria! Tristan Prins wins the third stage in the Itzulia. What a great result!



It was enough to get a deal with a firm with the curious name of Royal Reinigung.


Swiss apparently and they might be forgiven for wanting to get rid of all royality...


Around Zalla Garret Rose gets 8th place in a free role.

In the GC Tristan Prins is now 22nd but he will finish in the top 20 tonight.

[Combuijs]

In the last Itzulia stage Tristan Prins finishes 3rd, which deserved him place 6 in the GC on more than 3 minutes from winner Alex Riis (Astadena).

In Roubaix Arjan Rutte finishes 2nd behind Zatarra's Amund Svendsen. Julius Maalderink finishes 6th, Garret Rose 24th.



With the hill classics coming we will get some minor results than this...

Division standings after Paris-Roubaix:

1º      Zatarra   10433   9   5   4   
2º      Astanadena   8929   6   3   2   
3º      Combuijs   7718   3   5   7   
4º      Skrimshaw   6167   0   0   3   
5º      Periquitos   6024   5   3   2   
6º      Luka_Warriors   5747   2   1   1   

[Combuijs]

Combuijs Honey Ale Race:
16. Adam Neeekens

Fleche Wallonne:
17. Adam Neeekens

[Combuijs]

Liege-Bastogne-Liege:
9. Adam Neeskens

Tour de Romandie:
1st stage to Leukerbad: 1. Oliver King, 27. Will Miller

A surprise win and a very happy sponsor Raufoss!




Division standings after the first stage of the Tour de Romandie:

1º      Zatarra   11939   9   7   4   
2º      Astanadena   11178   9   3   2   
3º      Combuijs   8288   4   5   7   
4º      Fountain   6958   0   3   3   
5º      Skrimshaw   6925   0   0   3   
6º      Luka_Warriors   6360   2   1   1   

[Combuijs]

Tour de Romandie:
3rd stage: 2. Oliver King
4th stage to Porrentruy: 3: Oliver King



Oliver King is now 1st in the GC with almost one minute in front of Roelof Stuyvesant (Astanadena). Question is, will he stay 1st in the last stage? Will Miller is 11th.

[Combuijs]

Tour de Romandie:
5th stage to Geneva: 24. Oliver King



With this result Oliver Kings wins his second Tour after Paris-Nice. Helper Will Miller is 9th in the GC.

Division standings after the Tour de Romandie:

1º      Astanadena   12677   9   4   3   
2º      Zatarra   12533   10   8   5   
3º      Combuijs   9227   4   6   8   
4º      Skrimshaw   7417   0   0   3   
5º      Fountain   7353   0   3   3   
6º      Periquitos   7021   7   3   4   

Astanadena takes the lead again, we follow on a respectable distance, but we have a gap behind us as well.

[Combuijs]

Giro:
1st stage: 7. Oliver King
2nd stage: 20. Valentin Litenko, 26. Oliver King
3rd stage to Praia a Mare: 20. Rafael Szepesi, 24. Valentin Litenko, 28. Oliver King



In the GC Oliver King is now first, 6 seconds before Astanadena's Raimond Leducq. We are in for an exciting Giro.

[Combuijs]

Giro:
4th stage: 27. Oliver King
6th stage: 3. Oliver King
7th stage: 16. Oliver King
8th stage to Zoldo Alto: 3. Oliver King



In the GC Oliver King is still first, 1 second before Astanadena's Tim Bell. Will he still be first in the end? We will know tomorrow night.

[Combuijs]

Giro:
9th stage: 6. Rafael Szepesi 24. Valentin Litenko
10th stage toi Lissone: 9. Valentin Litenko 14. Oliver King



Oliver failed a bit in the 9th stage, but rode a terrific last stage to finish first in the GC:

1    Oliver King   26   Combuijs   0: 00"   1000   250000
2    Charles-Thomas Jameson   26   MarvelProCycling    0: 25"   800   225000
3    Tim Bell   24   Astanadena   0: 27"   650   200000
4    Raimond Leducq   26   Astanadena   0: 50"   550   175000
5    Irek Guba   26   NormanTeam   2: 03"   500   150000

A really great result this!

Division standings after the Giro:

1º      Astanadena   17213   12   4   6   
2º      Zatarra   14598   14   8   6   
3º      Combuijs    11269   4   6   10   
4º      Periquitos   9789   8   6   4   
5º      Skrimshaw   9356   0   2   3   
6º      MarvelProCycling    8962   2   0   3

You would expect the first three places are fixed now.

[Vos]

edit ; and I see just now that Combuijs wins this Giro too, also well done and congratulations !