The Combuijs Capers

[Combuijs]

Giro:
1st stage: 20. Yvo van Straalen
2nd stage: 14. Yvo van Straalen
6th stage: 11. Yvo van Straalen
8th stage: 18. Adam Neeskens
10th stage to Montalcino: 14. Adam Neeskens, 15. Garret Rose, 30. Yvo van Straalen



In the GC Yvo finished 15th, a tad disappointing, as he was leader in all races, but then he did not really prepare for the Giro...

Division standings after the Giro:

1º      TeamRHB   7381   2   6   0   
2º      CaptainOrange   7341   0   1   4   
3º      SPORTLIFE   6863   5   4   3   
4º      Valderend   6320   3   4   2   
5º      FaltososDeChigre   5076   3   0   1   
   
17º      Cabrasverdes   3695   0   2   2   
18º      Combuijs   3503   0   0   2   
19º      $Tourmalet   3360   5   1   1   
20º      CC_Porco_Jones   3288   1   1   0   
21º      Zatarra   3284   2   0   1   
22º      CobbleCrushers   3170   2   2   0   

Hey, we have passed Zatarra! That's good...

[Combuijs]

Dauphiné Liberé:
2nd stage: 10. Yvo van Straalen
3rd stage: 10. Yvo van Straalen
4th stage around Grenoble: 2. Hallvard Thorkildsen, 11. Arjen Rutte



In the GC Yvo finished 9th, which is reasonable, given the preference for Thorkildsen in stage 4.

Division standings after the Dauphiné Liberé:

1º      CaptainOrange   7859   0   1   4   
2º      TeamRHB   7745   2   6   0   
3º      SPORTLIFE   7436   6   4   5   
4º      Valderend   6430   3   4   2   
5º      FaltososDeChigre   5583   3   0   1   
   
17º      $Tourmalet   3988   5   1   1   
18º      Combuijs   3953   0   1   2   
19º      Cabrasverdes   3745   0   2   2   

Zatarra has gone further back, so that is good news, although we hope they can stay on the World Tour. It's very close at the top, that is the top 3.

The second place by Hallvard Thorkildsen was enough to sway Orkla to provide us with some money and some delicious food.

[Combuijs]

Tour de Suisse:
2nd stage: 11. Brooklyn Marbley
5th stage to Rheinfelden: 26. Brooklyn Marbley



In the GC Brooklyn finished 20th, disappointing but points are points. All in all Switzerland proved to be below expectations, which lowers the prospects in the Tour de France.

Division standings after the Tour de Suisse:

1º      CaptainOrange   8543   0   1   4   
2º      TeamRHB   8186   2   6   0   
3º      SPORTLIFE   8174   6   5   6   
4º      Valderend   6796   3   5   2   
5º      FaltososDeChigre   6054   3   0   2   
   
19º      $Tourmalet   4062   5   1   1   
20º      Combuijs      4031   0   1   2   
21º      Cabrasverdes    3745   0   2   2   
22º      ZG   3613   0   0   3   
23º      Zatarra 3517   2   0   1   
24º      azerite   3387   0   0   0   

The difference with place 31 is almost 1800 points, so there are no real worries, but we have now reached the mires of the twenties...

[Combuijs]

Tour de France:
3rd stage: 29. Brooklyn Marbley
5th stage: 17. Arjen Rutte
6th stage: 18. Brooklyn Marbley
7th stage to Le Puy-en-Velay: 10. Arjen Rutte, 11. Adam Neeskens



In the GC Brooklyn finished 7th, in itself a good result, but thereby missing out a sponsordeal by one place... Winner was Allan Palmer (Captain Orange).

Division standings after the Tour de France:

1º      CaptainOrange   10805   0   1   5   
2º      SPORTLIFE   9748   7   7   8   
3º      TeamRHB   9347   2   6   0   
4º      Valderend   8138   3   5   3   
5º      Rekutxuteam   7851   9   8   6      
   
16º      IKIBASQUE   4734   1   2   1   
17º      Combuijs   4706   0   1   2   
18º      $Tourmalet   4646   5   1   2   

We are on the ascend again...

[Combuijs]

Combuijs Honey Ale Tour:
1st stage: 11. Julius Maalderink
2nd stage: 8. Hallvard Thorkildsen, 12. Mondesir Zutter, 14. Julius Maalderink
3rd stage: 4. Julius Maalderink
5th stage around Breskens: 13. Julius Maalderink, 18. Mondesir Zutter, 19. Hallvard Thorkildsen



In the GC Julius finished surprisingly 3rd, 18 seconds after Anders Jørgensen (TeamRHB) and 2 seconds after favourite Yannick Pierre (Cobble Crushers). All and all this was a great Tour for us.

Division standings after the Binck Bank Tour:

1º      CaptainOrange   11252   0   1   5   
2º      TeamRHB   10535   3   7   1   
3º      SPORTLIFE   10340   7   7   8   
4º      Valderend   8712   3   7   4   
5º      Rekutxuteam   8104   9   8   7      
   
12º      CC_Porco_Jones   5677   1   2   0   
13º      Combuijs   5511   0   1   2   
14º      Luka_Warriors   5128   2   2   3   

Up again, but the top 10 is 1300 points away...

[Combuijs]

Vuelta:
1st stage: 14. Yvo van Straalen
3rd stage: 12. Danny Power
4th stage: 6. Yvo van Straalen
5th stage: 10. Yvo van Straalen
7th stage: 4. Mondesir Zutter, 5. Julius Maalderink
8th stage: 10. Yvo van Straalen
9th stage to Cuenca: 5. Julius Maalderink



In the GC Yvo just finished out of the podium, which was a tad disappointing

1    Aksel Blix   27   Aspigarri   0: 00"   1000   500000
2    Anthony Hilton   32   CaptainOrange   0: 47"   800   450000
3    Tjerk Tusveld   32   SPORTLIFE   1: 32"   650   400000
4    Yvo VanStraalen   25   Combuijs   1: 44"   550   350000
5    Rafael Carlos Loinaz   32   TeamRHB   1: 50"   500   300000

but all in all a good Vuelta.

WC Time trial: 29. Danny Power

WC Road race: 23. Amable Puerto

Final standings:

1º      SPORTLIFE   13841   7   8   8   
2º      CaptainOrange   13655   0   2   5   
3º      TeamRHB   12507   3   7   2   
4º      FaltososDeChigre   10863   3   2   3   
5º      Rekutxuteam   9688   9   8   8   
6º      Valderend   9654   3   7   6   
7º      BlackHole   8526   2   4   8   
8º      FrançaiseDesJeux   8489   3   0   1   
9º      Aspigarri   8391   3   0   1   
10º      RemcoEvenpoelckx   8227   7   6   2   
11º      galegospolabici   8223   2   5   5   
12º      Mlb   8143   3   7   5   
13º      CC_Porco_Jones   7113   2   2   0   
14º      Combuijs   7052   0   1   2   
15º      QuintoYtapa   6957   3   2   0   
16º      Luka_Warriors   6765   2   3   4   
17º      Quickstepbronx   6716   6   4   4   
18º      $Tourmalet   5673   5   2   2   
19º      azerite   5616   1   0   1   
20º      Aurora_Australis   5445   2   6   4   
21º      Thorboassonarvesen   5426   8   2   2   
22º      ZG   5394   1   0   3   
23º      KunTeam   5063   1   0   3
24º      CobbleCrushers   4767   3   3   1   
25º      Cabrasverdes   4736   0   3   2   
26º      IKIBASQUE   4734   1   2   1   
27º      Antequera   4284   0   1   0   
28º      Zatarra   4132   2   0   1   
29º      ZBT   4041   2   1   0   
30º      SentinelChickens   4040   0   0   0   
31º      Moderdonia   3886   1   0   1   
32º      Sonfuga   3686   0   0   0   
33º      TilburgTerriërs   3630   3   1   2
34º      Facha_Bartolo   3521   0   1   0   
35º      Periquitos   3101   0   0   0
36º      BorinotTeam   3038   0   0   1   
37º      OphiukoCT   2997   1   0   0   
38º      IntellinetCyclingFF   2758   1   1   1   
39º      Yvo_Meppelink_ProCycling   2247   1   0   2   
40º      BLOEMENAANDEMITTE   2115   0   0   0   
41º      Kelme4ever   1535   0   0   0   
42º      GMV_Cycling   1268   0   0   0   
43º      Albion   986   0   0   0   
44º      Oloteam   936   0   0   0   
45º      Fountain   885   0   0   0   
46º      MortoviaCycling   579   0   0   0   
47º      Dutch_Lions   503   0   0   0   
48º      Xegalaki_Pro   473   0   0   0   
49º      WinterIsComing   0   0   0   0
50º      Liberty_Sansaloni   0   0   0   0   

In the last week Sportlife overtook Captain Orange to win his first Cycling For Fun title, so congratulations to him. Very happy with place 14, somewhere in between the top and the relegation zone. Zatarra managed to stay in as well...

Individual rankings:

1º      Lazare Pires   27   4484   FrançaiseDesJeux   3   0   0   
2º      Julio Manuel Miro   28   3453   Rekutxuteam   6   4   4   
3º      Anthony Hilton   32   3028   CaptainOrange   0   0   0   
4º      Allan Palmer    31   2971   CaptainOrange   0   0   2   
5º      Jérémy Huard   25   2673   RemcoEvenpoelckx   5   5   1   
6º      Aksel Blix   27   2450   Aspigarri   0   0   0   
7º      Arno Verbeek   31   2326   TeamRHB   2   4   0   
8º      András Valter   25   2203   Quickstepbronx   3   2   1   
9º      Yannick Pierre   32   2185   CobbleCrushers   1   3   1   
10º      John Footman   30   2168   CC_Porco_Jones   0   0   0   
11º      Rafael Carlos Loinaz    32   2140   TeamRHB   0   0   1   
12º      Yvo VanStraalen   25   2138   Combuijs   0   0   0   
13º      Leonid Leonov   31   2132   CobbleCrushers   2   0   0   
14º      Seppo Merisalu   30   1926   Aspigarri   3   0   0   
15º      Boris Walker   24   1912   Moderdonia   1   0   1   

45º      Julius Maalderink   32   1048   Combuijs   0   0   0   

So, we had Yvo on 12th place, not too far from fellow Dutchman Arno Verbeek. Suprisingly old horse Julius was our second best rider, which reflects the number of cobble stages this season.

All Combuijs Honey Ale riders with points:

Yvo VanStraalen   25   2138         214
Julius Maalderink   32   1048         785
Adam Neeskens   32   660         1066
Brooklyn Marbley   30   638         048
Hallvard Thorkildsen   24   593         023
Mondesir Zutter   30   488         242
Amable Puerto   26   447         162
Garret Rose   32   332         204
Arjen Rutte   32   228         778
Danny Power   31   168         033
Friso Vonk   25   147         000
Gary Fredickson   25   90         011
Tristan Prins   32   75         1259

We have managed to sell Guido Keizer to now Continental Pro Tour team Leche Gaza. I don't hope he has to move to Palestina...

[Combuijs]

Tour Down Under:
4th stage: 4. Amable Puerto
5th stage: 25. Danny Power

In the GC Amable finished 14th, an unexpected good result. I think it's the first time we score GC points in the Tour Down Under on the World Tour.

Omloop het Nieuwsblad: 18. Garret Rose

Strade Bianchi: 17. Garret Rose

Paris-Nice:
1st stage to Col d'Eze: 28. Yvo van Straalen



Division standings after the first stage of Paris-Nice:

1º      JGMTeam   1541   1   1   0   
2º      Zatarra   1143   0   2   0   
3º      IKIBASQUE   1058   0   0   0   
4º      FaltososDeChigre   970   0   0   0   
5º      Valderend   892   0   1   1   

19º      CC_Porco_Jones   384   0   0   1   
20º      Combuijs   381   0   0   0   
21º      RajenKujen   381   0   0   0   
22º      SPORTLIFE   379   1   0   0   
23º      Fiestina   369   0   0   0   

Already out of the relegation zone which is good news.

We had found a new director in the person of Australian Paul Mount, but after a few days it appearead he did not fit well in the team, so we have signed up Danish Max Tandrup, well known for his eloquent speeches.

[Combuijs]

Paris-Nice:
3rd stage: 23. Amable Puerto
5th stage: 18. Yvo van Straalen

In the GC Yvo finished 19th which was disappointing, but at least he collected some points.

Tirreno Adriatico:
1st stage to Terminillo: 8. Yvo van Straalen



Division standings after the first stage of the Tirreno:

1º      JGMTeam   1982   1   2   1   
2º      IKIBASQUE   1631   1   0   0   
3º      FaltososDeChigre   1453   0   0   0   
4º      Valderend   1375   0   1   1   
5º      Rekutxuteam   1312   3   0   0   
6º      Inglourious_Bastards   1298   0   0   1   
7º      Zatarra   1220   0   2   0   
8º      Mlb   1035   0   0   1   

26º      MarquinaTeam   569   0   0   0   
27º      Combuijs   514   0   0   0   
28º      BetisCFF   478   0   0   0   

Marginally above the relagation line, there is still a lot of work to do!

We managed to sway Toivo Sulg away from Plopsala, so that he can show his hill skills on the highest level. Captain Orange on the other side took youth talent Ben Kok into his capable hands.

[Combuijs]

Tirreno Adriatico:
2nd stage: 18. Yvo van Straalen
3rd stage: 8. Yvo van Straalen

Yvo finished 12th in the GC, which was more or less expected.

E3 Harelbeke: 15. Adam Neeskens



Division standings after the E3 Harelbeke:

1º      JGMTeam   2662   1   3   1   
2º      FaltososDeChigre   2653   1   0   0   
3º      IKIBASQUE   2587   1   0   0   
4º      Rekutxuteam   1973   4   0   0   
5º      BlackHole   1956   0   2   3   
6º      Valderend   1938   0   1   2   
7º      Inglourious_Bastards   1863   0   0   1   
8º      Zatarra   1783   0   3   0   
9º      Mlb   1701   0   1   1   
   
25º      BetisCFF   863   0   0   0   
26º      Combuijs   817   0   0   0   
27º      CobbleCrushers   805   1   0   0   

Can't say we are doing fine, we should be higher up for comfort...

[Combuijs]

Volta Catalunya:
1st stage: 18. Danny Power
2nd stage: 19. Brooklyn Marbley

A disappointing Volta, where our leader Brooklyn finished behind his helper Oliver King, both outside the points. We should have gotten more points out of this Tour.

Gent - Wevelgem: 7. Adam Neeskens
Dwars door Vlaanderen: 24. Adam Neeskens
Ronde van Vlaanderen: 9. Adam Neeskens

A decent trio by Adam, probably the last time he will score in these races on the World Tour level.

Itzulia:
1st stage around Zalla: 30. Adam Neeskens



For now Hidde Daelman is number 10 in the GC, but we have Friso Vonk as our leader, who is number 13.

Division standings after the 2nd stage of the Itzulia:

1º      FaltososDeChigre   4069   2   0   0   
2º      BlackHole   3932   1   4   4   
3º      IKIBASQUE   3584   2   0   0   
4º      JGMTeam   3449   1   3   2   
5º      Mlb   2930   0   1   2   
6º      Valderend   2920   0   1   3   
7º      Rekutxuteam   2857   4   2   1   
8º      SPORTLIFE   2793   3   2   1   
9º      Zatarra   2678   0   3   0   
10º      Inglourious_Bastards   2508   0   0   1   
11º      LOSRAYOSDELARRY   2392   0   0   0   

24º      ProCyclingTeam10   1367   0   0   0   
25º      Combuijs   1317   0   0   0   
26º      TeamRHB   1187   1   1   0   
27º      $Tourmalet   1125   1   0   2   

Well, we are still very low on the list, but at least we are in front of one man Team RHB.

Thanks to Toivo Sulg we now have a golden hiller. Well, in our mind our Amable Puerto was already gold...

[Combuijs]

Itzulia:
4th stage: 13. Friso Vonk

In the GC Friso finished 18th, which was a bit low, but all points count.

Paris - Roubaix: 13. Hallvard Thorkildsen
Luik - Bastenaken - Luik: 27. Amable Puerto

An acceptable Paris-Roubaix, but some disappointing hill classics, a discipline we have heavily invested in.



Division standings after the hill classics:

1º      IKIBASQUE   4911   2   0   0   
2º      JGMTeam   4875   1   3   5   
3º      FaltososDeChigre   4704   2   0   0   
4º      Quickstepbronx   4488   10   1   3   
5º      BlackHole   4354   1   4   4   
6º      Rekutxuteam   4072   4   3   2   
7º      Valderend   3912   0   1   4   
8º      SPORTLIFE   3899   3   2   1   
9º      Zatarra   3807   0   3   0   
10º      Inglourious_Bastards   3626   0   1   1   
11º      LOSRAYOSDELARRY   3485   0   0   0   

28º      $Tourmalet   1645   1   0   2   
29º      Combuijs   1574   0   0   0   
30º      Manicomicos_Cycling_Team   1407   2   0   0   

The relegation line is coming closer quite rapidly, we will need some serious results in the next tours to stay in on the World Tour.

We have however a very satisfied treasurer as we have sold Tom Averkamp to Quinto y Tapa for a substantial amount of money.

[Combuijs]

Tour de Romandie:
1st stage: 8. Yvo van Straalen
4th stage: 24. Denny Power
5th stage to Aigle: 13. Yvo van Straalen



In the GC Yvo finished 5th, so it seems he is ready for the Giro!

Division standings after Eschborn-Frankfurt:

1º      IKIBASQUE   6074   3   0   0   
2º      JGMTeam   5204   1   3   5   
3º      FaltososDeChigre   5163   2   0   0   
4º      Quickstepbronx   5083   11   2   4   
5º      BlackHole   4927   1   4   5   
6º      SPORTLIFE   4598   3   4   1   
7º      Rekutxuteam   4591   5   3   3   
8º      Valderend   4551   0   1   5   
9º      Inglourious_Bastards   4314   0   1   1   
10º      Zatarra   4007   0   3   0   
11º      LOSRAYOSDELARRY   3875   0   0   0   

25º      Aspigarri   1953   1   1   0   
26º      Combuijs   1952   0   0   0   
27º      $Tourmalet   1889   1   1   2   

We are on the way up again, but not far from the red district. Funny enough we are the second Dutch team at the moment...

We now have appointed Oto Briedis as director because he has great experience in the grand tours.

[Combuijs]

Giro:
1st stage: 15. Yvo van Straalen
2nd stage: 5. Amable Puerto
4th stage: 7. Yvo van Straalen
8th stage: 15. Hallvard Thorkildsen
10th stage to Montevarchi: 4. Yvo van Straalen



In the GC Yvo finished 3rd, which is his first podium place in a grand Tour. Happy with his performance plus two other results of riders in a free role.

Division standings after the Giro:

1º      IKIBASQUE   7967   3   0   1   
2º      JGMTeam   6112   1   3   5   
3º      FaltososDeChigre   5977   2   0   0   
4º      Inglourious_Bastards   5811   0   1   1   
5º      Valderend   5644   2   1   6   
6º      Quickstepbronx   5601   11   3   5
7º      BlackHole   5574   1   4   5   
8º      SPORTLIFE   5428   4   5   1   
9º      Rekutxuteam   5250   5   3   4   
10º      Mlb   4879   2   2   2   
11º      Zatarra   4568   0   3   2   
12º      LOSRAYOSDELARRY   4405   0   0   0   

17º      ZG   3212   1   0   0   
18º      Combuijs   3105   0   0   0   
19º      FrançaiseDesJeux   3095   0   1   1   

That's looking much better now, being much farther from the relegation line than before...

In other news we have heard that our training camps are very famous, no doubt thanks to the Combuijs Honey Ale.

[Combuijs]

Dauphine Libere:
1st stage: 12. Toivo Sulg
3rd stage: 11. Toivo Sulg
5th stage to Le Teil: 2. Brooklyn Marbley, 25. Gary Fredickson

We went for individual races, with exceptional success in the last stage.



Tour de Suisse:

Zero points..., which is a first, I think... For this alternative Combuijs Honey Ale Race our riders are getting too old, I fear.

Division standings after the Tour de Suisse:

1º      IKIBASQUE   8870   3   0   1   
2º      JGMTeam   7769   2   4   5   
3º      FaltososDeChigre   6718   2   1   0   
4º      BlackHole   6534   2   5   5   
5º      SPORTLIFE   6411   4   5   1   
6º      Rekutxuteam   6363   7   5   4   
7º      Quickstepbronx   6346   12   4   7
8º      Valderend   6313   2   2   7   
9º      Inglourious_Bastards   6212   0   1   1   
10º      Mlb   5541   2   2   4   

18º      ZG   3487   1   0   0   
19º      Combuijs   3358   0   1   0   
20º      Aspigarri   3292   3   2   0   

We have switched to hill training now because this season it seems they have exchanged mountains for hills...

[Combuijs]

Tour de France:
1st stage: 17. Hallvard Thorkildsen
2nd stage: 30. Yvo van Straalen
3rd stage: 20. Hallvard Thorkildsen
5th stage: 25. Yvo van Straalen
6th stage: 17. Yvo van Straalen
7th stage to Tarbes: 21. Yvo van Straalen



In the GC Yvo finished 8th. After being 3rd for a short while, he lost a place almost every stage.

Division standings after the Tour de France:

1º      IKIBASQUE   10552   3   0   1   
2º      JGMTeam   8813   3   5   5   
3º      FaltososDeChigre   8092   3   1   0   
4º      Quickstepbronx   7460   14   5   7
5º      Valderend   7212   2   2   8   
6º      BlackHole   7162   2   7   5   
7º      Inglourious_Bastards   7123   0   1   1   
8º      Rekutxuteam   7072   8   5   4   
9º      SPORTLIFE   6934   4   5   1   
10º      Mlb   6168   2   2   6   

19º      ZG   4282   1   0   2   
20º      Combuijs   3919   0   1   0   
21º      $Tourmalet   3639   2   2   2   
22º      TeamRHB   3611   3   2   1   
23º      MarquinaTeam   3534   0   1   0   

It's a hard season, but a thousand point gap to place 31 should be sufficient to stay on the World Tour.