Season 9

[Vos]

stage 9 Vuelta ;
7º Takács
As expected he had to do it on his own, so I'm satisfied with this good result on 0:25" from stage winner Stamer. Congrats, Zatarra ! 

[Sjiz]

Exciting finish in the Vuelta. It looks like Hilton has the red xomfortably but behind him we have a very close 2-5th place.

[Zatarra]

stage 9 Vuelta ;
7º Takács
As expected he had to do it on his own, so I'm satisfied with this good result on 0:25" from stage winner Stamer. Congrats, Zatarra ! 

Thanks! That's the fifth victory of the season (the record from previous seasons was 2 wins in one season) and now also the record of points from season 2 was broken. So a very successfull season.

The battle for the Norwegian championship is also to be determined, although with Rusakov and some strong climbers in Atalm's team I have this feeling about who will win that one...

[Vos]

A fierce battle for the podiumplaces in the final stage 10 Vuelta.
And many other tour riders were fighting a GC battle for their spot in the final top 20 GC.
In fact, before this stage, only GC leader Hilton was relaxed and confident that he would keep his position in the GC.
Very well done, Rico, and congratulations with this excellent Vuelta victory ! 

A very impressive solo victory of Lorenzetto, 0:20" before also an impressive(lightbulb) Rusakov and 0:25" before Borgers.
And this top3 of stage 10, were podium contenders for the final GC in the Vuelta.
According to me all these 3 managers deserve a congratulations too !     

Lorenzetto was unfortunate that he became 3rd GC in the same time as 2nd GC Rusakov.
But most likely his 3rd GC place causes that Lorenzetto will win the Golden Bike.
He is now 196 points ahead on Riss ( Astanadena ), his only rival left. I suspect Lombardia will be decisive, but just officially.

Also Lombardia will be decisive for Verbeek ( TeamRHB ) who is still a Silver Bike contendor.
He is 129 points ahead on Riss, and if Verbeek can win the Silver Bike, it would be the first time ever a specialist wins that price.
Verbeek is entirely depended on the the result of Riss in Lombardia, top14 is already enough for Riss to win the Silver Bike.
He should be able to ride such a result, but you never know. The competition is fierce in Lombardia and Riss has not signed up yet.

Back to the Vuelta ; all managers with great results and/or who did very well in this big tour ; also congratulations ! 

Final TOP 20 GC Vuelta, season 9 =
1Anthony Hilton   27   CaptainOrange   0: 00"   
2    Alexander Rusakov   27   Flyvende_hjul   1: 03"   
3    Antonello Lorenzetto   27   Marcatone_Due   1: 03"   
4    Rick Borgers   27   ChronoTony   1: 11"   
5    Ryan Leipheimer   27   Wiggo_pupils   1: 21"   
6    Darvin Norwood   27   skunk   1: 51"   
7    Sam Lee   27   $Tourmalet   2: 32"   
8    Les Winger   27   FaltososDeChigre   2: 44"   
9    Javier Marin   27   ProdopingPong   3: 08"   
10    Mannie Collins   26   Cabrasverdes   3: 23"   
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
11    Adam Roethlisberger   27   Atlantico   4: 08"   
12    Mark Jefferson   27   ProCyclingTeam10   4: 24"   
13    Michel Hvid   27   WinterIsComing   4: 45"   
14    Kahraman Schwallie   27   MortoviaCycling   4: 48"   
15    Leon Vonk   26   MarvelProCycling    5: 05"   
16    Hartwig Adenauer   27   cave   5: 46"   
17    Cipriano Luna   27   TeamRHB   5: 51"   
18    Per Aadland   26   Wizards   6: 13"   
19    Hugo Skogstad   27   ValeronIdolo   6: 30"   
20    Jacopo Palandrani   27   galegospolabici   8: 03"   

[Atalm93]

Congrats to Rico for a great win with Hilton! You raced a very good race!

For me some tactical mistakes, but in the end Hilton is a beast, and you cant afford tactical mistakes too beat him!

Lorenzetto will probably win Golden bike (as predicted), but great that some specialist also make the podium too!

[Sjiz]

Great Vuelta yes. Lorenzetto will win gold, Riis most likely silver and Verbeek bronze. It was a good fight! And congratulations to Ricardo on winning.

[Sjiz]

Well.. that was close. Lorenzetto now at 4012 points, Riis at 4006 and Verbeek at 3945. Incredible.

[Vos]

Well.. that was close. Lorenzetto now at 4012 points, Riis at 4006 and Verbeek at 3945. Incredible.

Giro di Lombardia ;
Lorenzetto should have scored many points in Lombardia, but his manager apparently could afford a colossal tactical mega mistake.
What kind of mistake, that is not up to me to post, but the result of the stage 10 Vuelta winner says enough :
53º   Antonello Lorenzetto   27   Marcatone_Due   1: 27"

But Lorenzetto was lucky that a SPORTLIFE cyclist did great in Lombardia, and finished one place before Riss.
Although, if Riss would have finished one place better, then he would still be 2 points behind in the battle of the Golden Bike.
Riss needed a (normally just theoretic) 6th place and that place was in a group ahead with a lead of 0:12" to Riss his group
But to close the gap, Riss could not do it on his own, and I gave my Dutch hillsclimber the order to prevent that from happening.
It is cycling, so now my financial manager can collect a financial gift of Marcatone_Due. 
1º   Daniele Kolb   27   Codex   0: 00"
6º   Rik Usov   27   Atlantico   0: 05"
7º   Richard VanDerKroon   27   SPORTLIFE      0: 17"
8º   Alex Riis   27   Astanadena   0: 17"

A very good result of VanDerKroon, although when the race started it looked like this was going to be a very bad race :

In s1 he started too slow and was isolated, because all his 4 helpers were in the front peleton of 66.
In s2 hillsprinter Jannakopulosz got the order to drop out of the front and help his teamcaptain in the 2nd peleton.
And he did a perfect helpers job, because in s3 VanDerKroon ( despite flat 51 and tw 8 ) returned to his 3 helpers in the front peleton of 62.
The helpers launched him into mountain s4 where he was in the chasing group of 4 on 0:12" of the break away group of also 4.
After a fierce battle in the hills of s5, VanDerKroon won the sprint of the 2nd chasing group.

[EpoGlucK]

Well.. that was close. Lorenzetto now at 4012 points, Riis at 4006 and Verbeek at 3945. Incredible.

Congrats for the 3 contenders! It has been such a nice spectacle to see! 

[Vos]

Well.. that was close. Lorenzetto now at 4012 points, Riis at 4006 and Verbeek at 3945. Incredible.

Congrats for the 3 contenders! It has been such a nice spectacle to see! 

Indeed ! 
And I forgot to mention a well deserved congratulations to all 3 managers, so now I do : Congrats x3 !!!     

[Vos]

A bit early to do this, because there are still 2 more very point rich WC races.
But according to me this is already 100% certain :
°Peachy°Melocotons
Congratulations with the 1A championship, EpoGlucK ! A really impressive season of you and your team, very well done ! 

[EpoGlucK]

Thx Vos! Peache Jam for all!!!!!

[Atalm93]

Congrats to all winners! Great season Peachy, your team is truly the dream team (Cant believe someone like Haan has been allowed to be a part of it for so long...  )

[Vos]

Richmond TT WC ;
1º Richard Levin   27   Aurora_Australis  --> Congratulations, AA ! 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
12º   Mihkel Kangert

[Sjiz]

Only one race remaining. Not much to gain for me. I am looking forward to season 11.