[S17] 3:1

[chakra]

And another win bonus to pay.

I have to set new goals. 20th victory has been reached. Only 104 points to beat the last seasons score. Which will be reached tomorrow after the final stage of the TdF.

Nice to see Bleekies on 2nd place in GC Tdf.

As tomorrow is a sprint stage I don't think much will change at the GC TdF. I don't think Lezzani will lose a lot of time. But who knows...


Lapalus (Cyclist Devils) is certain of his mountain jersey. Congratz!
Laflore (Polhill Racing) is certain of his youngster jersey. Congratz!

For time jersey, points jersey and team jersey nothing is certain yet.
Can Lezzani hold on to the yellow jersey (3:57 to defend)? Can Dutheil hold on to his green (still 30 points to win)? Can ALESANA be the best team of the TdF (only 45" to defend)?
Come and see after the final sprint stage with the finish on the famous Champs-Elysées.

[chakra]

So Lezzani handled the pressure to keep his yellow jersey. He even took some points in the sprints and at the finish to take over the points jersey from Dutheil.

In team performance ALESANA build out the lead up to 2:05.

Seems Lezzani is one of the strongest cyclists, if not the strongest, in the Div.
He'll race again in the WC road race. 

Seems the financial rewards of a grand tour are changed. That is wonderful.

[chakra]

All quiet in the Div forum. Some read it, but nobody is anxious to write something.

Tomorrow youngsters Spoke Cycling: 19 cyclist enlisted. So everyone makes some price money. Unfortunately too less.

[wheelnut]

you are enthusiastic as ever Chakra...easy to be so when you are winning but not so when you lose constantly but then I am a frustrated poor loser!

well done this season!

I am floundering near the bottom with no chance to be relegated but no chance to move up or get money so it seems.

Maybe the new server and newseason will bring me better fortune!

[chakra]

2nd edition of TdF wasn't so succesfull as the first one. Did not achieve to win the points jersey, more or less on purpose due to the high bonus. But financially it is a better week then TdF first edition. So far anyway. I hope the Vuelta will be a copy of the first edition for you Andy. You managed to win a couple of times as I remember. So go for it.

One of my cyclists got injured during that week, so I had to fire him. Tried to sell him, but nobody was intrested. Figuring out now who to put as 5th one. Perhaps a youngster.

CUL8R 

[chakra]

First stage of the Vuelta. Good job from Polhill.

Bartoli didn't enlist his cyclists for the Vuelta? How come? He was online earlier this morning.

Vuelta will be not succesfull for my team. Mostly experience, LS, saving fitness and focus on WC's.

Like to win them all, but that would be too much wanted. Last season I won them all.

The ITT will not be for my team. Hoping for a podium place with Ripanu.

Youngster WC Road Race: Well, Vits has won almost every race he competed. So...

TTT: I know there are some good TT cyclists in the competition so it will be difficult but not impossible.

Road Race for the adults: Lezzani?

[wheelnut]

Same some for the rest of us?

Yes Veulta going well... I sense a little disinterest from others since the issues with the game?

[chakra]

Indeed, I sense the same. Flying Toad Team did not subscribe. Bartoli did. So I was wrong in my last post.

I must say, I lost some intrest too. Not only due to the lesser results I have in the Vuelta. That is a bit normal now for my team. But surely due to the hot wheather we had in combination with the summersun. But we keep fighting.

I wonder how many stage wins you'll get this week. Today attack of Habay. A little attack. Last time he ended up 2nd. So top 5 will be good. He needs to be 100% fit after the Vuelta. Racing the TTT and the Road Race.

I've got to make my choices to sell some elder ones, but it's hard. Knowing I'll need them in 2nd Div to survive, and knowing that I need the money to survive 2nd Div. Funny not? Being first in the Div and struggling to be financially healthy. (Which means having over 2.5 million for 2nd Div) That's one of the reasons I have respect for the team managers at the bottom side of the GC Div. How they manage to survive financially?

Wish you lots of succes in the upcoming stages.

[wheelnut]

Well I struggle near the bottom however...

Having a good Vuelta with four stage wins...Frens, Chocron (2nd of the season), Duquenne and today Bretto! Of course nowhere in the GC but some tidy money to keep me going.

I have paid a price as resource for forthcoming WC races are sketchy to say the least. still got to take what I can when I can

[chakra]

Andy, what a Vuelta you had! Congratz with the wins you had. I had to be content with 1 expected and 1 unexpected victory.
I was pretty sure it would be a disastrous Vuelta because of my focus on the TdF and the upcoming WC. I even forgot to change tactics on second stage of this week. It wouldn't make any difference I guess. Grilo (all 7's except hill 8) and Habay (with higher skills) needed to be fresh on this WC week.
Budget is going down, so training down my trainer in the least necessary skills. (TT and Downhill) but I hope to raise my finances in the upcoming week with the GC.
Tried even to sell a youngster with no result. He is back on the TL now. If not sold I'll have to fire him. Seems no one is intrested in young cylcists any more, not even a decent 22 yr one.

Meanwhile Ngogo tried to make a little coup on the first place in the GC-Div. Unfortunately he failed. At a certain moment he had first 4 places in the GC-Vuelta, and some good places in the points and mountain standings.

I hope for extraordinary resulst this week and I hope the same for you.

With the gap between you and bleekies there won't be a problem to avoid relegation. And I'm sure you will have more wins and better results next season. 

[chakra]

Last races were very calm for my team. Didn't do very well in Vuelta España nor in Costa Rica.
Result: Ngogo United closes the gap up to 270 points. And with much more to gain, he's trying to take over the first place in the Div ranking.
So is Cyclist Devils and Ngogo threatening the best cyclist place of my youngster Lukas Vits. It's not sure yet who will secure this place. Vits will be competing the WC U21. (And hopefully win) And if he needs some more points next week in some stage. Probably U21 Paris Tours Espoirs.
But now is the moment of truth! The WC.
Going for at least 5 titles in our Div. Hoping for all 4. But will be difficult. Secretly hoping for 3 titles. And very high rankings of my other cyclists.

Wish you all good luck.

[chakra]

First WC won, was pretty sure of it.

I doubt for the ITT. Going for top 5 (Ripanu) and top 10 (Grilo). Win doubtfull.

[chakra]

Congratz to Pegasus winning the ITT WC.

The silver metal was for Ripanu (as expected)

How to explain the results of Peters and Grilo?

Peters competed the TTT WC @100% effort and the ITT WC @100 effort with 65% to start.

Grilo 100% fit and 100% effort.

Skills of Peters are higher and his mood is higher. (mountain 10+ - downhill and sprint 8+ - TT 10+ - flat and hill 7+)
Grilo's mood=ok ;skills an overall skill 7+ (hill =8 - TT 7 near 8) and still OK in mood.

Could that be difference?

I decided to enlist Peters and Nappier (both competing in the TTT) and glad I did. They both won pricemoney. 

I thought Le Nouail would win this stage but seems that Flying Toad Team hasn't logged in sice June 20th. Seems he will be quitting the game? Sad...

Nevertheless fine performance of Dodemont (Pegasus Cycling)

[chakra]

As predicted Lukas Vits won U21 WC in Div 3:1

Next year it will be for Luca Van Kerkom. in Div 2 then.

Probably won the race due to a good LS of Bythell. (LS 4 now and needs approx ten stages to become a LS) That will be for next season. 1st or 2nd week.

Today I prognosed Lezzani to become WC Plt RR. Last season he finished as runner-up? Thomassin won that stage. Still need some teams to subscribe the race. Polhill? Bartoli? Flying Toad? Don't forget it!!

Good luck.
 

[chakra]

Damn! Lezzani 3rd. The WC was divided by ALESANA and Pegasus.

Should have Thomassin let ride in the Road Race and Lezzani in the TTT. Had a good week. The number of supps are nevertheless disappointing. And finances could have been better.

Next week will be calm too. Not much cyclists are 100% fit. Certainly not the better ones.

Congratz to Pegasus.