View Poll Results: How'd your season go?
Andy Schleck. Way beyond expectations.
17
20.73%
Frank Schleck. Good, but expected better. Next year!
30
36.59%
Martin Elmiger. Who? Exactly.
12
14.63%
Damiano Cunego. Well below expectations.
9
10.98%
Vinokurov. Don't ask.
14
17.07%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll
Racing Season Summary
09-25-07, 05:40 AM
#26
Burning Matches.
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This year: one of two goals was realized. I still have one race yet to go, so there's an outside (minimal) chance both will be realized.
Next year: all goals will be realized. Lucrative pro contracts to follow.
Next year starts Sunday. Watch for reports.
Next year: all goals will be realized. Lucrative pro contracts to follow.
Next year starts Sunday. Watch for reports.
__________________
ElJamoquio didn't hate the world, per se; he was just constantly disappointed by humanity.
09-25-07, 05:50 AM
#27
My idea of fun
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I'd say Andy Shleck. I didn't plan on getting into racing this year, and had as my solitary goal to ride a 4:20 century. I wound up racing, got on a team, got a few top-20s, got out of the 5s without hurting myself, and rode a 4:05 century this weekend.
09-25-07, 06:30 AM
#28
Aut Vincere Aut Mori
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Pretty well. After two ACL reconstructions in September of 06 and February of 07, and an unwelcome/unexpected continuance of my 60hr per week get up at 4:45am job...I still manged to upgrade to 3 via 10 top 10s.
09-25-07, 07:02 AM
#30
road rash/tree burn
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Definitely Andy Schleck for me. I started racing road in February as a 5, upgraded fast from there to 4. Took two months to upgrade to 3, which was my original goal for the year. Then reset my goal to making it to 2 this year. Got almost all the points I needed in the first month I was a 3, but then we had a racing drought in the area (nobody wants to put races on when it's hot, I guess), so I was stuck at that point for a while. We've had a few races in the last few weeks, and I went up to Maryland two weeks ago to try to get the last point I needed. I won the Murad road race, so that put me well over the requisite number.
Rough stats for the season:
65ish races
1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th as a 5 in combined 4/5 or 3/4/5 races.
All top 10s in the 4s, moving up after about 7 or 8 races. Several podiums there including Meadowmont (tough hilly crit) and the Old Town Crit in Rock Hill, also a painful little crit course.
About 26 top tens as a 3. Lots of those were in sanctioned races but ones that don't count for 3 to 2 upgrades. Two road race wins as a 3, both out of long breakaways. Those rocked. Several other podiums, largely on hard (read: hilly) crit courses.
I raced in 5 or 6 P/1/2/3 events and got pretty decent results in them- a couple of breakaway top-tens and pack finishes otherwise, so hopefully I'll do reasonably well as a 2.
Rough stats for the season:
65ish races
1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 4th as a 5 in combined 4/5 or 3/4/5 races.
All top 10s in the 4s, moving up after about 7 or 8 races. Several podiums there including Meadowmont (tough hilly crit) and the Old Town Crit in Rock Hill, also a painful little crit course.
About 26 top tens as a 3. Lots of those were in sanctioned races but ones that don't count for 3 to 2 upgrades. Two road race wins as a 3, both out of long breakaways. Those rocked. Several other podiums, largely on hard (read: hilly) crit courses.
I raced in 5 or 6 P/1/2/3 events and got pretty decent results in them- a couple of breakaway top-tens and pack finishes otherwise, so hopefully I'll do reasonably well as a 2.
Last edited by truckin; 09-25-07 at 07:22 AM.
09-25-07, 07:18 AM
#31
starting pistol means war
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My season went too well. I know that sounds strange to say, but I upgraded to cat 3 at the start of the year and my goal was to be a factor in races by the end of the season. Then I got 5th in my first cat 3 race, 2nd in my 2nd, 1st in my 3rd and 1st in my 4th. For the season, my stats were 15 races, 3 wins, 3 2nds, 1 3rd, 1 5th, 2 6ths.
I'm proud of those results, no doubt, but they kind of put me in a motivation dilemma. Obviously I should upgrade, but honestly, I have zero motivation for racing against the pros. None. My mentality is totally weekend warrior. But I don't want to sandbag either. So? Hmm.
I'm proud of those results, no doubt, but they kind of put me in a motivation dilemma. Obviously I should upgrade, but honestly, I have zero motivation for racing against the pros. None. My mentality is totally weekend warrior. But I don't want to sandbag either. So? Hmm.
09-25-07, 07:23 AM
#32
starting pistol means war
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Martin Elmiger wins quite a bit actually.
Tour Down Under - '07
A few one days here and there, including last week.
You might have wanted to use the name Steve Morabito - one pro win
Tour Down Under - '07
A few one days here and there, including last week.
You might have wanted to use the name Steve Morabito - one pro win
09-25-07, 08:28 AM
#33
Old & Getting Older Racer
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Hi,
Picked Frank because Gibby Hatton actually said hi to me at a race.
Won a Masters race (first win in a gajillion years) but didn't make my 40K TT goal.
A couple of short TTs and a road race before the season is done.
Picked Frank because Gibby Hatton actually said hi to me at a race.
Won a Masters race (first win in a gajillion years) but didn't make my 40K TT goal.
A couple of short TTs and a road race before the season is done.
__________________
Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
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Thanks.
Cleave
"Real men still wear pink."
Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: https://www.lightningvelo.org/
Learn about our Green Dream Home at https://www.lawville.org/
09-25-07, 09:49 AM
#34
Resident Alien
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You're probably right. I picked Elminger based on his almost exactly mid pack finish at the tour, and the fact that he's not on most people's radar...
09-25-07, 11:27 AM
#36
Slow'n'Aero
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Beyond expectations by far. 26 races
* 11-1st place finishes,
* 3 additional podium finishes
* 5 additional top ten finishes outside of the podium
* a state TT championship
* currently ranked the number 1 cat 3 individual TTist in the country by USA cycling over the past 12 months
* 11-1st place finishes,
* 3 additional podium finishes
* 5 additional top ten finishes outside of the podium
* a state TT championship
* currently ranked the number 1 cat 3 individual TTist in the country by USA cycling over the past 12 months
09-25-07, 11:30 AM
#37
Senior Member
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Does 2 races count for a season? 2nd in one practice crit 'C' race. And DNF in my Cat 5 crit. But in the DNF I was 4th-5th wheel the whole time. And then flatted. HR was comfortable and I was comfortable. Even bumped hands with another rider, neither of us panicked.
09-25-07, 11:38 AM
#38
Senior Member
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Pretty good. Finished all my races, had a couple of top 5's, never worse than midpack. And upgraded to Cat 4, finally. If I do well in the Mt. Diablo Challenge, I'll call it an Andy Schleck year.
09-25-07, 11:47 AM
#40
Cat WTF
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09-25-07, 02:48 PM
#41
Style-challenged
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09-25-07, 09:12 PM
#42
Banned.
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This is tough because the first half of the season was way beyond my expectations. I got a podium in my first race of the year and was top seven in the next two with a shot at winning in both. April brought my A races and then I got really sick. From then on I've haven't been healthy for any length of time. I should have been a 3 by the end of April, but now I'm 8 pounds over weight and battling my colitis and a really jacked up back. My goals are to be back to my fighting weight by Jan 1 and really start working on improving my sprint for next season. I've got some good target races and hopefully I'll be on form for them.
09-26-07, 08:43 AM
#44
starting pistol means war
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4 training crits in Jan.
9 day stage race in Feb.
Retired straight after.
Comeback planned for 2010 at age 45, if I can hold out that long.
9 day stage race in Feb.
Retired straight after.
Comeback planned for 2010 at age 45, if I can hold out that long.
09-26-07, 10:00 AM
#45
Racing iS my Training
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I‘d say I had a Frank Schleck year.
39 races, 10* wins, 20 podiums, 33 top 10’s.
1 TT Course record, 1 Hill Climb course record.
I had some great races, but didn’t meet my goal of making it to Cat 1.
I just calculated that I won $1,965 in cash this season.
Unfortunately I spent over $6,000 in bike parts, race entries and travel.
* 6 of the 10 wins were at weeknight twilight races
39 races, 10* wins, 20 podiums, 33 top 10’s.
1 TT Course record, 1 Hill Climb course record.
I had some great races, but didn’t meet my goal of making it to Cat 1.
I just calculated that I won $1,965 in cash this season.
Unfortunately I spent over $6,000 in bike parts, race entries and travel.
* 6 of the 10 wins were at weeknight twilight races
09-26-07, 10:16 AM
#46
Slow'n'Aero
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I vote PM as mistaken identity. Wrong brother. Either that or the expectations were through the roof!!!
09-26-07, 12:42 PM
#47
RustyTainte
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Not too good. I didn't race enough. A few top 10s, 1 crash, 1 DFL. Cannot upgrade though.
Hopefully early next season I get to move up to Cat4. Until then, have fun on the bike again.
Hopefully early next season I get to move up to Cat4. Until then, have fun on the bike again.
09-26-07, 04:44 PM
#48
Globo Gym lifetime member
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I never really got into shape. I'm firing up the weights nowadays preparing for next season. I noticed that I didn't have the "kick" that I had last season.
Had a blast at Hilltowns though.
Had a blast at Hilltowns though.
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09-26-07, 05:02 PM
#49
Senior Member
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I pleased with my first season racing, I moved up to Cat4 early in the season, had some decent results, did some 3/4 races, got totally shelled in one 3/4 crit. The 2nd half was not as fun, I had a handful of crashes and a few disappointing races but ended on a positive note. My last race was the most fun this year.
I am looking forward to a real training schedule over the winter to be set for next season.
I am looking forward to a real training schedule over the winter to be set for next season.
09-26-07, 06:41 PM
#50
Senior Member
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Not a bad season for me. I accomplished my goal of upgrading to a 3, all due to 3 race wins this season. Goal for next season is to upgrade to a 2. I have one point now, so I have a long way to go. Next up though, cyclocross season 