SB Nation User Blog: semprenaroda

His first big Victory!!

semprenaroda — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:07:49 -0000

Hei guys, there was a great weekend for portuguese cycling, i can’t remember when a portuguese won a race outside of our country. Coincidence or not, in this day (10 May) of 1984, died our greatest cyclist Joaquim Agostinho, after a fall in a stage of Volta ao Algarve.

This isn’t his first victory, but one of the most important for him, mainly because it's his first in Caisse d’Epargne. There are many riders that lead all their careers to achieve a victory like this, Costa in his first oportunity, didn’t miss. How many guys won in first season? (i know isn’t his first but i think it's almost as if it were.). So, what i want to talk about here is what influence this sucess will have on a young guy like him?

Personal, he will be more motivated than ever, and he knows now that when is in good shape he is capable to race at front in pro level. How many young talents that came in pro level and and go unnoticed? Another thing an more important i think, is his status now on Caisse d’Epargne. I know that CGE is a big team and Costa have a long way to claim leadership (if some day it will), but in his first moment that his teammates worked for him, he won. This his a bust of confidence not for him, but for his teammates too, who now recognized him like a rider who can trust. I doubt in current year that Caisse will name Rui Costa their leader for any race, but in the next opportunity that he has,teammates and DS should help him again with more confidence so he can get another victory.

The fans here in Portugal are increasingly confident that this will be our next star, maybe the next Azevedo or even Agostinho, but yeah, is to early to guess. Looking at their current skills, i think he is a rider for classics, and how is good in ITT, should be good in a week stage race too. Never seem him in a big mountain stage, but i think he could has difficulties there, i presume that he is more a rider like Lovkvist or Gendermman. One of his dreams is win Tour de France, but until he do a big Tour, we can’t say if he is capable or not, most likely to see this, is await to next season.

He began this season in T-A, Milan San Remo and in April he did almost every Pro Tour Classics (missed LBL), and heii!!, a 58th in P-R for a first try, i think was pretty good?! And i think he was the first portuguese to finish that race!!

Looking for CGE’s calendar in next months, i presume his next race should be Route du Sud (doubt that he will do Catalunha? if he goes should be a bonus for his victory!!), During the Tour he will come to Spain for some more races.

For the first time this season i went to site of Caisse d'Epargne, and is new and much more cool than 2008. I found this video with Eusebio Unzue talking about his young pupile:

Rui Costa par Eusebio Unzue
by Equipe-Cycliste-GCE

For who missed the queen stage and decisive of 4th Days of Dunkerque, here is the last 4km.Was quite exciting!!

His home page.

In the final today's interview, was asked him about if he thinks he will win the TdF someday, the young talent responded " I want think step by step, one at a time". Keep this thinking, thanks GPE, congrats Rui Costa. Chapeau!!

Vuelta a Asturias - Stage 4 LIVE streaming

semprenaroda — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:29:51 -0000

Vuelta a Asturias - Stage 4 LIVE streaming

Today is the queen stage, finish in a 1st category climb (Alto del Acebo)

Resume of 1st stage of Vuelta as Asturias

semprenaroda — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:49:42 -0000

Resume of 1st stage of Vuelta as Asturias

(the resume is in spanish)

Results:
1º Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing), 3h23m36s
2º Tiago Machado (Madeinox-Boavista), mt
(peloton)
3º Bruno Lima (Madeinox-Boavista), a 3m03s

Tiago Machado made a big step to win this race.

Volta ao Alentejo keeps his tradition!!

semprenaroda — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:59:32 -0000

What a fantastic race that was 27th Volta Alentejo. I would have loved if some TV did coverage. The stage race consisted in 5 stages: 2 initial flat, 1 time trial, the queen stage (average mountain), and then a final flat stage again.

Like last year in the first day a breakaway had suceed. Liberty Seguros and Madeinox Boavista controlled the peloton, but after 100km with many attempts to escape, the young french Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) managed to skip the peloton and took Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing) and Vitaly Kondrut (ISD) with him.

These three guys finish with a advantage of 34 seconds for the peloton where Bruno Lima (Madeinox) was the faster. The stage winner was Bouet who beat in sprint Glen Chadwick and Kondrut respectively.

So, like last year the Portuguese teams failed to control the race in the first day. The main favourite Hector Guerra (winner of last year) and others like Tiago Machado, Moreau or David Blanco, would have to do seriously work to recover the time lost for these three.

Second stage and early break made by Eládio Jimenez (CC Loulé-Louletano) and William Aranzazo (Boyaca es para vivirla) but they were caught near the finish. The stage finished in a bunch sprint and Filipe Cardoso (Liberty) won, Cesar Quitério (Loulé AcquaShow) in 2nd and Bruno Lima (Madeionx) in 3th.

Third stage was the 19km time trial around Beja. Hector Guerra did the best time and took the lead in GC. Moreau was second in the ITT, and third was Timofey Kritskiy (Katusha).

In GC, Guerra led with less than two seconds for Kondrut, and three for Bouet.

On saturday was the queen stage (6 mountain's categories), and for the comments that i saw in Portuguese forums: "the most exciting of the season so far". With 60kms to finish Oscar Sevilha and Mancebo incorporated a group of 17 riders who led the race. The group had 2 minutes of advantage and even Isidro Nozal (Liberty) who was in that group, had to wait for the peloton to work for Guerra.

This group was caught, and in the final climb (6km to the finish) Hector Guerra had no teammates. However, this wasn't enough as Guerra was still able to caught in the last kilometer Glen Chadwick and Tiago Machado who had jumped the peloton. Guerra brought with him a group of some riders where the fastest was our veteran Candido Barbosa who took his first victory in Palmeiras Resort Tavira.

In the beggining of last day the GC remained the same, and Hector Guerra could be the first rider to win the Volta ao Alentejo for two times.

GC:

1º Héctor Guerra (Liberty Seguros), 13h29m56s
2º Vitaliy Kondrut (ISD), a 2s
3º Maxime Bouet (Agritubel), a 3s
4º Christophe Moreau (Agritubel), a 18s
5º Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing), a 19s

So, in the last stage, Hector Guerra only had to pay attention to intermediate sprints and the final sprint. For the first point Liberty let a breakaway of ten riders to gain the intermediates sprints, but when this group had a gap of 1.30, Liberty took the chase. Initially thought that Liberty will let this breakaway suceed, but the gap was down to 20 seconds!! Palmeiras took that help and caught the fugitives. Was more one bunch sprint and the finish was a little uphill, Candido Barbosa (Palmeiras) took his second stage at sprint, and surprises of the surprises: Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) was third!!! and took the yellow jersey, for one second!!

One more time the DS of Libery Seguros (Américo Silva) wasn’t good in the picture because Liberty helped to chase that front group where weren’t any GC threat. Even in the final sprint, unlike Moreau and Nicolas Jalabert who helped Bouet to take that third place, in Liberty no one helped Guerra in that finish, and he was 4th just behind Bouet!! For Hector Guerra this is his third Volta ao Algarve that he finished with the best time. In 2004 he had a penalization because of his time trial (many criticized the decision of the judges). Last year he won, and in this edition, he lost because of the bonus times. (in the three last editions there wasn’t!!)

Volta ao Alentejo has proud to say that probably is the only race that in 27th editions, nobody has won more than one edition.

Confidence is really the key?

semprenaroda — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:44:04 -0000

I just saw the last news edition in CN. And reading the “Haussler, the confidence” report, i highlight this sentence from the so far, revelation of the season:

"The main thing is the confidence”

Thinking about this guy, he did somethings interesting last years, and already attracted our attention. In sprints he usually finished in top 5 at least, or even in podium, but winning?!! My ideia of him in cobbles is that he had some interesting results in previous years, but nothing like that we are seeing.

Every athletes have two sides: physical and mental. HH improve in both, especially in menthal. So what is main factor to raise confidence, start winning, a new team?

About sprinting in his case (who already proved his ability) i think confidence is the key like he said, but coobles isn't enough!! I suspect that he did very hard work in winter (different from previous years) and learn very much in this team, especially with some experienced like Hunt and Hammond, Klier. And about his new DD? He or they have credits in training guys for cobbles?

His move for Cervelo was the right choose, he finally did the jump that we are expected, now let see if he can keep it there.

Thinking in guys that can't win, first thought goes for: Juan Antonio Flecha!! He has everything to win stages, classics, but he can’t, why? I think his time for he move to another team... quickly.

About Ciolek, i think his time in Team Columbia was not good for him. In Telekom he won the confidence to take stages, now he lack in that. Let see what he can do this year, i think he only need to start winning to have a wonderful season.

What is your thoughts about who have high or low confidence right now? We will see Haussler keeping this form in next weeks or is too much for him?

Photos of ITT in Volta ao Algarve 2009.

semprenaroda — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:53:32 -0000

Yesterday was the decisive time trial in Volta ao Algarve and Alberto Contador keeps winning every race who starts. I leave Portimão in the morning and when i arrive in Tavira (the finish of the time trial), had time for lunch and see the bus of the teams. The place i choose for my pics, was behind the Garmin bus and i was near Julian Dean, Millar, Pate, Maaskjant (i think he didn’t the ITT). The mechanic was a nice guy and i had a little chat with him about the riders, Portugal, and the bikes... meanwhile i took this picture.

via img9.imageshack.us

I was a few hundreds of the finish and there was many people, more older guys who cycling is a tradition mainly in Tavira and of course when a home rider pass, everyone was shouting high. Sérgio Paulinho did a nice top20 and as you can see in the right side there was mens who bring his radio to listen the results.

via img90.imageshack.us

There was a lot of riders who overcome the rider, especially in the finalle. Here there was 3 guys finish almost the same moment. Many times the slipstream wasn’t respect...

Tony Martin? If was him he did the 6th best time.

via img502.imageshack.us

Monfort overcome a FdJeux rider in last meters, he was twelve in ITT.

via img502.imageshack.us

Was a nice day, and i didn’t took photos of the podium and Contador "arrow hand", because my baterry finished.But for the aussies and after i missed him in road, i had to take a "paparazzi" photo of McEwen.

via img98.imageshack.us

And Roger Hammond and his friends from the new Cervélo team.

via img98.imageshack.us

Today Henrich Haussler took his second stage beating Van Avermaet and Weylandt. Seems that the young german is taking the taste of wins.

Volta ao Algarve 2009

semprenaroda — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:59:05 -0000

Volta ao Algarve begins wednesday in a sunny week unlike last year and ToC these days. The race finish Sunday, and return too a model that the last i remember was when...imagine, Floyd Landis’s won in 2004. I was there to see Armstrong and his "armada" (Azevedo, Hincapie) when Landis won the stage that finish in a 2, or 3km uphill named "Alto do Malhão". Landis took the yellow jersey too from Armstrong, who won the ITT the day before. So looking for this year the race will be complete what pleases the Portuguese DS, unlike 2007 when Petacchi won the general classifications and 3 stages, and last year was Devolder when won the ITT (and GC) and rest in the others flat stages.

In January there were rumors that Eurosport would follow the race on live, but this will not happen, which is a pity because I think the race could be very exciting and would be very good for tourism in the Algarve, the main activity here.

This year the race begins with two flat stages, that in recent years the final has been in a bunch sprint. In friday will be the stage that finish in "Alto do Malhão" and could be decisive because here we have ITT specialists like Grabsch, Millar and who don’t want guys like him could discuss the GC, will have to attack in that climb and take some seconds. Next day is the ITT that likely will determine the GC winner, a flat 33,7 km ITT that Stijn Devolder won last year despite the shortening of that stage due to rain. In last day the riders will pass through the "Serra de Monchique" and like last years will finish in my hometown (Portimão), probably in a bunch sprint.

Looking for the startlist is a dream como true...lol

Where to start?

Ok, sprinters: Robert Forster won 2 stages last year but this week will have the company of Gerald Ciolek. Another double will be Kenny de Haes and Robbie McEwen who return to Portugal after some years of absence. Wouter Weylandt, Greg Van Avermaet, Sébastien Chavanel, Julian Dean, Bernhard Eisel, Reynes, Koldo Fernandez, Angelo Furlan, Duque, Heinrich Haussler, and Theo Bos. The Portuguese who could surprise in bunch sprints are: our best sprinter Manuel Cardoso and maybe Candido Barbosa.

via www.uploadimagens.com Photo by João Dias/cycloweb.com

(Theo Bos won last sunday in a bunch sprint, his first road race in the opening classic of the portuguese calendar.)

For GC there are many riders capable to win the race. Despite the status, the shape in this early season could be the main factor but cleary the winner have to do a very good ITT on Saturday. So, looking for startlist Contador and Cunego are the big names, Devolder (winner of 2007) is still recovering of a knee injury and maybe isn’t able to do the same this year, but this may not be an impediment for a QuickStep win, my instint tell me that Sylvain Chavanel will be the winner this year. In Astana, Contador already said that his shape is still poor and Kloden and Paulinho have liberty to gave Astana two GC wins in the same week (if Levi win ToC too :P). Looking for other dark horses for GC there are: David Millar, Maxime Monfort, Tony Martin, Markus Fothen. In Portuguese teams: Hector Guerra and Ruben Plaza from Liberty Seguros, David Blanco (Palmeiras Tavira) and Tiago Machado (Madeinox-Boavista) could do a surprise.

There are other names that could take a stage, many classic especialists are here training for Het Volk (ups, the name has changed...): Philippe Gilbert, Maaskant, Van Summeren, Bert Grabsch, Burghardt, Niki Terpstra, Toni Colom, Sandy Casar, Hammond, Klier, Gerrans. I hope that this last three (Team Cervelo) will be active like they did in Tour of Qatar.

The stages:

18 Fev: 1th stage, Albufeira - Olhão, 173,6 km.
19 Fev: 2th stage, Lagoa - Lagos, 183,5 km.
20 Fev: 3th stage, VR Sto. António - Alto do Malhão, 175 km.
21 Fev: 4th stage, Castro Marim - Tavira, 33,7 km (CRI).
22 Fev: 5th stage, Vila do Bispo - Portimão, 168,8 km.

So many great riders and I’m thinking to buy a bigger memory card for my camera. I will go to Tavira in Saturday to see the ITT and riders to warm up, and maybe i’m go to see the arrival in Lagos (2th stage).

Portuguese Season 2009

semprenaroda — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:40:28 -0000

I know that you are focused in TOC, but here in “little” Algarve will begin the stage race in Portugal with better startlist of the season, no doubt about that. But before i talk about the race, i want to talk first, something about how things are here.

I originally thought about doing a post on the Volta ao Algarve and Portuguese teams for 2009, but then began to write and noticed it was much text to read below, sorry....

This season we have one less professional team here, and not one Professional Continental team. Benfica\Lagos Sport and LA MSS ended, the first because, Benfica did not want to continue the sponsorship and Lagos Sport alone could not sustain the cycling team.. About LA MSS you know the story, many riders are suspended as the team, and they had no choice than stop.

With this two losses the teams that are in active this season are stronger because some of riders of LA MSS and Benfica move to others.

Liberty Seguros:

If last year was already a strong team (the 2nd best Continental Team in ranking's CQ), this year is better. Despite the loose of Koldo Gil and Urtasun (didn’t did much here), the mainly entry of Ruben Plaza and José Mendes (both ex-Benfica), will give more solutions to Américo Silva (DS). I'm curious to see the first professional year of Ricardo Vilela , another promise of portuguese cycling. So, if Américo this year can’t win Tour of Portugal with this quality in his squad, he will never win...

Palmeiras Resort Tavira.

Almost the same last year, but the entry of Candido Barbosa (Ex-Benfica) will give more media's attention for the Tavira. In team apresentation they call himself, the best team that Tavira had in his history, and this team are knowed as the older professional team cycling in Europe.

Barbosa is currently the most recognized portuguese cyclist, and for the Tour of Portugal is the right guy to call the media with “lot of smiles”. In addition, and despite a last season with many injuries, he could take some stage's wins and will be a good suport for David Blanco (winner of TdP 2008), maybe Barbosa may repeat the top10 of last year.

Liberty and Tavira are the two best teams here. The others four are: Barbot-Siper, almost the same last year but loose Francisco Pacheco for Murcia and he was the best sprinter here (5 wins last year, two in TdP).

Centro de Ciclismo de Loulé-Louletano-AquaShow

The team that improved most is CC Loule, last year was the weakest but now have Eladio Jimenez (ex-Fercase), João Cabreira (ex-LA MSS and the national champion) and some more new reinforcements. I think this team could be the surprise of the year, João Cabreira was essential in the victory of Tondo in TdP 07 and he is the best portuguese climber, this moment is perfect for he assume the leadership and try to win the TdP. After Nuno Ribeiro win’s in 2003, will be this year that we have a portuguese winning the Tour of Portugal again? Maybe is too soon, but we need a new national heroe, quickly!!

Fercase Rota dos Moveis.

Mancebo and Jose Eladio Jimenez left, but Constantino Zaballa(ex- LA MSS) and Hugo Sabido (ex. Barloworld) entered. In general i think is better because Jimenez and even Mancebo had a poor last year. Sabido and mainly Zaballa could have some victories in a near future, but for TdP i don’t expect much. Zaballa is good classic guy and a good for short stage races, the same about Hugo Sabido, but none have a powerfull ITT, or are climbers for a stage that finish in“Torre”. (mythical mountain in TdP)

Madeinox-Boavista

A few days ago was the team apresentation, and the surprise was they assume that this year the mainly objective is win TdP and have a team capable of doing that!! I have some serious doubts...

They had strong reinforcements with Daniel Petrov (ex-Benfica and a good climber), Santi Perez from CCL and João Benta (neo-pro and the winner of TdP of the future 2008), but the lider of his team is Tiago Machado (24 years old). Who followed TdP last year know him, because he took the young jersey from Daniel Martin in last stage, the final ITT.

Early realized that Tiago Machado is a future Tdp winner (if not choose the same path the Sergio Paulinho ), and this team since last year is being prepared for his leadership. He had last year his first major victory (GP Troféu Joaquím Agostinho 2.2) and was second in crono and road race of our national championship. I remember in the prologue of TdP last year, in the teams apresentation, Marco Chagas (winner of four TdP in 80’s and currently the “portuguese Liggett”) asked Tiago if he are there to win TdP 08, and he says: “My objective is finish in top 10 and win the young jersey, winning is very dificult for who never placed in top10”. Machado finish 9th with the young jersey.

He have a very good ITT, maybe not so good than Guerra or Blanco but he can get there, however in a climb like “Torre” i’m serious doubts if he can follow the favorites. Last year in that stage he loose almost 5min for Blanco!! I think is too early for he win TdP, but we will see what he can does this season... if he have a good day in “Torre”, he can win TdP.

I think Machado have one more or two year to win TdP, after that, he maybe take the same path of Jose Azevedo and Sergio Paulinho who left Portugal without winning our most prestigious race.

In general i think the quality of Portuguese peloton is good like last year. But this year is more balanced, every teams have riders that can win various races, breaking the hegemony of two, three teams of last year.

What has worsened again, and each time it has been worse is the lack of employment, the global crisis affect Portugal too,and cycling of course. Some riders like Eladio Jimenez and Joao Cabreira was already talk conversation with a new team Cartaxo, and only in January that team say that had no money to have a professional team, and now, Cartaxo have only a sub23 team. Many sub23 teams have riders more older who cannot rider like Pena Iza and others portuguese riders, in the hope of the middle of the season being employed.

There is the main professional races in Portugal, for this season:

18.02.2009 22.02.2009 Volta ao Algarve POR 2.1

01.04.2009 05.04.2009 Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta POR 2.1

14.05.2009 17.05.2009 GP Internacional Paredes Rota dos Móveis POR 2.2

11.06.2009 14.06.2009 GP Internacional CTT Correios de Portugal POR 2.1

08.07.2009 12.07.2009 GP Internacional Torres Vedras - Joaquim Agostinho POR 2.2

05.08.2009 16.08.2009 Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta - EDP POR 2.HC

In next days i will do a preview for Volta ao Algarve, hope you enjoy...

Portugal national squad for Worlds

semprenaroda — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:41:00 -0000

Even if you don’t care about portuguese national team in Olympics, is my duty to my country to announce here. And, if some portuguese win anything in next week, you will blame me for not having written anything about them... lol

So, ours hops will be in sub23, Rui Costa (Benfica) and Vitor Rodrigues (Liberty Seguros) will be our leaders. The parcous isn’t perfect for them, the last year suits better, this one is a quite flat. Anyway, Costa can sprint too, in a small group he can win. If finish in a bunch sprint, Marco Cunha will be at service, a top15/10 would be good. The gregarios will be João Benta (Santa Maria da Feira/E.Lecrec), Henrique Casimiro (Tavira/Palmeiras Resort) e César Fonte (Benfica). Here, Portugal should work in peloton, this two are true favorites to win, i think.

Rui Costa and Vitor Rodrigues will be in time trial race too.

In elite, Sérgio Paulinho (Astana) will be the leader, these days at Vuelta he already decided with Bettini when will execute the victorious attack. The rest of the team are climbers, the one that could sprint too is Candido Barbosa, but he refuse to participate justifying a long season!! (bullshit). So Tiago Machado (Madeinox-Tavira) and José Mendes (Benfica) both with 23 years old are possible surprises, Machado maybe, he have a great future for sure. Nuno Ribeiro (Liberty Seguros) despite is nice 28th in Olympics, this profile is worse for him. Nelson Vitorino and Ricardo Mestre (Palmeiras Resort-Tavira) are the others riders, the first is a veteran with 33, Mestre have 25, but both feels better in mountains.

The tactics here is, attack, attack and attack!! If can’t, stay at least in the peloton. No time trial elite race for Portugal.

In sub23 I’m anxious to see the race, not the same feeling in elites because only if a miracle happens ,we can see something like Athens 2004.

Haimar Zubeldia for Astana in 2009.

semprenaroda — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:08:57 -0000

After the fire of Gusev and the contract agreements of nine riders, a new lieutenant will come to the team: Haimar Zubeldia a big tour rider. In Euskaltel Euskadi since running, he achieved three times the top10 in the Tour of France. I remember him when he did great combos with Mayo against Armstrong, pretty stages was.

After 10 years in his team, he maybe lacks motivation because this season was the worst for him, even in the Tour he couldn’t perform well and eventually replaced by Samuel Sanchez in this race.

With 31 years he can still return to their high performance, something i don´t believe for Leipheimer.So I think that one day (maybe already next year) he will replace the status of Leipheimer, seems the american is loosing some ability, especially in the mountains. With Contador as a leader this year, he have a great companion now with the same characteristics and the same nationality, I think is a major factor for his hiring.

So, seems that lack a lider in cooblestones races, Rast and Vaitkus are the ones that usually do this type of races. Maybe Astana may not want to go to Paris-Roubaix next year?

The press release in site of Astana.