Feature: Reconnoitering Flanders Allan Peiper and Geert Van Bondt took the Classics crew out in Flanders to recon the race changes for this year and sent this report.
Today was our second attempt to get an early glimpse of the Tour of Flanders course. We had a recon planned for late December but the weather was too bad so we had to cancel.
Today was not much better at minus two (Celsius) and light snow falling at daybreak. We met at the Tour of Flanders museum in Oudenaarde. Our Classics director sportif Geert Van Bondt planned well for the weather and also had the course logged in on the Garmin 800 of three of the six riders so even though there was no signs up we could follow the course using our Garmins!
Geert brought Tyler from Gent and Johan Van Summeren came with Thomas Dekker. Maaskant brought Haussler who came yesterday by train from Germany. Sep Van Marke lives 10kms from Oudenaarde where we started the ride at the museum. So six seasoned pro’s and me, the 52 year old Sporting Manager. (Luckily Geert was behind in the car!)
The boys went out of the blocks for the last 150km of the course because of the cold and after 5km we hit the Taaienberg followed by the Eikenberg. We did six climbs and four sections of cobbles before a long 35km section which is normally head wind before we started on the final three laps. Three times over the Kwaremont and Patersberg with a variation of other climbs each lap and 10kms flat to the finish.
I climbed off after 80km to get out of their way! Most said it would be a lead heavy race with so many hard climbs in the final. We had spaghetti at the museum after showers and a talk about the race but mostly Summie and Dekker were telling silly jokes. It will be fun with those two clowns this year!
All in all it was great to see the course, to talk about the changes and how the race may go — but best of all was hanging with the boys on the bike for some time because that’s really what its all about, just riding!
Slipstream Sports partners with with AA Drink/Leontien.nl for women?s team Slipstream Sports today announced that it has entered into a partnership with AA Drink/Leontien.nl whereby AA Drink/Leontin.nl will operate the Women’s Pro Cycling Team at the races and the team will continue to be maintained by Slipstream. As part of the partnership, Emma Pooley, Lizzie Armistead, Lucy Martin, Sharon Laws, Carla Ryan and Jessie Daams will ride for the AA Drink / Leontien.nl Cycling Team and the entire team will ride Cervélo bikes, competing at the highest level of women’s professional cycling.
“We are pleased to partner with AA Drink / Leontien.nl,” said Jonathan Vaughters. “Michael Zilaard has built a strong organization and we are excited to work with him to combine our strengths. The 2012 team looks strong and we believe it will be a great year ahead.”
“We are excited to work with Slipstream Sports and to add group of outstanding riders. Looking ahead to the big events in 2012, I am convinced that we will be competitive on all fronts, from the Olympic Games to the World Championships to the Tour of Italy,” said team manager Michael Zijlaard, AA Drink/Leontien.nl. “Superstars Emma Pooley and Lizzie Armistead add huge firepower to an already strong team and we are excited to start the season.”
2012 AA Drink/Leontien.nl Cycling Team Roster: Elizabeth Armitstead (UK)
Chantal Blaak (NL)
Lucinda Brand (NL)
Jessie Daams (BEL)
Sharon Laws (UK)
Lucy Martin (UK)
Shelley Olds (USA)
Madelene Olsson (SWE)
Emma Pooley (UK)
Carla Ryan (AUS)
Isabelle Söderberg (SWE)
Marijn de Vries (NL)
Marieke van Wanroij (NL)
Kirsten Wild (NL)
Aaron wins Challenge Wanaka! Aaron Farlow showed his winning ways of 2011 were no fluke with a win at Challenge Wanaka!
TeamTBB Germany athlete Aaron Farlow won the Challenge Wanaka with an amazing performance topping the men’s elite field with a cushion of about ten minutes to cruise through the run. Aaron was behind super swimmer Kieran Doe out of the swim but quickly lowered the deficit and took the lead during the 180K bike. Then, he maintained and grew his lead over the marathon run. In 2011, Aaron burst onto the scene winning Ironman UK and following it up with a podium at two other Challenge races. Aaron has shown that under Doc’s coaching and the team’s support he is continuing to work hard and improve. It is a great omen for the rest of 2012 where Aaron will be a threat for the win at every Irondistance event he enters. Congrats Aaron on a great start to 2012!
Scottie battled through the strong field at Challenge Wanaka to finish in a close race for 7th place. He had a great run but had to make up time after his swim and bike. Scottie is excited to use this race to build on his strength and fitness for the rest of the season. He is planning to continue to improve after his crash in mid-2011. Congrats Scottie on a great run to finish off the race!
Way to race Aaron and Scottie! You have set the standard for teamTBB helping us start 2012 with a bang!
Pro Men
1. Aaron Farlow (AUS) 8:41:53
2. Jamie Whyte (NZL) 8:51:43
3. Kieran Doe (NZL) 8:57:17
4. Courtney Ogden (AUS) 9:08:42
5. Jimmy Johnsen (DEN) 9:09:05
6. Petr Vabrousek (CZE) 9:15:21
7. Scott Defilippis (USA) 9:16:00
8. Simon Cochrane (NZL) 9:23:15
Today we had three flat laps of 40km and then two times up Willunga, all with a strong wind and 25C.
From the start six got away with Nathan Haas. First time up Willunga Haas attacked from the break and had 1min20 at the top.
In the bunch Bauer, Heino and Ryder in a group of forty. Movistar drilled it and the group split with Bauer making it in the front group of 25.
They caught Nathan going to the bottom. Jack hung on for 9th. Valverde beat Gerrans by a tire and both equal on GC. Jack 5secs out of top 10 so he sprints tomorrow for bonuses!
Andreas was tired today but did a lot of work yesterday. Martijn was in the second group over the top but its early days for a classics guy. Robby and Ryder rode the 50km back to the hotel.
The young riders impressed people today which is the way forward.
Tomorrow a criterium to finish before 100.000 people.
Race preview January 21st The 2012 tri season is now upon us and the first race to start off the new year is courtesy of New Zealand.
Challenge Wanaka, New Zealand
Saturday January 21st
Distance: 3.8 km swim • 180km bike • 42.2km run
teamTBB - Germany athletes racing Aaron Farlow teamTBB - USA athletes racing Scott DeFilippis
Scottie and Aaron are kicking off 2012 with a big Challenge at Challenge Wanaka. This Irondistance event is one of the hardest of the year and definitely one of the most scenic set in the beautiful south island of New Zealand. The course starts with a two lap fresh water swim in Lake Wanaka. The lake will be a cool 18 degrees and is usually choppy from strong winds. Onto the bike, it will be a hard one lap bike on rough NZ chip seal roads. The boys will face strong winds and some significant climbing that will make it hard day on the bike. The run is a jewel with two laps that run along the roads and trails through town and the river. It will be a beautiful end to the day and hopefully the boys can enjoy it.
The competition facing the boys will be tough as several top Ironmen athletes are on the start list. The contenders include Brian Rhodes, Kieren Doe, Jimmy Johnson, Peter Vabrousik, Jamie White, and Courtney Odgen. With this solid field, the boy's goal is simple: test their fitness, execute a solid race, and go for the win. Brandon will focus on taking care of all the little details that can derail a fit and strong Ironman athlete like fueling and pacing. Brandon't training leading into this event has been great and this will be his final race for 2011. He plans to put it all on the line.
Scottie is very excited for his first race of 2012. Coming off what was probably the best camp of his career in Gran Canaria, he is anxious to get his season started early. Back in July a few days after his crash, Scottie set his sights on this race and hopes to have a crack here at starting his 2012 season off with a bang. He is looking forward to racing what is supposed to be one of the tougher and most beautiful Irondistance races in the world!
Like Scottie, Aaron is also very excited for this race, his first of 2012. After a good year last year he said he was looking for improvement and always chasing the win. Aaron reported that he has sorted his nutrition problems from IM Busso and has had some good preparation leading into the race, being based at altitude in Thredbo for the past three weeks with Dave and Caroline. Once again this year Aaron hopes to continue to improve over the year leading into the Hawaii Ironman World Champs. Challenge Wanaka will be a great way to start his 2012 seaon and build form for the rest of the year. Aaron hopes to see where he is at now and continue to build his momentum. Follwing this event, Aaron plans to continue his racing domination with Ironman New Zealand, Ironman Melbourne, Ironman Port Macquarie, 70.3 Singapore, and Challenge Cairns.
Good luck Aaron and Scottie! Get after it and bring home a podium for teamTBB!
148 kms today with start in Lobethal in the Adelaide hills. Two riders got away early and the bunch let them go. They got a good lead and there seemed to be no trouble.
Vacansoleil rode for the GPM sprint and the gap came down and after the second bonus Kohler who was in front dropped back to the bunch leaving Will Clarke from Uni SA with two minutes. The bunch eased and he got nine minutes which went out to 11.30 at 60km to go.
Lotto did not take responsibility and so the teams were waiting for each other to chase. We did not need to ride as other teams were the teams with the best GC chances.
Rabo, Sky and Leopard chased from 40km to go and Green Edge and Movistar started at 20km to go into the last lap but it was too late as Will still had 8.30. At the finish he got the stage and just missed the jersey.
Heino was boxed in in the sprint but Nathan Haas and Jack Bauer helped him well in those last kilometers.
I think Martijn Maaskant cracked a little from yesterday as he was not recovered from the excessive heat. Hopefully he is better tomorrow. Ryder was good and we keep him in mind for Willunga Saturday.
Tomorrow is the stage to Victor Harbour and a strong southerly wind is expected so echelons could happen and that’s what we like :-). Its a tricky run in for the sprint so good for Heino. Let’s hope he can bag one!
