More bad news - my screenshot program closed mid-race, and so once again I didn't get my photos...
Today's stage was hilly. With another KOM sprint coming up, I sent Chuela out again. This time he made good and won it and with it the jersey (for now).
Like last before, CSC controlled the pace so well they rode off the front. It took a heroic pacing effort from Guidi, Degano, and Bonomi to clear the 2M gap, and brought me to a bunch sprint.
However, O'Grady added the kiss of death, taking yet another stage and making his gap over Thomas nearly two minutes. Garaint was 3rd on the stage, is still 2nd in the GC, but looks to only have the youth jersey to take home at this point.
Sorry again for the tech problem. I'm going to make sure everything is back in order for the next stage (mind you, there won't be many screenshots in Qatar, cause there isn't much to look at quite frankly).
But anyway, tomorrow is the big day, and I'm going to go for broke with Soler. Wish me luck.
Well now this thing is just ticking me off. It didn't take pictures yet again...
Well, anyone who has played the Tour Down Under knows that Stage 5 is very flat right before the mountain before the finish. My big plan of wearing down CSC failed miserably. Small little attacks and heavy pacemaking did nothing to change the fact that they were too strong.
There was a 9 man breakaway that survived until the mountain, at which time the attacks flew vigorously. However, when I went to go with Soler, his fitness bit him in the ass. He was behind the rest of the team with only 57 pts, and couldn't get away. An AG2R rider Garron got away and came within 36 seconds of Stuart O'Grady, which bumped Thomas from 2nd. On top of that, Chuela lost his KOM jersey...
Going to tomorrow's stage which goes back to Adelade, I hope to have a good finish, and salvage something.
Luckily for Soler, he'll be going to training camp again and get in better shape for the Tour of Malaysia, or maybe another tour with mountains.
I got it working now for the final stage of the Tour Down Under. It was going to be a sprint finish, and I needed the win + O'Grady 7th to take the points standing. I got the latter part, but needless to say I dropped back another GC spot.
The final stage. Another criterium in Adelaide.
I sent Degano on a break to see if I could get a gap, but it didn't work.
Olaf Pollack, who has been in nearly every breakaway in the tour, got away again and a small breakaway formed. However, they were caught and:
Nico Eckhout takes the sprint and moves into 3rd place. Garaint Thomas will settle for 4th on the stage and 4th in the GC. Still an excellent showing. Could this be his coming out party?
In the end, Stuart O'Grady carried his form over from winning his national championships into his home tour. Garaint Thomas emerged as a young talent, and while he won't be a star, he looks like he'll be something good.
With O'Grady on his decline, I hope to win this thing next year.
So, my hectic Jan/Feb schedule continues with the Tour of Qatar. Stage 1 will be simmed, so don't hold your breath for screens since I do way better simming TTT than racing them. Anyway, look for Hunter to make his debut, a warmup for the biggest sprint event on the CNT: the tour of Malaysia. until then, peace out
if so just use that, then open the photos up in Photoshop or something (my computer already has Photo Impact on which does the job) re-size the screens then change them to .jpg
if so just use that, then open the photos up in Photoshop or something (my computer already has Photo Impact on which does the job) re-size the screens then change them to .jpg
I thought about it, but that's a lot of extra hassle. These are almost instant. I just have to be careful that's all. If it happens more then I'll likely just do ctrlt
Hey guys I didn't get a chance to do any stages in Qatar today, and I'm busy the whole long weekend so I hope you won't be disappointed if nothing new gets added. If I can I'll do a stage or two, if I get free time, but Tuesday for sure I'll be back.
I'm not going to continue my Barloworld story because I'm thinking about starting my own PCM league (which will be much different than the ones on here btw), and I jsut can't put in the time needed to make this story as good as I can make it. Plus, there is another barlo story going, so I think he can provide your fix.
Anyway, thanks, and if you're interested in learning more about my possible league (which is still a raw idea which I'm still coming up with ideas and what not), and would liek to know more, or want to co-commish or something. PM me
