I must congratulate you , amazing season . I suppose the goals for 2015 are : win TDF and Velo dór or UCI Ranking ? I mean they were great this season and if they will improve they will be legends
SLOW DOWN! Just had to read through about 5 pages
Great victories in those classics from Stijn, and a special well done to Willy for his amazing performance in the TT! Bet he'll like wearing that jersey
2015 looks interesting, especially with the change of teams - interested to see what the roster's like and who their key helpers will be
alex valceanu - Those goals are for 2016 or 2017, maybe they've had an amazing season, but there are still some steps they have to take before those goals: Stijn wants the Ronde or Roubaix, maybe Green Jersey. And for Willy: finishnig 3rd and winning the Tour is still a major gap. Anyhow, Because I apparently made a mistake in setting development in attributes at the start of the story, they developed quite fast already, so I'm not assigning them a coach for now, so they will still progress but it slows down (that's realistic, I think)
Stromeon - That jersey will be amazing to wear, that's for sure! The roster will be up momentarily! Hope you like it.
rogvi97 - Moreno Moser's stats in the spoiler. Don't be too surprised.
Spoiler
...Not as good as you thought right? 2 times World Champion on those stats?
Daggen - Well, I've been thinking about it and there's just too many people asking, so I'm gonna stick with the original thought of the story: no stats (of Stijn & Willy). Sorry, mate but eventually everyone will be asking and there's no use to having "no stats" anymore
wogsrus - Thanks! It was a tight finish, but he made it!
Well, I might as well say it here (what I said to Stromeon): Turns out I've made a mistake in development in attributes, that explains their massive improvement. But that's all right, look at Sagan irl. However, for this season (age 24 - 25), I won't assign them a coach. This way their progression will slow down a little bit. I think it's realistic, as the first years always make for more progress then later. Now they're very strong already, and once in a while they'll increase in a stat.
Team roster and schedules up momentarily. I guess that's all for today. Have to go mattress shopping and then it's movie-club
We're very happy to be absolute leaders in a team of this renown and prestige in the cycling world. Sep Vanmarcke is a protected rider (in this list there was a minor mistake with some of the status-fields). The team's overall age is quite young and we'll use that to our advantage!
For the cobbled classics, the team counts on Stijn. Sep Vanmarcke will be his right hand throughout all this. He will be joined by Farrar, Dassy, Schoonbroodt, Van Zandbeek, Van Tiggelen and de Jong.
For the Ardennes Classics, the team's mostly counting on Daniel Martin. At age 28, he's been focusing on those classics for two years now. With the proper preparation, he has the talent to bring one home! He will be aided by the talented John Tiernan-Locke.
For the stage races, we have Willy, Peter Velits, Wilco Kelderman, Andrew Talansky and, in lesser extent, Peter Stetina.
Stijn and Tyler Farrar are the main sprinters of the team. There are many lead-out sprinters and sprinters for stage races: Leigh Howard, Barry Markus, Robert Hunter...
And to finish, there is a lot of young talent in the team. Many semi-young, promising Americans (Jones Abbott, Christopher Butler) and quite young Dutch talents (Yoeri Havik, Barry Markus, Steven Lammertink).
We believe this team is a perfect mixture of experience and youth. It's balanced out quite fine with many stage racers, some punchers and sprinters. There aren't as much classic riders as with Argos, but Stijn's lieutenant is a major cobbled rider, so that will make up for it in the final kilometers!
Schedules 2015
Once again we will be racing as much as possible together. And, once again, we will participate in the same Grand Tour!
Willy Wouters
Part 1
I will start the year in the GP de Bessèges, a French stage race, followed by the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucia. Note that both have at least 1 time trial.
After two wins in Tirreno, I will not be participating this year. Instead, I'll be racing Paris - Nice, with a minor peak. I will get mountain support, but I'm not sure who, yet. Possible Peter Velits.
After a little rest, I will start in the Vuelta a Castilla y León, followed by Giro del Trentino and Vuelta a Asturias. This is all in preperation for my major goal this year, my first peak: Giro d'Italia!
Break until August, then it's time to start again. For the sponsor, I will take on the Tour of Utah and the Tour of Colorado, where I once finished 2nd. Returning home to race Paris - Bruxelles, I hope to be selected for the Worlds, which will be my second peak.
Part 4?
My schedule after the Worlds is unclear so far. This is good enough for now!
Stijn Van Gent
Part 1
Just like Willy, I start in Bessèges and Andalucia. Then I hope to be ready for the Belgian opening weekend, with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. I might also take GP le Samyn. I would start Down Under, but last year I burned out a bit too fast (remember the Ronde and Roubaix?)
For me, it doesn't matter too much, so I follow Willy to Paris - Nice, followed by Milan - San Remo. Then the real work starts, followed by: E3 prijs, Gent - Wevelgem, De Panne Tour, De Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Paris - Roubaix. I might give up in the third stage of the Panne, I don't know yet.
I don't really know what to peak for yet in the final part of my season. So for now, I've drawn out my "perfect form" like this (see the picture below).
It starts with the Eneco Tour, followed by the Dutch Valley Classic, Classic Hamburg, Classique de Plouay, World Port Classics and Paris - Bruxelles. Much like Willy, I hope to be selected for the Worlds, I would be more than happy with a helping role!
Giro d'Italia 2015
The Giro d'Italia 2015 is a well-balanced out tour. Three time trials, many sprinting chances, some hilly stages and a couple of tough mountain stages.
It's a little early for a list of starters, but Garmin likes to plan everything ahead, so, in case nothing goes wrong, here's the line-up for the Giro:
Willy Wouters - Leader
Stijn Van Gent - Sprinter
John Tiernan-Locke - Free Element
Peter Velits - Mountain Domestique
Peter Stetina - Mountain Domestique
Tyler Farrar - Sprinting Domestique
Christopher Butler - Domestique
Eliot Lietaer - Domestique
Steven Cozza - Domestique
With his podium place in the Tour de France, Willy decided to try and win his very first Grand Tour this year. He's chosen the Giro to do so. He will be aided by an incredibly talented line-up, including Velits and Stetina.
Only two out of nine aren't at home in the hills and mountains: Stijn Van Gent and Tyler Farrar. Depending on the early season, Farrar will lead-out Stijn, or the two will sprint alongside each other. One big advantage: both Stijn and Farrar are sprinters who are capable of a monster-sprint without any lead-out. They are excellently skilled in taking position.
In addition, Wilco Kelderman will be the sole leader of the Tour de France, with the support of Andrew Talansky and Daniel Martin. The Vuelta squad is not decided yet.
Well, that's it for now. We'll see you with a small review of the Tour Down Under!
Until then,
Stijn & Willy
Edited by Ian Butler on 20-04-2013 08:25
for both of them!
I mean they were great this season and if they will improve they will be legends 
