Zabel 2.0
This is the start of a beautiful career...
Champagne
I've cracked a bottle of champagne (well, I didn't drink any, but I still opened the bottle), because I have a reason to celebrate! Thanks to my great season, I have been offered an additional 3 years at the team. I needn't think twice and signed the contract. I really want to help promote this team to World Tour and make this one of the strongest teams around!
Ian Bibby
Ian Bibby was hit by a car on training and suffered a broken neck. He's already getting better, we hope he gets back to his old level soon, we need him in the team!
Vuelta a España 2013
Citigroup has conquered a wildcard for the Vuelta! So now the management has the tough task to puzzle a 9 man selection for the Grand Tour.
I hope to put my name on the list!
Giro d'Italia
The Giro has come to an end. It wasn't so much of a thriller, seeing the winner took 5 minutes on his closest rival, but it was still a race well worth watching!
Podium
1. Vincenzo Nibali
2. Bradley Wiggins
3. Jurgen Van Den Broeck
Mountain Goat
Matteo Rabottini
Ultimate Points Winner
Vincenzo Nibali
Stage Hunter
Vincenzo Nibali - Peter Sagan: 3 victories
Tour du Sud
This was my final race before the Nationals. The start list wasn't too strong and I was keen on trying to perform very well here. Three flat stages and one mountain stage. We all knew what stage was the most important one for the General Classification victory!
On that stage, we blew the peloton apart. Augustyn and Meintjes turned a 125 men peloton into a group of less than 20. There was still 30 kilometer to go.
I rode extremely aggressive and it payed off. Four of us went to the line, and I relied on my speed to get the victory.
It was enough for the victory of the day and also the General Classification! Yes!
I'll be going to the National Championships with a lot of motivation and confidence.
Citigroup took the Team Classificaiton easily and Zabel took the final stage and the Points Classification.
Development - New Report
Ever since I decided to refocus, I've been growing stronger by the day. I'm still young so I get better quickly. I feel I'm even able to start in my first Grand Tour. Hoping for that Vuelta selection!
Here's how the management sees me now:
Additional Notes (by Lucien Van Impe:) Henry is developing into a strong rider. His climbing is more than decent for his age, and he seems to gain in explosiveness. He can't afford to slack off now, though. Keep working hard.
Well, I plan to follow that advice!
See you at the Nationals,
Henry
Edited by Ian Butler on 22-12-2013 17:14
Henry really develops amazingly and Citigroup are smart to offer him already a new contract now. Vuelta Wildcard is great, no doubt Henry will be on the squad sheet.
And now get that french NC jersey, Henry. Edited by Shonak on 22-12-2013 17:12
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Nice win for Vergnaud! I'll make a french NC jersey if he wins(design by your choice), and perhaps a special frame and helmet if you wish Edited by anderspcm on 22-12-2013 17:36
Life is sweet with Henry:
Another victory,
Great development (+2 in MO :banana
Hopefully a girlfriend
A first participation in a Grand Tour (he is the best climber of the team how can he not make it )
A very good friend
And an experience in prison.
The waiter told me a lady in a purple dress had left me a note.
"How long did she wait?"
"Sir, you don't want to know."
I opened the note and started to read.
Henry,
I'm not sure why I'm even writing this...
You didn't show up, so I guess you won't be, but I'm writing this anyway.
I don't know what I was thinking, hoping you would just show up. After all, we only exchanged a few words, and that was months ago.
But if you show up, there is something I want to tell you.
I know it's odd and it's something that I've never done before.
But I feel that there was a connection that day we met.
I hope you feel the same.
You even got me following cycling. I heard you on Radio B.
The day of the National Championships, I know where you'll be.
I'll be there, too.
I appeared at the start quite relaxed. It's amazing how a piece of paper can influence the way you feel. Extending my contract has put me in a relaxing mood and I've been training so much better, knowing I can count on the team for the coming years.
I've been training on time trialing, too, and I was eager to prove that. My objective? Finish top 25 would be a success.
I was off! I took a slow start but I got into a great rhythm at the halfway point.
I pushed myself to the limit and I'm happy about my result today. But one man was way better than me today. Sylvain Chavanel took Gold in this discipline!
I can live with that result. A top 25 would've been nice, but 26th is close enough. There is still room to improve.
National Championships - Road Race
Classified as flat, but man oh man, don't underestimate this profile. This is up and down constantly. I wouldn't be Henry Vergnaud if I wouldn't try to attack during the finale!
The day started out beautifully. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and an eight-man breakaway took about 6 minutes. That's when Europcar and FDJ took control of the race.
I had a plan to make my move in the final lap. But when Sylvain Chavanel attacked one round earlier, I didn't wait around! I felt this was it!
Then it turned apocalypse. The blue sky disappeared behind a curtain of grey clouds. The pace was so incredibly high. Chavanel asked me to cooperate. I took my turn, this was our only chance. Europcar and FDJ were chasing us down hard. The two of us joined the breakaway group. So close to the finish now.
We had made it, and now we would be sprinting for the title. Trying to recover a little bit, I had spend a minute or two at the back of the breakaway, who all saw their chance at victory, too. When the sprint started, I was a bit too much behind!
I couldn't lose this! I had been given an amazing and unique chance to win the French Road Race at the age of 21. No way I would ruin that chance. I forced my legs to go round faster and faster, keep turning the pedals. I went up a gear and felt my legs cramp up, but I couldn't let them win!
Chavanel looked over his shoulder. And that's when I knew: I had this. With 100 meters left, nothing could go wrong anymore! I overtook him with 80 meters left to go, he stopped turning his pedals.
Post-race interviews, thoughts... in the next blog. There we'll also take a look at some other National Champions around.
Henry
Night of the Champagne - Part I
I had just won the National Championships that day. It had been a perfect race and I took my game up to another level. On the podium, I enjoyed every second of it. When I received that jersey, I had to supress a tear.
When I stepped down from the podium, I went straight to the team bus. Warren, Julien and Vincent were all there. They all hugged me and congratulated me.
"So," Warren began, "How about we go out and celebrate tonight, Champ?"
National Champ for your first year as a pro?
Beating Chavanel?
That sounds like the beginning of a shining career
What did I told you about asking Michelle on the Radio, I knew this, I knew! You might be a fantastic rider but you are still lacking experience to manage your loving affairs
anderspcm - So great news! Henry will love to ride around in that
Dippofix - Thanks a lot! it was quite a performance!
welker3257 - To be honest, I thought Chavanel had it when he started the sprint. But he lacked energy in the final 1 kilometer, so Henry overtook him easily in the end
duxili - Career sure is looking good and he seems to have sky-rocketed into the professional peloton. But guilty on his love affairs He should've known Radio B would be more popular than cycling
Starting with studying again today, so updates most likely to slow down (just a tad) However, I will continue to update daily, whenever possible
Post-race comments etc about the Nationals to follow later today.
A quick question, does anyone know: what jersey will the game assign to Henry: leader of Continental tour or his NC jersey? Because if the game thinks Continental Tour is more important, I don't want to lead that classification anymore
Well he couldn't say no to Bayern 
Tour du Sud 
Thanks a lot! it was quite a performance!
He should've known Radio B would be more popular than cycling 
