|
Hugo Houle | Canada's Next Star
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 16-05-2013 18:05
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
@ Ian: Thanks. Really was close for Hugo. I'll keep trying. 
@ admir: Thank you! Im still not sure what he'll ride later on. I dont want to spoil too much right now, but he "may" ride one.
@ sutty: I hope you're right!
|
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 16-05-2013 18:44
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
 Handzame Classic
March 16th, 2013
Not sure what I can do here. I think getting into the break is an option though, as its rainy today so theres more of a chance of staying clear, and its a good way to stay warm on a day like today!
I get the day started by getting into the breakaway with one other rider! It took quite a while to actually settle down into a leading group because the peloton kept chasing the breakaways down.
Later on though, a much larger group of riders joined the two of us, and we were now a group of 13 riders. A group this large I knew had a good shot at staying clear, since all of our teams wont be chasing us down, and 13 riders together can be pretty strong.
However, the peloton did a great job of slowly winding in the breakaway and with 10km it was going to be very close!
Well, I was correct. The peloton was breathing down our necks, so I made a little move to separate the pretenders from the contenders but I ended up going solo and I had a real shot at winning the day. I could hear the peloton behind me, and I just began to sprint for the line as I went around the final corner, with the finish line in sight.
But it was a complete disaster. I was dead tired and it felt like the whole peloton passed me in the sprint. Add to that, our team leaders got stuck into the bunch and weren't able to perform a very good sprint, meaning we had nothing to take from this race!
| 1 | Steele Von Hoff | Garmin - Sharp | 4h11'31 | | 2 | Marko Kump | Team Saxo - Tinkoff | s.t. | | 3 | Arthur Vichot | FDJ | s.t. | | 4 | Pim Ligthart | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 5 | Jonas Ahlstrand | Team Argos - Shimano | s.t. | | 6 | Iljo Keisse | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Mickaël Delage | FDJ | s.t. | | 8 | Pieter Ghyllebert | An Post - Chainreaction | s.t. | | 9 | Roy Sentjens | Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks | s.t. | | 10 | Alexandre Pichot | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 11 | Vicente Reynès | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 12 | Geoffrey Soupe | FDJ | s.t. | | 13 | Barry Markus | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 14 | Ian Stannard | Sky Procycling | s.t. | | 15 | Julien Vermote | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | ... | | 42 | Hugo Houle | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. |
Well, that was a good effort getting into the break, and I dont think I did the team any harm by getting into the breakaway anyway, but I sure wish the team would have been able to get a better result here!
We had the sprinters here to get a good result and we dont even have a Top 10 to show for it. In fact not even Top 15, and with the level of competition here we could have come away with a win. We will have to pick up the results later on.
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-05-2013 18:46
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
a more than creditable try from Hugo. One day it'll work 
The team had an off-day, but Hugo really showed off the sponsor here! |
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 16-05-2013 21:02
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
Ian Butler wrote:
a more than creditable try from Hugo. One day it'll work
The team had an off-day, but Hugo really showed off the sponsor here!
Thanks! Thats the hope anyway!
|
| |
|
|
| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 16-05-2013 21:52
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7542
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hugo did well with a big breakaway. Bad luck without getting a top 10
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 16-05-2013 23:26
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
The finish line never came quick today for Hugo, but what a brave effort |
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 00:46
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
@ Jak- Agreed. I really thought he had something there, but its still a good sign!
@ sutty- Indeed, I wish it was just 2km sooner Thank you.
Just a heads up, I'll probably have the Dwars door Vlaanderen out later tonight (early morning for Europeans), once I get home in a few hours. The support has been very motivating so far, and I had kinda planned to have the season end around where PCM13 comes out (a little after actually) but at this rate, I might be done the season in a few weeks, thats how much Im enjoying this.
Also, I'm starting to edit my photos again, because I know you guys liked that in the (many) previous stories I've had here.
There will also be some big news from Hugo at the end of the 1/4 of the season too.
Stay tuned and thanks for reading.
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 00:50
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
BIG News......mmmmm....wonder what that may be |
| |
|
|
| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 01:23
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7542
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
EDITED PHOTOS  AWESOME
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 11:04
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 05:31
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
Thanks guys
@ Sutty - You'll just have to wait
Dwars door Vlaanderen
March 21st, 2013
Today's going to be tough. I think I'll just sit in the pack and offer support to my team leaders, Mondory and Chainel. Theres always the possibility of getting in the break, but I dont think I'd do well with Cobbles so close to the finish.
So today, it ends up, Im just going to stay in the pack. I go and grab bottles every so often and do my best to stay warm as its only 4 degrees and off and on rain.
A break gets clear, but they pose no real threat to the leaders teams as none are known for the cobbles ability.
Like I was saying, no real threat from the break and about 40km from the finish the groups start to get very selective. Mondory and Minard are in the front group which has swallowed up a few of the breakaway riders, while the rest have fallen back even further. Chainel is a few groups back, over 1 minute down on the lead of the race.
We go inside 10km now and the group gets even smaller. Burghardt manages to make his way to the front group, all the way down from the Chainel group, showing how strong he is today.
The race favourite, Degenkolb makes a move, and is followed by 2 others, Leukemans and Tosatto. It looks like a good move, but they are brought back soon after.
Now the sprint starts, its still anyones race. Mondory puts it into his highest gear but he looks too tired to do anything significant. A strong performance anyway.
And Degenkolb crosses the line first! He showed he was the strongest all day long!
Meanwhile, I coasted in a few minutes back and almost 100 riders back of the leader, but Im still happy, as I rode a good day to support the team!
| 1 | John Degenkolb | Team Argos - Shimano | 4h40'42 | | 2 | Matteo Tosatto | Team Saxo - Tinkoff | s.t. | | 3 | Jürgen Roelandts | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 4 | Björn Leukemans | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 5 | Sébastien Turgot | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 6 | Kevyn Ista | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 7 | Marcus Burghardt | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 8 | Lloyd Mondory | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 9 | Martin Elmiger | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 10 | Dries Devenyns | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 11 | Gustav Erik Larsson | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 12 | David Millar | Garmin - Sharp | s.t. | | 13 | Jan Ghyselinck | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 14 | Hayden Roulston | RadioShack - Leopard | s.t. | | 15 | Frederik Veuchelen | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 16 | Grega Bole | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 17 | Daniele Bennati | Team Saxo - Tinkoff | s.t. | | 18 | Alexandre Pichot | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 19 | Sébastien Minard | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 20 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica - GreenEdge | + 1'58 | | ... | | 88 | Hugo Houle | AG2R La Mondiale | + 9'28 |
Well, like I said, I am happy with the way I rode today. Exhausted from helping the team and we had 2 in the Top 10 so we were a pretty consistent team here and look to be in pretty good shape heading into the two Mini Classics.
Edited by valverde321 on 17-05-2013 05:33
|
| |
|
|
| maxime86 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 05:33
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 2941
Joined: 01-03-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
check the pictures,
and terrible result for Hugo |
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 05:35
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
maxime86 wrote:
check the pictures,
and terrible result for Hugo
They should be fixed now.
For some reason all of them had "~orignal" at the end of the link so it was messing up.
And Well yeah, he coasted in with the autobus, but good day helping the team
|
| |
|
|
| Jesleyh |
Posted on 17-05-2013 06:20
|
World Champion
Posts: 14744
Joined: 21-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hugo did a good job working for the team, and as a helper, the result doesn't count too much, I guess.
Cobbles aren't his thing anyway
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
|
| |
|
|
| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 06:29
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7542
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hugo really shouldn't do cobbles. Make him Canada's first TDF winner
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 17-05-2013 06:30
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Team's got a strong helper in Hugo |
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 11:03
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Hugo was the unsung hero today |
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 20:39
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
@ Jesleyh: Thanks a lot. You're right. good effort by Hugo at the very least. No, he's not great at cobbles, but IRL, I've been looking at his results and he really seems like an all-rounder. The only thing he hasn't gotten results on are very big mountains, and he hasn't Top 10ed a cobble race, but still finished with some pretty good riders.
@ Jak: Hey, everyones allowed to like cobbles, even if he's not good at them I've got a plan for how he will develop. I can say its doubtful he will win the TDF. I'm going to try to develop him how he would irl.
@ Ian and Sutty: Thanks a lot guys! You're always so good for giving comments, which helps motivate me (and I would assume) most other writers.
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 17-05-2013 23:42
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
@ Ian and Sutty: Thanks a lot guys! You're always so good for giving comments, which helps motivate me (and I would assume) most other writers.
Its always nice to be recognised for following a story, Thanks  |
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 18-05-2013 01:01
|
World Champion
Posts: 12429
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
sutty68 wrote:
@ Ian and Sutty: Thanks a lot guys! You're always so good for giving comments, which helps motivate me (and I would assume) most other writers.
Its always nice to be recognised for following a story, Thanks
No problem
I just want to ask something here. My photobucket account seems to be adding "~original" to the end of all my uploaded images lately, and due to the way this site works, even in the image tags, its unable to show the image, without removing that part of the filename. Obviously I can work around this, but its extremely tedious, so I was wondering if anyone has had the same issues and if they've been able to fix it.
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 18-05-2013 01:20
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Up to now i haven't had that problem (fingers crossed i dont get it) 
I was wondering if anyone has purchased more space on the site and if so is it worth investing in more myself |
| |
|
