Great race! I love the tactic part with the two leaders fighting each other in it, a whole new view to it and not just winning everything, also a bit of drama . Great job Ian!
Great race! I love the tactic part with the two leaders fighting each other in it, a whole new view to it and not just winning everything, also a bit of drama . Great job Ian!
I like that twist. Adds an awesome report to the story although Matt will not like this one. And you give us followers another reason to follow the tale of the future World Champion
Sam1 - Because a team with that many leaders wouldn't just let one guy go and see his own chances go to waste.
VoetsT - Not much closer
Shonak - Very bitter. Indeed, too many leaders and that was a big mistake. I don't think Matt would've liked to see Vanmarcke go and do nothing about it. That aside, Vanmarcke did ruin his chance because Matt was pretty much gone.
Marcovdw - Exactly
the_hoyle - To be honest, going to the sprint I had he had it, too. But Stybar had the slipstream advantage.
Martial1 - He made a big mistake, that's for sure!
jona500 - That's not a bad idea. Maybe José will be the new National Coach, I like that. Belgium shouldn't have lost that WC, that's for sure. I'm glad you enjoyed the final, though
TimoCycling - I'm glad you liked it. I also had fun racing it. Two guys on the same team, racing against each other, I hadn't done that before
knockout - Matt surely won't like this one. Let's hope he can get a profile where he can score again and finish it off properly this time
dark_x2012 - Matt will take his revenge in the next cobbled season!
Well, that was an unfortunate Championship for Matt
I'll see what I can do today, but it's my sister's wedding tomorrow so I have quite some stuff to do today, I'll see what I can do in between. Tomorrow I won't be near a computer all day, though.
So I'll probably try to finish the season today, and get into the new season Sunday!
After the World Championships, I never wanted to see a bike again. Sure, silver at the World Championships is a huge result, but I think you can understand it was all or nothing for me there, and it turned out to be nothing. I wanted to end my cycling career then and there.
A day later I had recovered a bit from the emotional shock. I love my bike and I could never quite like that. But I still did want to finish my season here.
My personal coach thought it would be good for my morale if I finished with another race, get on that bike in a race one more time. "Don't let the bad aftertaste start your winter," he said. So I was registered for one last race: Il Lombardia.
Profile
I managed an 8th place here last year. I could use some more WT points to climb in the ranking. But I'm not sure how I can manage today. We'll have to see. A top 15 would be very good.
Pearce, our number 2 from the Vuelta, went into the break. He's still eager to race this late in the season.
On the climbing sections, I felt like sh*t, pardon my French.
I dropped down the peloton dramatically.
I knew that top 15 was Utopia by now. Let's just finish the season here...
But I didn't want to end my season with an abandon. No, I would finish this race! My legs were completely empty, but I had to finish that race!
Kreuziger took his monument, quite an achievement!
I finished 24 minutes later, as the very last, 150th.
Result
1
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff - Saxo
6h44'40
2
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 54
3
Leopold König
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
4
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
5
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Andrew Talansky
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
7
Rigoberto Urán
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
8
Moreno Moser
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
9
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
10
Romain Bardet
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2'08
Spoiler
11
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
12
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'32
13
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ.fr
s.t.
15
Giovanni Visconti
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
17
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
18
Dominik Nerz
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
19
Jelle Vanendert
ASUS
s.t.
20
Enrico Battaglin
Bardiani CSF
+ 3'55
21
Charlie Pearce
Orica GreenEdge
+ 4'20
22
Rafal Majka
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
23
Robert Kiserlovski
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'18
24
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
25
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
26
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
27
Luis León Sánchez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
28
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'28
30
Mauricio Consonni
Team Katusha
s.t.
31
Philip Deignan
Team Sky
s.t.
32
Rémy Di Gregorio
Team Europcar
+ 9'12
33
Mikel Nieve
Team Sky
+ 11'34
34
Simon Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
35
Ramunas Navardauskas
BMC Racing Team
+ 12'33
36
Rohan Dennis
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
37
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
38
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
39
Simon Spilak
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
40
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
s.t.
41
Ivan Rovny
RusVelo
s.t.
42
Domenico Pozzovivo
Team Katusha
s.t.
43
Maxime Monfort
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
44
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
45
Pierre Rolland
Astana Pro Team
+ 13'09
46
Simone Ponzi
Team Sky
+ 13'44
47
Davide Villella
Cannondale
s.t.
48
Daniel Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
49
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
50
Andrea Manfredi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
51
Janez Brajkovič
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
52
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
53
Cyril Gautier
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
54
Max Kroes
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
55
Igor Antón
Movistar Team
s.t.
56
Wout Poels
ASUS
s.t.
57
Valerio Agnoli
Team Katusha
s.t.
58
Alessandro De Marchi
Cannondale
+ 15'49
59
Lieuwe Westra
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
60
Luca Ascani
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
61
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
62
Bob Jungels
ASUS
s.t.
63
Sergey Lagutin
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
64
George Preidler
ASUS
s.t.
65
Fabrice Jeandesboz
FDJ.fr
s.t.
66
Tom Slagter
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
67
Gianluca Brambilla
Cannondale
s.t.
68
Davide Malacarne
Cannondale
s.t.
69
Sander Armee
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
70
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
71
Florian Guillou
Team Europcar
s.t.
72
Eduard Vorganov
RusVelo
s.t.
73
Ivan Santaromita
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
74
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
75
Jay McCarthy
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
76
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
77
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
78
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
+ 18'02
79
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 18'52
80
Niels Albert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
81
Michel Kreder
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 19'31
82
Kenny Elissonde
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
83
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Team Sky
+ 20'39
84
Sebastian Henao
Team Sky
s.t.
85
Tomasz Marczynski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 22'30
86
Paul Brousse
FDJ.fr
s.t.
87
Oliver Zaugg
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
88
Thierry Hupond
ASUS
s.t.
89
Gerry Druyts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
90
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
91
Nelson Oliveira
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
92
Ryan Mullen
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
93
Jesse Sergent
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
94
Marcos García
Movistar Team
s.t.
95
Tiesj Benoot
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
96
Yoann Bagot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
97
Luke Rowe
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
98
Oscar Gatto
Cannondale
s.t.
99
Frantisek Padour
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
100
Natnael Berhane
Team Europcar
s.t.
101
Evan Huffman
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
102
Michele Gaia
Team Sky
s.t.
103
David De la Cruz
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
104
Matteo Pelucchi
Cannondale
s.t.
105
José Serpa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
106
Ivan Basso
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
107
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
108
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
109
Artem Ovechkin
RusVelo
s.t.
110
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
111
Florian Vachon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
112
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
113
Gian Matteo Nicolosi
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
114
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Team Katusha
s.t.
115
Julien Loubet
Team Europcar
s.t.
116
Jack Bobridge
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
117
Perrig Quemeneur
FDJ.fr
s.t.
118
Stef Clement
ASUS
s.t.
119
Fränk Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
120
Maarten Wynants
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
121
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
122
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
123
Davide Bruno
Cannondale
s.t.
124
Nick Nuyens
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
125
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ.fr
s.t.
126
Julien Simon
FDJ.fr
s.t.
127
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
128
Davide Mucelli
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
129
Paolo Colonna
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
130
Matthieu Boulo
Team Europcar
s.t.
131
Ian Stannard
Team Sky
s.t.
132
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
133
Antonino Parrinello
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
134
Davide Rebellin
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
135
Andrea Pasqualon
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
136
Nathan Haas
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
137
Francesco Failli
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
138
Angelo Tulik
Team Europcar
s.t.
139
Tom Dernies
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
140
Jens Voigt
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
141
Steven Kruijswijk
ASUS
s.t.
142
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ.fr
s.t.
143
Eros Capecchi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
144
Óscar Pujol
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
145
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
146
Egor Silin
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
147
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
148
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
149
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
150
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
+ 24'00
And now I can finish my season. I wouldn't say on a high note, exactly. But I have to be fair towards myself: I put in an amazing season overall. I'll wear the Belgian Tricolore for another season, I have won my first Ronde van Vlaanderen, I podiumed Milan - Sanremo, won a Tour de France stage and I won the double in the opening weekend.
All in all, I can't hardly complain. At the age of 24, I have achieved things many riders in the peloton would dream of.
But that doesn't mean I'm changing my ambition. No, not at all.
I still want that Rainbow Jersey. This was the perfect profile for me, but frankly I don't give a damn what profile they give me.
I'll fight for it, every single year.
I'll give a final 2016 review and then it's up to the new year!
Matt
Hm, certainly the monument that suits him the least and after the WC, I can understand that he has bad legs. Still, he finished it, shows his fighting prowess. Enjoy the holiday, Matt. And you Ian have fun at the wedding! Edited by Shonak on 09-05-2014 11:18
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
As I said before: mental state is so important in cycling! Luckily you have whole winter to recover from this slight disappointment. Curious what next year's WC looks like as that will be your vengeance-ground Have fun at the wedding!
Shonak - I'd really love it if Matt could win all monuments at one point, but for Lombardia he'll need lots and lots of luck! Thanks mate
TimoCycling - Glad to hear that!!
Martial1 - I hope so, too. Some consistency might be nice for Matt.
jona500 - You're absolutely right. Matt's mind is too tired right now. Let's hope it doesn't stick with him in the winter, that disappointment... I'm curious for next WC profile, too. I'll know more in January
the_hoyle - We're already heading towards 2017 Yeah, Matt is finally tired. About time, too
Thanks again, everyone!
I'm ending 2016 with the next post. If I have some more time today, I'll start putting together the 2017 season (won't be easy with all these talents in Orica). Expect more Sunday
2016 was a good season in many ways. But to whether it was better as 2015, I'm not so sure. If we take a look at some of the results and put them next to each other, the victories are about equal. Paris - Roubaix against De Ronde, both are just fantastic.
But the general trend in 2015 was better than this year. I've been less consistent, with some great victories but also some real off days. That's something to work on for the next season.
I also participated in my first Grand Tour. It was a rough experience. Despite the beautiful stage win, I'm not all that keen to return there next year. The Tour is not my style, I don't feel very comfortable there. Maybe that'll change, who knows.
Losing Manpower
I've got some bad news. As we already started noticing, Orica is filled with incredible talent. Both Bozic and Pearce are (potential) Grand Tour winners, even Porte could still win the Vuelta or the Giro. With Matthews and Ewan we have two of the best sprinters in the world. I'm (hopefully) one of the leading men in the cobbled classics and Simon Yates is coming up as one of the strongest punchers in the peloton. All our contracts end at 2017. But the war for a spot has already begun. We all deserve the best team to back us up in our races, of course, but a team can only have 30 riders.
I'm sad to see Roelandts leave the team. Orica has chosen to attract more manpower for the mountains, to support Bozic, Pearce and Porte. Next year I'll be a few strong men short. Is this a sign that I'm the one to leave come 2018? I sure hope not...
Important Transfers
A few of the important transfers for 2017:
Jungels --> Trek Factory Racing
Tony Martin --> Omega Pharma - Quickstep
Vanmarcke --> ASUS
Nibali --> Lampre
Kittel, Degenkolb --> Jack Wolfskin
Stuyven --> Omega Pharma - Quickstep
Tony Martin returns home after a season with BMC, Jungels also returns to his former team. Vanmarcke joins World Champion Stybar at ASUS. Jack Wolfskin will be the first German WT team in a long time and attracted Degenkolb and Kittel to represent them, while Stuyven is brought on board at OPQS to take over Boonen's role for good.
2017: ???
I'm not sure how my 2017 season will go. This year I had the most amazing cobbled squad, but I lost quite some manpower in the transfer season. Will I be left alone to struggle?
Will I start in Sanremo as a (co)leader? That, too, is a big question mark. The team is changing, there is some real talent. I'll have to fight for every race, except the cobbled races. Can Orica guarantee me a spot for the Tour, with riders like Bozic, Pearce, Porte, Ewan, Yates? Maybe I don't even want to go to the Tour...
Sportman van het Jaar, Flandrien-Trofee
Thanks to my victory in the Ronde, most probably the greatest one of my 2016 season, I have been awarded both Sportman van het Jaar and the Flandrien-Trofee in Belgium. I'm very honored to accept these awards and I hope to make 2017 better, as I try every year.
I also refer you all to post 2 of this blog, where you can see the overview of my career so far, including every victory and the link to that post.
I'll see you in 2017, thanks for being here with me!
Matthias
Edited by Ian Butler on 09-05-2014 13:23
I'm trying to make the 2017 schedule but there's something wrong with the fitness thing. I think I've seen it somewhere else before, does anybody know about this problem and has a fix?
I can choose other goals, but the fitness bars are locked, they don't change.
EDIT: Apparently it's unavoidable in career mode in 2017, 2021 and 2022. So I'll just have to roll with it.
Edited by Ian Butler on 09-05-2014 16:31
Ian Butler wrote:
I'm trying to make the 2017 schedule but there's something wrong with the fitness thing. I think I've seen it somewhere else before, does anybody know about this problem and has a fix?
I can choose other goals, but the fitness bars are locked, they don't change.
Try to press on reset to the right of the fitness bars, that helps for me...
But the WC race must be the biggest fake plot-twist ever!! That's why I like your stories and I will definetly follow this
. Great job Ian!
Il Lombardia 2016 
Yeah, Matt is finally tired. About time, too 
