Written by Crescent DBS at 11:17 27/9-2011
We started season 17 in the bottom of third, and we finished it at the top of the same division. During the season, we've been to second for the first time in the teams history.
The start of the season was slow, no results in the first twenty days. We managed to sign up for Monte Rosa Tour, and started to prepare. Our aim was a top9 GC with Jim Österman, and a top3 in the mountain stages.
In the prologue, Jim Österman got a decent 13th, ahead of all other GC favourites but 11 seconds behind Rogério Aleixo (Team Revolutie).
The next stage, a hilly stage, would not normally suit Österman, normally at least 15 other riders would be able to beat him. However, Österman put in a splendid effort and managed to get third spot after Silvanio Mantilla (Eixample ATH) and Freek van der Werff (Burren Connemara). "It's amazing, I can't believe that I actually got third on a course like this, but my legs were perfect today.", he said in the post-race interview. This unexpected result meant that Österman took the lead in the GC by three seconds over Mantilla.
Stage three, the King stage, started out slow with many breakaways by riders not considered a threat in the GC. Halfway through the stage, the teams of the GC contenders started pacing, and things were looking good for Crescent DBS. However, on the last descent, Sven-Olof Blad went down right in front of his captain, causing a crash that meant Österman needed to change his bike. As the peloton were going pretty hard at the time, team manager Christer ordered the whole team down to Österman to start the chase. Halfway up the last climb, he reached the favourites group. However, he couldn't follow the later attacks and ended up sixth on the stage behind winner Fabrycy Pietrzyk (Team Chili). Mantilla, who was in second place, placed eightth, which meant that Österman's lead extended to seven seconds, now to Pietrzyk. Mantilla was nine seconds back, and there were nine riders within 45 seconds.
Stage four, another mountain stage, would decide the winner, and right from the beginning Crescent DBS and Eixample ATH set a high tempo, shedding riders left and right. In the last climb, Jussi Jönsson and Hubert Fallander set an extremely high tempo until they were both completely spent. Mantilla put in an attack that only Österman could follow. They helped each other up the climb, until the last 500m where Österman managed to ride away to a stage win, five seconds ahead of Mantilla. The fight for the GC was all but over, with a processional sprint stage remaining.
"I am extatic!", said Österman, "Finally a stage win after all the second and third place finishes!
Stage five was won by Dermot Wyeth (Team Nato), and the only GC contender placing high was Freek van der Werff, who got third and almost caught up with Pietrzyk for third in the GC. Going over the line in 27th place, Österman once again raised his arms to the sky as the winner of Monte Rosa Tour Season 17.
Final GC of Monte Rosa Tour:
1. Jim Österman, Crescent DBS
2. Silvanio Mantilla, Eixample ATH 14"
3. Fabrycy Pietrzyk, Team Chili 48"
4. Freek van der Werff, Burren Connemara 51"
5. Rodrigo Pimentel, Salgueiros 1'07"
6. Stacy Lebrun, Cider Riders 1'10"
After the Tour win, we got a new promising rider, Ture Ivansson, who has turned out to be a rider in the style of Österman, even outshining him in some areas. Sofar, he's got one of each of the podium places, the best being a win in Zyte GP. We also got a very promising Romanian rider, Mihaita Raducioiu, who we have high hopes for.
In the last race of the season for us, Arinsal ITT, Österman crashed and won't be back until week one of Season 18. This messes up his preparations for Monte Rosa Tour, of course, but we're sure he'll make a speedy recovery.
All in all, Monte Rosa Tour was the high point of the season, the rest of it was pretty lackluster. Next season we're hoping that Ture Ivansson will take us to new heights.
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Nice release
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