Written by Hommerts Cycling Team at 08:32 19/4-2015
After so many failed try's in Tours we finally had a successful one again.
In season 18 Susumu Miyazaki won the Volta ao Porto sprint classification, after that we only won 3 YC's which is nice but a lot less prestigious then a SC, let alone a GC.
4 days ago the Norway Tour started and we send our best team with captain: Yrjana Sistonen. Two luxury helpers in the sprint: Tomas Swin and Zlako Chaloupka and three workhorses: Heath Hamilton, Javier Oliva and Tom Vangale.
Only problem was that the riders didn't had enough rest to get here in top shape so not many was expected again in this Tour. Maybe a good result in the prologue but further anonymous. But how wrong could we be.
Stage 1 - Prologue: 4 season's ago we managed to do a 1-2 here with Sistonen and Chaloupka, and also Swin on a 4th place. Swin had an off-day here but Sistonen and Chaloupka performed excellent. A copy of the prologue 4 season's ago; again a 1-2
Stage 2 - flat sprint: Early in the race Zlako Chaloupka crashed and had to abandon. A huge slap in the face. Swin also had a bad day but Sistonen felt great. Instead of Swin/Chaloupka it was Vangale and Hamilton who set Sistonen in a perfect position to win the stage and he did! Now the SC suddenly became a goal.
Stage 3 - hill sprint: Surely Sistonen couldn't survive the steep hills? Especially not when the GC guys also are in interested in this stage. But Tomas Swin was back and guided him over the hills and put him in a perfect position for a 3/3!
Stage 4 - climbing: With this great form and a TT to come was there something possible in the GC? Sistonen gave it a go but 41th place mend there were no GC ambitions any more.
Stage 5 - climbing: After stage 4 we decided to save energy with Sistonen and Swin. Vangale, Hamilton and Oliva got a free role, which they liked.
Stage 6 - flat sprint: Not Sistonen's favorite stage, a long flat road up to the finish, not much TQ required. Swin put him in a good position. His sprint was good but Dutch Willy Caluwe was better. A second place.
Stage 7 - ITT: We dreamed of a 1-2-3 here but with Chaloupka gone(who finished 2th here 4 seasons ago) a 1-2 would do. Heath Hamilton, who prefers these longer TT's managed to set the top time with no one coming close. Until Sistonen was up.He pulverized Hamilton's time and won his 4th stage!
Stage 8- King stage: Same tactics as in stage 5. Our workhorses in the break away but the GC guys didn't let an escape win in this prestigious stage. Sistonen and Swin in the bus.
Stage 9 - Parade sprint: Champagne and a slow first 50km. Then the pace got up, Escapes got caught and Sistonen with his 5th stage win!! NO, this time sprint bomb Sammy Agren was faster. And so Sistonen adds another second place to his palmares, but also a SC win with 210 points and a nice green jersey for his closet!
Final balance:
- 71.000$
- 480 OCM points
- 9 results, including 5 wins
- Green SC jersey
But thanks to this this great result we're afraid we can't use our Kangaroo Tour reserved spot any more. But maybe we can focus on Nederlandse Tour now. Because after all, Sistonen still got his TF left ;)
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Comments
Thnx guys!
@jmtoler
I wanted to sell him if he messed up his TF, but still haven't used it, and now he performs like this :p
@Manisaspor
NL Tour is 10 times harder then the competition in Norway. I think if i make it, it will be Swin as captain with TF.
Congrats Justin.
Gratz!
did you say kangaroo reserved spot? is that rider for sale? lol
Congratz, a very strong showing. Sistonen could do a top 9 maybe in NL with TF.
Congrats with a strong SC win.
Thanks guys!
@finz
Very good call. You were probably the only one expecting this :p
Told ya ;)
congratz to the jersey, great result!
Great results. See you at NL.
Congrats Justin. Great performance!
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