Written by Manisaspor at 03:42 3/12-2023
After a long RL break, I came back with my old climbers to try to win Volta ao Porto and it worked with Alexej Kafka. I already wrote on forum about it. As Rado made the remark "As one cyclist said: One day they won't catch up with me." That's my motto :) "One day they won't catch up with me, TF will work, no Division 1 drops will come and ruin my tour ambitions with the power of their money." Many factors contributed to the long awaited Volta victory along with preparation, experience of other captains, especally O'Pizan and lack of or aging Volta specialists like Beierholm and Komprs.
I had used three captains to win Volta. The team was initially built around my retiree, farewell to the Russian CL-tter, Dmitry Salko from Matrix Team. Matrix only won Volta once with Salko and I think Salko had the minimum stats you should expect from a Volta ao Porto winner. Here are his results:
Volta ao Porto #52 6.
Volta ao Porto #51 2.
Volta ao Porto #50 2.
Perm Tour #63 2. (again!)
I also tried Valx and he brought me a YC at least. Uwe Gassner was trained for Volta but his TT was not good enough but at least he brought Manisa a Perm YC.
Then I tried to get Beierholm many times He was so suitable for Volta would have won 5+ Volta editions if prepared for it. I bought him tried to pull a Pierce Taggart out of him (winning a jersey just before retiring).He also failed. Still farewell to Beierholm too. He is now in our trainers' committee :)
Volta ao Porto #54 7.
Then my big real life life break came in due to unforeseeable circumstances. I had to retire Serkan Ferit, retire Samr Fath my former Vuelta a Valpariso winner and Prochnow. Ferit would have been much greater at the end of his career but at least he became the greatest Turkish rider ever in the OCM. Not being able to stay in Division 1 consistetly affected his Alpe d`Huez win. It was sacrificed for tours and that's why I consider I wasted Ferit slightly.
Fath would be a nice a Germany captain but I could not keep a strong foothold in the Division 1. Good teams can reach lower echelons of Division 1 in any specialized branch but the real survival test starts there :)
I have been wying for a Volta jersey for about 10+ seasons and wasted a whole generation of climbers. Manisaspor will leave that the titled defence and Kafka will be sold because I am exhausted of Volta. Manisaspor has won all the old tours it targeted (Monte Rosa, Perm, Cymru and now Volta and of course the old new Norway). I came close in Essex but Grugger could not make it.
I will try to choose a Division 1 tour next as a target but I have to admit a solid financial base is a must since it is possible to compete with teams having 22 riders and millions at their purse my way. This is not for crying but it's the fact. I have ideas but still undecided. I will probably do a CL team sale soon for those interested and patient enough to read this messy diary until here.
Subscribers: 32
| |
Comments
Congrats!
And if you don't want to go with Klinjstra in Germany and sell you climbers there is interest. At least in him.:)
Good luck with your goals to come.
Competing in a Div1 tour is very realistic, it doesn't take as much effort to be in Div1 as it used to, and you only need 1 excellent squad (a tour squad) to perform in a tour. Best of luck with the new goal!
Congrats.
It's not that hard, right. Recharge Klinjstra and come play with the big boys. See you next season in Germany.
Gratz on the win
|
Other Team's Press Releases
|
|
|
