Wizards Cycling public relations

[Aixteam]

Roby Epeho

That's Teddy ... Roby wasn't able to win anything ...

[Lizard]

Roby wasn't able to win anything ...

Why didn´t I have this thought before?

[Aixteam]

Roby wasn't able to win anything ...

Why didn´t I have this thought before?

You were disapointed after your race , I understand you ^^

[Lizard]

Two for one: Wizards with biggest transfer deal of team history

First the team announced Adam Wollfinger to retire from sports. Minutes later, Bastiaan Beijssens and Sebastian Stiefelgräber were sold for a real hero, a rider of which we hope to make many many victories possible: Manuel Clausen. The german 26years old is next to Adam the strongest winner the team ever had. He started his career at the team PeterMeter, whose manager we can refer to as a cool guy. Now it´s up to us to make his rider have a great career. Good luck, Manuel!

Name: Manuel Clausen
Age: 26
Place of birth: Westerland
Nationality: German
Skills: 72-83-63-46-63, 57 Reg

[Bear]

Have fun and many good results with Manuel.

[NoPikouze]

Nice rider, why did he sign in this team instead of mine ?!
I can't see any good argument, must be the lure of profit for sure...

[Lizard]

Nice rider, why did he sign in this team instead of mine ?!
I can't see any good argument, must be the lure of profit for sure...

Since you say you´re a drug free team, I guess that´s the reason

[flockmastoR]

great rider for you!!! congrats

[Lizard]

Big party after the Dwars Door Vlaanderen

After the Kat.3 classic race Wizards and opponents have a huge party because Adam Wollfinger retires from cycling. The 35 years old classic rider will not take part at a race anymore.

It was planned he might ride another Giro d´Italia. Strong Reg., good skills in high age and the possibility for stage victories out of breakaways. But somehow in the last days there was a thought not to hold on to the good ol´ times too much and let go. Adam Wollfinger, seen on the transfer markt on the same day we saw Königsbauer - this must´ve been destiny - and being part of the team from 1st of January 2009, had already his last career highlight. Milano-San Remo, his first victory ever (field 2), should be his last try to win a race and be a captain. 100 form on the 20th of March, a great peloton for my team and good chances at the Poggio downhill, but it did not fit because I didn´t have balls to attack ever. Aixteam takes the win and after the race I read Humberto has no good form. Argh! I miss a good chance to make him REALLY win and don´t have the balls. Shame. Nevertheless it was a good race and interesting the whole time because every team in the first group could´ve won the race. Crazy. And the small group wins, being isolated the whole finale. I like it, and it was a good last big one for Adam. He´ll not be able to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen for sure, so why should he go there when his chances almost not exist? Especially, when the other part of the team is strong in such races. But didn´t say Milano-San Remo will be the last race because I didn´t have thoughts for it. So let´s make another two, GP San Francisco and a good Kat.3 classic race Dwars Door Vlaanderen. He made his serve for the team and showed himself a long time alone in front of the peloton and the race. He did not have to go for the win, he only enjoys the atmosphere and the wind in front of his face. A part of history is written - and if it only is team history.
His amount of victories is incredible, somehow it´s the only rider type I really can handle in a classic race. Attacking early, attacking lately, staying in a wheel, splitting the peloton, and so on and so on... Adam could do everything. He´s the brain. He´s dangerous the whole time and it happened so often I didn´t expect to attack when I planned the race and did it afterwards. Bam, he wins a stage out of nothing. To speak of victories, now to the palmares and rider information:

Name: Adam Wollfinger
Nickname: The Beast, Wolle
Contract period: 01.01.2009 - 25.03.2010
Place of birth: Praha
Nationality: Czech
Top Skills: 73-82-80-47-57, 64 Reg (71.5 Pavé)
Starting Skills: 55-74-79-47-57, 64 Reg
Career End Skills: 71-81-76-46-55, 64 Reg (70.8 Pavé)
Reached Points: 9334
Stage victories: 14
Stage race victories: 1
Stage race podiums: 3
Young riders´ classements: 0
Points´ classements: 0
Climbers´ classements: 1
Races for Wizards Cycling: 285

Palmares:
Kat. 6:
1st Mailand - San Remo (field 2)

Kat. 5:
Stage 11 Giro d´Italia
Stage 6 La Vuelta a Espana
Stage 15 La Vuelta a Espana

Kat. 3:
3rd Tour Down Under
Stage 3 Tour Down Under

Kat. 2:
1st Etoile de Bességes
Stage 4 Etoile de Bességes
1st CN/NM June 09
1st CN/NM October 09
1st CN/NM February 10
1st La St. Sylv

Kat. 1:
2nd Alsace
3rd Circuit de Lorraine
Climbers´ Classement Norge Rundt
1st Ruta del Serrania de Ronda
Stage 3 Alsace
Stage 1 Circuit de Lorraine
Stage 2 Norge Rundt

No rider ever in the history of this team achieved more stage wins, more points, more months with a victory in a row or took part at more races. The plan was to go for 10.000 points, 15 stage wins and to wear every jersey once. This dies pretty early when he got no white jersey. A green jersey he also never won, has no 15 stage wins and no 10.000 points. But why let him, Adam, ride 30 other races or more only to be a spectator in most races. And even if we won´t try to reach these aims "mit der Brechstange", as we say in Germany, his victories speak for themselves. In the high age of 34 he achieved what we really wanted him to have: win a tour. This happened at the Etoile de Bességes 2010. The 2009er superstar wins in France at Kat.2, and I really really couldn´t believe it. He had two chances to win a tour, both times we missed. But this time it gets true. And then, to come back to the beginning words, there was Milano-San Remo. Of course, there was a wish "if he might really win Milano-San Remo when the situation allows it". The situation allowed it, and we didn´t take the chance. I was really really disappointed. Nevertheless, this was his last really big chance. It´s okay to end here. Adam, you´ll be missed as our hero.

[flockmastoR]

a great man retires!

[Lizard]

Clausen wins Gent-Wevelgem!

After desperately trying to win Rond om Nokere, Dwars Door Vlaandere, Harelbeke and before that Milano-San Remo and always failing, finally it worked at the 2nd most important race this month: Gent-Wevelgem! Team-Newcomer Manuel Clausen made his first victory for Wizards Cycling real crossing the finish line first in Wevelgem. After a strong cooperation of Quick-Step and Wizards Cycling the peloton was held behind for over 50km by only very few riders. In the sprint Clausen had to join Arnaud Vervaecke´s (Quick-Step) wheel being not in best shape himself. Only very few centimetres divided them two and Clausen wins our first field 1 classic race of great importance. The whole team is in a great mood!

[Lizard]

New rider for April: Alfons Ulminger to join team

Which was safe already days ago now came to the press: The 20years old Alfons Ulminger from Switzerland is a talent who started his career on the track. Now he´s to join the Wizards as a third flat helper for the classic riders. Here some information about him:

Name: Alfons Ulminger
Age: 20
Place of birth: Zürich
Nationality: Swiss
Skills: 48-73-50-61-57, 35 Reg

[Lizard]

Just keep going!

Newcomer Manuel Clausen won the first stage of this years´ De Panne. Strategically the team did pretty bad as we did not manage to force the situtation we would´ve liked to have. Somehow the idea for the last 5% worked out very well, and our only hope is to wait, not work and stay in the right wheel, since a -2% sprint against many downhill heroes would for sure need much of luck. We did have the luck and Clausen takes the Yellow and Green Jersey with his 2nd victory for the Lizards. GO MANU!

[Lizard]

Rider of the month: March

And the nominees are:

Manuel Clausen (52%):
Gent-Wevelgem, Kat. 5
Stage 1 De Panne, Kat. 3
1023 points

Nicolas LaCroix (45%):
Stage 6 Paris-Nîmes, Kat. 4
70th Giro del Mendrisiotto, Kat. 1
293 points

Kato Wolfsong (3%):
Stage 3 Paris-Nîmes, Kat. 4
986 points

And the winner is:
An easy choice. Newcomer Manuel Clausen wins the first big classic for the Wizards, and by this we say "Welcome" to our new classic captain. Even though it is a bit disappointing not to make Nicolas rider of the month, since he won (as a typical helper) one stage of the very important tour Paris-Nîmes for us and after that another race. Nevermind, Gent-Wevelgem!!!!!

March training

Joost Berkefeldt: +4 Flat, +1 Sprint
Basil Broucek: -
Manuel Clausen: -
Jaroslav Jendl: +2 Climb, +1 Flat
André Katchono: -
Nicolas LaCroix: +3 Flat
Ndale Mbeki: +4 Climb, +4 Flat
Wesley Sneijder: -
Jan Vermaart: -
Kato Wolfsong: -

[Lizard]

De Panne

Riding this tour was for a bit fun, and we had a chance on the first stage of De Panne. Lucky Clausen was able to win the sprint out of a classic group and took the yellow and green jersey for a day. Because of connection trouble we lost it already on the second stage aswell as the green and Vermaart did not sprint due to the mentioned problems. Without this problems we might have even be not only sucessful but also made some money. Nevertheless, a good tour. Scott Hansen (Team EPO) takes the overall.

General classement:
14th: Manuel Clausen

Stages:
1st: Manuel Clausen

Finances:
4.124 Credits

[Lizard]

Just getting started

In the 9h La Route d´Adélie Manuel Clausen achieved to win his third stage for the Wizards. Our peloton was full of sprinters, no top sprinters, but sprinters. Though the helpers miss. We expected Marlboro Linz as our strongest opponent, since we though RecienNacidos´ Branco would be caught by Clausen after an attack on the last 5%. As expected, attack one the 5, Linz in the wheel with the 72-82 with 65 sprint. Okay, both riding for Branco, who was 2sec in front. On the -4% Clausen on yes, alone then and can manage to hold the peloton back 1 sec. The last 2% was clearly our terrain, again yes, alone and Branco is caught. Sprint from 50m expected (which we might´ve won aswell, but chances 50/50, maybe less), but Linz goes from 100m. Clausen in the wheel, Branco from 50m, got it!

[Lizard]

Wesley with first win for Wizards now aswell

After Clausen´s impressive entrance in this team by making 3 wins in 5 days, now Sneijder makes his first one perfect on the GP Miguel Indurain (Kat. 3). A tough race, but not that important, since tomorrow we have our most important race with the Ronde van Vlaanderen. We did not want to start in the first case, but thought we can go in a group and have a nice Top 5 position. In the end the favourite (Team Warriors) did not show up, so we were forced to control the weak field. We expected the classic riders to be very strong today, since almost no climbers were in the field. Our weakness was used by plenty of the opponents by splitting the peloton and isolating Sneijder very early to no helper. Very luckily we can take the win by catching Brano exactly on the seconds he was in front. Roby Sheringham became 2nd, Thiago Branco 3rd.

[Lizard]

LaCroix takes 3rd career win and 3rd in the month

After a horrible constellation of different riders and many problems with cooperation, onlinetime and so on finally the breakaway with Nicolas LaCroix was able to win the stage. 4 riders, there also Satzte Sich and Equipe Mathematique, made their way against the peloton and Adler did gorgeous attacks to catch ´em up. Nevertheless he did not and, but made a great performance in the peloton with many attacks in the finale. So long, Nicolas takes the stage and green jersey, but for tomorrow let´s hope for more fun and a better atmosphere in the peloton.

[olmania]

Congratulations ! A beautiful victory
And, if the peloton isn't cool, kick and beat the wheels of some riders, some ennemies ... if you can't have fun in a good atmosphere, you can have fun in a bad atmosphere, but alone
ok

[Lizard]

Vuelta al Pais Vasco

Between the great classical races of Vlaanderen´s Mooiste and L´enfer du Nord we have a traditional tour, the Vuelta al Pais Vasco. We didn´t manage to get the green jersey, didn´t manage to get the red jersey, but we managed to get the stage win. At least. So let´s hope the bad performances of Wizards at the Ronde and Pais Vasco will be forgotten tomorrow at the L´enfer du Nord.

General classement:
16th: Manuel Clausen

Stages:
1st: Nicolas LaCroix

Finances:
263.762 Credits

[Lizard]

Vermaart ends up 2nd on L´enfer du Nord, Jendl sold for young gun

Jan Vermaart, teams´ youngest stage winner and captain for Paris-Roubaix ends up 2nd behind Luiz Muchacho (Team Franconia) and misses the target to win this monument. Nevertheless he was happy to finish on the podest at least and wants to come back next year (age would be 37). Jaroslav Jendl then is sold for a 21years old dutch rider to compensate the financial loss which came up with the transfer of Manuel Clausen:

Name: John vandenVaalken
Age: 21
Place of birth: Den Haag
Nationality: Dutch
Skills: 48-72-53-52-57, 39 Reg

[Lizard]

Jan takes the Bonbon-victory!

Minutes ago in a fascinating finale Jan Vermaart was able to beat the rest and shows that the second place at Paris-Roubaix was not luck, but maybe bad luck. He wins Tro Bro Leon and by that makes the 4th season victory complete. After a strong week at the month change and bad weeks following finally a release for us before the Giro del Trentino. Jan takes his second victory and shows his ambitions for the fantasy pavé races for the ending of the year. Until then with the leader for 2011 hopefully. For now we are happy for the Bonbon-price and go smoke cuban cigars now.

[Lizard]

Giro del Trentino

Not being too interested in La Fleche Wallonné, the Wizards tried to achieve a similar success like in last years´ participation with Herbert Königsbauer ending 2nd. This year Wesley Sneijder was able to end up 5th in the general classement and 3rd on both mountain stages. We almost were able to get the stage victory on the 3rd stage, but in the end we were not able to. So as far as I don´t remember wrong, this is the first tour with no stage victory for us in 2010. Nevertheless, we showed we are always dangerous in the finale.

General classement:
5th: Wesley Sneijder

Stages:
3rd: Wesley Sneijder (x2)

Finances:
30.740 Credits

[Lizard]

Classic season 2010 / Vermaart gone already

Omloop Het Volk (Kat. 4): no start
Autour de Bruxelles (Kat. 2): Only team trying to resist to the sprinters is us, no chance against the flat heroes.
Monte Paschi Eroica (Kat. 3): Let´s not talk about this weak race by us.
Rond om Nokere (Kat. 3): Vermaart as captain, chances, but then another one wins. Vermaart ends up 4th.
Milano-San Remo (Kat. 6): Strong Wizards, strong Ticos, strong Poison Dwarves. In the end we messed up the Wollfinger-victory we could´ve achieved in an exciting race. Wolfsong ends up 4th.
Dwaars Door Vlaanderen (Kat. 3): Another tactic, better results. Last climb, Clausen and Vermaart together for an attack. Z-Racing-Team too strong, Ignacio Alvez takes the win. Maybe more chances with a split for us. Barely top 10.
GP Harelbeke (Kat. 4): iBanesto takes the win in a great finale, no chance against his calculations there. I think also barely top 10 rached.
Gent-Wevelgem (Kat. 5): Haha! Finally good news. The only race we managed to make it right. After several chances and many races we can win and did not Clausen takes Gent-Wevelgem. Really happy.
Ronde van Vlaanderen (Kat. 6): Connection trouble, wrong wheel. If Clausen in Roy Jones´ wheel, 50/50 chances Clausen wins. Very very very very bad.
Scheldeprijs (Kat. 3): no start
Paris-Roubaix (Kat. 6): No chance against Franco - well, no real chance. Vermaart ends up 2nd.
Amstel Gold Race (Kat. 5): Kato with a less wanted-to-ride attack but right wheel on the last Kms. Wolfsong ends up 4th.
Tro Bro Leon (Kat. 3): Good race by the Wizards, once a not uberstrong peloton. Vermaart takes the win.
Fleche Wallonne (Kat. 5): no start
Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Kat. 6): Wizards mentally not quite there, aswell as with the rider potential. No chance, Sneijder barely top 10. Worst classic race by us by far.

All in all the Wizards managed to do a pretty good classic season, even though the results say different. Two wins, Tro Bro Leon and Gent-Wevelgem (which makes it very successful indeed). Aswell expect Liege-Bastogne-Liege we ended up in the winning group every race (!!!) and were the most aggressive and active team in more than half of the races. You can´t take the win everytime, but we did try to every day. More cannot be expected and when there´s a Kat. 5 classic race to be won and a podest possible in almost every race - indeed every race expect LBL - we can be very proud of our early classic season.

By the same time now we again managed to have an awful team building. Vermaart is gone - he would´ve ridden 2 races each month I guess, for an 11 man team not enough. That´s why we now need to hope he can find another team for the rest of his career - with 25 years of age this is a good possibility.

[flockmastoR]

Buh! selling Vermaart Buh