Team FL
Moderator: englishmods
Re: Team FL
The answer is 5.
Re: Team FL
4.8!
Henzell counts only 0.8.
Or 5.8 maybe...
I don't really remember Lichtenstein, just the name... but what was his speciality?
Unsinn the same, somehow thought he was a sprinter, but not mentioned above so....
Henzell counts only 0.8.
Or 5.8 maybe...
I don't really remember Lichtenstein, just the name... but what was his speciality?
Unsinn the same, somehow thought he was a sprinter, but not mentioned above so....
Kraftsystemrevision! Include the distance!
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Re: Team FL
Why Henzel 0.8?
Roy Lichtenstein was a climber part of the duo together with Eddie Sixpence, Xaver Unsinn a classic rider and Stefano Benni's congenial parter.
Btw. the right answer is 5: Nguyen, Schmarotz, Federspiel, Ollé Ollé and Perry Henzell. Sitko could also count as a sprinter, but he never had more than 81 sprint. But still GW and Giro points classement winner!
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Because ZB already said 5, so to win had to go higher or lower, but since in your sprinters list you mentioned 5, it seemed highely likely that it was 5. Wasn't sure about Unsinn, and sort of remembered Sitko being lower, although wasn't completely sure, so my best chance to win is: Henzell only 0.8. Because he was boring somehow. If he wasn't in the sprinters list I probably wouldn't have remembered him either. Schmarotz, Federspiel Ollé Ollé, Nguyen, ok. This Perry? Bah...
0.8. I demand random tempo too.
0.8. I demand random tempo too.
Kraftsystemrevision! Include the distance!
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Re: Team FL
What's up with Hugo Marxer?
The Team FL roster has a lot to offer. Still, the team is hardly riding at all at the moment. It even missed the Tour des Pavés,usually a planned fixture in the team's schedule.
The cycling season has come to an end, the offseason has already begun with the Tour des Pavés. For the last years, this usually was a busy time for Hugo Marxer, Team FLs technical director. He had to plan the line-up, the tactics and often the celebrations for the outcome, as his team has participated pretty successfully. This year is different. Hugo Marxer was not found in the office but rather in Liechtenstein mountains hiking or mountain biking, enjoying the last warm days of the year. In the meantime, the team rode 12 one day races in October after 11 in September and only 4 in August. Still the team has some promising riders in its roster, like the classic riders Lorenz Looser and Halvor Haugen, brazilian sprinter Eduardo Spohr or its Pavé armada around Kopinski. So what is the team up to? Well, it looks like it's hard to find sponsors in the rich apline country in the middle of Europe these days. So, due to budget cuts the schedule hat to be cut too. Which means more free time for Hugo Marxer, who does not like to ski, unfortunately. But then again, he has more time to prepare the upcoming 2020 season and the spring classics, when Team FL will be ready to look our fro some surprising wins and upsets. Until then, Hugo keeps being lazy, most likely.
The Team FL roster has a lot to offer. Still, the team is hardly riding at all at the moment. It even missed the Tour des Pavés,usually a planned fixture in the team's schedule.
The cycling season has come to an end, the offseason has already begun with the Tour des Pavés. For the last years, this usually was a busy time for Hugo Marxer, Team FLs technical director. He had to plan the line-up, the tactics and often the celebrations for the outcome, as his team has participated pretty successfully. This year is different. Hugo Marxer was not found in the office but rather in Liechtenstein mountains hiking or mountain biking, enjoying the last warm days of the year. In the meantime, the team rode 12 one day races in October after 11 in September and only 4 in August. Still the team has some promising riders in its roster, like the classic riders Lorenz Looser and Halvor Haugen, brazilian sprinter Eduardo Spohr or its Pavé armada around Kopinski. So what is the team up to? Well, it looks like it's hard to find sponsors in the rich apline country in the middle of Europe these days. So, due to budget cuts the schedule hat to be cut too. Which means more free time for Hugo Marxer, who does not like to ski, unfortunately. But then again, he has more time to prepare the upcoming 2020 season and the spring classics, when Team FL will be ready to look our fro some surprising wins and upsets. Until then, Hugo keeps being lazy, most likely.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Team FL review of 2019
2019 has been the year with the lowest number of race ridden in a long time. Low number of tours, even low number of classic races attended. Hence, the results look like they do and the team produced the lowest number of points and points per race since a looong time. Still, 35 race wins could be celebrated, two of them even classic wins. And, I dare to say traditionally, Team FL has won the Tour Down Under team classement. Besides that, the highlights this year were the Giro and the Tour, in this order. Due to the team’s new focus on one day race after the Tour de France winner Afshin Pirhashemi's retirement, esp. riders like Luca Spirito, Thibault Rossard, Karl Kopinski and the sprinter bullet from Brasil, Eduardo Spohr flourished.
2019 in numbers:
Races: 178 (~14.8 Races/Month)
Points: 22’144 (~124.4 Points/Race)
Race wins (35):
12 – Eduardo Spohr
06 – Karl Kopinski
06 – Luca Spirito
03 – Baltasar Banzer
03 – Thibault Rossard
01 – Kahlid Satour
01 – Sandro Spaeth
01 – Sean Murphy
01 – Carlos Kaiser
01 – Wael Afifi
Classic wins (2):
01 – Thibault Rossard (Scheldeprijs)
01 – Luca Spirito (De Panne)
Stage races (0):
Points classements (0):
Mountain classements (0):
Youth classements (0):
Team classements (1):
- Down Under
Rider of the year 2019:
This looks like a duell between Luca Spirito and Eduardo Spohr. Despite the more race wins by the latter, Spirito proved himself as a classic and GT stage winner, during De Panne and the Giro. Besides that, he was never tired to attack, escape or do valuable helping stuff for his team members. Thus, Team FL rider of the year 2019 is Luca Spirito.
2019 has been the year with the lowest number of race ridden in a long time. Low number of tours, even low number of classic races attended. Hence, the results look like they do and the team produced the lowest number of points and points per race since a looong time. Still, 35 race wins could be celebrated, two of them even classic wins. And, I dare to say traditionally, Team FL has won the Tour Down Under team classement. Besides that, the highlights this year were the Giro and the Tour, in this order. Due to the team’s new focus on one day race after the Tour de France winner Afshin Pirhashemi's retirement, esp. riders like Luca Spirito, Thibault Rossard, Karl Kopinski and the sprinter bullet from Brasil, Eduardo Spohr flourished.
2019 in numbers:
Races: 178 (~14.8 Races/Month)
Points: 22’144 (~124.4 Points/Race)
Race wins (35):
12 – Eduardo Spohr
06 – Karl Kopinski
06 – Luca Spirito
03 – Baltasar Banzer
03 – Thibault Rossard
01 – Kahlid Satour
01 – Sandro Spaeth
01 – Sean Murphy
01 – Carlos Kaiser
01 – Wael Afifi
Classic wins (2):
01 – Thibault Rossard (Scheldeprijs)
01 – Luca Spirito (De Panne)
Stage races (0):
Points classements (0):
Mountain classements (0):
Youth classements (0):
Team classements (1):
- Down Under
Rider of the year 2019:
This looks like a duell between Luca Spirito and Eduardo Spohr. Despite the more race wins by the latter, Spirito proved himself as a classic and GT stage winner, during De Panne and the Giro. Besides that, he was never tired to attack, escape or do valuable helping stuff for his team members. Thus, Team FL rider of the year 2019 is Luca Spirito.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
And here the current all time statistics, etc. pipapo 
team fl wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:57 amPresentation Team FL founded 3 August 2006
Current Team Roster (January 2020):
-Baltasar Banzer, 36, Flat sprinter, Liechtenstein
53-73-48-48-79, 67 Pavé, 36 Reg
-Pieter Coolman, 36, Flat specialist, Belgium
51-84-49-46-51, 76 Pavé, 35 Reg
-Oystein Eikeland, 22, Drunkard, Norway
51-73-56-56-49, 64 Pavé, 36 Reg
-Max Funk, 31, Allrounder, Luxembourg
59-87-47-48-48, 81 Pavé, 51 Reg
-
70-80-76-52-61, 72 Pavé, 40 Reg
-
54-84-78-57-47, 74 Pavé, 53 Reg
-Karl Kopinski, 33, Pavé specialist, Great Britain
54-85-77-52-70, 84 Pavé, 43 Reg
-Nicolas LeGoff, 23, Helper and Allrounder, France
54-77-71-51-46, 73 Pavé, 50 Reg
-Jose Lluis, 29, Flat Specialist, Spain
52-87-67-46-48, 81 Pavé, 38 Reg
-Lorenz Looser, 27, Hill specialist, Switzerland
71-78-79-52-64, 74 Pavé, 35 Reg
-Sean Murphy, 28, Pavé specialist, Ireland
55-83-74-50-48, 82 Pavé, 36 Reg
-Nicola Nicoli, 22, Flat sprinter, Italy
51-74-67-47-70, 71 Pavé, 40 Reg
-Eduardo Spohr, 29, Sprinter, Brasil
52-60-74-46-90, 58 Pavé, 35 Reg
-Ron Zwerver, 31, Flat specialist, Netherlands
56-87-49-47-45, 77 Pavé, 38 Reg
Team Statistics:
Stage Wins (460):
25 -Fran Peterlin
22 -Ngo Nguyen
21 -
18 -
13 -
13 -Perry Henzell
12 -Jean OlléOllé
12 -Iwan Franko
12 -
10 -
10 -Xaver Unsinn
10 -Carlos Lampe
9 -JungGi Kim (NC)
8 -
8 -Joe Friesenbichler
8 -Elwyn Oxley (NC)
8 -Afshin Pirhashemi
7 -
7 -
7 -
7 -
7 -Nodirkhan Kadyrkhanov
6 -Eric Lichtenstein
6 -Breyten Breytenbach
6 -
6 -
6-
5 -
5 -
5 -Kari Steinsson
5 -Martti Rosenblatt
5 -Carlos Tejeda
5 -Harrison Tasher (2x NC)
5 -Pavel Sitko
5 -Feliciano Centurion (NC)
4 -Omar Pene
4 -
4 -
4 -Roy Lichtenstein
4 -Jan Flachbart (NC)
4 -Royston Lighting
4 -Robertlandy Simon
4 -Bambang Megaranto
4 -Tony Woodcock
4 -Serghei Pascenco
3 -
3 -
3 -
3 -
3 -Keyser Söze
3 -
3 -
3 -Victor Fargas
3 -Eddie Sixpence
3 -Ariel Weisman
3 -
3 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -Janis Smedins
2 -Wilhelm Wahlforss
2 -Paul Betancourt
2 -Valentin Bratoev (NC)
2 -Hassan Dif
2 -
2 -Amartya Sen
2 -Anselmo Grau
2 -
2 -Carlos Kaiser
2 - TTT (TdS'18, TdF'18)
1 -Josef Fichtl
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -Dimitri Jiriakov
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -Larry Erkisson
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -Tomasz Kowalski
1 -Lars Hirschfeld
1 -Alain Yoda
1 -Elvis Bodganic (NC)
1 -Desideriu Vatca
1 -
1 -Samir Sellami
1 -Dong Dong (NC)
1 -Juan Villafuerte
1 -Kahlid Satour (NC)
1 -Wael Afifi (NC)
1 -
1 -
Classic Wins (36):
3 -
3 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
-> 2. Plätze: Josef Fichtl (Züri-Metzgete'06), Ewald Wolf (P-B'07), Steve Hasler (Placci'08, Hamburg'08 ), Sylvain Boss (Piemonte'08 ), Elmar Goop (Harelbeke'09), Mavolio Bent (Omloop'10), Luigi Mastrangelo (AGR'11), Cédric Schmarotz (MSR'12), Toni Hassler (E3'12), Stefano Benni (Omloop'13, LBL'13), Jean Ollé Ollé (GW'13), Jan Flachbart (MSR'14), Fran Peterlin (LBL'15), Perry Henzell (Hamburg'16), Iwan Franko (Omloop'17), Feliciano Centurion (PR'17), Ngo Nguyen (Scheldeprijs'18), JungGi Kim (P-R'18, Harelbeke'18), Karl Kopinski (P-R'19, Omloop'19)
-> 3. Plätze: Schavi Nator (LBL'07), Ewald Wolf (Fourmies'07), Andrea Clavadetscher (MSR'08 ), Tim Hamberger (PR'11), Stefan Küng (E3'12), Xaver Unsinn (Tre Valli'12), Arni Steinsson (RVV'13), Wilhelm Wahlforss (Harelbeke'14), Eric Lichtenstein (GW'15), Fran Peterlin (RVV'15, San Sebastian'15), Perry Henzell (MSR'16), Breyten Breytenbach (San Sebastian'16), Iwan Franko (Harelbeke'17), Pieter Coolman (Omloop'19), Karl Kopinski (RVV'19)
Stage races (29):
4 -
4 -
3 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
Youth jerseys (17):
2 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
Mountain jerseys (6):
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
Points jerseys (31):
6 -
6 -
3 -
2 -
2 -
2 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
1 -
Team classement (25):
4 - Tour des Pavés ('10,'11,'16,'17)
4 - Tour Down Under ('15,'16,'17,'19)
2 - Dunkerque ('12,'14)
1 - Alberta ('14)
1 - BinckBank ('18)
1 - California ('12)
1 - Denmark ('12)
1 - De Panne ('12)
1 - Deutschlandtour ('16)
1 - Dubai ('18)
1 - Giro della Toscana ('17)
1 - Oman ('13)
1 - Romandie ('13)
1 - Sachsen Pflaster ('12)
1 - Sibiu ('16)
1 - Tour de Suisse ('13)
1 - Tour du Maroc ('09)
1 - Trentino ('13)
Most Points:
17667 -
16332 -
12201 -
10147 -
9408 -
9067 -
8104 -
7794 -
7780 -
7620 -
7553 -
6997 -
6571 -
6552 -
6433 -
5850 -
5789 -
5672 -
5484 -
5432 -
5361 -
5326 -
5273 -
Most Races:
282 -
276 -
268 -
267 -
262 -
262 -
256 -
245 -
242 -
237 -
233 -
232 -
230 -
228 -
214 -Haruki Murakami
208 -
206 -
206 -Dominikos Petrakis
200 -
*still riding
Team FL rider's nationalities (80/80):
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
First Highlight in 2020 set by Hilti
So far, Team FL hasn't won a single race in 2020. But sind the Tour Down Under, its palmares is not empty anymore, as Hieronymus Hilti was able to win the mountain classement.
0 victories in 9 races (incl. TDU stages). That sounds not good for the team that wins almost every 5th race it rides, statistically. But the times of the empty palmares in 2020 are finally over as Hieronymus Hilti won the Tour Down Under mountain classement, one point in front of the GC winner Hitoshi Matsuyama from CircleCycle. In the escapes during stage 2 and 4, Hilti gathered enough points to bring the red jersey home and win a mountain classement for Team FL for the first time since Afshin Pirhashemi (of all people) won it at the Tour de Suisse in 2018. So far, the Liechtenstein cycling team could win a mountain classement only 7 times. 4 of them have been won by climber, three by escapers. Still, despite Hiltis success, one of the most memorable wins is Wesley Lichtenkiesel's triumph at Paris-Nice in 2012.
So far, Team FL hasn't won a single race in 2020. But sind the Tour Down Under, its palmares is not empty anymore, as Hieronymus Hilti was able to win the mountain classement.
0 victories in 9 races (incl. TDU stages). That sounds not good for the team that wins almost every 5th race it rides, statistically. But the times of the empty palmares in 2020 are finally over as Hieronymus Hilti won the Tour Down Under mountain classement, one point in front of the GC winner Hitoshi Matsuyama from CircleCycle. In the escapes during stage 2 and 4, Hilti gathered enough points to bring the red jersey home and win a mountain classement for Team FL for the first time since Afshin Pirhashemi (of all people) won it at the Tour de Suisse in 2018. So far, the Liechtenstein cycling team could win a mountain classement only 7 times. 4 of them have been won by climber, three by escapers. Still, despite Hiltis success, one of the most memorable wins is Wesley Lichtenkiesel's triumph at Paris-Nice in 2012.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
14 years ago the Donkey (or maybe Robyklebt or somebody) created his team and that's a you have to say? Not even mention how nice the Donkeys were during the escape?
Not bad Hilti anyway. Wish him a cat 4 win!
Ok this post mainly because I won't have time for a post in my thread today
Not bad Hilti anyway. Wish him a cat 4 win!
Ok this post mainly because I won't have time for a post in my thread today
Kraftsystemrevision! Include the distance!
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Re: Team FL
New Flag, fresh blood
Sean Murphy won the irish National Championships in February. In the meantime, two riders retired and two new riders joined Team FL.
But first things first: The spring classic season started on Saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The race was interesting, although not very successful for Team FL. The Liechtenstein cycling team tried to ride for Kopinski with Looser as Co-leader, but the british pavé specialist seems to be too old already for this kind of race. So in the end, neither Looser nor Kopinski could be found in front and the 11th and 12th place had to do it. But Team FL was not completely unsuccessfull in February. Sean Murphy gatherd the irish flag at the National Championships. A first for Team FL (I think). And the brasilian bullet Eduardo Spohr could celebrate his already 15th race win. His goal now is clearly MSR and at least one Giro stage. But, more is more.
As Karl Kopinski is not the only rider getting old in the Team FL roster, Baltasar Banzer and Pieter Coolman retired from cycling at the end of February. Both rider were vital for the sprint victories of Eduardo Spohr, Pieter as fast man for the last ten KM or early puller at the end of his career, and Baltasar as the last man in the Team FL sprint train, often leaving Eduardo in a winning position. While Banzer won three races himself during his career, including a NC of Liechtenstein and adding a 3rd place at Paris-Tours 2019, Mr. Coolman was too cool to win anything himself. So while these to are gone, the management was busy finding replacement for them. And while Banzer's replacement is already in the team with Nicola Nicoli, at 1 March, Arthur Arpaguas, a local flat talent, and Diego Tschiggfrei, an Italian non-smoker, were presented to the public. May they have the luck Murphy did not have in training but in races...
Sean Murphy won the irish National Championships in February. In the meantime, two riders retired and two new riders joined Team FL.
But first things first: The spring classic season started on Saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The race was interesting, although not very successful for Team FL. The Liechtenstein cycling team tried to ride for Kopinski with Looser as Co-leader, but the british pavé specialist seems to be too old already for this kind of race. So in the end, neither Looser nor Kopinski could be found in front and the 11th and 12th place had to do it. But Team FL was not completely unsuccessfull in February. Sean Murphy gatherd the irish flag at the National Championships. A first for Team FL (I think). And the brasilian bullet Eduardo Spohr could celebrate his already 15th race win. His goal now is clearly MSR and at least one Giro stage. But, more is more.
As Karl Kopinski is not the only rider getting old in the Team FL roster, Baltasar Banzer and Pieter Coolman retired from cycling at the end of February. Both rider were vital for the sprint victories of Eduardo Spohr, Pieter as fast man for the last ten KM or early puller at the end of his career, and Baltasar as the last man in the Team FL sprint train, often leaving Eduardo in a winning position. While Banzer won three races himself during his career, including a NC of Liechtenstein and adding a 3rd place at Paris-Tours 2019, Mr. Coolman was too cool to win anything himself. So while these to are gone, the management was busy finding replacement for them. And while Banzer's replacement is already in the team with Nicola Nicoli, at 1 March, Arthur Arpaguas, a local flat talent, and Diego Tschiggfrei, an Italian non-smoker, were presented to the public. May they have the luck Murphy did not have in training but in races...
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Karl the Great!
At the age of 36 and after a 2nd place in 2019, Karl Kopinski wins Paris Roubaix for Team FL, the third cobblestone for the Liechtenstein cycling team.
It was an exciting moment when Gilles Braas won Paris Roubaix in 2011 for Team FL for the first time. Tim Hamberger, got third that day, the only time two FL riders have been on the Podium in Roubaix. Next up, the Steinsson twins dominated the pavé races in 2013 for Team FL. While Ari was his most important helper, Kari won Paris Roubais in 2013 after winning De Panne (a stage race back then) and the Scheldeprijs. It took 7 years for Team FL to win it again this year after three consecutive 2nd places by Feliciano Centurion in 2017, Jung Gi Kim in 2018 and Karl Kopinski in 2019, who now won the race right before retirement.
The 2020 race itself was shaped by an early escape incl. three riders from Curvasud and one from LombardInvest. After giving them around 20 min time, Team FL started the chase in cooperation with SV Furpach who had with Jean Kaltak a similar rider than Kopinski and a nice support cast too. As expected, other teams tried to make the race hard with attacks in the second half of the race. Esp. Chartreuse Monks' riders never got tired of attacking and were one of the most important forces for an action packed finish. But Jose Lluis, Karl's last helper got everything under control, later also with the help for SV Furpachs' Amor Atlason. Hence, all attemps to prevent a final sprint for Kaltak and Kopinski could be neutralised. On the last 500m, Karl profitted from his experience and intuition together with the strategy worked out by Hugo Marxer and crossed the finish line first with a huge smile on his face.
In the meantime, two other Team FL riders set some marks: The brasilian bullet Eduardo Spohr won the Scheldeprijs and Halvor Haugen got third at De Brabantse Pijl. The team management is very happy with all these results and already 2 classic wins in the pocket after the first half of April. The next classic to race will be AGR, maybe with another great results, or even the next win?
At the age of 36 and after a 2nd place in 2019, Karl Kopinski wins Paris Roubaix for Team FL, the third cobblestone for the Liechtenstein cycling team.
It was an exciting moment when Gilles Braas won Paris Roubaix in 2011 for Team FL for the first time. Tim Hamberger, got third that day, the only time two FL riders have been on the Podium in Roubaix. Next up, the Steinsson twins dominated the pavé races in 2013 for Team FL. While Ari was his most important helper, Kari won Paris Roubais in 2013 after winning De Panne (a stage race back then) and the Scheldeprijs. It took 7 years for Team FL to win it again this year after three consecutive 2nd places by Feliciano Centurion in 2017, Jung Gi Kim in 2018 and Karl Kopinski in 2019, who now won the race right before retirement.
The 2020 race itself was shaped by an early escape incl. three riders from Curvasud and one from LombardInvest. After giving them around 20 min time, Team FL started the chase in cooperation with SV Furpach who had with Jean Kaltak a similar rider than Kopinski and a nice support cast too. As expected, other teams tried to make the race hard with attacks in the second half of the race. Esp. Chartreuse Monks' riders never got tired of attacking and were one of the most important forces for an action packed finish. But Jose Lluis, Karl's last helper got everything under control, later also with the help for SV Furpachs' Amor Atlason. Hence, all attemps to prevent a final sprint for Kaltak and Kopinski could be neutralised. On the last 500m, Karl profitted from his experience and intuition together with the strategy worked out by Hugo Marxer and crossed the finish line first with a huge smile on his face.
In the meantime, two other Team FL riders set some marks: The brasilian bullet Eduardo Spohr won the Scheldeprijs and Halvor Haugen got third at De Brabantse Pijl. The team management is very happy with all these results and already 2 classic wins in the pocket after the first half of April. The next classic to race will be AGR, maybe with another great results, or even the next win?
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Congrats. Now Lafargue has to be second in a year, grrr 
But you should have written a race report in the spring classics thread!!
But you should have written a race report in the spring classics thread!!
Kraftsystemrevision! Include the distance!
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Basics reform: Give blue a chance!
Don't punish bugusers. We all have to use bugs, since most of them are declared as "features"!
Got a carrot from FL. But they threaten to take it away now.
Re: Team FL
Goodbye Karl...
Now it's offical: Karl "the Great" Kopinski retired from cycling only 12 days after the biggest win of his long career. He will be one of the legends future FL Kieslers will talk about for sure.
It was new years day in 2019 when this handsome human being entered the stage of cycling. On the 1 January, Team FL presented the world 21 years old Karl Kopinski, the one to conquer the cobble races. But before he became a world wide phenomenon, first he achieved greatness on national level when he won the British National Championship with only 22 years in Februar 2019. Still under 24 years old, he won Brussels and Denain in March and reached the podium at Omloop, RVV and the devastating second place at PR. After hat traumatic experience, it was clear that his whole focus was on the same race in 2020, everything else was just the way to that goal. On that way it became quiet about Kopinski. He got some more race wins, more ouf of habit, unimportant looking at what he dreamt about. He still was a valuable piece of the Team FL sprint train around the brasilian bullet Eduardo Spohr and was one of the main factors for the many sprint wins during that period. But then began the new spring classic season and eventually the 12 April 2020 arrived, the day of his dreams, of his nightmares, of all he wished for. The team was prepared, everything was set, and finally, everybody could see Karl happy but also at the end of a long way. Now, his story is over, but it will be told and talked about. 24 April 2020 was the day, he decided to chase other life goals outside cycling. But who knows, maybe we will see him again at PR 2021, in a different uniform with a different task....
His career in numbers can be summed up a little shorter: 149 races, 7 race wins, 6'001 eternal points, retired with 36 years. His best skills were 55-85-77-54-70 with 84 pavé and 43 Reg.
Goodbye Karl, hope to see you again...
Now it's offical: Karl "the Great" Kopinski retired from cycling only 12 days after the biggest win of his long career. He will be one of the legends future FL Kieslers will talk about for sure.
It was new years day in 2019 when this handsome human being entered the stage of cycling. On the 1 January, Team FL presented the world 21 years old Karl Kopinski, the one to conquer the cobble races. But before he became a world wide phenomenon, first he achieved greatness on national level when he won the British National Championship with only 22 years in Februar 2019. Still under 24 years old, he won Brussels and Denain in March and reached the podium at Omloop, RVV and the devastating second place at PR. After hat traumatic experience, it was clear that his whole focus was on the same race in 2020, everything else was just the way to that goal. On that way it became quiet about Kopinski. He got some more race wins, more ouf of habit, unimportant looking at what he dreamt about. He still was a valuable piece of the Team FL sprint train around the brasilian bullet Eduardo Spohr and was one of the main factors for the many sprint wins during that period. But then began the new spring classic season and eventually the 12 April 2020 arrived, the day of his dreams, of his nightmares, of all he wished for. The team was prepared, everything was set, and finally, everybody could see Karl happy but also at the end of a long way. Now, his story is over, but it will be told and talked about. 24 April 2020 was the day, he decided to chase other life goals outside cycling. But who knows, maybe we will see him again at PR 2021, in a different uniform with a different task....
His career in numbers can be summed up a little shorter: 149 races, 7 race wins, 6'001 eternal points, retired with 36 years. His best skills were 55-85-77-54-70 with 84 pavé and 43 Reg.
Goodbye Karl, hope to see you again...
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Nice career/story of King Karl.
Looking forward to your next cobble-star.
Looking forward to your next cobble-star.
Re: Team FL
The brasilian bullet says Adeus!
Eduardo Spohr, aka the brasilian bullet has retired from cycling right after his 20 race win, incl. two Giro stage wins in May.
Nobody at Team FL would call Eduardo Spohr hardworking. It was more his flair that intrigued people around him. And his churrasco skills, which gave him his nickname: The brasilian bullet. Often misunderstood, this nickname did not stand for his pace as a sprinter, but more for his body form, his flywheel mass so to speak. And it made him difficult to overtake, as it took a looong way round. Finally, it was his sprinter instict and the combination of the beforementioned skills that led to 20 race wins overall, incl. two Giro and Tour stages and a classic win (Scheldeprijs 2020), not to forget his great sprint trains with the likes of pavé legend Karl Kopinski, Liechtenstein NC Baltasar Banzer, the Italian alliteration Nicola Nicoli or in his last race the young canadian prospect Jay Blankenau. Now, with 34, Eduardo Spohr retires from cycling, leaving huge foot steps for his successor, Zach Wheeler. Team FL wishes him best luck, an hopes for future churrasco parties at his house.
Eduardo Spohr, aka the brasilian bullet has retired from cycling right after his 20 race win, incl. two Giro stage wins in May.
Nobody at Team FL would call Eduardo Spohr hardworking. It was more his flair that intrigued people around him. And his churrasco skills, which gave him his nickname: The brasilian bullet. Often misunderstood, this nickname did not stand for his pace as a sprinter, but more for his body form, his flywheel mass so to speak. And it made him difficult to overtake, as it took a looong way round. Finally, it was his sprinter instict and the combination of the beforementioned skills that led to 20 race wins overall, incl. two Giro and Tour stages and a classic win (Scheldeprijs 2020), not to forget his great sprint trains with the likes of pavé legend Karl Kopinski, Liechtenstein NC Baltasar Banzer, the Italian alliteration Nicola Nicoli or in his last race the young canadian prospect Jay Blankenau. Now, with 34, Eduardo Spohr retires from cycling, leaving huge foot steps for his successor, Zach Wheeler. Team FL wishes him best luck, an hopes for future churrasco parties at his house.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
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Falkenbier
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:08 pm
- Contact:
Re: Team FL
All the best Eduardo!
Giorgio hopes to be at one of his parties, once he retired...
Giorgio hopes to be at one of his parties, once he retired...
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Gipfelstuermer
- Posts: 1695
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:43 am
- Location: Weltenbummler
- Contact:
Re: Team FL
Was a pleasure to ride races with and versus Eduardo, especially the Giro! Actually JJ hoped to ride Le Tour with Eduardo as well, but ok, let's see if this youngstar Wheeler can deliver for Team FL like Eduardo did!
GIP MASTERPLAN
Gameplay: Flexible Min-Tact. Improve Sprint System. Windkante.
Marketing: Re-attract old players. Advertisement. Social Media.
New Players: Fair Start Budget, New Tutorial.
Fairplay: Improve FPC features, Fair Prize Money Disribution.
Gameplay: Flexible Min-Tact. Improve Sprint System. Windkante.
Marketing: Re-attract old players. Advertisement. Social Media.
New Players: Fair Start Budget, New Tutorial.
Fairplay: Improve FPC features, Fair Prize Money Disribution.
Re: Team FL
Zach wins in Belgium, misses green
While Eduardo Spohr gains weight every day, his successor Zach Wheeler continues the sprinter winning streak at Team FL with a victory at stage 3 of the Belgium Tour but misses green by less than 10 points.
End of stage 3 of the Belgium Tour 2020: The Team FL sprint train was set. It was the proven Giro combination of Looser in front, Nicoli as lead-out and Spohr, oh wait..., well, Wheeler with the finishing punch. And maybe the luck that the other sprinters failed to bring themselves in a good position. Anyway, Wheeler went first over the finish line, setting his first mark in professional cycling and put him at first position in the points classement, at least temporarily. The fact that he could not defend it was a very strong Hediger, who won stage 4, and a desastrous result at stage 2, where the Team FL sprint train got blocked in a crazy sprint scenario. Still, it was a good start into the post Spohr era and Wheeler showed, that he won't be a push off in future races. Hugo Marxer is pleased too and so are his fellow team mates who know now, that it is worth to work for the young American in a sprint race.
While Eduardo Spohr gains weight every day, his successor Zach Wheeler continues the sprinter winning streak at Team FL with a victory at stage 3 of the Belgium Tour but misses green by less than 10 points.
End of stage 3 of the Belgium Tour 2020: The Team FL sprint train was set. It was the proven Giro combination of Looser in front, Nicoli as lead-out and Spohr, oh wait..., well, Wheeler with the finishing punch. And maybe the luck that the other sprinters failed to bring themselves in a good position. Anyway, Wheeler went first over the finish line, setting his first mark in professional cycling and put him at first position in the points classement, at least temporarily. The fact that he could not defend it was a very strong Hediger, who won stage 4, and a desastrous result at stage 2, where the Team FL sprint train got blocked in a crazy sprint scenario. Still, it was a good start into the post Spohr era and Wheeler showed, that he won't be a push off in future races. Hugo Marxer is pleased too and so are his fellow team mates who know now, that it is worth to work for the young American in a sprint race.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Zach makes it a full podium at Fourmies for Team FL
GP de Fourmies was one of the races, Team FL could only grab podium places so far. After Zach Wheelers victory in this year's edition, the podium is finally fully occupied by Team FL riders, including the first place.
Before the race, Hugo Marxer told the team that they should trust in their abilities, trust in the Team FL sprint train and its strategy and eventually in Zach Wheeler to finish confidently. And Hugo Marxer was right after all. After a fast race, good cooperation in the peloton and and insecure opponents in the sprint, Zach crossed the finish line first and was also the first Team FL rider to win the GP Fourmies. So far, Ewald Wolf got 3rd in 2007 and Perry Henzell got second in 2015. It is Zach's first classic win, Team FL's third this year after winning the Scheldeprijs (Eduardo Spohr) and Karl Kopinski's emotional victory in Roubaix. In sum, this makes 39 classic victories for Team FL overall. Who knows, maybe Zach can also win the 40th classic race for the Liechtenstein cycling team? Or it might be another "debutant" as no other rider in the currrent roster has ever won a classic race...
GP de Fourmies was one of the races, Team FL could only grab podium places so far. After Zach Wheelers victory in this year's edition, the podium is finally fully occupied by Team FL riders, including the first place.
Before the race, Hugo Marxer told the team that they should trust in their abilities, trust in the Team FL sprint train and its strategy and eventually in Zach Wheeler to finish confidently. And Hugo Marxer was right after all. After a fast race, good cooperation in the peloton and and insecure opponents in the sprint, Zach crossed the finish line first and was also the first Team FL rider to win the GP Fourmies. So far, Ewald Wolf got 3rd in 2007 and Perry Henzell got second in 2015. It is Zach's first classic win, Team FL's third this year after winning the Scheldeprijs (Eduardo Spohr) and Karl Kopinski's emotional victory in Roubaix. In sum, this makes 39 classic victories for Team FL overall. Who knows, maybe Zach can also win the 40th classic race for the Liechtenstein cycling team? Or it might be another "debutant" as no other rider in the currrent roster has ever won a classic race...
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Team FL News Update
Due to Corona-Measures, Team FL senior PR officer William deWorde has to work from Home at the moment. "Work" is a big word in that sentence though, as nobody in the Team FL headquarters really knows what exactly he is doing. Unfortunately, it is obvious what he's not doing: Writing press releases. Hence, the team management ordered Hugo Marxer to summarise what happened during the last month since Zach's win at the GP de Fourmies (and in some cases even before that) and here is the result:
- Jay Blankenau won two races: Gent-Oudenaare, 22.09.2020 and the Memorial VDB, 06.10.2020
- Team FL got younger again, say hello (if you haven't already) to: Koen Koekelkoren, Belgium, future classic rider; Uros Kovacevic, Serbia, future allrounder and Yuji Nishida, Japan, future classic rider.
- Say goodbye to the following greybeards: Lorenz Lo(o)ser, Switzerland (4 race wins, 3'695 points) and Halvor "haha" Haugen, Norway (0 race wins due to Looser, 2'425 points).
In the meantime, the team is developping well for the spring campaign and a possible Giro start in 2021. The team structure will look something like this:
Sprinters (!):
- Zach Wheeler, flat sprinter, possible MSR candidate
- Timo Tammemaa, lead out sprinter with decent pavé, possible GW or similar candidate
- Jay Blankenau, pavé guy with decent sprint, possible PR candidate.
Classic riders:
- Koen Koekelkoren, good allrounder who lacks sprint, possible Ardennes candidate
- Yuji Nishida, good allrounder who lacks sprint, possible Flanders candidate
Pavé-ish:
- Diego Tschiggfrei, refuses to train more flat, so pure helper it looks like
- Uros Kovacevic, 80 pavé questionable, still good as helper and possible Flanders candidate (optimistic), good allrounder (realistic), or maybe a total failure (pessimistic)
Flat:
- Arthur Arpagaus, holding high the FL flag
- Pekka Piippo, Pekka Pekka!
Helper/Allrounder:
- Bana Hassana, Mr. stamina at Team FL
So still one or two guys needed as the currently remaining three riders, Eikeland, LeGoff and Nicoli all will become greybeards soon too, unfortunately. Anyway, have to check if William deWorde is still not available...
Due to Corona-Measures, Team FL senior PR officer William deWorde has to work from Home at the moment. "Work" is a big word in that sentence though, as nobody in the Team FL headquarters really knows what exactly he is doing. Unfortunately, it is obvious what he's not doing: Writing press releases. Hence, the team management ordered Hugo Marxer to summarise what happened during the last month since Zach's win at the GP de Fourmies (and in some cases even before that) and here is the result:
- Jay Blankenau won two races: Gent-Oudenaare, 22.09.2020 and the Memorial VDB, 06.10.2020
- Team FL got younger again, say hello (if you haven't already) to: Koen Koekelkoren, Belgium, future classic rider; Uros Kovacevic, Serbia, future allrounder and Yuji Nishida, Japan, future classic rider.
- Say goodbye to the following greybeards: Lorenz Lo(o)ser, Switzerland (4 race wins, 3'695 points) and Halvor "haha" Haugen, Norway (0 race wins due to Looser, 2'425 points).
In the meantime, the team is developping well for the spring campaign and a possible Giro start in 2021. The team structure will look something like this:
Sprinters (!):
- Zach Wheeler, flat sprinter, possible MSR candidate
- Timo Tammemaa, lead out sprinter with decent pavé, possible GW or similar candidate
- Jay Blankenau, pavé guy with decent sprint, possible PR candidate.
Classic riders:
- Koen Koekelkoren, good allrounder who lacks sprint, possible Ardennes candidate
- Yuji Nishida, good allrounder who lacks sprint, possible Flanders candidate
Pavé-ish:
- Diego Tschiggfrei, refuses to train more flat, so pure helper it looks like
- Uros Kovacevic, 80 pavé questionable, still good as helper and possible Flanders candidate (optimistic), good allrounder (realistic), or maybe a total failure (pessimistic)
Flat:
- Arthur Arpagaus, holding high the FL flag
- Pekka Piippo, Pekka Pekka!
Helper/Allrounder:
- Bana Hassana, Mr. stamina at Team FL
So still one or two guys needed as the currently remaining three riders, Eikeland, LeGoff and Nicoli all will become greybeards soon too, unfortunately. Anyway, have to check if William deWorde is still not available...
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Timo Tammemaa on Top in Wevelgem!
Team FLs finnish finisher finishes first in Flanders classic Gent-Wevelgem
Enough alliterations, let's get to the facts, or some names first: Pedro, Phineas, Pavel. Dammit, even more alliterations... Anyway, all three of them have one the spring classic Gent-Wevelgem for Team FL in 2011, 2014 and 2017. And now, to break up the PPP connection, Timo Tammemaa (!) with the help of Arthur Arpagaus (!!), Pekka Piippo (!!!) and others, wins it again in 2021, 10 years after the first Team FL victory. What a nice jubilee to celebrate. The only one who is not happy is Nicola Nicoli (ok, I give up now), who was left out of the line-up this year, although he landed on the podium in 2020. But he will retire soon, so nobody is afraid of him, esp. not Hugo Marxer who did prepare the whole team perfectly for the race. So, what's next for very lazy Team FL in 2021? I guess the classics in April, or a sausage race here an there until the big highlight of the year, the Giro, when riders like Koen Koekelkoren or Santiago Stolk (...!!!!...) will also have a chance to compete, not like yesterday.
Team FLs finnish finisher finishes first in Flanders classic Gent-Wevelgem
Enough alliterations, let's get to the facts, or some names first: Pedro, Phineas, Pavel. Dammit, even more alliterations... Anyway, all three of them have one the spring classic Gent-Wevelgem for Team FL in 2011, 2014 and 2017. And now, to break up the PPP connection, Timo Tammemaa (!) with the help of Arthur Arpagaus (!!), Pekka Piippo (!!!) and others, wins it again in 2021, 10 years after the first Team FL victory. What a nice jubilee to celebrate. The only one who is not happy is Nicola Nicoli (ok, I give up now), who was left out of the line-up this year, although he landed on the podium in 2020. But he will retire soon, so nobody is afraid of him, esp. not Hugo Marxer who did prepare the whole team perfectly for the race. So, what's next for very lazy Team FL in 2021? I guess the classics in April, or a sausage race here an there until the big highlight of the year, the Giro, when riders like Koen Koekelkoren or Santiago Stolk (...!!!!...) will also have a chance to compete, not like yesterday.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Team FL renaissance after the Giro?
The Liechtenstein cycling team has not been very active in the spring classics, although the team roster would have fit well. Will we see a Team FL renaissance after the Giro with local talents?
During the last month, it got quiet again around Team FL. Silently, riders like Nicoli, Eikeland or Tschiggfrei retired from cycling, while young local talents like Bertram Büchel or Magnus Marxer (who will join in May) have been added to the roster. At least one thing is clear, the team will participate in this years Giro d'Italia. But what will happen afterwards? The most likely scenario is: not much. Looking at the new riders' skill, Team FL will focus again on one day races, flat or hilly. Besides that, even the Team FL management could not answer the question about long term plans. So I guess, we'll have to wait and see...
The Liechtenstein cycling team has not been very active in the spring classics, although the team roster would have fit well. Will we see a Team FL renaissance after the Giro with local talents?
During the last month, it got quiet again around Team FL. Silently, riders like Nicoli, Eikeland or Tschiggfrei retired from cycling, while young local talents like Bertram Büchel or Magnus Marxer (who will join in May) have been added to the roster. At least one thing is clear, the team will participate in this years Giro d'Italia. But what will happen afterwards? The most likely scenario is: not much. Looking at the new riders' skill, Team FL will focus again on one day races, flat or hilly. Besides that, even the Team FL management could not answer the question about long term plans. So I guess, we'll have to wait and see...
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Bana hui, Wheeler pfui
While Bana Hassana won the Maglia Azzurra at the Giro d'Italia 2021, the rest of the team incl. star sprinter Zach Wheeler arrived back at home with empty hands.
The statistics for Team FL in all 9 Giro editions until 2021 is not that bad: 31 stage wins, 3 GC podiums, 1 Youth classement, 4 points classements, 1 mountain classement. The Liechtenstein cycling team was able to win at least one stage in every edition. Until 2021. When it couldn't. Team FL's biggest hope, US sprinter Zach Wheeler, was not able to take an advantage of his opportunities during bunch sprints, despite having a well experienced support cast with Blankenau and Tammemaa. Additionally, escaping was not very succesful during this year's Afternoon Giro and maybe the Team's best chance during stage 11, with Nishida in front together with two opponents, was let go to easily.
But, and there is a but: Due to Bana Hassana's coninued efforts in escapes, and his determination to wear the maglia azzurra, he could win the mountain classement, being only the second rider after Team FL's all time great climber Luigi Mastrangelo. Hence, the Giro was kind of a success, I guess. Now, the team management needs to go back to the drawing board and prepare for a possible Tour de France participation.
While Bana Hassana won the Maglia Azzurra at the Giro d'Italia 2021, the rest of the team incl. star sprinter Zach Wheeler arrived back at home with empty hands.
The statistics for Team FL in all 9 Giro editions until 2021 is not that bad: 31 stage wins, 3 GC podiums, 1 Youth classement, 4 points classements, 1 mountain classement. The Liechtenstein cycling team was able to win at least one stage in every edition. Until 2021. When it couldn't. Team FL's biggest hope, US sprinter Zach Wheeler, was not able to take an advantage of his opportunities during bunch sprints, despite having a well experienced support cast with Blankenau and Tammemaa. Additionally, escaping was not very succesful during this year's Afternoon Giro and maybe the Team's best chance during stage 11, with Nishida in front together with two opponents, was let go to easily.
But, and there is a but: Due to Bana Hassana's coninued efforts in escapes, and his determination to wear the maglia azzurra, he could win the mountain classement, being only the second rider after Team FL's all time great climber Luigi Mastrangelo. Hence, the Giro was kind of a success, I guess. Now, the team management needs to go back to the drawing board and prepare for a possible Tour de France participation.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
While Team FL gets younger, Bana wants to stay
Team FL has been rejuvenating itself over the past couple of month. The currently oldest rider in the team, Bana Hassana, still shows the young bloods how to ride and keeps winning
Bertram Büchel, Magnus Marxer, Hubert Henno, Michelangelo LoBianco, Fortunato Fontdevila, Guido Görtzen, Ben Bollendorf and joining the team in September: Kevin Klinkenberg. These are the riders in the Team FL roster that are 25 yo or younger, preparing for a successful spring campaign in 2022, incl. the Giro d'Italia.
While the team develops mostly towards flat, pavé and light hilly terrains, the most successful Team FL riders is the oldest one: Bana Hassana with his 33 years. His palmares stacked up during the last month, incl. the Giro mountain classement, two stage wins at the Tour and an escape victory in the very unimportant but very long race from Auriac to Aurillac. Hence, he demands to stay for a bit longer, if only to show the young ones how to ride successfully.
But who can do it? Who can join the ranks of famous Team FL stage winners like Benni, Peterlin, Nguyen or Spohr? Who can dominate classic races like Federspile, Frank, Mühlenberg or Garrido? Well, the time will show. As usual, it depends on training, effort and attitude (and other stuff, maybe or maybe not illegal).
According to Hugo Marxer, the Team FL future looks bright, he says with a cracking voice. While wearing shades. Why is water coming down his cheecks under the shades? And now he starts laughing hysterically... Damn it...
Team FL has been rejuvenating itself over the past couple of month. The currently oldest rider in the team, Bana Hassana, still shows the young bloods how to ride and keeps winning
Bertram Büchel, Magnus Marxer, Hubert Henno, Michelangelo LoBianco, Fortunato Fontdevila, Guido Görtzen, Ben Bollendorf and joining the team in September: Kevin Klinkenberg. These are the riders in the Team FL roster that are 25 yo or younger, preparing for a successful spring campaign in 2022, incl. the Giro d'Italia.
While the team develops mostly towards flat, pavé and light hilly terrains, the most successful Team FL riders is the oldest one: Bana Hassana with his 33 years. His palmares stacked up during the last month, incl. the Giro mountain classement, two stage wins at the Tour and an escape victory in the very unimportant but very long race from Auriac to Aurillac. Hence, he demands to stay for a bit longer, if only to show the young ones how to ride successfully.
But who can do it? Who can join the ranks of famous Team FL stage winners like Benni, Peterlin, Nguyen or Spohr? Who can dominate classic races like Federspile, Frank, Mühlenberg or Garrido? Well, the time will show. As usual, it depends on training, effort and attitude (and other stuff, maybe or maybe not illegal).
According to Hugo Marxer, the Team FL future looks bright, he says with a cracking voice. While wearing shades. Why is water coming down his cheecks under the shades? And now he starts laughing hysterically... Damn it...
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
Re: Team FL
Uros Kovacevic King of Pavé!
Paris Roubaix? Ronde van Vlaanderen? No. The tour des Pavés determines the king of Pavé. And Uros Kovacevic won it.
Excited about the news, he could not hold back and told everybody: Team FL will start at the Tour des Pavés 2021. You ask: What is so exciting about that? Well, since you've asked... Team FL has not been riding stage races since the Giro d'Italia. And Uros Kovacevic was 34 years old and thinking about retirement already. So this was his last chance to prove his worth to his team mates, his family, the world, himself. Because so far, his palmares didn't look very impressive. Anyway, now, with the help of young future pavé stars like LoBianco, Klinkenberg and perhaps even Büchel, he reached for the stars. And looking at the competition, that was not exaggerated. Wolfowitz, Lambert, Moretti, Lacross, Nöbauer, Jäger, Stecker: All proven pavé specialists. In the end, it was the fighting spirit and one last successful attack during the last stage of the tour that lead to victory. His retirement is well deserved now.
Paris Roubaix? Ronde van Vlaanderen? No. The tour des Pavés determines the king of Pavé. And Uros Kovacevic won it.
Excited about the news, he could not hold back and told everybody: Team FL will start at the Tour des Pavés 2021. You ask: What is so exciting about that? Well, since you've asked... Team FL has not been riding stage races since the Giro d'Italia. And Uros Kovacevic was 34 years old and thinking about retirement already. So this was his last chance to prove his worth to his team mates, his family, the world, himself. Because so far, his palmares didn't look very impressive. Anyway, now, with the help of young future pavé stars like LoBianco, Klinkenberg and perhaps even Büchel, he reached for the stars. And looking at the competition, that was not exaggerated. Wolfowitz, Lambert, Moretti, Lacross, Nöbauer, Jäger, Stecker: All proven pavé specialists. In the end, it was the fighting spirit and one last successful attack during the last stage of the tour that lead to victory. His retirement is well deserved now.
I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.
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