Tommy Teleshopping Pro Cycling Team

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 1: Danzhou - Danzhou
Tommy Teleshopping:

31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

The Tour of Hainan had flat stages too. The plan was to test Arkadius Romanovs in a sprint of the big men. The rest of the team should be safe and rested for the rest of the tour. From the start, Team Toto appeared to be the only team trying to fight for it. They attacked with two rider and took a couple of minutes before being reeled in and trying again with two other riders.

Favorites free team got a lot of help from GC team Rohazon RC and later some other teams to control the race for a mass sprint that happened. Romanovs was at the wrong wheel and behind a gap. He might have hit the top-10 if he didn't, but 13th is ok.

01. 00:00:00 Gabriel Voigt (free team)
02. 00:00:00 Dyan Durnell (King Ryders)
03. 00:00:00 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
04. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
05. 00:00:00 Hans Jäger (Team Munich)
06. 00:00:00 Julie Martin (Rohazon RC)
07. 00:00:00 Christian Richtzenhain (GOPartner)
08. 00:00:00 Hugo Hinterseher (Ansach)
09. 00:00:00 Gerd Meister (Team Munich)
10. 00:00:00 Krista Kelly (Team Toto)
13. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
28. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
34. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
35. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
36. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
42. 00:00:00 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
43. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
50. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)

Tomorrow a similar day for the team. A bit more angulating, but no chance for a break away either.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 2: Danzhou - Chengmai

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

Today's stage was like yesterday, but with one big difference. A little hill after 65 kilometers means that Jaspers Stringas cannot contain himself. He attacked from the start with Jurgis Viikmäe and was soon joined by two other riders. This was the big break of the day that stayed away for about 100 kilometers. Jaspers Stringas got what he went for: the points at the hill. With the 3 points, he is sure to wear the climbers jersey for a couple of days, because next two days will not have a hill to challenge Stringas or number 2, Viikmäe.

Because the peloton was not willing to allow for more than just over a minute, with multiple teams sharing the workload. When Viikmäe and Stringas were caught, it was up to Arkadius Romanovs to place himself in the sprint. Two more riders made an attempt, but it was two against many, so they never stood a chance. In the sprint, Romanovs had the right wheel, but wasn't able to follow when the big guns went. He still finished a decent 9th, with GC leader Gabriel Voigt taking the win.

01. 00:00:00 Gabriel Voigt (free team)
02. 00:00:00 Julie Martin (Rohazon RC)
03. 00:00:00 Krista Kelly (Team Toto)
04. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
05. 00:00:00 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
06. 00:00:00 Hugo Hinterseher (Ansach)
07. 00:00:00 Hans Jäger (Team Munich)
08. 00:00:00 Gerd Meister (Team Munich)
09. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
10. 00:00:00 Christian Richtzenhain (GOPartner)
17. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
34. 00:00:00 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
35. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
36. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
38. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
45. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
58. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)

Tomorrow will be another flat stage. With Stringas in the polka dot jersey and Viikmäe 4th in the GC, it'll be a boring race with nothing to gain. Maybe, there will be presence in a lead group, maybe not. Important is that Invicto again does not lose time and Romanovs and Invicto will go for top-20 in a sprint.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 3: Chengmai -

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

While the manager and his wife were watching Expeditie Robinson, the team did their unimportant stage.


Johnny and Nienke preparing for their hammock trial.

01. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
02. 00:00:00 Gabriel Voigt (free team)
03. 00:00:00 Julie Martin (Rohazon RC)
04. 00:00:00 Krista Kelly (Team Toto)
05. 00:00:00 Dyan Durnell (King Ryders)
06. 00:00:00 Gerd Meister (Team Munich)
07. 00:00:00 Elias Wagner (free team)
08. 00:00:00 Hans Jäger (Team Munich)
09. 00:00:00 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
10. 00:00:00 Monica Sims (Team Toto)
25. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
26. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
28. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
30. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
36. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
49. 00:00:00 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
65. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
72. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)

PS. This article contained spoilers.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 4: Qionghai - Wanning

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

Another flat stage and today, Teleshopping had different intentions. From kilometer one, Wilberts Stringas, who had been invisible this tour so far, attacked and was soon joined by two riders from Team Toto. Immediately, the peloton started pacing with Free Team leading the chase at first. The gap went to just over two minutes.

After 35 kilometers, Team Toto suddenly built up and all-out attack a nd brought four more riders to the lead group, prompting total panic in the peloton. Team Toto's attack took about 40 kilometers until the peloton was back.

After 83 kilometers, the real big break of the day happened. It was Jurgis Viikmäe that went for glory with a mad dash, over 70 kilometers from the line. Viikmäe rode as if the entire Latvian nation was chasing him with whips. The sheer force that the rider showed was impressive and it made for glorious television. It was one man against the weather and the peloton.

Greatness does not always pay though, because in the final part of the race, he had to surrender in a mêlee of attacks. By the end, it finished in another mass sprint and another victory for Free Team. Arkadius Romanovs finished 10th.

01. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
02. 00:00:00 Julie Martin (Rohazon RC)
03. 00:00:00 Hans Jäger (Team Munich)
04. 00:00:00 Gabriel Voigt (free team)
05. 00:00:00 Hugo Hinterseher (Ansach)
06. 00:00:00 Dyan Durnell (King Ryders)
07. 00:00:00 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
08. 00:00:00 Christian Richtzenhain (GOPartner)
09. 00:00:00 Gerd Meister (Team Munich)
10. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
16. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
23. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
28. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
29. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
55. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
65. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
77. 00:00:00 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

Tomorrow will be a far more interesting stage where the peloton might break and the first riders will be falling behind and losing all hopes for a GC. Different riders will show their colours tomorrow and on day six, maybe the queen stage of this tour.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 5: Wanning- Lingshui

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

The day that the race started. For the first time, there would be riders in trouble and there would be hills to climb. Jaspers and Wilberts Stringas got in front with two other riders with the sole aim to get points for the mountain classification for Jaspers. Jaspers was first at two of the three 3rd cat climbs and second at one. He also came first at the 2nd category climb, his finish for the day.

The rest of the race was not important. By the end, a group of 4 with Wilberts was dropped from the peloton and lost 36 minutes. Arkadius Romanovs was near the front in the sprint and so was Aureliano Invicto.

01. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
02. 00:00:00 Julie Martin (Rohazon RC)
03. 00:00:00 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
04. 00:00:00 Krista Kelly (Team Toto)
05. 00:00:00 Christian Richtzenhain (GOPartner)
06. 00:00:00 Hugo Hinterseher (Ansach)
07. 00:00:00 Gerd Meister (Team Munich)
08. 00:00:00 Dyan Durnell (King Ryders)
09. 00:00:00 Gabriel Voigt (free team)
10. 00:00:00 Hans Jäger (Team Munich)
11. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
15. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
42. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
47. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
59. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
60. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
62. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
80. 00:36:55 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

Today (night had passed) one of the main stages for Tommy Teleshopping. Two cat 1 climbs for the riders to climb with one just 11 kilometers from the finish. No Romanovs today, but Invicto and Modris Kalns

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 6: Lingshui - Wuzhishan

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

The day we've been waiting for, where Aureliano Invicto and Modris Kalns had to show themselves. There would be an escape, so Jaspers Stringas had to be there, even though the first climb was after 95 km. Stringas was there, but internet was not, so that was a problem. Luckily, it returned right before the hill and Stringas could take the points.

There was something immoral going on in the attack, it seems, so the peloton was working a lot. Teleshopping started riding with Jurgis Viikmäe and Günther Golberbühler in the long downhill after the last hill Stringas could possibly take. They brought the group to just under a minute when the riders hit the final climb.

When the road started to rise, it was King Ryder leader Joshua Gold who attacked. Modris Kalns responded and started making tempo, dropping everybody except the best of the best climbers including Aureliano Invicto and a surprizing Bob Fleming from GOPartner. Fleming attacked when Kalns crossed the top in just over half a minute from Gold. Fleming slowly ate the advantage and passed Gold in the final kilometer, one second before the Invicto group that was boosted by a couple more riders in the downhill. Invicto sprinted to 3rd and Kalns to 9th.

01. 00:00:00 Bob Fleming (GOPartner)
02. 00:00:01 Duyen Nguyen (Mikado)
03. 00:00:01 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
04. 00:00:01 Karol Mielecki (GOPartner)
05. 00:00:01 Pierre Matrin (Rohazon RC)
06. 00:00:01 Bang Nguyen (Mikado)
07. 00:00:01 Martin Rauter (Ansach)
08. 00:00:01 Paul Martin (Rohazon RC)
09. 00:00:01 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
10. 00:00:01 Joshua Gold (King Ryders)
29. 00:01:21 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
39. 00:01:21 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
63. 00:08:05 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
67. 00:08:07 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
68. 00:08:08 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
79. 00:31:49 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

Nobody from Teleshopping was outside the limit and the climbers were able to show themselves. Good to see that Kalns is starting to show more and more of his promise while Invicto had no difficulty at all. Tomorrow will be a day for Arkadius Romanovs, but especially a day for Stringas to recover, because he's all spent after today. Tuesday has the 7 most important kilometers of this tour.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Arkadius Romanovs (LAT, 22)

He is starting to show his face more as co-leader in the Tour of Hainan, but we don't really know who Arkadius Romanovs is. The short answer is that Romanovs is the best sprinter Tommy Teleshopping ever had, even greater than the legendary Tim Postma. The long answer is longer.

Somewhere, about 22 years ago, Arkadius and his brother Honorijs Romanovs were born in a little village, somewhere in Southern Latvia. That is actually all we know of their youth. Honorijs was a total nutcase. What we know about him comes from my friend Procopius (not to be confused with the Greek ancient ghistorian with the samen name). In their youth, The Germans attacked and pillaged their hometown of Kalkūni, just for fun. When people told Honorijs, Kalkūni was being torched, he cried bitter tears. So did Arkadius, but Honorijs was totally unstoppable. He only calmed down when they told him that the town was leveled and not his pet chicken with the same name. Luckily, Honorijs did not survive long. All resemblances with the Roman emperor Honorius are actually coincidental. People ask me and Procci all the time.

Anyway, Arkadius was cut of better cloth and able to spend the family fortune on one thing: a bicycle. The bike might have looked like this, but he lost it when Gatis Priekulis, an infamous criminal and no relation to the famous rider Gints Priekulis, stole it.


Reconstruction of what the bike might have looked like, by Peters Rs des Vriess

Romanovs was undeterred though and stole someone else's bike. He escaped the police by sprinting and made his way across the border, where he put on a moustache and returned with a newspaper with holes for his eyes. Once the Latvian equivalent of the AIVD dropped the case, Romanovs resumed his training.

His first race was the U13 Latvian championships where he finished second behind Eugenijs Gainas, a guy that was never heard of, because he preferered his work as a swineherd, which is ok, of course. Later, he went to Poland to ride for the Lowiczanka Supermarkt Utrecht team. He won some races at a low level when the big guns from Tommy Teleshopping knocked.

Lowiczanka wanted to sell their sprinter to Rapid Vitesse, but Romanovs wanted to have a more fulfilling life, so he let himself be saved by Tommy. Under the wings of the allround awesome team manager, he developed and grew as a human being. Apart from his prowess as cyclist, he learned dutch and C#. Besides, he is not a black belt karateka and holds the U25 record of descerning which mushrooms and eatible once and which could be eaten multiple times.

For now, not too much is expected of Arkadius Romanovs, while manager Tommy asked the sprinter to stop his mushroom eating endeavours and focus on cycling, C# and his new violin. In all three, he is starting to excel.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 7: Wuzhishan - Sanya

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

After yesterday's mountain stage, today was another day for the sprinters. The race started quite hilly, but the second half was flat. Possibly a day for Arkadius Romanovs, but first things first. With a big lead, Jaspers Stringas could secure his victory for the mountains classifications if he got points at the first hill. The first hill was after just 6 kilometers and Stringas got the points there. After the downhill, there was a sprint for bonifications. Aureliano Invicto showed his intention by winning that one and grabbing 3 seconds to get closer to the race lead. A 2nd category climb was done by tempo by the pack. Teleshopping did not show interest in the points. Modris Kalns did get the sprint after the downhill, with Invicto second.

This was all the work for the team, until very late. A gap had appeared in the peloton, with some of the sprinters in the second group. The tempo was high, but a few kilometers from the finish, a group broke away from the peloton. No Teleshopping riders were there, so Jurgis Viikmäe and Günther Golberbühler were involved in the chase.. Most of the group was brought back, but Team Totos Sims managed to stay away and win the stage. Romanovs was 5th.

01. 00:00:00 Monica Sims (Team Toto)
02. 00:00:02 Krista Kelly (Team Toto)
03. 00:00:02 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
04. 00:00:02 Dyan Durnell (King Ryders)
05. 00:00:02 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
06. 00:00:02 Hugo Hinterseher (Ansach)
07. 00:00:02 Duyen Nguyen (Mikado)
08. 00:00:02 Fabian Boucher (QuickSprint)
09. 00:00:02 Bang Nguyen (Mikado)
10. 00:00:02 Bernd Riedler (Ansach)
15. 00:00:02 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
25. 00:00:02 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
26. 00:00:02 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
33. 00:00:02 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
51. 00:00:02 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
52. 00:00:02 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
59. 00:02:16 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

Today was a good day in a small way. Romanovs was quite succesful with his 5th place. Just as important is that both Invicto and Kalns were able to climb in the general classification where Invicto is now second and Kalns 5th. And Jaspers Stringas got what he went for, one of the big aims for the team: the mountain jersey.

Tomorrow, there will be the big mountaintop finish. Can Invicto hold off attacks from the other climbers and leave yellow jersey Bob Fleming behind? Can Kalns go for white? Can Invicto win the stage? All in a couple of kilometers.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 8: Longmuwan - Changjiang

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

Today was a flat stage with a gruesome final kilometers. This meant defensive riding for Tommy Teleshopping, because Aureliano Invicto, though not the favorite, was on pole position for the GC. With lesser climber Fleming in yellow, Invicto was the highest ranking climber. Rohanzon's Paul Martin would be the man to beat, but Invicto was ready to try.

It took a long time before a group got clear. Eight riders went away and took 2 minutes with Teleshopping's Günther Golberbühler and Vytautas Stringas doing the defensive work with Rohazon and GOPartner. This made that the group never realle had a chance and it was about the hill in the end. There, Paul Martin soon went and left everyone behind. Invicto was left with 2 riders, one of which cooperated. In the final part, the other went and took a couple of seconds, but not enough to challenge Invicto. Invicto easily beat his compagnon in the sprint for third and rose to second in the GC.

01. 00:00:00 Paul Martin (Rohazon RC)
02. 00:00:27 Karol Mielecki (GOPartner)
03. 00:00:30 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
04. 00:00:30 Joshua Gold (King Ryders)
05. 00:01:51 Bang Nguyen (Mikado)
06. 00:01:55 Pierre Matrin (Rohazon RC)
07. 00:02:17 Martin Rauter (Ansach)
08. 00:02:22 Duyen Nguyen (Mikado)
09. 00:02:30 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
10. 00:02:30 Bob Fleming (GOPartner)
38. 00:08:17 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
46. 00:08:17 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
53. 00:08:17 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
57. 00:08:17 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
70. 00:08:41 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
71. 00:08:43 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)

With one more flat stage to go, the GC is all but decided in favour of Martin, but with Invicto second. Modris Kalns kept his cool too, even though he lost some time. He is now tenth. Jaspers Stringas had his rest day and remained in the polka dot jersey. Tomorrow, one more chance for the sprinters and then back home after what looks like a very good tour.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tour of Hainan, Stage 9: Changjiang - Danzhou

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Modris Kalns
34. Arkadius Romanovs
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Vytautas Stringas
37. Wilberts Stringas
38. Jurgis Viikmäe

The finals stage of this succesful tour was a sprint. But first for the sponsors, Jurgis Viikmäe and Wilberts Stringas showed their asses in a 3 man breakaway that was caught half way. Then a lot of nothing and other chanceless attacks and there was a mass sprint.

01. 00:00:00 Miguel Cruz (QuickSprint)
02. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
03. 00:00:00 Gabriel Voigt (free team)
04. 00:00:00 Dyan Durnell (King Ryders)
05. 00:00:00 Hugo Hinterseher (Ansach)
06. 00:00:00 Christian Richtzenhain (GOPartner)
07. 00:00:00 Elias Wagner (free team)
08. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
09. 00:00:00 Krista Kelly (Team Toto)
10. 00:00:00 Fabian Boucher (QuickSprint)
16. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
25. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
47. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
51. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
58. 00:00:00 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
61. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
65. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

A very succesful tour with Aureliano Invicto on the podium as 2n. Jaspers Stringas won the mountain classification uncontested and Arkadius Romanovs bagged some top-10 finishes in field sprints.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Uladzimir Rutenka leaves Tommy Teleshopping

Today, Belarussian routinier Uladzimir Rutenka decided to retire from top level cycling and leave Tommy Teleshopping, probably to join some amateur outfit like that team that does not do that well.

Rutenka joined Teleshopping in may and rode nearly all the races as domestique for sprinters. He does have some story about him, but for political reasons that can't be told. He'll return to an undisclosed location to tend for his cabbages and turnips, his one true love.

Thank you, Uladzimir.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Criterio polli e galline di Cosenza
Tommy Teleshopping:
41. Arkadius Romanovs
42. Wilhelm Küchenwaltz
43. Jaspers Stringas
44. Jurgis Viikmäe
45. Kerijs Zeidmanis
46. Günther Golberbühler

Not really interesting. A group went and took a minute. The sprinter teams brought them back and there was a sprint where Teleshopping was not there because of work:

01. 00:00:00 Carl Macron (Chartreuse Monks)
02. 00:00:00 Karl Bischof (r QUICK)
03. 00:00:00 Kalos Motalos (bernardsport)
04. 00:00:00 Arthur Longo (Chartreuse Monks)
05. 00:00:00 Robert Albrecht (Team-Mojabahs)
06. 00:00:00 Julian Klose (Trekken Racing)
07. 00:00:00 Karen Araragi (Pokemonogatari)
08. 00:00:00 Benjamin Adegbuyi (JoyRide)
09. 00:00:00 Miguel Ruidiaz (Kelme-Movistar)
10. 00:00:00 Xavier Vanhevel (r QUICK)
37. 00:00:00 Wilhelm Küchenwaltz (Tommy Teleshopping)
40. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
43. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
49. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
51. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
57. 00:00:00 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)

The guys made enough money to hitch a taxi ride to the airport.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Isola di Pantelleria

Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Aureliano Invicto
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Wilhelm Küchenwaltz
34. Jaspers Stringas
35. Vytautas Stringas
36. Wilberts Stringas
37. Kerijs Zeidmanis
38. Modris Kalns

An interesting race for Aureliano Invicto and Modris Kalns to shine. With Free Team overpowering the field, break ways did not have a chance and the race ended up as a survival run with quickly only Invicto and Kalns in front. With help of other teams the rest of the team could return. Günther Golberbühler and Wilberts Stringas got dropped again and did not return. Kalns, Jaspers Stringas and Invicto were the last in the group.

When the final hill came, Stringas had to let them go and later Kalns was not able to follow, leaving Invicto with no helpers. He stayed calm to save energy. Two riders in the front group could never be countered in the flat finish straight, so Invicto waited for the sprint and hoped for the best. With a couple of kilometers to go, Kai Ehmann went and took a solo win. Invicto crushed the sprint for second. Another second place.

01. 00:00:00 Kai Ehmann (free team)
02. 00:00:18 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
03. 00:00:18 Felix Steil (Team Suessem)
04. 00:00:18 Paul Büttner (free team)
05. 00:00:18 Yannick Zündt (free team)
06. 00:00:40 Thierry Hussard (Feiting Siebing)
07. 00:00:40 Ernesto Mora (JoyRide)
08. 00:00:40 Jamie Dylan (Golden State Team)
09. 00:00:40 Niko Klosterhalfen (LENNAO)
10. 00:00:40 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
16. 00:01:19 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
28. 00:03:49 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
30. 00:03:49 Wilhelm Küchenwaltz (Tommy Teleshopping)
32. 00:03:49 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
41. 00:15:09 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
43. 00:18:40 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Adana - Kurtkulagi
Tommy Teleshopping:
31. Arkadius Romanovs
32. Günther Golberbühler
33. Wilhelm Küchenwaltz
34. Vytautas Stringas
35. Jaspers Stringas
36. Wilberts Stringas
37. Jurgis Viikmäe
38. Kerijs Zeidmanis

A race for the sprinters, obviously. Idea was to get Arkadius Romanovs in place for a sprint for 10th or 15th or something. We don't have many better things to do, so that's what we tried. A small group got away and took 4 minutes when Jurgis Viikmäe and Kerijs Zeidmanis tried to bridge across. The attack triggered a chase in the group, so the two waited. Later, they tried again with the same result.

Later, just before the climb, just over 30 kilometers from the finish, Jaspers Stringas made his move, but he did not get a lot of room either. It went to a mass sprint then.

01. 00:00:00 Daan Groenewegen (Trekken Racing)
02. 00:00:00 Jordan Lemile (Feiting Siebing)
03. 00:00:00 Bassem Mahdy (CircleCycle)
04. 00:00:00 Daniel Flonner (Team Suessem)
05. 00:00:00 Sander Vliegen (Feiting Siebing)
06. 00:00:00 Onur Balkan (JoyRide)
07. 00:00:00 Detlef Zabel (free team)
08. 00:00:00 Alexandros Margaritis (gigi-acer)
09. 00:00:00 Benjamin Adegbuyi (JoyRide)
10. 00:00:00 Sascha Theuerkauf (free team)
15. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
31. 00:00:00 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
32. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
37. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
39. 00:00:00 Wilhelm Küchenwaltz (Tommy Teleshopping)
47. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)
49. 00:00:00 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
65. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Gran Premio de Setubal
Tommy Teleshopping:

11. Arkadius Romanovs
12. Günther Golberbühler
13. Aureliano Invicto
14. Wilhelm Küchenwaltz
15. Jaspers Stringas
16. Vytautas Stringas
17. Jurgis Viikmäe
18. Kerijs Zeidmanis

A short hilly course for the escapers with a sprinter for when the group it coming back.That was Teleshopping's idea. A small group got clear and Wilhelm Küchenwaltz and Günther Golberbühler soon bridged across with Golberbühler doing a lot of work withg a guy from Trekken Racing (which is a funny name considering Trekken is a Dutch team).

The group never got much more than 1 minute of a lead, but something happened when the peloton broke in many pieces on the Alto do Picoto. Arkadius Romanovs was in the back with teammates and Aureliano Invicto and Jaspers Stringas were in front. Golberbühler was dropped by the Küchenwaltz group by then, leaving the group just three riders, but with a growing advantage.

With only a couple of kilometers to go, another group bridged to the lead group and later the peloton caught everyone too, making it a bunch sprint. Romanovs finished 10th.

01. 00:00:00 Carl Macron (Chartreuse Monks)
02. 00:00:00 Clement Grillot (Melange)
03. 00:00:00 Hektor Papst (Schartner Bombe)
04. 00:00:00 Uladzislau Bandarenka (Falkenbier)
05. 00:00:00 Malik Brathwaite (Falkenbier)
06. 00:00:00 Daniel Flonner (Team Suessem)
07. 00:00:00 Halvard Hanevold (berryberry)
08. 00:00:00 Bjorn Wippert (Trekken Racing)
09. 00:00:00 Bernard Villardieres (Melange)
10. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
26. 00:00:00 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
28. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
38. 00:00:00 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
39. 00:00:00 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
40. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
48. 00:00:00 Wilhelm Küchenwaltz (Tommy Teleshopping)
66. 00:00:00 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping)

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Teleshopping buys cheap ass poor rider

Just for laughs and to save the riders with worth, Tommy Teleshopping bought a ridiculously poor German wanker parody of a rider named Timo Reimann. The 31 year old rouleur from Semper Fidelis does not have any potential, but he'll keep the tired better men rested. All the team wanted was a cheap rider.

Later this week, Reimann will start slaving on a new project for the glory of Aureliano Invicto: the Pyramid of Invicto.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

San Benito - Matagalpa

Tommy Teleshopping:
11. Aureliano Invicto
12. Günther Golberbühler
13. Modris Kalns
14. Timo Reimann
15. Jaspers Stringas
16. Vytautas Stringas
17. Wilberts Stringas
18. Kerijs Zeidmanis

In principle a nice race with Aureliano Invicto as best climber and favorite for the win and Modris Kalns and Jaspers Stringas able to do things too, but before Teleshopping could react, a large group went away and immediately started cooperating. wilberts Stringas of Tommy Teleshopping and co-favorite Team Suessem tried to keep them in check but were just two and they quit the chase at half way. The group took over 20 minutes and contested for the win.

In the end, from the peloton's perspective, the race started getting interesting again. While the lead group broke apart in the finale, a group with Jaspers Stringas got away from the peloton and got caught again. Another group got away. Two kilometers from the finish, both Kalns and Invicto attacked and broke free from the peloton, but they got stuck in between the groups to fight for mere 17th and 22nd. A nice finish in a chanceless race.

01. 00:00:00 Frantisek Dobrota (Flolandria)
02. 00:00:01 Shane Talent (Haudegen)
03. 00:00:01 Adrianus Braspenninckx (Fraegg)
04. 00:00:06 Werner Voigt (SVO-Racing)
05. 00:00:18 Quarto Intento (Valverde)
06. 00:00:21 Hans Rudolph (rsv lünen)
07. 00:00:21 Peter Sandbichler (Haudegen)
08. 00:00:25 Numero Seis (Valverde)
09. 00:00:27 Ruben Dekker (Fraegg)
10. 00:00:27 Felix Gerster (SVO-Racing)
17. 00:21:05 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
22. 00:21:20 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
33. 00:21:42 Jaspers Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
42. 00:23:25 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
65. 00:24:16 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
70. 00:24:16 Timo Reimann (Tommy Teleshopping)
78. 00:29:55 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
79. 00:29:58 Günther Golberbühler (Tommy Teleshopping

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Borneo - Stage 1: Tawau - Lahad Datu

Tommy Teleshopping:
21. Aureliano Invicto
22. Modris Kalns
23. Wilhelm Küchenwaltz
24. Timo Reimann
25. Arkadius Romanovs
26. Vytautas Stringas
27. Wilberts Stringas
28. Jurgis Viikmäe

Today, on paper, it was a pretty easy stage for the sprinters. Aim was for Aureliano Invicto and Modris Kalns, out GC riders, not to lose time and for Arkadius Romanovs to sprint for a bit of glory. No attacking today for Tommy Teleshopping, unless a good opportunity would present itself.


It took a while until a small break away went and took a couple of minutes. One of the big sprinter teams was there, so there was some trouble in the peloton, but the group was never big enough to really make an impact. On the short hills, Team RS Coesitz started breaking the peloton in pieces with Kalns and Invicto out of trouble in a first part of the peloton. On the second hill, Kalns even got a couple of points.

With just 18 kilometers to go, tempo by Kalns and a rider from Coesitz made a 13 man lead group with Kalns and Invicto in place. GC rider Anton Koidula of rsv lünen was the most prominent rider not to be able to follow, with most of the sprinters dropping as well. With Coesitz doing almost all the work in the last part of the race and Kalns getting more mountain points to claim the KOM jersey, the 13 men went to the last couple of kilometers. Kalns and Invicto being pure climbers had to stay quiet and hope for a sprint for Invicto, but with 5 kilometers to go, attacks started and in the last kilometer, Invicto and Kalns were dropped by most of the the flat specialists. They finished 10th and 12th.

01. 00:00:00 Shmuel Halevi (RS Coesitz)
02. 00:00:00 Alicia Gonzalez (Schartner Bombe)
03. 00:00:00 Guillaume Vanwinkelen (LombardInvest)
04. 00:00:00 Leopold Vanwinkelen (LombardInvest)
05. 00:00:00 Emanuele Boaro (Flolandria)
06. 00:00:01 Elior Hermon (RS Coesitz)
07. 00:00:01 Jamie Dylan (Golden State Team)
08. 00:00:01 Maxime Clijsters (RS Coesitz)
09. 00:00:01 Giorgio Mora (LombardInvest)
10. 00:00:03 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
12. 00:00:03 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
18. 00:00:15 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
25. 00:00:15 Wilhelm Küchenwaltz (Tommy Teleshopping)
29. 00:00:15 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
50. 00:12:23 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
53. 00:12:23 Timo Reimann (Tommy Teleshopping)
58. 00:12:23 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)

It was a good race where Invicto and Kalns did not only keep in front, but also dropped an opponent for a bit, allowing some space in the mountains. Kalns also got the polka dot jersey and 3rd in the youth classification.

Tomorrow is a pancake flat stage for the sprinters. Nobody will expect an attack to last to the finish line. A stage for Romanovs perhaps. Better not drop the leaders, but we have no idea how they could.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Borneo - Stage 2: Lahad Datu - Sandakan

Tommy Teleshopping:
21. Aureliano Invicto
22. Modris Kalns
23. Wilhelm Küchenwaltz
24. Timo Reimann
25. Arkadius Romanovs
26. Vytautas Stringas
27. Wilberts Stringas
28. Jurgis Viikmäe

A flat stage for the flatty types. [/b]Tommy Teleshopping tried to get Jurgis Viikmäe and Timo Reimann in front, that triggered a reaction by RS Coesitz who brought them back. The next attack did go clear and got a big lead. These riders were to fight for victory.

With not so many kilometers to go, there was another big attack with classic specialists. Neither Aureliano Invicto nor Modris Kalns were there and llthey lost some time.

01. 00:00:00 Emil Wittgenstein (Schartner Bombe)
02. 00:00:00 Martin Reed (Golden State Team)
03. 00:00:00 Oscar Wittouck (Flolandria)
04. 00:00:00 Norman Kelly (Tourmalet)
05. 00:00:11 Elior Hermon (RS Coesitz)
06. 00:00:11 Shmuel Halevi (RS Coesitz)
07. 00:00:11 Alicia Gonzalez (Schartner Bombe)
08. 00:00:11 Jamie Dylan (Golden State Team)
09. 00:00:11 Maxime Clijsters (RS Coesitz)
10. 00:00:11 Justin Summer (Tourmalet)
19. 00:00:55 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
27. 00:00:55 Wilhelm Küchenwaltz (Tommy Teleshopping)
28. 00:00:55 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
30. 00:00:55 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
32. 00:00:55 Wilberts Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
37. 00:00:55 Vytautas Stringas (Tommy Teleshopping)
40. 00:00:55 Timo Reimann (Tommy Teleshopping)
54. 00:00:55 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Tommy Teleshopping back from weeks off
Teleshopping did ride its races, but there were no reports about them, so they might just as well not have happened. Now that is about to change. Manager Tommy returned from being away from the press center for a bit after moving houses and a little trip to London. With the national championships, a good moment to discuss the team again

Latvia - 6 riders
The main event was the Latvian championships where Tommy Teleshopping was with six riders. Modris Kalns is the highest ranked rider from the country, but Jaspers Stringas was the one protected rider. Tactic was to have two riders be in the lead group to make sure other teams work and then wait for the right moment to attack with Jaspers, have a dash with Kalns at the final hill or, if all that would fail, win the sprint with Arkadius Romanovs. Well, Wilberts Stringas and Kerijs Zeidmanis went together and were never seen again. After half the race, Jaspers Stringas and his brother Vytautas Stringas escaped too an in the finale, kalns and Romanovs broke clear to have a clean sweep. Six riders, placed 1st to 6th with Kerijs Zeidmanis the new Latvian champion. And the other teams... One actually logged in once.

Italy - 1 rider
Well, Italy was not much of a big chance with pur climber Aureliano Invicto in there. If there ever was a chance, he'd attack at the little hill, just a couple of kilometers from the finish. There was no group ahead, so that was what he did, but he was soon caught again and finished 10th in the sprint.

Austria - 1 rider
With defending champion Wilhelm Küchenwaltz just sold, Tommy Teleshopping was there with only runner-up Günther Golberbühler. He did not win.

Estonia - 1 rider
Neither did Jurgis Viikmäe. He was not in the lead group.

Germany - 1 rider
Sad human being Timo Reimann was too wretched to win. It's not finished yet, but why bother. We all hate the guy.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Atlas Tour - Stage 1a: Tlemcen - Sidi Bel Abbes
Tommy Teleshopping:
71. Aureliano Invicto
72. Miervaldis Alksnuzarins
73. Kazimieras Auzins
74. Zigmars Bugajenkovs
75. Modris Kalns
76. Arkadius Romanovs
77. Jurgis Viikmäe
78. Kerijs Zeidmanis

A short flat stage for the sprinters and later a short team time trial. Well, the first race was not that interesting, but Golder State wants me to write a report anyway. A group without Teleshopping riders went and was caught. Very interesting and stuff. Sprint with a winner that everybody expected. Are you happt now, Golden State?

01. 00:00:00 Dan Summers (berryberry)
02. 00:00:00 Karen Araragi (Haudegen)
03. 00:00:00 Finn Mertens (RS Coesitz)
04. 00:00:00 Jonathan Chucker (Golden State Team)
05. 00:00:00 Siggi Schmid (LENNAO)
06. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
07. 00:00:00 Ariel Levy (RS Coesitz)
08. 00:00:00 Linda Grubben (LENNAO)
09. 00:00:00 Kristijan Kozina (LENNAO)
10. 00:00:00 Aram Mojtabai (Kelme-Movistar)
22. 00:00:00 Zigmars Bugajenkovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
32. 00:00:00 Kazimieras Auzins (Tommy Teleshopping)
50. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
54. 00:00:00 Miervaldis Alksnuzarins (Tommy Teleshopping)
64. 00:00:00 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
66. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
69. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)

Atlas Tour - Stage 1b: Sidi Bel Abbes TTT
Later the Team Time trial that was even less exciting.
1. 00:00:00 RS Coesitz
2. 00:00:13 LENNAO
3. 00:00:32 Schartner Bombe
4. 00:00:36 Tommy Teleshopping
5. 00:00:41 Golden State Team

The entire team is at 40 seconds from the leader. Very cool and such. Now another stage for Arkadius Romanovs

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Atlas Tour - Stage 2: Sidi Bel Abbes - Oran
Tommy Teleshopping:
71. Aureliano Invicto
72. Miervaldis Alksnuzarins
73. Kazimieras Auzins
74. Zigmars Bugajenkovs
75. Modris Kalns
76. Arkadius Romanovs
77. Jurgis Viikmäe
78. Kerijs Zeidmanis

This race was quite flat, but with some hills in the beginning, so there was an attack with two Teleshopping riders, Jurgis Viikmäe and Latvian champion Kerijs Zeidmanis. Because Viikmäe was there and everybody is against him, SVO racing brought the group back and attacked solo with a weird rationalisation about being in the group. This rider kept away for a while until he was brought back by the sprinter teams. There was another mass sprint where Teleshopping sprint leader Arkadius Romanovs was 6th and Zigmars Bagajenkovs 11th, ujust outside the top-10. No significant changes in the classification. Here's the results.

01. 00:00:00 Finn Mertens (RS Coesitz)
02. 00:00:00 Karen Araragi (Haudegen)
03. 00:00:00 Siggi Schmid (LENNAO)
04. 00:00:00 Dan Summers (berryberry)
05. 00:00:00 Jonathan Chucker (Golden State Team)
06. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
07. 00:00:00 Ariel Levy (RS Coesitz)
08. 00:00:00 Linda Grubben (LENNAO)
09. 00:00:00 Paco Valencia (SVO-Racing)
10. 00:00:00 Virgil Hilts (Schartner Bombe)
11. 00:00:00 Zigmars Bugajenkovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
25. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
32. 00:00:00 Miervaldis Alksnuzarins (Tommy Teleshopping)
33. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
35. 00:00:00 Kazimieras Auzins (Tommy Teleshopping)
39. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
42. 00:00:00 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)

The sprints are quite clear for Romanovs. Without a strange happening, he'll be 6th every time. Tomorrow, it won't be a day for him though, because from Oran to Oran, it'll be hilly. Not Aureliano Invicto-hilly, but maybe group-hilly and then we're mostly looking at a national champion.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Atlas Tour - Stage 3: Oran - Oran
Tommy Teleshopping:
71. Aureliano Invicto
72. Miervaldis Alksnuzarins
73. Kazimieras Auzins
74. Zigmars Bugajenkovs
75. Modris Kalns
76. Arkadius Romanovs
77. Jurgis Viikmäe
78. Kerijs Zeidmanis

An angulating race where an attack by Jurgis Viikmäe and Kerijs Zeidmanis didn't work out well because of technical problems. A bit later another group escaped. Nine riders, without any Teleshopping precense, so the team reverted to plan B: make it a GC struggle. The aim was to break the group early and entice the more alround teams to ride. A group with Aureliano Invicto and Modris Kalns in it should cross the valley and maybe someone would be dropped, prompting anyone else to ride. Some teams looked willing, but never got through with the plan, so most of the peloton returned.

Others started calling names, but that's their problem.

On the final hill, the big climbers went for in. Invicto was immediately there and Kalns made the connection just after the hill. Sadly, this attack was not followed up with any effort after Kalns joined, so part of the peloton joined up again. Some riders, including the yellow and white jersey, were dropped, but 24 riders with Kalns and Invicto were still there.

With 5 kilometers to go, two riders escaped the bunch. They took 9 seconds when, with 3 kilometers to go there was one last 5% hill where Invicto himself attacked, dropping the peloton and getting 3 more riders with him in the downhill. The 4 man chaser group caught up with the two leaders and went for a sprint:

01. 00:00:00 Yahya Golmohammadi (Haudegen)
02. 00:00:00 DeAndre Ayton (berryberry)
03. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
04. 00:00:00 Miguel Gajalo (Golden State Team)
05. 00:00:00 Guido Weijers (berryberry)
06. 00:00:00 Leo Schmit (SVO-Racing)
07. 00:00:01 Hartmut Seidel (SVO-Racing)
08. 00:00:04 Ariel Levy (RS Coesitz)
09. 00:00:04 Maxime Clijsters (RS Coesitz)
10. 00:00:04 Jamie Dylan (Golden State Team)
18. 00:00:04 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
36. 00:12:12 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
43. 00:12:12 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
45. 00:12:12 Kazimieras Auzins (Tommy Teleshopping)
48. 00:12:12 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
56. 00:12:12 Miervaldis Alksnuzarins (Tommy Teleshopping)
60. 00:12:12 Zigmars Bugajenkovs (Tommy Teleshopping)

A good ride by the team. Not all went as expected, but Invicto was close to the win and both he and Kalns got inside the top-10. Kalns in now also leader in the youth classification with over a minute on the second rider. He intends to keep that lead to the end.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Atlas Tour - Stage 4: Mostagenem - Chlef
Tommy Teleshopping:
71. Aureliano Invicto
72. Miervaldis Alksnuzarins
73. Kazimieras Auzins
74. Zigmars Bugajenkovs
75. Modris Kalns
76. Arkadius Romanovs
77. Jurgis Viikmäe
78. Kerijs Zeidmanis

Not so much of an interesting race. The deal was to be vigilant and not get dropped. With the mountains lurking, it was the last chance for the sprinters in a while, so the escape without Teleshopping riders never got a real chance. Mass sprint where Arkadius Romanovs made a poor move to finish 7th instead of 6th.

01. 00:00:00 Karen Araragi (Haudegen)
02. 00:00:00 Finn Mertens (RS Coesitz)
03. 00:00:00 Siggi Schmid (LENNAO)
04. 00:00:00 Dan Summers (berryberry)
05. 00:00:00 Jonathan Chucker (Golden State Team)
06. 00:00:00 Ariel Levy (RS Coesitz)
07. 00:00:00 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
08. 00:00:00 Maxime Clijsters (RS Coesitz)
09. 00:00:00 Linda Grubben (LENNAO)
10. 00:00:00 Alicia Gonzalez (Schartner Bombe)
14. 00:00:00 Zigmars Bugajenkovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
24. 00:00:00 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
25. 00:00:00 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
31. 00:00:00 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
33. 00:00:00 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
44. 00:00:00 Kazimieras Auzins (Tommy Teleshopping)
62. 00:00:00 Miervaldis Alksnuzarins (Tommy Teleshopping)

Next stage is the first big mountain stage. It will not be too steep, but it looks tough and that'll be a different dynamic. Aureliano Invicto and Modris Kalns need to be there.

[Tommy Teleshopping PCT]

Atlas Tour - Stage 4: Ain Defla- Djebel Guelala
Tommy Teleshopping:
71. Aureliano Invicto
72. Miervaldis Alksnuzarins
73. Kazimieras Auzins
74. Zigmars Bugajenkovs
75. Modris Kalns
76. Arkadius Romanovs
77. Jurgis Viikmäe
78. Kerijs Zeidmanis

The first mountain stage for the tour. Aureliano Invicto was one of the guys to expect and Modris Kalns was right behind the 4 best climbers defending his white jersey. No stage for the sprinters with the uphill finish. The question was how to beat Kelme-Movistar's Gallese.

There was the group that went and took two minutes. Kelme kept control, with occasionally the yelloy jersey Coesitz helping and in downhill, Miervaldis Alksnuzarins did a bit of work too. Nothing really happened until the final hill. The group was brought back by then when Kelme upped the tempo to have a six man lead group with both Invicto and Kalns there. In the final kilometer, it was everyone for himself. Gallese won, Invicto was 3rd and Kalns beat his main competitor for the white jersey in the sprint.

01. 00:00:00 Pedro Gallese (Kelme-Movistar)
02. 00:00:02 Thea Berger (Chartreuse Monks)
03. 00:00:05 Aureliano Invicto (Tommy Teleshopping)
04. 00:00:08 Gabriel Valverde (Kelme-Movistar)
05. 00:00:11 Modris Kalns (Tommy Teleshopping)
06. 00:00:11 Anthelme NeigeDeSavoie (Chartreuse Monks)
07. 00:00:24 Miguel Gajalo (Golden State Team)
08. 00:00:26 Shmuel Halevi (RS Coesitz)
09. 00:00:26 Niko Klosterhalfen (LENNAO)
10. 00:00:26 Elia Cohen (RS Coesitz)
26. 00:02:03 Kerijs Zeidmanis (Tommy Teleshopping)
40. 00:10:59 Jurgis Viikmäe (Tommy Teleshopping)
43. 00:10:59 Arkadius Romanovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
58. 00:21:23 Zigmars Bugajenkovs (Tommy Teleshopping)
66. 00:22:32 Kazimieras Auzins (Tommy Teleshopping)
68. 00:22:33 Miervaldis Alksnuzarins (Tommy Teleshopping)

While the guys lost a couple of seconds, both Invicto and Kalns rose two places in the GC, to 3rd and 5th. With some climbing and a time trial to go, especially Kalns is in a good spot, though not the main favorite. Coesitz is not dropped yet and Kelme has two dangerous riders in front, with decent time trialist Valverde very dangerous, next to Gallese.

Tomorrow is my wife's birthday, so hardly any activity.