Team Garmin-Barracuda » Ricardo van der Velde

Zabriskie attacks on Castilla y Leon, stage 4

CJ — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:56:32 +0000

Team Garmin-Slipstream’s David Zabriskie, sitting in third overall by just 22 seconds, put the pressure on the leaders in Castilla y Leon, when he attacked the field solo. Meanwhile, Tom Danielson and Christian Vande Velde sacrificed their top ten GC spots to help with the attacking. DZ remains in third overall with one more stage to go.

“Man’s gotta try…” -DZ

Director’s report from Johnny Weltz

Again today we wanted a fast stage, so it happened! The first 60km no breaks went but at 65km in a group of ten took off. We had Ricardo in it and they gained up to 1’40, but before the top it was caught.

Christian Vande Velde getting mechanical assistance.

The last 6km of the climb was brutally hard! A group of 14 went over the top with Zabriskie in it, and Christian and Tom passed at 30 seconds back. But the two groups came together at the bottom and a new group took off with Christian in it. They where caught on the last climb where Cobo took off with 2km to go and won the stage — a few seconds in front of a small group with Zabriskie, in at 11th place. And the GC stayed the same.

Team Garmin-Slipstream, stage 4 results
1. Juan José Cobo +3h42’03
11. David Zabriskie +0’09
39. Blake Caldwell +1’58
51. Tom Danielson +4’32
56. Christian Vande Velde +7’03
64. Lucas Euser +9’34
107. Huub Duyn +25’08
117. Hans Dekkers +25’08

Team Garmin-Slipstream GC results
1. Levi Leipheimer 12h15’38
3. David Zabriskie +0’22
33. Blake Caldwell +4’40
43. Tom Danielson +5’59
51. Christian Vande Velde +8’33
61. Lucas Euser +16’32
102. Huub Duyn +33’34
108. Hans Dekkers +35’41
110. Ricardo Van Der Velde +35’49

Langkawi day 2: Racing for more than a song

CJ — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:35:20 +0000

There is this song here at the Tour of Langkawi they play at the start of every stage. It’s simply known to us as the ‘Tour of Langkawi song’. But it’s so much more than a song. It has such a strong presence, I swear I was singing it before I even got here. Everyone I know who has done this race talks about the song. For some, it’s the only thing they remember. I’m actually singing it right now and my roommate Timmy looks like he wants to rip my head off!

I have a theory that we all have a way of forgetting pain and suffering. And since races seem to come with their fair share of suffering, unless we win, we normally remember how nice the hotels were, how good the food was, how beautiful the country was, and yes, how catchy that tune was. So, if everyone who has done this race comes away singing that song, I figured the race had to get a lot harder.

Sure enough, today there was no messing around. No more taking in the scenery, enjoying the mysteriousness of a foreign country. It was down to business.

As if the start wasn’t aggressive enough, at kilometer 25 we had a 3-kilometer, 15% grade climb. The field split immediately and Timmy and I made the front group of 20 and tried to follow all the moves. Then two guys launched on the descent; but two guys never seem to pose much of a threat.

The field was content to watch the duo struggle out front. But as their gap started climbing, the attacks picked up. We had Ricardo (right) get in a three man group that went on the hunt. But they couldn’t reach the break and came back with about 60 km to go. The time gap was around six minutes and it was time to make a decision. Chase or let them go.

So with Ricardo taking a few last digs in front and Christian Meier (above) riding like three men, the gap started coming down. For the sprint, we did what we could to protect CJ. But with a straight, pan-flat run in for the last 10 km, there wasn’t much we could to but hope for a bit of luck. Unfortunately she didn’t show up today. But there are plenty more opportunities for both CJ and the rest of us climbers.

I’d like to come away from this one with more than a catchy tune!

Garmin-Slipstream stage 2 results
1. Mattia Gavazzi 3h42’13″
13. Chris Sutton +00″
24. Lucas Euser +00″
30. Timmy Duggan +00″
43. Christian Meier +00″
89. Ricardo van der Velde +00″
108. Cameron Meyer +00″

Garmin-Slipstream GC
1. Mattia Gavazzi 6h48’35″
5. Chris Sutton +14″
10. Christian Meier +19″
12. Ricardo van der Velde +19″
31. Lucas Euser +20″
68. Timmy Duggan +20″
98. Cameron Meyer +20″

Meet Ricardo van der Velde

7thgroove — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:06:43 +0000

Ricardo van der Velde is a 21-year-young Dutch rider who comes to Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O from the Rabobank development team. Initially Ricardo was going to join the VMG/Felt U23 Team, but it was decided that he should go directly to the professional team. Johan van der Velde, Ricardo’s father, was a very talented bike rider with beautiful and heroic performances in the Giro d’Italia. His last name is of course very similar to that of one of the best riders in our team.

So are Ricardo and Christian family? There is actually a good chance that they are. It is known that Ricardo’s family went to Belgium and lived in the area of Gent. From Christian’s side, we know that his family originally comes from Gent in Belgium. So Ricardo promised to figure that out for me. I am telling you all this because this was the one familiar topic I found that helped a nervous Ricardo relax when I met him at my office for the first time last Friday.

Ricardo came in for a physiology test to determine his heart and power training zones. With the testing, I follow a really slow protocol so it is easier to find the power at Maximal Lactate Steady State. Also, the body composition is determined by skin fold measurements. This is written down in a report and discussed with the rider.

We also practiced and discussed the weight training exercises Ricardo should do now. Ricardo will begin with an easy weight training program to develop his technique with the different exercises. During the Boulder training camp that starts November 16, we will meet again and see what progress he has made. In the meantime, Ricardo is also training on the road.

Always, with such a young rider, the risk is that he is doing too much too early in the season. We don’t want this young neo-pro to impress the older professionals during the first training camp and then not being able to reach that level again the whole year. My job is to help him do just the right things in the right amount so he can grow in to the season.