Climbing Adventures and Some Sun!

Greetings!                  (Click on pictures for slideshow)

These last two weeks seem to have skated by really quick.  Between the training on the bike I have been getting out quite a bit bouldering.  I have found a few new places which are pretty nice as it is always fun to be the first person to climb new routes.  The best part is that you are always the only climber there or then with your friend.  Thanks to Jody for lending his crash pad to me as now I am able to attempt higher problems with a bit more safety.  Johan and I have gone out climbing quite a bit now as we are training for a trip to Olhava as there will be no races in two weeks.  We have visited Rollarit and led some of my favorite routes there to get used to leading on rock again.  One such route which is my absolute favorite is Spiderman.  It has everything with pretty interesting moves, jams, and dynos.  It also has quite a scare factor although it is very safe.  Feels great to be out on the rock and can't wait for my first Olhava trip!

Shark Fin 6a+ Photo By: Johan Grönroos

On another funny note the snakes have been out like crazy!  I have run into 5 this spring and one on the bike!  It is very unusual as I usually only see one or two snakes a year.  Pretty crazy and even one of my friends had one fly out of the sky next to him!  I guess they must be desperate for sun after the long winter!  Also there was an eclipse of the moon awhile back which I tried to capture but I couldn't really see it.  In any case it may be the last time that it is so dark for awhile since now the daylight is so long!

Last Saturday was also our first wedding anniversary!  It is amazing how fast time flies by and how everything is going.  We have some very exciting times ahead of us and there will be lots of fun things in the future!  On our wedding Anniversary a guy came to renovate our sauna with this beautiful dark wood which is amazing!  Then we decided to go for a walk and the neighborhood had arranged this 'Sun Walk' through our local nature preserve Uutela.  It was fantastic and was really fun to see all the things they had set up.  They we returned home and had a very nice meal and sauna.  A perfect relaxing day thanks to my wonderful wife!

Otherwise Annina and I have really been enjoying the weather and have been able to soak up some sun rays on the rocks next to the sea.  It has been really nice.  On Friday we head to the summer cottage for a week since Annina has a week holiday.  Can't wait although there will be quite a lot of spring work to do!  Overall it seems like summer has finally arrived!  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for updates! =)

Photo By: Johan Grönroos

Tampere Race Weekend

Greetings!

Thanks once again to all of our Sponsors, The Nurmi's, and for Tuomas for making this a great weekend for Team Velocitor.  This last weekend started with a Criterium in Tampere on Saturday called the Killin Kaivin GP on the Criterium National Calendar.  Only Kim and Roope represented our team but they did a very good job.  The course presented many twists and turns and a hard 180' corner just before the finish line.  I didn't see the race for myself but I heard that Kim did a very good job in the race and Roope sprinted to the win.   It is very good since there was only two of them and Roope seems to be on a sprinting streak.  Congrats to both of them and good work! 

Roope Podium  Photo By: Kim Mansner

Elite	60 min + 5 kierr
1	Nurmi	Roope	Team Velocitor	1;06;21
2	Hietala	Juhana	CCH KTM Team
3	Koski	Olli	Visillatalot-Continental
4	Silfver	Saku	Kruunukatto-Rush Racing
5	Pökälä	Samuel	TWD-Länken
6	Puttonen	Max	Porvoon Akilles
7	Järvinen	Henri	Visillatalot-Continental
8	Niemi	Jarkko	Chebici-Isku
9	Leppänen	Petri K.	Visillatalot-Continental
10	Vilen	Mika	CycleCenterTeam
20	Mansner	Kim	Team Velocitor	1;07;34

The next day the whole team was represented as Marek has won the Fuji GP (Rosendahl) race three times in the past which is part of the National road calendar.  The  course was a very challenging 3.5km loop with about 1km of it uphill.  The hill is sort of split into three sections with false flats between and really saps the legs especially after 20 times.  On top of it the weather was a balmy 23'C and presented fantastic views from the finish line on top of the hill.  The race started off fairly calm and Kim and Kimmo were very active in the front.  It stayed pretty much together until about two thirds of the way through Marek, Samuel, and Tony took off.  Then behind another split of about 10 got away with Kimmo getting in this move.  Samuel and Marek were working very well together until Marek dropped off the pace with 2 laps to go.  Samuel went on to win the race while Marek hung on and powered to third.  The chase group splintered and Kimmo came in a strong 6th place which was also very good.  This race for me has never been a good one in the past and I tried to just get to the finish.  We all finished and despite not winning the race we put a strong performance in.  It was another good day to finish off the weekend.  A big thanks to the Nurmi's for again helping out as they helped with everything and were standing smiling with cold coca-colas at the finish.  Also in the woman's race Jutta managed a very fine 5th place which was also another good result for the team!

Fuji GP Podium  Photo By: TWD-Länken

Elite	70 km
1	Pökälä	Samuel	TWD-Länken	1;46;21
2	Stoor	Tony	NCK	1;46;54
3	Salermo	Marek	Team Velocitor	1;47;38
4	Torpo	Timo	CCH KTM Team	1;47;59
5	Leppänen	Petri K.	Visillatalot-Continental	1;48;02
6	Kananen	Kimmo	Team Velocitor	1;48;30
7	Koski	Olli	Visillatalot-Continental
8	Hietala	Juhana	CCH KTM Team
9	Meriläinen	Niko	Porvoon Akilles	1;48;35
10	Järvinen	Henri	Visillatalot-Continental	1;48;42
	…
28	Fingerson	Eärendel	Team Velocitor	1;49;04
42	Mansner	Kim	Team Velocitor	1;51;23
43	Nurmi	Roope	Team Velocitor

N-Elite
1	Savolainen	Sini	CCH Racing Woman Team
2	Kansikas	Jasmin	Team Medilaser/P-P
3	Väinölä	Kirsi	Team Probike
4	Sten	Emma	Focus Ladies/IK-32
5	Nieminen	Jutta	Team Velocitor

It was a great weekend and hopefully we can continue our good team success!  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for updates!

20. Satakunnan Ajot, Stage Race 4.-5.5.2013

Greetings!                              (Click on pictures for slideshow)

Team Velocitor  Photo By: Jari Birling

This last weekend we had another race near Pori which was a two day stage race.  First of all I would like to thank all of our sponsors  and Tuomas for everything they have provided.  I would also like to give a big thanks to Roope's father for being such a good team helper and always having a big smile on his face.  We couldn't have done it without him.  Saturday morning started off with a short 1.7km prologue.  The course was pretty flat until about 500meters to go with a small rise and then a false flat to the finish.  With a small drizzle in the air we took off each at our own times.  I felt terrible again and I felt like I was going very slow which I was.  Marek and Kimmo managed to put in respectable times while Roope and Kim managed to keep a fighting distance with their times.  Samuel Pökälä TWD motored to the win.

Results

	M-elite
1	Pökälä Samuel	TWD-Länken	02:25,5
2	Saarinen Juho	Lahden Pyöräilijät	02:27,3
3	Rissanen Jarmo	KuSo Team Scorpion	02:29,3
4	Järvinen Henri	Visillatalot-Continental	02:31,0
5	Salermo Marek	Team Velocitor	02:31,5
6	Priha Matti	Cycle Center Team	02:31,9
7	Kananen Kimmo	Team Velocitor	02:33,8
8	Loukkola Joni	Porin Pyörä-Karhut	02:34,3
9	Kahila Ilari	TWD-Länken	02:35,0
9	Niemi Jarkko	Chebici-Isku Team	02:35,0
9	Aaltio Risto	TWD-Länken	02:35,0
15	Nurmi Roope (U23)	Team Velocitor	02:36,8
19	Mansner Kim	Team Velocitor	02:37,6
43	Fingerson Eärendel	Team Velocitor	02:48,2

After some good food and some laughing we were ready to start the next stage a 96km road race.  The race which was 6 laps had two time bonuses on offer which we were going to try to get.  The first time bonus Roope managed to get 2nd place which was very good and he gained 2 seconds.  In the meanwhile we were all very active at the front getting in the moves and then or chasing.  The next time a time bonus came around we had the full team lead out.  It was really great and we did a pretty good lead out as Roope had no problem to get the time bonus.  The race continued like the until a few km's from the end.  Visalot Continental started their lead out train but we blasted past theirs with ours.  It was a great feeling although we may have started a little early but it still worked out as Roope sprinted to the win.  It was a great team day out as everyone contributed and did work and we won the race.  On top of it with the time bonuses now Roope was leading the overall.

Results

M-elite			91 km
1	Nurmi Roope	Team Velocitor	02:09:25
2	Järvinen Henri	Visillatalot-Continental	02:09:25
3	Koski Olli	Visillatalot-Continental	02:09:25
4	Pökälä Samuel	TWD-Länken	02:09:25
5	Puttonen Max	Porvoon Akilles	02:09:25
6	Lehtimäki Toni	Visillatalot-Continental	02:09:25
7	Laukkala Mikko	Turun Urheiluliitto	02:09:25
8	Leppänen Petri K	Visillatalot-Continental	02:09:25
9	Arvo Tapio	Turun Urheiluliitto	02:09:25
10	Vilen Mika	Cycle Center Team	02:09:25
26	Mansner Kim	Team Velocitor	02:09:25
29	Kananen Kimmo	Team Velocitor	02:09:25
31	Salermo Marek	Team Velocitor	02:09:25
51	Fingerson Eärendel	Team Velocitor

After a relaxed evening we awoke to some very cold weather and light rain.  It was absolutely freezing!  The course was a pretty flat one that was five laps and 120km.  The race started off and Kimmo, Kim, and Marek doing a lot of work for Roope to keep the race together.  I was completely useless and disappointed in myself as I couldn't do much.  I was just freezing.  After three out of the five laps Marek and I turned it in and hoped for the best.  Luckily Roope had good legs and won the day even in a field sprint which earned him the overall victory.  Really great to see and it felt like a team victory as well!

Roope Sprinting to Victory   Photo By: Unknown

 Results

	M-elite		125 km
1	Nurmi Roope	Team Velocitor	03:11:04
2	Järvinen Henri	Visillatalot-Continental	03:11:04
3	Hämäläinen Teemu	Kouvolan Pyöräilijät	03:11:04
4	Nurminen Janne	Idrottsklubben -32	03:11:04
5	Arvo Tapio	Turun Urheiluliitto	03:11:04
6	Hietala Juhana	CCH KTM-Team	03:11:04
7	Toppari Jaakko	N. Cykelklub/Rose	03:11:04
8	Puttonen Max	Porvoon Akilles	03:11:04
9	Laukkala Mikko	Turun Urheiluliitto	03:11:04
10	Pökälä Samuel	TWD-Länken	03:11:04
33	Mansner Kim	Team Velocitor	03:11:04
38	Kananen Kimmo	Team Velocitor	03:14:00

 Overall

1	Nurmi Roope	Team Velocitor
2	Järvinen Henri	Visillatalot-Continental
3	Pökälä Samuel	TWD-Länken
12	Mansner Kim	Team Velocitor
37	Kananen Kimmo	Team Velocitor

Hopefully we can keep this kind of racing up!  If we can we should be able to win a lot of races!  This next weekend there are no races so we will be just training and then there will be some races in Tampere.  Thanks to all my teammates for a nice weekend!  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for updates!

Close Finish!    Photo By: Sininen Bussi

Roope on the podium  Photo By: Eärendel Fingerson

A Race, Vappu, and a Cruise to Stockholm

Greetings!                        (Click on pictures for slideshow)

Our new team page is now updated here.

http://www.velocitor.fi/team/team_velocitor

Last weekend was the AHH Stage Race in Rihimäki. Unfortunately I have no pictures of our riders from the race... Only pictures from Vappu and Stockholm.  Thanks again for all of our team sponsors!  On Saturday the weather was cold and drizzly as the 2km prologue started off. The prologue was a straight drag with the last 500meters going up this hill. Marek powered away to get 2^nd and Kimmo and Kim also did a very good time. As for me I was clear at the back of the field with a pretty slow time and I felt terrible. It was really great that we had 3 guys in the top 10 for the prologue though!

M-Elite           
1     Rissanen Jarmo     KuSo                        03:21,14
2     Salermo Marek     Team Velocitor          03:27,08
3     Mattsson Petter     NCK / Rose             03:29,18
4     Torpo Lasse          CCH                         03:31,92
5     Kananen Kimmo   Team Velocitor          03:32,21
6     Kuuranne Jori-Pekka CCH                     03:32,32
7     Järvinen Timo        Lahden Pyöräilijät     03:33,51
8     Onnela Hannu       V.CONTINENTAL    03:34,08
9     Mansner Kim        Team Velocitor           03:34,53

....

57   Fingerson Eärendel Team Velocitor         04:00,32

Later in the afternoon we had a short 65km road race. The weather had gotten slightly warmer and we were ready to go. Kimmo and I were very active in the front and contributed to pull back an early break. I was almost getting shelled every time we hit the hill that came every lap but then I managed to recover and go back to the front. Our plan was to have a lead out train but it didn't quite work out that way. Kim managed to get away just at the end of the race. Victory was almost in his grasp but a late charge from the field closed the gap dramatically. I was trying to keep Kimmo and Marek in the front which in the end worked out. A few riders jumped and then Marek started a superman sprint from about 500meters out. He just powered away and at the last second passed Kim and we got the victory! A really great result and day out! Seems like my form is slowly coming around. The average speed was about 41kph. Then with the time bonus Marek was leading the race!

M-Elite           
1     Salermo Marek                Team Velocitor     1:24:28
2     Silfver Saku    Kruunukatto-Rush Racing     1:24:28
3     Pusa Tero                 Kouvolan Pyöräilijät     1:24:28
4     Toppari Jaakko                    NCK / Rose      1:24:28
5     Kuuranne Jori-PekkaCycle Club Helsinki     1:24:28
6     Eklund Erik               Cycle Club Helsinki     1:24:28
7     Laanterä KalleKruunukatto-Rush Racing     1:24:28
8     Siukola Lauri                                 HyPy      1:24:28
9     Lehtimäki Toni            VCONTINENTAL     1:24:28
10     Mattila Sami         Team Velo Cycling ry     1:24:28
....
18     Kananen Kimmo            Team Velocitor     1:24:28
45     Fingerson Eärendel         Team Velocitor     1:24:28
48     Mansner Kim                 Team Velocitor     1:24:28

I had to leave to Sweden the next day but the guys had a pretty rough day as many riders were riding against them. A early break of 5 got away and Kimmo and Marek came tantalizing close to bridging but didn't manage. In the end they finished in the main pack. Still though Marek ended up 5^th overall which is also very respectable!  It was a pretty successful weekend for our team and looks promising! 

     M-Elite           
1     Kejo Mikko                       Kruunukatto-Rush Racing     2:19:52
2     Onnela Hannu         VISILLATALOT-CONTINENTAL     2:19:52
3     Koski Olli                VISILLATALOT-CONTINENTAL     2:19:52
4     Kuuranne Jori-Pekka                 Cycle Club Helsinki     2:19:52
5     Nummikko Jussi                            Lahden Pyöräilijät     2:20:54
6     Silfver Saku                      Kruunukatto-Rush Racing     2:20:58
7     Nieminen Tommi                                              IK-32      2:21:00
8     Leppänen Petri.      VISILLATALOT-CONTINENTAL     2:21:00
9     Häkkinen Timo                  Kruunukatto-Rush Racing     2:21:00
10     Lahti Juho                                  Cycle Club Helsinki     2:21:00

...

35    Kim Mansner                                       Team Velocitor   2:21:00

40    Kimmo Kananen                                  Team Velocitor   2:21:00

49    Marek Salermo                                    Team Velocitor   2:21:00

Overall

 1     Kuuranne Jori-Pekka     Cycle Club Helsinki

 2     Onnela Hannu     VISILLATALOT-CONTINENTAL
 3     Kejo Mikko     Kruunukatto-Rush Racing

...

 5     Marek Salermo       Team Velocitor  

11     Kimmo Kaananen  Team Velocitor

13     Kim Mansner         Team Velocitor

http://www.spusaitti.com/tulokset/2013/ahh_yht.htm

While they were racing Annina and I headed on the boat to Stockholm. We had been planning this trip for quite some time and it coincided with each other.  We really enjoyed ourselves as we went to the Sauna on the boat and just relaxed and ate good food. We were really lucky with the weather in Stockholm as it was sunny but brisk. We did a bit of shopping and some looking around. Then on the way back we had this wonderful roast duck which was awesome! Overall two nights on the boat was very nice as there was an Irish theme at the time which was also very amusing. A really pleasant cruise.

Then as the week resumed after the cruise I got some good training in. The one training ride with Marek on Vappu was pretty tough. He actually dropped me at one point! I don't know what really happened but I all of a sudden imploded...Also Marek is going pretty quick at the moment!  Thanks again to Marek though we had a really nice training ride. Afterward we had a nice Vappu picnic at home on the beach with Annina. It was again fantastic sunny but brisk weather.

Then to finish off the week I ended up finding a new bouldering place close to home! Awesome as it is always nice to make first ascents and have a quiet place to climb for yourself! =)

It sure has been a busy week! Tomorrow we head to Pori for another small stage race! I hope it goes well! Thanks for reading and stay tuned for updates!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turning Up The Volume

Greetings!                             (Click on Pictures for Slideshow)

About a week ago our team (Team Velocitor) embarked on it's first races of the season in Turku.  This is a slightly delayed report but last week has been a very busy week for me.  On Saturday the weather was atrocious but we were in a relaxed and excited mood.  The race was a circuit race that was a 4km lap that we did 20 times.  Every lap had this uphill that is a bit deceptive and makes the race pretty hard.  There was only three of us representing our team... Marek, Roope, and I.  The race in general stayed pretty much together and after about half way I got spit out the back.  Felt funny as it was only the second time I had been out on my road bike this year.  I got lapped some laps later and just hung in to get some training in.  I was marked as DNF.  Petri K. Leppänen got a slight gap in the end and won the race while Marek powered up the hill past a Latvian rider to get second.  It was a very good performance and a good way to start the season.

Freezing Podium  Photo By: Eärendel Fingerson

Simo Klimscheffskij´n muistokilpailu
Elite          
1     Petri K. Leppänen     Visillatalot-Continental     1:49:59
2     Marek Salermo          VCR                              1:50:05
3     Kristofers Rācenājs    Alpha Baltic                   1:50:05
4     Matiss Preimanis        Alpha Baltic                   1:50:05
5     Janek Tombak             JTrattaklubi                    1:50:05
6     Ingus Eislers              Alpha Baltic                    1:50:05
7     Risto Aaltio                 TWL                              1:50:05
8     Mika Simola               TuUL                              1:50:05
9     Ville Heistman           CCT                               1:50:05
10     Juhana Hietala         CCH                              1:50:05
....
22     Roope Nurmi        VCR                               1:50:05

http://www.spusaitti.com/tulokset/2013/sk.htm
After getting all sorted out in the freezing weather we headed back to the Sokos hotel in Turku for a relaxing evening.  The next day the weather was slightly better but the course was full of snow melt and dirt.  The race was a 1.12km loop (50 laps)  in the city center that was a basic 4 corner criterium with some cobble stones in the corners.  This time we had the full team represented with Kimmo, Kim, Marek, Roope and I.  Kim was very active in the race and managed a small breakaway for a few laps.  Then Marek won a lap prize which was also very good.  The race stayed together and despite a few crashes it ended up in a field sprint.  Risto Altio won the race while Roope sprinted really well  to get 4th place while Marek rounded out in a respectable 8th place.  Overall It was a good day out and I managed to finish my first race of the season.  Both races the average speed was just under 40kph. 

Finish of the Criterium  Photo By:  Unknown

56. TS Kortteli
Elite          
1     Risto Aaltio                       TWL     1:25:42
2     Matiss Preimanis   Alpha Baltic     1:25:42
3     Kristofers Rācenā Alpha Baltic     1:25:42
4     Roope Nurmi                  VCR     1:25:42
5     Sigvard Kukk      Spordipartner     1:25:42
6     Janek Tombak         Jtrattaklubi     1:25:42
7     Mika Simola                     TuUL     1:25:42
8     Marek Salermo               VCR     1:25:42
9     Henri Järvi                           VC     1:25:42
10     Juhana Hietala               CCH     1:25:42
.....
38     Kim Mansner                 VCR     1:25:42
39     Kimmo Kananen           VCR     1:25:42
42     Eärendel Fingerson     VCR     1:25:42

http://www.spusaitti.com/tulokset/2013/ts.htm
It felt a bit rough for me as I felt like I was pedaling squares in both races and had a hard time following the accelerations.  Despite this my general condition felt pretty good, so hopefully in a few weeks I can get it turned around.  A special thanks to Tuomas for everything in the weekend and of course thanks to all of our sponsors.

This last weekend Marek and I held a mini training camp of our own and put some good miles in.  It was pretty fun and we lucked out with the weather.  Marek even put more miles than i did and thanks to him we had some great rides.  After some long rides it sort of felt like my legs are starting to slowly go in circles again!  Next weekend Is another race in Rihimäki!  Should be fun!  Thanks for reading and stay stuned for updates!

Muddy Face   Photo By: Tuomas Pernu

Three Stooges   Photo By: Tuomas Pernu

Cleaning the Muddy Bikes   Photo By: Tuomas Pernu

Crit Podium with 2 missing  Photo By: Tuomas Pernu

Muddy Team Velocitor   Photo By: Tuomas Pernu

Easter and a New Team Kit

Greetings!                                                                  (Click on pictures for slideshow)

The last few weeks have been pretty rough but also at the same time very nice. Our Easter vacation started off with Annina and I heading to the summer cottage for a week. We arrived and the weather was fantastic for almost the entire week. Sunny and around freezing! We went skiing out on the lake everyday and then in the evening we made saunas and I went swimming in the ice. What a great feeling! Then I managed to clear the roofs from the cottages of snow which was quite a lot of work. 

Our week was sort of interrupted when we had to go visit the hospital in Heinola after we found out that I had shingles! :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster

Not very fun but glad we caught the virus in good time so that I could treat it very quickly. We came back to the cottage but I had to skip the evening saunas although Annina continued on her own. Despite being quite sick and in pain we still managed to get out and do some outdoor activities. It was pretty nice as the neighbor even made a groomed track all the way around the lake! We were also quite lucky as our other neighbor and her family had plowed the road so we didn't have to ski all the way to the cottage.

For Easter dinner we cooked a nice lamb roast and enjoyed a nice evening. It turned out pretty good as we stuffed it full of garlic and some sprigs from outside. We also made a funny little Easter search for our Kinder eggs. It was pretty funny and I was greeted with a mini-Porsche while Annina got a little plastic seal! Before it was time to go home, I managed to fix the birdhouses so they had a nice place to go. Hopefully they will hold up for the summer. It was really unbelievable weather and a very nice Easter except for the fact that I was dreadfully sick with the shingles.

The past week or so I have been bed ridden at home just trying to recover from the virus. It seems that most of the virus is gone. I am a bit nervous as this weekend I have my first race on those funny two wheeled skinny tired things(road bikes) in Turku. I checked the start list and it seems like it will be a pretty hard race as there are 5 Estonian and 1 Latvian teams participating. The start list link is here:

http://www.tuulpyoraily.com/index.php/tuul-pyoraily/tapahtumat

Looks like it will be pretty tough especially since I have been bed ridden and haven't been in a real race in awhile. We also have gotten our new team kit this week which was nice. Thanks to Tuomas and our sponsors for everything! Now hopefully we can win some races as a team!

I have made 52 video clips from Easter so it will take me awhile to put together a film...I hope to get to it next week. I will also write a race report from the weekend! Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for updates!