G'day,

My name is Michael Drapac, and I am the Owner and Team Principal of the Drapac Professional Cycling Team. We are a small domestic team from Australia, with riders from Australia, Malaysia, and the Netherlands



Working with me on managing the team is Agostino Giramondo, the director sportif, Jonathan Breekveldt, the team manager, and finally, our contact in Europe, Dirk van Hove. With over 60 years cycling experience, and almost 25 years in the business industry, our management team knows how, what and why in almost everything they do. One of their first achievements was signing a Major Partner.



Giant, the Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer, has agreed to provide us with bikes until the end of 2013. Due to their proximity in Asia, they aid us in our quest to give young Asia Pacific riders a chance to nurture and grow as cyclists.



Porsche is another of our major sponsors. Although not a naming rights, or equipment sponsor, Porsche will provide us with 2 Caymans and a Cayenne for utilising during the races.

Not only will we be riding the fastest in the peloton with Giant Bicycles, we will also be cruising comfortably and at a comfortable pace with Porsche.

The team will compete in all the Australian, Asian, American and most Belgian Races, as well as a few from around Europe.



Next up, is our Team Preview

Meet The Team

Team Leaders:

Muhamad Adiq Othman
Moving over from the track, Muhamad is the team's main sprinter. Muhamad will set is focus on the flat stages and because he is a bit off winning yet, aim for Top-10 finishes. His main goal is 3 Top-5 finished at the Tour de Langwaki, his home race.

Lachlan Norris
The teams best climber, Lachlan is still very young, at only 19 years of age. Despite not having as much experience as some of the older guys, he is still not fully developed. Fresh out of University, his aims are purely to develop as a rider, and, more speciafically, a climber.

Floris Goesinnen
Our only European rider, Floris brings invaluable knowledge of foreign racing. Floris speciallises on the cobble's, and will be our leader in any races with even half a cobble. When not on 'Winning' duty, Floris will aid in the nuturing of our Young Riders, as well as the protection of our leader.

Protected Riders:

Thomas Palmer
Dubbed 'The Next Robbie' (McEwen), Thomas is an extremely gifted Criterium racer and packs a punch on the line. Thomas is our native sprinter, and will seek to achieve sprinting goals from our sponsors.

Amir Mustafa Rusli
Our 2nd Malaysian, what Amir lacks on the flats, he more than makes up for in the mountain's. Able to climb 20km's faster than i can descend it, Amir will race mostly will Lachlan Norris and be his final helper when the road pitches up.

Adam Semple:
Adam has been descirbed by some has having 'the abilities of a young Cadel Evans'. Not quite up to Tour de France standards just yet, Adam seeks to be the team's main stage racer in the next 3 years. For now, he will help Darren Lapthorne and David Pell in the small stage races the team participates in.

The Veterans:

Stuart Shaw
A talented sprinter with a lot of room for improvement when the road goes up, Stuart will be Thomas Palmer's main lead-out and support the team by pace making early on the hilly and mountain stages.

Darren Lapthorne
A sprinting climber, Darren brings back lots of experience and stories from his time racing in Europe with various teams. Our Captain on the road, Darren can make split second descisions that benefit everyone on the road.

David Pell
A TT specialist, David can also climb well and will be out leader for small TT stage races. When the race lacks a Test of Truth, he will ride in support of the others.

Rhys Pollock
A sprinter, Rhys will be Muhamad Othman's final lead-out in the race for the line. He has been racing for a long-time and will be invaluable in the development of our youngsters.

The Young Guns:

Stuart Grimsey
A young stage racer, Stuart simply has the aim of developing into a better rider.

Adam Phelan
The sprinting Phelan, Adam will race every race with his brother Michael.

Patrick Drapac
The owner's son, to Patrick, there is no easy option.

Michael Phelan
The Time Trialing Phelan. Michael will help the leaders and protect Adam.

The Full Squad

The Sponsors

The Drapac Professional Cycling Team has many sponsors. Some provide us with equipment essential to a cycling team, others are simply in it to expose their brand. Either way, it is important to recognise our sponsors.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Drapac is a Property Investment Group owned and managed by our very own Michael Drapac. After Micheal's son, Patrick got involved in cycling, Michael decided to help Patrick out in every way he could. When Patrick missed out on National's selection because he didn't fit with the team's 'image', Michael created The Drapac Cycling Team.

A few years on, the Drapac Professional Cycling Team is the biggest pro team in the country and South East Asia region.

To provide advice and opportunities to young individual cyclists

Top-10

Sky gets Jaguar, we get Porsche. The German sports car manufacturer is prepared for us to use 3 Cayman's and 1 Cayenne throughout the season.

In return for the cars Porsche would like:

Top-10

Top-5

Top-3

The Taiwanese Bicycle Manufacturer will provide us with bicycles this year and will continue to do so until the end of 2013. For Criterium's and Road Races we will utilise their TCR Advanced SL, and their Trinity Advanced SL for Time Trial stages.

Giant has a big Asian market, so appealing to them is very important. We must represent them the best we can.

Tour of Qatar

Representation

Tour of Oman

Representation

Tour of Turkey

Representation

Tour of the Qinghai Lake

Stage Win

Top-20 GC

Japan Cup

Top-3

You can't ride a bike without wheels or a groupset, so for the first time, the team welcomes Shimano on board. The entire team will ride Dura Ace 7900 groupset.

Shimano will also provide the team with wheels. The team will use Dura Ace C50's and C35's on the road.

Shimano is another of our sponsor with a large Asian market. Again, we must do our best to represent them well within their selected region.

Stage Podium, Top-25 GC

1st

PRO is a division of Shimano, focusing on high-end and performance cycling products. PRO will provide the team's Disc-wheel for TT's, and Handlebar's.

1st Stage 1

Numerous Sprint Victories Throughout

Kask will provide the team with all their helmet needs. They will provide their Vertigo model for road races, and their K.31 Chrono for TT's

Top-15

The Japanese cycle clothing manufacturer approached our team after losing its sponsorship to Garmin-Transitions. It is an honour to have a clothing supplier with such a rich history and such fantastic and comfortable clothing

Prove how good our clothing is. Be in the Breakaway of the day.

Top-5

The Australian sports nutrition brand is a great asset to the team. No-one wants to run out of energy passing under the 10km to go mark. Shotz aim's to rid the sports world of this. We have no argument's with this. They know what we need, when we need it and how much of it we need. They even know how many gels it would take to get Michael a win at his local club race (the number is to great to put here).

Top-5

Stage Top-10

Top-20 Overall

Well, now you've met my colleagues, the team and their sponsors, I think all thats left is to finalise the Calender and the Team's Goals for the season.

Manager of Team Bpost

Follow me on Twitter
(All opinions expressed are not guaranteed to reflect reality)

Pure Black - Genesys

Manager of Team Bpost

Follow me on Twitter
(All opinions expressed are not guaranteed to reflect reality)

Graphics | David Veilleux - The Return of a Legend

Pure Black - Genesys

Graphics | David Veilleux - The Return of a Legend

Pure Black - Genesys

Pure Black - Genesys