((Disclaimer: All characters portayed in this story are fictional. All names and abilities are purely co-incidental. The views/actions of any of the characters in this story are in no way a representation of any real life person they may share any characteristics with. I think that's my ass covered.))

When Liquigas announced it was pulling out of cycling after what seems like forever, question were asked about the future of the team that already existed. Mainly, would Cannondale take over single ownership and would Nibali be staying.

As we know, the answer was yes and no. Here is how things could have been a little different.



Sometime towards the end of the 2012 season

Cannondale Press Officer: "Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen of the press. I know lots of rumors have been doing the rounds over the last few days so I shall get right to the point. Cannondale is proud to announce that from the 2013 UCI WT Season we shall be entering into a partnership with a team we feel have a proven track record in sporting success. A team that has won world championships in multiple sports and shown a real commitment to developing young talent.

That team is none other then Red Bull. I'm sure you'll agree they will be a welcome addition to the peleton."

Assorted Press: "What does this mean for the futures of riders like Nibali and Sagan? Will they be staying or leaving. With no Italian lead sponsor, will the squad become more american based?"

Red Bull Press Officer:"I'd like to answer this one. I can confirm today that both Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali will both be riding for us next year. Both are true champion riders and we at Red Bull want to be champions. To let either go would be foolish. There will be a lot of changes to the squad before the new season, but updates on that front will come over time. We seek to sign the best and brightest riders and are very much an international team and the squad makeup is likely to represent that.

As for our basing, there are no plans to relocate to the states despite Cannondale natural basing there. The current basing is up to a pretty good standard and will certain be fine for next season. As the UCI World Calander is mainly european based it makes sense to stay close to heart of the action."

Assorted Press:"Do you think you can beat team Sky? How will you go about doing that if that is your plan?"

Cannondale: "Naturally beating Sky is what we would like to be able to do. They had a very successful season last season and we would like to do the same."

Red Bull: "We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could win. We feel confident that by the time the new season starts we will be capable of victory in a great many races. Thank you for you time today and you shall here more from us over the coming weeks,"



Database: PCM13Expansion
Difficulty: Medium (Because I suck!)

Atlantius: Jersey Design

Other Sponsors:
Elite
Red Bull Racing Eyewear
SiDi
SRM
Pepe Jeans London
Matrix Fitness Equipment
Multipower Sportsfoods

Results

Atlantius has covered nearly everything for me now XD

Feedback is always nice. Let me know what you like, what you don't, if you've already been reading you'll know I'm open to feedback and will change things to make them more enjoyable for you guys. Let me know what you thinking!

Suggestions for Personal Goals would be great



25/03 - No stage update, but will get the front sections updated with rider results, some rider goals, as well as some updates on any scouting and any training increases that may have happened as the next race is a few weeks away.
26/03 - Start of Tour Med, with Tommy Voeckler making his debut.



- Daily Updates.
- Some really bad photography
- Poor attempts at hillarious commentary
- 3d picture reports for most big races. And those I think are interesting.
- Some odd simulation results from races I cant be bothered with.
- Lots of Sagan wins. Probably.

Sounds cool man. Good luck!

To members of the press. Please find attached a list of all current Liqiugas-Cannondale riders whom will be retained for the 2013 Season.

Peter Sagan
Vicenzo Nibali
Ivan Basso
Moreno Moser
Elia Viviani
Damiano Caruso
Cayetano Sarmiento
Fabio Sabatini
Juraj Sagan

We shall also be honoring the contract offered by Cannondale to Lucas Sebastián Haedo , and welcome him to the team.

This morning I can bring you the names of another 5 riders whom will be riding with us next season.

Italian National Road Race Champion Franco Pellizotti
Italian National Time Trial Champion Dario Cataldo
Slovak National Time Trial Champion Peter Velits
Former Australian TT Champion Cameron Meyer

And the third of our leaders next year. The always entertaining, ever endearing and Frances "le Chouchou". Like Chesney Hawkes he is, the one, the only, Thomas Voeckler.

We hope that is enough to keep you full enough until our next rider announcements.

Good Luck mate

Looks like it'll be a very strong team!

Cheers sutty. Editing the DB at the mo so all the riders are right XD



Also joining Red Bull Cannondale Pro Cycling from next season will be the following.

The Future of French tour Cycling, Thibaut Pinot
Two of Americans hottest young Talents, Andrey Talansky and Taylor Phinney
Dutch Starlet Wico Kelderman

and our team supplier of creamy brown beverages, the Irishman Nicolas Roche.

@ Atlantius: Well, Cannondale aren't exactly poor, Red Bull doesn't do things by halves and someone has to challenge Sky!

Very, very strong and young team

Awesome, simply awesome. Sagan and Nibali should've stayed together, here it's so!

I love most of the riders who will ride for the team.
It's going to be a great season, and you can maybe beat Sky this season, but in a few seasons that's going to be easy for you. You've got some great talents! Good luck!

Indeed. I'm a Sky fan, but I would have loved for this too happen so we could have two super squads. Instead of going to dodgy russians to try and take the fight to Sky, instead Red Bull give him to team he needs. I wanna see them try chase down all the hits we can make XD



And without further ado, we can now reveal the final 7 members of the 2013 seasons 27 man squad. We feel our squad will be fully capable of achieving the team goals for this season.

Mikel Nieve
Nairo Quintana
Lars Ytting Bak
Simon Å pilak
Kristijan �urasek
Tony Gallopin
Jonas Ahlstand

We hope to soon unveil our ultimate goals for the season in the near future.

@ Jesleyh: You'd think it would get too easy, but never underestimate my immense ability to suck and attract horrible luck.

Nieve will be an important part in the team for sure!
Good youth rider with Gallopin!

And don't forget Quintana

@Flair That's not what I meant, I meant that your team is going to be as strong as Sky is now in the future. You just have some very talented guys

Yay! Lars Bak

Minimum expectations:
1st Giro, 1st Giro KoM
Top10 Tour, 1st Tour Points
Top15 Vuelta
2 Monuments
Top3 Tirreno, Top10 PN
etc etc you get the idea

I dunno about P-N. I'm pretty sure I am going to suck on the cobbles as I dont remember looking at any cobbled stats. I kinda don't like playing with cobbles teams as the season isn't long enough. They get a 40 day program at the start of season and then its basically nothing. So I either have to get silly expensive cobble squad so they can do stuff off cobbles too, or i end up with a bunch of average riders. Which is fine if i'm not doing a dominate game, but this is .

Although I guess Sagan can prolly solo win them anyway. Just because his Sagan.

And yay, database now edited so all riders and thier contracts belong to me now XD Now to season plan

EDIT: Still struggling with the formatting of pictures. Hoping it just because they are cropped pictures rather then Screenshots.