@sammy: Don't worry, I won't be targetting the Swiss market too much, and doubt I will tread on anyone's toes The first I heard of Project maybe going under was when it was posted on my HQ, and yes, I hope it is not true either
Following the recent trend of some teams, the Sodexo Management has decided to announce some details for the 2016 season ahead of originally planned in small press release. And whilst some have release their new Jerseys, I'm afraid you will need to wait a little longer for ours.
Instead, we bring you the new team name, and also present to you our logo for 2016 and beyond:
the_hoyle wrote:
I'm afraid you will need to wait a little longer for ours.
I am going to guess at a yellow/blue design with mostly black embellishments! Am I close?
After doing well in Gabon, nice to see the team forging some links there. Who knows, if the race stays on the calendar, you might be back there one day and scoop up the win!
@Rider: 2/3 with the guess, but yes the logos will lend a lot to our colours for next season Despite the failed goal in Gabon, it will be seen a success, and it would be nice to come back and challenge on the GC front if it remains
A new team, and suddenly we are in August. This season is really flying by for the Sodexo team, and after a disappointing first year in the peleton, one that we hope to end quickly and start building on 2016.
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The month began in Colorado, at the USA ProCycling Challenge. High mountains awaited, and we looked to Nabil Baz to continue his fine form when the route has climbed upwards. We only hoped that the ITT on Stage 4 would not leave him with too much to do in terms of GC.
The race began with a stage for the sprinters, and it was Ben King who took the first bit of the cherry before the peleton's mountain men came to the fore. Guillaume Bonnafond found himself in the break on stage 2, and rode well on a day where Baz was on his game. The Frenchman came home 5th, as Manuel Senni stole away from the escape group to celebrate the win.
Cedric Pineau made it two Sodexo boys in the break in two days, but the sprinter's teams would not make sure that he would make it to the finish first.Aidis Kruopis took a hotly contested finish to continue his fine form this season.
Pineau off the front on Stage 3
As expected, the ITT would dampen any hopes of a high GC finish in Colorado. Tony Gallopin was our highest finisher on the day, + 2'06" down on stage winner Chad Haga, whilst Baz would come in + 2'52" in arrears.
If the ITT was the damaging blow, then Stage 5 would be killer one. As Fabien Giger attacked away to the win, Nabil suffered on the steep finish. Rolling in + 4'41" down on winner and other GC rivals, his chance in the US were left in pieces. It was a very hurting stage, and moral was low on the team bus.
The decline continued on Stage 6, with a loss over + 11'23" topped off Baz poor run. No injury was clear, but he was struggling to turn over the legs and attack with the favourites. At the front, Abdelkader Belmokhtar took the win and looked to salvage the race for a disappointing Strava team.
Stagaire Anass Ait El Abdia on the attack on the final stage
The Queen Stage of the USPCC came on the climb to Colorado Spring on Stage 7. With nothing to play for, Chaabane joined 8 others in the day's break, but when the long 50km climb to the finish began, it would be a GC battle that would take over. Gian Piero Signorini rode fantastically to give Indosat their 2nd win of the race, as Jakub Novak held off a late attack from Abolfazl Gilanipoor to seal the GC victory.
Final stage and it was nice to see our Moroccan stagaire Anass Ait El Abdia in the day's breakaway. His inexperience might have cost him a dream stage with the team, as Kun Hung Hung attacked with 4.5km to go to take the victory in downtown Denver. Ait El Abdia rolled home with the peleton in 14th.
*****
We stayed in the USA for our next race, this time in Florida at the Cigar City Brewing Twilight GP. An unpredictable race, we had Sebastian Turgot gunning for the victory in Tampa.
One thing we did expect, and that was a hard race. The likes of Stijn Joseph, Sebastian Langeveld and Marc de Maar were all present on the start line, and fireworks were expected over the cobbled circuit. Just 3 riders consisted in the day's break, and their lead was allowed to peak at around 7'50" over the Strava and Generali led peleton.
Marc de Maar made the first move of the favourites with 53km remaining, and with it formed the selected chase group of favourites. Sebastian was still present and riding well. He has been our saviour at time over the cobbles this season. The Curacao Champion was pulled back with 28km to go, but the race was far from over.
Turgot following the attacks of the favourites
As Strava pulled back de Maar, Ermin Van Wyk instantly countered the move to go clear. Turgot took up the chase with a small group, but the Nambian rider was going clear and fast in what would be the winning move. Soloing to the victory, we could only hope of a podium place for Seb. Finishing + 1'15 down on Van Wyk, our Frenchman was rewarded with 2nd place for his efforts and attacking style in Tampa.
This was certainly a race that made up the disappointment of USPCC...
*****
The month ended in Slovakia at the Tatranska Klasika, over a course was could only be described as murder to anyone who isn't a climber. Nabil was our leader, but given his performance in USPCC, we worried for his form. We could only hope that he had channel his inner Scotland to the cycling gods...
If there was any confirmation of the difficult route, it was shown on the first climb of the circuit. Three of our guys were dropped from the back, and they were never going to be making it back into the peleton. In fact, after 2/3 laps of the race, they climbed off and got into the team car.
The select group of madmen on the attack in Slovakia
At the front, Guillaume Bonnafond was crazy enough to attack and find himself in the breakaway, as Baz confirmed early on that he just didn't have the legs for today.
Our French Hardman / Mentalist was caught when the attacks occurred from the favourites, but somehow it would be Zsolt Der who would manage to defy the odds of the break and stay away for the victory. Tony Gallopin would be a surprise highest placed rider for Sodexo, finishing in a small group + 12'30" down, on a day where only 66 of the original 109 riders finished the race.
*****
August was really a month of mixed emotions, and September looked like it could be another of the same. We start off in Australia at the Herald Sun Tour, where the Sprinters will have their chance to shine, before finishing the month in France, at the GP Plouay. It will be great to see how the team can step up for the C1 rated French race and riding against PCT opposition.
September racing is underway, and we enter the final two months of the season, so it time to finally reveal the 2016 Jersey for the newly named La Poste presented by Mavic.
Spoiler
Following long consultations with the in-house designers at Le Coq Sportif, our aim is to bring a classic look to the team in the ManGame Peleton next season. The design was reworked and tweaked several times during the initial modelling of the kit, and we are delighted with the end product.
The classic design of the jersey will also extend to the team accessories, as well as the equipment used by the squad during 2016.
@jph: Just wait til I have surprise reveal of a Sri Lankan sponsor There was no intention of copying with the sponsors and/or colours. It is all coincidence
So... we have our 2016 sponsors in place, we have our new name and the new jersey is published for all to see. Now it is time for us to reveal some team news ahead of the final months of the season and the impending transfers.
At the moment, a shortlist of 30 targets has been put together by our scouting team, with riders both from our new focus nations and other parts of the world all part of the long list. For obvious reasons, we do not want to reveal those riders at this moment, but we are happy to discuss our current crop.
*****
The first group are the guys we wanting to keep, and the ones we will be focusing on when it comes to the end of season renewals. The plan is for them to act as a core base to the team, as we look to build a better, stronger squad for next season.
The next group are ones who could go either way. Happily accepted on the team, yet if the right offer came about from another team, or if their renewal wage was not acceptable, they would be free to leave.
The last group are the ones who are gonig to be leaving at the end of the season, and will mostly likely not be renewed. All the riders have struggled to perform throughout the year in the CT peleton, and their age means that the decline will hinder them further in 2016.
The select group leaving will be:
Arnaud Coyot Saïd Haddou Christophe Kern Nicolas Rousseau
You will notice that there is one rider missing from the above list of names, in the form of Alexis Gougeard. He is currently on loan from Festina-Canal+, and will be returning from his parent team at the end of October.
*****
With that overview of the current squad status, it should leave us in the market for 4-7 riders when transfer season rolls around. We will be aiming high next season, even looking at being an outsider for promotion, and it is safe to say that lessons have been learnt from our first dealings in the transfer market.
September is here, and it signals the penultimate month of the 2015 MG season. Just two races ahead for Sodexo ProCycling this month, and on the outset, a month that could be a very difficult one.
*****
We started off back Down Under in Australia for the Herald Sun Tour. Before the season started, we looked to have a team based around 'Leader' Said Haddou, but this season has been one of decline for him. Confidence of him was low, and we didn't expect much here either.
Stage One saw our French Sprinter come down in a crash 9km from the finish, and Aidis Kruopis was the fastest on the line for the victory. The ANZ-Indosat rider would make it two from two on the next stage, comfortably taking the win. Disappointingly, there was no Sodexo riders in sight on either stage.
Manuele Boaro stormed the ITT win on Stage 3, with Nicolas Rousseau coming home in 30th. It was an other disappointing TT ride for him this season, he sat way down the GC standings in 27th.
Sodexo's only showing at Herald Sun Tour, as Cedric Pineau joined the large break on Stage 5
Stage 4 was yet another Sodexo no-show, as World-B Champion Maximiliano Richeze took the victory into Bendigo.
A strong 9 man break attacked on the final Stage 5, and to our relief, Cedric Pineau was part of it to prove that we had turned up to the race. Sadly, though, it would be a day for the Sprinters again, and Anthony Lavoine eventually took his victory after a frustrating week. Great consistancy gave Aidis Kruopis the GC win, and Rousseau was our highest placed rider in 27th, 56" down on the Lithuanian.
*****
The team's second, and final, race of the month saw us riding on home roads at the GP Plouay. A C1 rated race, this would be our own race not at a C2 level. A stronger peleton and a more difficult race lay ahead, but just a day in the break would be a welcomed by the Management Team.
In the end, it was a nothing race, just like many stages in the Herald Sun Tour. No man in the break, zero showing in the race, and in the end our best rider would finish 82nd! The victory would go to Daryl Impey, who just held on in front of Martin Reimer to secure the win.
*****
October will be the last month of the season, and one of the busiest for Sodexo ProCycling with 3 races. Tour de Faso will be important, given our African focus next season, before we head to South America for the Ruta America del Sur.
Our season ends in Switerland at the Zuri Metzgete before we heading into the off-season, and a Winter of strengthening and rebuliding the team.
Into the final month of the regular season, as October has finally come around. After the pointless month in September, there was a necessity to improve and avoid a slide further slide towards the bottom 3 in the division.
*****
We began at the Tour de Faso, in race where we banked on the first cobble stage causing more problems than what it did for some riders. Sebastian Turgot looked to be our leader, giving his moderate sprinting stats, but failed to perform when needed. A late attack from Andzs Flaksis take him the victory, and a time gap that could be enough for the GC win...
Stage Two was for Sprinters, and Alex Rasmussen took a surprise win in a field containing the likes of Lavoine and Corioni. The final stage was also one for the peleton's fast men, but Turgot tried to make up for the poor performance on Stage 1.
Turgot on the attack in Faso, trying to make up for a disappointing result on Stage 1
Attacking with with less than 10km to go, and with Stijn Joseph in tow, they looked to upset the odds on the final stage. Sadly though, Belarusbank and Yauheni Hutarovich had other ideas, catching the pair with 3km to go, and sprinting the win in the process.
Flaksis' fine attack on Stage One was enough to give him the GC honours, with Turgot giving us another pointless race down in 68th place.
*****
From Africa to America, and the Ruta America del Sur was next up for the Sodexo boys. A misinterpretation of profiles, meant that we came to race with a Mountains squad instead of the Hills team.
Stage 1 was a Prologue, it was another one of our rivals who took some valuable points in the fight at the bottom of the CT Division. Neofytos Sakellaridis stormed to the win for the Greek team, ahead of some much big names in the peleton.
Stage Two, despite the large amount of climbing, was classified as flat, and the Sprinters should be the ones who feature at the finish. Cedric Pineau found himself in the break, which offered some relief the team, but in the end it would be Moreno Moser who would take the victory.
Stage Three favoured the Puncheurs, and sadly it was too much for a rider like Nabil Baz. As Gracjan Lejman soloed the win on the slopes of Laguna Capina, our Algerian was way down the group. Thankfully, he tried to make up for lost on Stage Four, and was rewarded with 4th Place behind fellow breakaway companion, Richard Handley.
Nabil Baz hanging on the break, as he looks to salvage something from the race in South America
The Queen Stage came on Stage 5, and the GC battle came to the fore. Jukka Vastaranta put his hat in the ring with a fine solo win, but a fight back from Frantisek Rabon gave him Yellow. Moreno Moser took his second victory of the race on Stage 6, but his chance of a rio of victory were hit on Stage 7.
Pineau was again on the attack, and joined a break that almost made it to the finish, expect for the sprint of World B Champion Maximiliano Richeze. The victory gave a moment of comedy to the spectators, as Eros Capecchi thought he had sealed it, and gave us all a 'Zabel' moment.
We had two in two out in the break on the final stage, as Baz showed himself for the second time in the larger break of the race. More importantly, it would be a break that would make it to the end... Ethan Weiss rode way from a nice victory for Gatorade-SIS, but a strong finish from our Algerian climber meant he would take a podium place. It was a good ride, and he was well rewarded. A glimper of light in another dark race for us.
With the season over, there was only the National Championships left before Sodexo ProCycling becomes La Poste presented by Mavic. Our French riders have been split into the two squads for their race, whilst our guys from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Gabon will be looking to come away with the National Jersey in their respective races also. It will be in the lesser nation races, where we have the most confidence of a result.
Before the September Monthly Review, the Sodexo ProCycling Management released details with regards to the squad's outlook approaching the end of the season, and who will be stay, leaving the team and those in the middle. Well after a disastrous end to the year, another re-evaluation of the riders has taken place, and it is clear that some are not the stardard required to take the team forward next season.
First up, let's give the names of those who are at this moment 'safe':
At some point in the season, all of the above (minus the two stagaires, who we see as part of our future) have shown their worth to the team. This comes in the form of a Stage / GC Victory, stage podiums and generally riding aggressively to change a race.
The next group are the 'maybes' but in all honestly, they will most likely leave the team, either through the sale to a newly formed team in 2016 or being released from their contract come the end of the Nationals:
Whilst, some have shown glimmers of hope and, in Pineau's case, scored podiums during the season, they just don't offer much more the team. However, we are not willing to automatically release them from their contract, just in case some targets re not available. However, they are first to go when freeing up wages.
The final group might as well be packing their bags, and saying goodbye to the others, as no matter what, they will be leaving the team:
These riders are either in a period of decline through age, fall under the category of 'unwanted domestiques' or have just been plain awful all season. Many are zero points scorers in the CT Standings, and they are filling a space that could be taken by someone far more useful.
As previously mentioned, Alexis Gougeard will leave the team at the end of his loan from Festina-Canal+. However, if the opportunity arose, he would be welcomed back to the squad for next season.
*****
The re-evaluation of the team leave us with plenty of space to grow and improve for 2016. Currently, we have a shortlist of 20 with riders coming from a number of different Nations, including those outside our Sponsor Focus. Sadly though, we feel that it would leave us at a disadvantage at this stage to reveal the shortlist, but all managers in turn will be contacted when Transfer Season rolls around.
It was meant to be a quiet World Championships for the Sodexo ProCycling Management Team, but were delighted to see that both Anass Ait El Abdia and Cedric Thaouta were selected to represent their respective Nations in South Africa.
*****
Whilst neither rider was expected to set the world alight with their performance on unfavoured terrain, there was still some pride from myself to see them taking part. Anass took part in the U23 ITT race, finishing 45th, + 4'10 down on winner Jack Haig, on a route or in a discipline that he does not favour.
In the Road Race, both Ait El Abdia and Thaouta represented the African Continent, with our Moroccan Stagaire riding well to finish as part of a small group in 28th, + 19'17 down on race winner Daan Oliver. Cedric found going a little tougher, and came over the line alone, down in 97th (+ 34'09).
*****
We end this quick review with a poll and we would like to hear from our fans on Twitter!
Nearly everyone but Sodexo have posted a season review so time for a poll - When should we post our Review of 2015?
With the ManGame National Championships out of the way, it is now time for the Management Team to give their review of our first season in the MG Peleton, and reveal one or two more things for next season.
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Final CT Standings
1
Novatek-Panarmenian.net
1669
2
Strava
1652
3
Fablok - Dunlop
1591
4
Compal-Merida
1478
5
Indosat - ANZ
1453
6
DeLaval - Kiitokori
1440
7
Generali - Kronenbourg 1664
1250
8
In-n-Out Cycling Team Powered By Carrefour
1130
9
Netia - Norske Skog
1116
10
SanCor Cycling Team
1091
11
Alpina - Avianca
1053
12
Carlsberg - Danske Bank
998
13
Severstal-Mercator
950
14
Actavis - DKSH
931
15
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo Cycling Team
804
16
OTP Bank - Slovnaft
761
17
Chiquita - Universal p/b Minions
735
18
Gatorade - SIS
689
19
BelarusBank Pro Cycling
660
20
Verkefnid Iceland
656
21
Akzonobel - Statoil
604
22
Sodexo ProCycling
442
23
Elta - Hellenic Post
405
24
Fox Sports - Golomt Cycling
403
25
Fred Whitton Race Team
399
26
Team Type 1
299
Before the season began, there was a hope of a Top 10 finish. In fact, we made it one of our goals! Sadly though, transfers did not go our way, we massively underestimated our targets, and it was downhill from there. In the end, we were battling with the bottom of the CT Standings, ended the season in 22nd place.
So going into 2016, do we have hope for better? Of course, we do. Looking at the 2014 CT Standings, a number of the lowly placed teams ended 2015 with promotion. Novatek-Panarmenian.net took the division title, DeLaval - Kiitokori went from bottom to 6th place and Alpina - Avianca earned a promotion place after they finish 22nd last season. Those three teams alone give us confidence.
As you can see, our results show why we ended up in our final CT standing. One official stage win, two jerseys and two National titles account for the five victories this year. Compared to the promoted team, this is not even half. Elsewhere, we have a handful of podium places, and just a few 4th or 5th place finishes. We would post the 6th-10th place finishes, but it doesn't really extend the above list.
It was clear that not enough people performed this season, and it shows why we have a large clear out in the transfer season. We need to do much better next season!
*****
2015 Goals
CT Standings
Top 10
FAILED
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
GC Win
FAILED
GP Sallanches
Top 5
FAILED
Tour of Scotland
Top 10
SUCCESS
10 Stage Wins
FAILED
Given the season we had, we are more than happy to accept one successful goal from the five we set out at the start. The Tour of Scotland was our best result all season, giving us our first victory in ManGame and the GC in the process. Safe to say, we smashed the Top 10 goal we set.
Of the others, only La Tropicale Amissa Bongo was respectable fail. We targeted a GC win, but came away with 1st & 2nd in the KoM Classification, podium on Stage 6, 2nd in the U25 Classification and 2nd in the Team Classification.
And the rest... are just complete write-offs!
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Sodexo End of Year Awards
We ended the year with a get together, and a few 'unoffical' awards for the those in the team. All were taken in jest (including the bad awards), and it was nice to let off some steam after a difficult year.
Nabil Baz - Tour of Scotland Stage 6: There can be only one winner. Our one and only official victory of the season, and it will live long in the memories of Sodexo Management Team.
Wajdi Homrani - La Tropicale Amissa Bongo: Yes it was a failed goal, but Wajdi's attacking performance to claim the KoM jersey gave the Team something to be happy about. Nicely timed with announcement of La Poste as new sponsor as well.
Said Haddou: There can be only one winner really... Signed as our big-named sprinter, and he never performed once during the season. He came with a warning from former managers, had an offseason of decline, and never hit the heights which were expected from him.
Dishonourable Mentions: Nicolas Rousseau & Christophe Kern
*****
Our Season Review ends with a Showcase of our 2016 Jerseys, including the National Champions for the time being. Whilst we have two NC Jerseys in our current collection, a one or two more could be added during the up and coming transfer period, depending on which targets we acquire.
The first I heard of Project maybe going under was when it was posted on my HQ, and yes, I hope it is not true either
USA ProCycling Challenge. High mountains awaited, and we looked to Nabil Baz to continue his fine form when the route has climbed upwards. We only hoped that the ITT on Stage 4 would not leave him with too much to do in terms of GC.
Tatranska Klasika, over a course was could only be described as murder to anyone who isn't a climber. Nabil was our leader, but given his performance in USPCC, we worried for his form. We could only hope that he had channel his inner Scotland to the cycling gods...
Herald Sun Tour, where the Sprinters will have their chance to shine, before finishing the month in France, at the 
GP Plouay. It will be great to see how the team can step up for the C1 rated French race and riding against PCT opposition.
There was no intention of copying with the sponsors and/or colours. It is all coincidence 
Anass Ait El Abdia
Nabil Baz
Wajdi Homrani
Cedric Thaouta
Tour de Faso will be important, given our African focus next season, before we head to South America for the 
Ruta America del Sur.
Zuri Metzgete before we heading into the off-season, and a Winter of strengthening and rebuliding the team.
Daan Oliver. Cedric found going a little tougher, and came over the line alone, down in 97th (+ 34'09).
Tour of Scotland - Stage 6
Tour of Iceland - Stage 3
Giro del Capo - U25
Tour of Middle East - Stage 7
