Since the start of transfers we've seen a flurry of activity at Ayubowan! HQ. Firstly, a number of riders have left - Thibaut Pinot, Cyril Gautier, Ian Bibby and Chris Opie - while Asela Sisira and Nidush Nirantha Fernando have gone out on loan. More outgoings are expected in the coming days as well.

We have made a number of signings however. In have come 6 Sri Lankans - Kashyapa Siriwardena, Krishan Madushanka, Sajith Hasantha, Gihan Pushpakumara, Darshana Prasad and Ashen Tharuka - who we hope will prove to be worthy of the step up from the domestic scene.

We've also managed to sign some non-Sri Lankans - 2 leaders and 2 talents, to be precise. In comes Yonathan Monsalve for 2 million to lead us in the Mountains, and Jerome Baugnies comes from the free agency for 525,000 to lead us on the Cobbles.
Anthony Turgis will be a future superstar on the hills, and Salem Kemboi will soon become an extremely powerful sprinter - with wages of 210,000 and 75,000 respectively.

Attached below are their current stats, and also their maxed ones - to show just how bright our future now is!

Heine wrote:
Some nice riders, you lack the real top leader that can assure points every time he races, but have a good amount of riders that can score points. Will be really interesting to see my ex-rider Monsalve and how he will do for you. Both him, McCarthy and Yates will be really nice riders when/if you get them some training in future seasons.

I really like Turgis as a talent as well (I did after all bid on him at one time). Really nice backup stats and will be one of the top puncheurs when he get some training.

One month remains in the 2017 season and - as is typical at this time of year - rumblings have been heard emanating from inside the management of Ayubowan! about the future of the team. The first matter being discussed is whether the team will in fact continue, with team owner jph seemingly disengaged for almost half of the season. However, assurances have been made that there are no plans for the team to close as it currently stands, with sources close to the camp confirming that the earlier personal circumstances limiting the involvement of the veteran owner have resolved themselves.

But having one issue resolved does not necessarily mean all is well and good with the inner workings of the Sri Lankan team. The continued lack of success by Sri Lankan riders - Gihan Pushpakumara's 6th place at Liege - Bastogne - Liege as the sole exception - has lead the consortium of sponsors behind the team to consider reining in their investment. That, combined with the strong likelihood of a return to the PCT next season means that while the sponsorship of the team will remain unchanged, plans have been made for structural changes to the roster. Firstly, the number of Sri Lankan riders may be cut if finances require it - and secondly, some of the existing big names on the roster may find themselves replaced with younger, and therefore cheaper, talent. Don't just take out word for it though - see this leaked document below!

Booker wrote:
Good to hear the election has calmed down, hopefully you’ve come out a winner there

Also good to hear you’ll be back for this coming season, it’s great to see the commitment to the Sri Lankan cause remaining with the sponsor renewal. As a team with quite a bit of competition for domestic riders (Poland), it’s nice to see you dragging a country up singlehandedly.

Should we hold onto our promotion spot, we’ll likely be in touch about a couple of those potential departures (you really need to plug the leak if it’s coming out in team press releases )

tsmoha wrote:
Yates will be a great rider for you, no surprise he is unlikely to leave.

McCarthy though. A pity he had to be overpaid you should still expect some rumors surrounding his name in the offseason

Bushwackers wrote:
Quite an exciting group of talent jph, and most of them still have a lot of room for improvement. Its going to be difficult to max out all of the level 4 riders this year though, I wonder how you plan to do that.