A leftover from August in the hills of Basque Country. A puncheurs race with some climbing necessary, not the best profile for Quevedo but even if there is something that suits him there are at least ten better riders. So we'll battle for some fringe points again.
The climbing didn't deter cobblestone specialist Albert of getting into the break. Him and is two compagnions would be caught at 15 kilometers from the line.
Quevedo not able to match it with the best, finishing 26th. That's right around where he's been all season, so this is just another normal performance. Except we hope on that one exceptional performance, but we're running out of chances.
#
Rider
Team
Time
1
Alexey Lutsenko
Team Reddit
6h39'52
2
Aleksandar Flügel
Kraftwerk Man Machine
s.t.
3
Tomohiro Kinoshita
Meiji - JR East
s.t.
26
Xavier Quevedo
Minions
+ 1'24
43
Bjorn Selander
Minions
+ 2'15
114
Odd Christian Eiking
Minions
+ 4'14
117
Niels Albert
Minions
+ 6'20
128
Leandro Marcos
Minions
+ 7'23
131
Tareq Esmaeli
Minions
s.t.
171
Clenne Morvan Moulingui
Minions
+ 10'57
180
Kenny De Haes
Minions
+ 19'27
(2/5)
Slowly strolling towards the end of the season.
A hilly classic between two of the biggest cities in Italy. Last year we ha a somewhat decent result here, but both riders who finished top ten then are gone. Can Quevedo do the same?
No rider in the break as that would be a futile attempt anyway. When the favorites attacked, there was no Minion in sight to follow. Would it be another one of those days?
The first time we noticed Quevedo was when he sprinted up the hill, just when the cameras cut away to go to the podium ceremony. We did a little bit of counting and noticed only fourteen riders passed the line in front of him. Thus he finished fiteenth. Yes, fifteenth, this is not a joke.
#
Rider
Team
Time
1
Tomohiro Kinoshita
Meiji - JR East
4h44'50
2
Alexey Lutsenko
Team Reddit
+ 15
3
Jay McCarthy
Ayubowan!
+ 44
15
Xavier Quevedo
Minions
+ 2'14
29
Bjorn Selander
Minions
+ 4'04
74
Farzad Khodayari
Minions
+ 6'10
85
Odd Christian Eiking
Minions
s.t.
93
Chad Haga
Minions
+ 7'02
96
Leandro Marcos
Minions
+ 7'57
127
Tareq Esmaeli
Minions
+ 10'38
141
Cayetano Sarmiento
Minions
+ 11'35
(3/5)
This might very well be Quevedo's best race of the season.
This race is a forceful PTHC participation. Úran was out of racedays so the squad for this race is bit improvised, with Martinez as de facto GC leader and Drapac going for the sprints on stages which don't suit him perfectly.
Rosas went into the break on the opening stage and when he was set to be caught, he used his TT capabilities to extend his lead. He nearly got away, being caught in the final kilometer. But the stage was not over, we placed a sprint train with Schinker, Avila and final carriage Draoac which got a decent gap over the opposition. The Australian couldn't finish it off, settling for fifth place. Rosas is second in the GC due to bonifications on the stage.
Otherwise the race was quite uneventful. Rosas quickly dropped out of the top positions. Drapac never got another good sprint hooked together, failing to take a top eight. Martinez didn't do too bad as a GC leader, often behind the favorites but still in sight of the cameras. He went on to finish 34th in the GC.
The last race of the season. We're not involved in the battle for promotion, we're not involved in the battle for relegation, so we can ride this race with no pressure for a good result.
Quevedo took this quite literally, as he didn't bother to score a good result. He finished 52nd, which might have made me mad if were in a battle of some sort.
Now the season is over, we can start reviewing, and prepare our squad for the next season.
We finished exactly mid-table in thirteenth place, unlucky for some but hopefully not to us. This seems a fair position to us. At no point were we caught up in the relegation battle and we even sniffed promotion, but that would've been a stretch. We're solidly on track for our three-year-plan, which requires promotion next season. The core is there, we just need some strengthening.
Úran is our best rider and finishes top ten overall, as second-best-climber behind Pluchkin which he should be. The cobblestone squad scored a lot of points, with Zepuntke as second highest scorer and six of them in the top eleven. Drapac also with a decent amount of points despite being far from the best and most consistent sprinter. Only the puncheurs squad really lacked, as Quevedo did not do anything worthy, so that is a category we will invest in. Only two riders without points, and many domestiques scoring a decent amount of depth points. Overall, definitely not a bad season!
The annua event for young riders to show their promise amongst equals: Tour de l'Avenir! This year we participate with three riders, who all rie for a different team. Hodeg rides for Delvaux, the team he is loaned out to. Major rides for DK Žalgiris and Moulingui for Ayubowan!
The most was expected from Major, who was rated as a top-ten sprinter. On the second stage he sprinted to sixth place. On the third stage he was leading the sprint, except he started it too early and dropped down to tenth due to inexperience.
The first mountain stage six was tough and the time limit was strictly enforced. This meant all our riders finishes outside the time limit and were taken out of the race accordingly. Especially sucked for Major as he could've had another chance at stage seven.
#
Rider
Team
Time
1
Sam Oomen
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
36h21'17
2
Suranga Ranaweera
Ayubowan!
+ 7
3
Tom Wirtgen
cycleYorkshire
+ 1'01
Alvaro Hodeg
Delvaux
DNF
Jay Major
DK Zalgiris
DNF
Clenne Morvan Moulingui
Ayubowan!
DNF
(2/5)
Some good outings by the young guns, but next time try to finish in time.
A win goal is obviously the hardest to achieve, even if it is on home soil. The mountan stage suited Úran but we anticipated some time loss on the preceding hilly stage. Kudus had the better performance over these stages, and won the GC fair and square. We couldn't be too disappointed with Úran's third place, but obviously our goal failed.
Strade Bianche - Top 5
This goal depended on signing a star puncheur in the transfer window. Since we Quevedo is not a star puncheur by any stretch of the imagination, this goal was doomed before the race even started. Quevedo finished 35th, which means according to mathematical conventions no top five.
Veenendaal - Veenendaal - Top 10
A sprinters goal to satisfy our manager, who has an unhealthy obsession with this race. The exact same goal, back when the race was called Dutch Food Valley Classic, was achieved so we figured why not again this year. However, previous results are no guarantee for the future, as Drapac only sprinted to nineteenth place, resulting in another failure.
Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt - Top 5
Úran was on fire this race! He took the leader's jersey on stage one, winning the first mountain stage. While Pluchkin got the better of him over the course of the race, Úran comfortably held on to second place. Goal achieved!
PCT Team Standings - Top 10
While for the large part of the season we were inside the top ten and even battling for promotion spots, we ended up in thirteenth place. We could be disappointed, because we failed both promotion and the goal, but the season was successful nevertheless. A lot of red above should not distract the other amazing performances we had.
As always we take a look at where the so-called experts predicted we finished, and insult them for their stupidity.
AbhishekLFC - 21st
The manager of Philips predicted his own team nine places ahead of his own, while we comfortably beat him by five places. Loser!
Heine - 20th
Turns out Úran can do everything by himself, and Drapac actually got over those speed bumps, he started to struggle at hills over two meters. Better luck next time!
jandal7 - 22nd
Relegation? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
jph27 - 19th
The egocentrical manager of Ayubowan! put his own team at the top spot. While they did finish above us, a monkey could have predicted the same. The gap between the two team wasn't 18 but only 5.
knockout - 21st
Putting us in relegation danger, the knockout punch to the credibility of this prediction. He should lose his expert status and never be asked anything about cycling ever again.
matt17br - 18th
This guy also put his own team in the top spot. What an idiot. Oh wait, he actually won? Rigged! Something he didn't get right was our position, though not as far off as other predictors.
Ollfardh - 6th
I'm flattered by this prediction, but just like managing his own team he got this horribly wrong. The only one who predicted us above our actual position, but then he did that with his own team as well and that didn't turn out too well.
SportingNonsense - 13th
Statistical analysis was the base for this prediction. How exactly remains a mistery to even a trained mathematician. The numbers proved to be exactly right, 13th is where we finished. Take a bow, Mister Numbers!
The Conglomerate - 21st
Every year a secret society come together, talk about the season and predict the outcome. Like the papal conclave, their world views are outdated given their absolutely incorrect prediction putting us in the relegation fight.
So the overall trend is we were horribly underrated. When a completely statistical analysis beats the judgement of other managers and people who think they know what they're talking about, it's time for all of you and go back to the drawing board. A little help for next season: first place PCT 2019: Minions!
Spoiler
No harm intended, love you all, continue your awesome predictions and please don't kill me
Not sure what I was thinking. But you proved me and the world wrong My only justification is I did put us next to each other in the rankings which was correct Congrats on a very solid season and love your ambition next year
btw, not sure why you let knockout escape the insults, he had you 21st
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Bru spent a season on loan to EA Vesuvio in the ProTour, where he was a main feature in breakaways on hilly stages. Next year he can hopefully do the same for us now he's gained a lot of experience.
Alvaro Hodeg, 1.0 XP -> 3.24 XP
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
65
53
64
66
66
67
59
51
70
71
53
63
66
68
53
64
66
67
70
61
51
74
74
53
63
69
72
53
65
67
69
74
70
51
79
78
53
64
73
Hodeg rode a level below us, for Delvaux in the Continental Tour. In his first professional season he did allright, scoring a few ranking points, appearing in the breakaway a few times and helping in the sprint train for Guarnieri. Next season he'll be of use in our own train, and he still has more potential to grow.
Jay Major, 3.99 XP -> 4.83 XP
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
70
50
65
57
71
69
64
67
73
74
62
65
64
72
50
66
57
73
70
70
69
75
76
62
66
64
74
50
66
57
74
70
74
70
77
78
62
66
64
Major's third season in our colors has come to a close. We are satisfied with his progession over the years, scheduled to be at full strength next season. Then we hope he can be valuable in sprinting trains.
Shaquille Sinclair, 4.34 XP -> 4.100 XP
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
68
57
61
67
69
69
66
55
74
73
60
67
68
70
57
61
67
69
70
74
55
76
75
60
67
70
Sinclair is fully grown now, but the Jamaican champion still needs to overcome his fear of hills which plagued him throughout the races this season.
In what can only be described as a major blunder, our manager visited every championship where we didn't participate. Now we have to brief him on what our riders did, which we will do below. A very international team means a lot of championships to cover.
Argentina
Rosas was the favorite for the NC and did not disappoint, he takes the Argentinian jersey. He finished fifth in the sprint for the RR title.
Australia
Clarke surprised the sprinters, amongst whom was Drapac, by attacking in the final lap. Drapac sprinted to fifth place.
Bahamas
Major takes the double for the third year straight!
Belgium
A hilly route for our cobblestone specialists Albert and De Haes, so they stood no chance.
Brazil
Manarelli obviously a favorite on the flat route, but he had to deal with Santos. It went to a photo finish, which he unfortuantely lost.
Colombia
Four starters if we include loaned-out Hodeg, the most of all. The mountainous routed suits Úran pretty much, but the field is strong. He showed to be dominant, attacking multiple times, riding everyone off his wheel and staying ahead until the finish line to take the Colombian Championships.
But he's not done, as defending TT champion he lived up to favorite status to take the double!
Cuba
Technically three versus one. Marcos, Martinez and Bru (for EA) versus Granjel Cabrera. Unfortunately the flat course suits the sprinters, and we couldn't use the numbers to our advantage. Martinez did win the TT though.
Gabon
Last race for Moulingui, on his beloved cobblestones. In a fight with Ngandamba, from his actual team, he drew on the short end of the straw. We call team orders!
Germany
No cobblestones, no party for Zepuntke.
Iran
The rider most likely to forget he's part of our team, Khodayari had a chance on the hilly route but only finished third out of five.
Jamaica
We have been told Sinclair took the double again. Apparently he's the best cyclist from Jamaica.
Latvia
Flaksis finished last in both events, as if he didn't bother.
Luxembourg
In a mediocre sprint field, Schinker found himself with a chance but once again the photo finish decided against us.
Netherlands
Apparently Lindeman went to a local bar the night before the race and woke up with a huge hangover which prevented him from participating.
Norway
Eiking returns to Equinor after this race. If the race was hilly he might have done something, but on a flat course he rode anonimously.
Qatar
Esmaeli reclaims the double after Ahmed A. beat him in the RR last year. Since then, no one has heard from A., and rumours say he's been imprisoned by a rebel group with ties to the Sheikh.
South Africa
No spot on the podium for Janse van Rensburg in the road race, but he focussed on the time trial. Good call, as he took the win and gets to wear a colorful jersey next season.
United States
With Phinney's absence, Haga became one of the favorites for the TT. He finished thirteenth on the climbing NC a few days before, and hadn't recovered from the effort. He disappoints with only seventh place.
Barton was one of the early starters and occupied the hot seat for quite a while. Eventually his time was beaten by veteran Bookwalters, but all others fell short including Haga. Second place is a great result, except it doesn't mean anything in a national championship.
Venezuela
Quevedo has not bothered all season and did the same for the NCs. To be fair the route was flat, and he finished third in the sprint there, but that was more a case of others being way slower.
Thank you for taking on Moulingui for the season! His time with the Minions have been valuable to his development and it will be looked back in with fondness from him
@the_hoyle - Thank you, Moulingui was a very nice rider to have. I'll never forget his third place in Omloop het Nieuwsblad, that was one epic ride! @hillis91 - No problem, he seems quite a valuable rider for you now!
Geelong, Australia hosts this year's World Championships, the traditional end of the season. Minions participated for their countries in all six events, let's see how they did.
B RR
We start off with the road race for smaller nations. Manarelli led the Brazilian team, Marcos and Martinez were part of the Cuban team and Janse van Rensburg rode for South Africa. The small hill managed to reduce group of sprinters, dropping Manarelli. Marcos attacked on the second-a-last lap, but didn't get very far. However, this meant he got in the front group after all splits. The nation of the winning rider would advance to the main event, unfortunately that became Ahlstrand and Sweden. Marcos sprinted to fifth place from the group behind. Very good result!
TTT
Úran for Colombia, Barton and Haga for USA. None of them had a great team to work with, especially the USA suffering from Phinney's disappearence. USA finished 14th, Colombia 20th, despite both winning medals last year.
U23 TT
Only Hodeg, who rode to a decent but not spectacular 21st place.
TT
Janse van Rensburg made the cut, while Haga got a call-up to replace Phinney. Both riders finished in the back of the field, the American beating the South African by fourteen seconds for 42nd place.
U23 RR
Major was seen a outsider provided he survived the hills. He was in the front group but too far back to make a mark in the final sprint for second place, as Nych had escaped. Hodeg did get dropped earlier.
RR
Four starters: Avila and Úran for Colombia, Schinker for Luxembourg and Selander for USA. None of them were exactly favorites and did not get involved in the action. Úran became the best finisher in 97th place, while Avila finished in the same large group of beaten riders. Kump won in a very close finish with Bewley.
Spain | HC | Classic | Hll | August 7
Niels Albert
Odd Christian Eiking
Tareq Esmaeli
Leandro Marcos
Clenne Morvan Moulingui
Xavier Quevedo
Bjorn Selander
Italy | C1 | Classic | Hill | September 29
Farzad Khodayari
Cayetano Sarmiento
Morocco | PTHC | 9 stages | Mountain / Flat | October 1 - 9
Damion Drapac
Laureano Rosas
Nico Schinker
Shaquille Sinclair
Japan | HC | Classic | Hill | October 18
France | U23 | 9 stages | Flat / Mountain | August 23 - 31
Jay Major
My only justification is I did put us next to each other in the rankings which was correct 
Congrats on a very solid season and love your ambition next year 
Brazil
Germany
Latvia
Netherlands
South Africa
