Populism continues to plague the European continent, and particularly in Poland, xenophobia has reached a fever pitch. As such, Kulczyk Investments has decided to continue its sponsorship of the cycling project it set out in 2017 to build into a shining example of collaboration between European peoples and those with the capacity to integrate into European society. Following a successful first season in the PCT division in 2018, in which the team exceeded all 'expert' predictions to finish 9th, team manager Janek Wawro announced that the team "is delighted to welcome Kulczyk Investments back as primary sponsor."

In its first and second seasons from 2017 to 2018, Kulczyk was joined by French cycling clothing maker DMTEX. The company was disappointed in the lack of French leaders recruited over the first two seasons, and opted not to continue its title sponsorship. Alitalia, the official transport partner of the team in its first two seasons, has decided to step into the role as secondary title sponsor for the team, and is looking forward to the Italian contingent of the team growing.

Finally, in 2018, the team brought in Mektel Eyob, the first non-European on its roster. In addition to being a stellar domestique on all inclines, he was a perfect example of how citizens of the world can work together with Europeans to create a more perfect union. Coming from Eritrea, the country that is the highest source of refugees arriving on European shores, Eyob was able to demonstrate a resilience and strength in fighting for his dream of being a professional cyclist in the MG. He is now handsomely paid for his talents, and we can't wait to have him joined by others of non-European descent on the 2019 edition of Kulczyk - Alitalia.

What are the goals for 2019, you ask? Simple, continue the team's progress and promote to the PT!

In renewals, Kulczyk management had to be ruthless, and let go of any who would not push the team forward to the next level. With several riders playing a key role in the maiden PCT adventure for Kulczyk - DMTEX, team management wants to thank the riders who are no longer with us: Sebastian Langeveld, Marcello Pavarin, Kevin Fouquet, Jelle Vanendert, Kristoff Goddaert, Marcel Barth, Pawel Cieslik and Michal Paluta. A special mention for Sam Bennett, one of the key leaders in our promotion season from the CT in 2017, who has opted to move on to greener pastures. We wish all of these the best of luck.

Of those remaining, we are absolutely delighted to retain our star talent and vastly improve the terms for the Kulczyk - Alitalia team. All of our stars opted to take pay cuts, with only one wage rise for Mektel Eyob (our stud Eritrean superdomestique). Now, bbllover312 will no longer be able to criticise our lack of capital discipline

Regarding transfers, we'll keep it short and sweet, but the biggest news is that 2018 Tour of America winner, Rafael Valls, is up on the block! He's on a very low wage for a leader or sub-leader, with a ridiculous pedigree, particularly over the last two years for Repsol - Netflix and Kulczyk - DMTEX. We look forward to receiving offers for him, cash deals or swaps will both be considered.

Otherwise, both Jakub Kaczmarek and Eryk Laton are available for PT loans, to enable them to max out. Kulczyk - Alitalia anticipates going for wildcards, but we want to be sure that our star Polish talents will get the requisite experience in 2019, so their development does not linger.

jandal7 wrote:
Oh yeah, would love to see Kulczyk promoting this year. A very cool squad to work with (and looking trim going into transfers!)

@sgdanny - Very good to hear there might be space for the two Polish lads

@bbllover - Everything he does is specifically to spite you

@everyone - I should mention that even if the rider is marked as ‘No’ in availability, I’m more than willing to consider any fair offers being made I don’t bite...hard

Well, team manager Janek Wawro made it through transfer season with his hair mostly still in-tact. Kulczyk - Alitalia had several (overly ambitious) plans fall through during the course of the transfer window, but the squad has emerged with greater depth and far greater talent in leadership positions. Management is confident of bettering the performance of 9th in 2018, and pushing for automatic promotion, though some of the other PCT teams - especially those relegating from the PT - have put together juggernaut squads.

The big news of the year: the golden boy, Pierre Paolo Penasa, has been put on a steady training diet of high altitude air, with a side of rolling hills mixed in. He will be the one showing up on all of Alitalia's advertisements, right next to the air hostesses. To finance 3P's training, the team swapped out Rafael Valls for a cool $1million, and brought in David Abal, who is a better pure climber and will take a lead in tours with a TT component. Mektel Eyob and Mattia Pozzo will yet again provide consistent domestique work, while Piotr Brozyna is an emerging support rider in the mountains. Certainly a key area of the squad.

An area in which Kulczyk - DMTEX fell behind in 2018, and one that team management made a concerted effort to improve for 2019, the puncheur contingent is vastly upgraded. Petr Vakoc joins from the PT, and will immediately become of the top threats in the division, with his pure hills, stamina and acceleration, in addition to a bit of ability in the mountains as well. While not quite as explosive or as well-rounded as some of the top puncheurs in the PCT this year, Vakoc should provide far more points than Enrico Barbin in a leadership role - Barbin has been dropped to a lieutenant role for 2019. Chiaffredo Grippo and Tomasz Marczynskishould play active roles in many races, given their propensity for attacking whenever they wake up in the morning. Constant annoyance towards the peloton could ease the burden on domestiques, Eyob and Kamil Gradek.

To cut to the chase, it is a very similar TT group to 2018, though Tony Martin on minimum wage is an improvement on last year's group. Patrick Gretsch also has sneaky speed on prologues, so could be a danger there, but otherwise, Kulczyk - Alitalia will be relying on perennial disappointment Ryan Mullen and the Greek without a friend, Polychronis Tzortzakis, particularly in team time trials.

Despite a 2018 season in which he veritably dominated the competition and displayed a level of dominance on the cobbles unforeseen by all aside from Kulczyk management, Jerome Baugnies will need to manage expectations this season. The reason for this can adequately be summed up in two words: Danny Summerhill. Whilst Kulczyk - Alitalia respects the boldness of Andorra Cycling Team's push for a bonafide star in the PCT on their hunt for survival, neither management nor Baugnies are thanking them for their persistence. Jempy Drucker provides a bit more support than Baugnies could rely on in 2018, while Cristian Cominelli makes up the numbers and is another Italian stallion.

Sprinters have been, and likely will continue to be, afterthoughts on the Kulczyk strategy whiteboard. Thus, it is a second year in a row of Anthony Lavoine leading the Kulczyk colours down the final stretch alongside the likes of Degenkolb and Zabel. Sam Bennett has departed to new pastures, probably should've joined Valio, the big cow. Jani Tewelde adds a second Eritrean to the roster, fulfilling Kulczyk management's goal of continuing to demonstrate the integration of those from outside the EU into an EU-dominated roster. Team management is also hopeful of the continued development of Eryk Laton, who didn't manage to secure himself a PT loan this offseason, but has improved and will continue to fulfil lead-out duties for the team.

With all of this summarised verbosely, Kulczyk - Alitalia is pleased to present the roster for 2019. Let the team know what you think of the roster in teh comments below!