@redordead - He's a genuine minor points scorer for PCT this year, and to be honest he's the least likely to come with a special fee since I could just spend that fee on a PT wildcard license and do it myself if I had to pay his wages as well

@cio - Hope we can talk in transfers

@aidan - Two of my bargain 50k riders, from focus nation, key domestiques, many years left at the top... no I'm quite happy with their listing

@tastasol -

@ryant - So many conflicting emotions for me there - I want Meintjes for myself and I don't want to help the guy who took him from my grasp, but maybe I have to acknowledge if I really love him I should help him achieve his potential no matter where it is? But as always I'll try my best to prise him away come transfers

Our first signing of the 2020 transfers is a young Burkinabe sprinter, Bachirou Nikiema! Coming into cycling a year later than most, he may take a year extra to develop in return but we're sure he'll be worth the wait. Currently a big, powerful sprinter, he can handle the hills surprisingly well and, although we have plenty of time to consider his training programme, we are very interested in working on that talent with him in the future.

On loan from Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team, Syver provides a great w̶a̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶l̶i̶m̶i̶t̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶p̶a̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶c̶a̶p̶ ̶s̶p̶a̶c̶e̶ addition to our flat squad as both a leadout rider (not that we really do that) or a solid breakaway rider with his toughness and fast finish - as a tough sprinter he should learn a lot from Houle and Rowe this year and go back to Gjensidige as nearly the complete package.

@knockout + whitejersey - Thanks, I think so too - always nice to have a puncheur with over 70MO and SP and 74RES is quite solid too. As a sprinter he looks similarly nice and rounded so a really solid rider in the future.

@Nemolito - We complemented his toughness and his fast finish, what more does he want?

@Abhishek - Hope you won't end up too disappointed by a fairly stagnant window here then - hopefully tonight there's a little more to announce though

@cunego - Thanks. Squadbuilding for the next decade is something to consider for the future for sure as the current plan is to build much of the base ourselves as well as some leaders, then adding finishing touches as they come. I think we'll see soon that Nikiema might have a star to get a little closer to than he will with Areruya - though speaking right now Areruya is already our hill leader anyway

redordead wrote:
Some solid additions, but waiting to hear about the big moves

The last three years we've come away with a rather expensive talent as part of our new class, and this year it's our most expensive yet. Born in Sydney, Robert moved to New Zealand as a kid and raced in the fern for many years at a youth level before his recent switch back to the Australian flag due to their better cycling infrastructure. A multi-talented rider, there are a lot of directions in which we will consider taking him - below is our plan for him as a well-rounded puncheur, but he really can do it all on every terrain right now.

A versatile and crafty puncheur with skills in the high mountains, power on the flats, and speed in a sprint, as well as being very strong in his favoured terrain, the hills, Xandro may well end up leading us in certain races, but we believe it's when he gets the freedom to chase stage wins and other targets that he will truly shine. Of course such a large price tag attached to someone signed as a stage hunter or minor puncheur leader will raise some questions, hell it sure did with my shrink, however we believe that the potential is quite high for someone with Meurisse's skillset after the very similar Calmejane finished in the Top 60 of the rankings last year. However it goes, whether he has a super-efficient points per wage or not, we are sure Xandro will bring a certain panache and entertainment to the team... what's that phrase I'm looking for? A certain... X-Factor?

jandal7 wrote:

Let's all remember big is a relative term

@cunego - Hope he can make it worth it yeah, I do love how he looks maxed with that current option!

@knockout - My thoughts exactly

@whitejersey - That's the plan, as said in the post I think Meurisse has quite a high ceiling that could actually make him not my worst leader in terms of wage efficiency, but of course he could also be a flop Thanks!

@Nemolito - That would be nice but I'm fine having him as is Yes for sure Meurisse's age came into it as a plus, five years more at max is very nice

@tsmoha - I know the feel well from this transfers of having to turn a multi-talent plan into one but as you say it's always an unlikely dream whilst trying to build a good current squad too Thanks a lot, we'll take good care of him as you've done with guys like Bennett and Smith (and hopefully Kennett) from NZ

@redordead - Aw, thank you very much And yeah, but no ground-shaking moves for the current squad so keeping expectations in check

quadsas wrote:
Stennard is on track to end up being the best puncheur in MG, Meurisse more like Outbidisse amirite