Promotion! In a wonder season for the Lionhearts, Xero Racing defied (most) expectations and fought to the Top 5 of the Pro Continental Tour. Lead by another stalwart season from George Bennett but ably backed up by the rest of the team's six leaders (Hugo Houle, Luke Rowe, Joseph Areruya, Xandro Meurisse and Mekseb Debesay), all of whom finished in the top 60 in the individual rankings and contributed to the team's brand of multiple scoring options and targeting the "hybrid" races being taken to its most succesful results yet, and the team ascended to the top division of world cycling for the first time.
Over the off-season, New Zealand added to their policy of not letting foreign travelers in by not allowing Kiwis to connect to others around the globe, meaning renewals and transfers were conducted by a soigneur who stayed in Italy following the team's final race, receiving instruction from the team via an underground covert fax operation. Due to these limits, certain riders (such as Mekseb Debesay and Hamish Schreurs) received the wrong renewals offers and sadly this resulted in the losses of two long-term riders. We were especially sad at the loss of team legend Debesay and will pay him proper tribute in due time. This also resulted in the team's transfer strategy being to focus their extended salary cap on recruiting top tier talents, and not making short-term success such a main focus. The additions to the team, who we will introduce in due time, may not light up the roads in 2021, but just you wait.
The focus for Xero now is on fighting for their pride in 2021 - survival seems unlikely but the team will look to earn some memorable results and respect now they are playing with the big boys full time. The experience gained will no doubt be valuable as the team continue to grow and develop towards their long-term ambitions. However murmurings within the cycling and business world wonder if the current sponsorship set-up will survive a relegation given the ever-decreasing New Zealand presence within the roster, with just two full-time riders left on the squad, and the lack of a more focused South African vision, with the team's nine Africans being spread across eight countries, not to mention the loss of continental star Mekseb Debesay.
The Primary Sponsors
About: The overnight success that is Xero is now a international company still based in little ol' NZ. They develop online accounting software for small businesses but are moving into larger clients as well. Contract Until: 2021 *new contract Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain (minor), United States (very minor)
Xero stepped in at the last minute in 2016, but have been a great asset to the team and are now nearly synonymous with us. They continue as lone title sponsor for another year but have publicly noted their disappointment in our lack of impact on the young blood of New Zealand cycling - and in a renewal year that's a worry. With only two full-time New Zealand riders left in the team, there is a serious question as to whether Xero will want to continue, with rumours their renewal for 2021 had more to do with PT exposure than local interest at this point.
About: Qhubeka is a non-for-profit, the South African programme of World Bicycle Relief, distributing bikes to help connect people to schools, clinics and jobs. Contract Until: 2022 Focus Nations: South Africa
A charity which helps use bicycles to support communities in poverty, as well as as a tool to help people of any age move forward in life. Not a sponsor by any means, quite the opposite. We ride for Qhubeka to increase awareness and taking part in fundraising, both of them increasing their funds and reach.
The Secondary Sponsors
Spoiler
About: My Food Bag is another relatively Kiwi company, an online food delivery service philosophising in “Eating food from the ground, sea or the sky. A sure-fire way to enjoy food the way nature intended, with less preservative, salts and a host of other artificial things. With recipes being focused on bringing natural ingredients forwards as the heroes”. We will help spread the word as they hope to develop this message with local (not always possible for us on our travels!) and free-range produce. Contract Until: 2021 Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia
We've loved the nutrition tips provided by these guys, and are happy to continue to have them onboard through to the end of the season. However like Xero, they may well be wondering if the team is Kiwi enough come next off-season.
About: Octagon is the sports and entertainment marketing division of the Interpublic Group (IPG). The IPG is one of the "big four" advertising companies and so being sponsored by the South African arm of the sports arm of the IPG is a smaller deal but with big background. Contract Until: 2021 Focus Nations: South Africa, The World (minor)
Octagon help us get our name on the backs of buses, billboards, wherever, in our target countries. Good for publicity, finances and fans. They have stepped down from their title sponsor role (2016-18) but maintain a solid presence within the team as our marketers and talent representatives.
About: Castle Lager is South Africa's favourite beer and is now available in over 40 countries worldwide. Contact Until: 2022 *new contract Focus Nations: South Africa, The World (minor)
Castle Lager continues their long association with South African sport as they renew for another two seasons.
About: Visit Rwanda is a premier tourism company operating in, you guessed it, Rwanda. Contact Until: 2021 Focus Nation: Rwanda
The Rwandan tourism company are happy to continue the second year of their contract after the breakout year of Joseph Areruya as a leader in his own right last year with a top 50 standing in the PCT, and look forward to what he can do now he's reaching towards even higher levels as he continues his development, and makes his PT debut.
The Minor Sponsors
About: Econet are an innovative company based out of Southern Africa but operate in the rest of Africa South America, Europe, East Asia and Australasia. Their core area is telecommunications and specifically broadband and fiber networks. They are also involved in other ventures in other sectors entirely Contract Until: 2021 Focus Nations: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Africa (minor)*, Australasia (minor) East Asia (very minor)*, South America (very minor)*, Europe (very minor)* *The choice of flags here means nothing
Econet are a truly innovative company which we are glad to be sponsored by. As a more worldwide company they don't demand any focus nationalities but will hopefully expand our influence even more in Southern Africa.
About: Telkom Indonesia is a majority state owned telecommunications company, the largest in Indonesia. Contract Until: 2021 Focus Nations: Indonesia
Jamalidin Novardianto is an absolute fan favourite (and after his Giro stage victory has increased profile) and nowhere is this more clear, other than the manager's office, than in his home country of Indonesia. Not investing too much money, this state-owned telecommunications firm wanted in and will sponsor the team, just so they know we're tight and all, as long as Jams rides for us. So until he retires, then.
Mudgway loaned in from BNZ-Superhero Racing. Wage paid by Xero is €0
Pidock loaned out to Project: Africa. Wage paid by Xero is €510,000
Hamza loaned out to Project: Africa. Wage paid by Xero is €0
Jakstar22 wrote:
Good start. Keen to see your signings for the PT. Will be an interesting and most likely hard season for you guys but still excited to watch!
Thanks Yeah I'm hoping we at least have some fight and can make it interesting for ourselves - and I'm pretty hopeful on that side of things And you shouldn't have to wait too long to meet our new faces...
Very nice to read about this year and the team's history. Good luck in the new season!
You know the "greedy bastards" call you "ungrateful penny-pinching" behind your back, right?
DarkWolf wrote:
Very nice to read about this year and the team's history. Good luck in the new season!
You know the "greedy bastards" call you "ungrateful penny-pinching" behind your back, right?
Thanks Always enjoy updating those stats and stuff keeping the history alive as we start to become a more long-term team (still nothing on the rest of the PT!)
And nah, they know it's all in good fun Plus most of those "highest wages" are my FA offers to them so it's hardly their decision
Transfers Incomings: Local Lads and Lots of Potential
As mentioned in the HQ introduction, management were greatly handicapped during transfer planning and the window itself and decided to go straight to looking at the long-term and making a few additions rather than focusing on building a squad for this year which could have taken lots of planning and many deals and riders coming and going (although we don't intend on using just that as an excuse if the season goes poorly as a result).
Subsequently we have brought in 5 riders - one focus nation loanee we're happy to develop, two young neo-pros and two African domestiques. We can't wait for you to meet them.
Luke Mugway | 25 | 4.00XP | 0 (Loan-in from BNZ)
Firstly, the loanee. From BNZ-Superhero racing comes Luke Mudgway, an up-and-coming Kiwi sprinter who is looking for some experience in the Pro Tour to round off his development. Surprisingly this is our first loan exchange with our local friends at BNZ, but we are all too happy to help them in developing a rider we are sure will be a fixture of the New Zealand cycling picture for years to come. Luke will look to be of assistance in a variety of races, particularly in preparing our sprinters for finishes, and will also be riding in his first ever Grand Tour which we know he is excited for!
FLA
MON
HIL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SPR
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
68
59
64
60
70
66
68
64
74
76
65
65
65
Johann van Zyl | 30 | Maxed | 55,000
Johann van Zyl is one of the staples of South African cycling and a rider we have coveted for some time, and so we are delighted to welcome him to the team. It is bittersweet, though, as it was part of a swap deal for one of our team favourites in Shaun Nick Bester, who goes the other way to our friends at Isostar, and who we fully hope to see back in Xero colours before his career finishes. For now though, we are pleased to welcome the multi-dimensional van Zyl to the team, who will be a huge asset in every race he participates and could even be a threat from a breakaway.
FLA
MON
HIL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SPR
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
74
71
74
73
74
74
72
71
62
66
73
60
73
Florian Vermeersch | 22 | 1.00XP | 280,000
Florian is one of the most exciting talents to come into professional cycling with a Northern Classics specialty in some time, possessing power on the flatlands, skill on the pavé and a great turn of speed at the end of even the toughest races, we are very pleased to have acquired the Belgian youngster. Unfortunately due to the fact we're in PT (and the exponentially exorbitant fees it takes to loan out big name talents even if you pay the wage, despite them being the best talents to take in) we didn't manage to find a loan for him and we fear his development may stall a year - but we're sure he'll be worth the wait.
As always, the below maxed stats only represent one possibility for his future development.
FLA
MON
HIL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SPR
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
71
62
66
70
68
71
63
70
70
74
67
75
72
78
62
69
70
76
77
67
78
78
77
68
76
72
Henok Tesfaye Heyi | 28 | Maxed | 60,000
An obscure pick to enter into professional cycling at the highest level, we are sure the former middle-distance runner from the highlands of Ethiopia will be a valuable addition to the team. Our contacts around the globe all assure us he's a local hero and a highly adaptable and versatile rider, who rides with the experience of a rider older than his age suggests. Particularly skilled on the flat, Henok is also a powerful climber and even has a decent kick in a sprint or attack which makes him a valuable breakaway option.
FLA
MON
HIL
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SPR
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
75
70
73
67
74
76
65
55
68
73
78
66
72
Thomas Pidcock | 22 | 1.00XP | 600,000 (Loan-out to Project: Africa)
One of the brightest talents around, Thomas Pidcock is already a quality rider as he proved last year by taking gold in the Olympics in the cross-country mountain bike race. Despite his skills in mountain biking and even cyclocross racing, Thomas is committed to the road (and I can think of six hundred thousand reasons why) and has the cycling world at his feet. Skilled in absolutely every type of race you can think of, we will work with him in the coming years to find out what kind of rider he will be.
Right now we have no idea what we are going to do with him - to misquote The Dark Knight, when it comes to talents "we're a dog chasing cars. We wouldn't know what to do with one if we caught it!" Below are a couple of options we're considering at the moment.
We've heard quite enough about the team's off-season struggles, but the team are still very pleased to present their squad for 2021. Although with just four outgoings and five incomings the squad will look very familiar to most, we hope the eight developed riders and the five fresh faces are enough to hold your interest!
Some stats about the squad:
- 3/5 of the riders are from our focus regions
- The average age is 25.95
- No rider is due to decline before 2023
- Nearly 1/2 of the riders are still developing
- Every Xero-owned rider has 70+ RES
- RES average of 73.25, ACC average of 72.75
2021 Official Squad
Nat.
First
Last
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
Joseph
Areruya
72
79
79
65
76
78
79
53
68
76
75
60
65
George
Bennett
67
81
76
65
75
74
79
58
65
73
55
63
65
Luke
Rowe
78
55
66
65
76
70
79
75
79
80
75
71
74
Hugo
Houle
78
66
75
69
76
71
79
65
79
78
70
69
69
Xandro
Meurisse
73
74
77
67
74
74
74
68
71
78
72
68
68
Sergio
Higuita
69
76
75
65
75
77
77
60
66
73
71
64
62
Stanislau
Bazhkou
71
69
75
76
73
75
71
53
63
64
67
61
76
Jordan
Schleck
64
77
73
53
71
71
78
53
52
73
61
61
61
Daniel
Habtemichael
67
76
73
72
73
72
74
52
59
66
68
69
72
Morne
Van Niekerk
76
61
67
78
73
75
72
64
61
67
72
64
77
Henok
Tesfaye Heyi
75
70
73
67
74
76
65
55
68
73
78
66
72
Jamalidin
Novardianto
76
61
68
68
70
78
74
69
73
79
74
68
75
Robert
Stannard
71
69
74
66
72
73
71
67
68
74
69
67
67
Johann
van Zyl
74
71
74
73
74
74
72
71
62
66
73
60
73
Bachirou
Nikiema
69
67
73
62
70
72
69
65
70
73
71
70
63
James
Fouche
65
73
70
68
70
71
73
62
61
71
70
64
68
Salim
Kipkemboi
66
70
72
56
66
71
69
55
63
72
68
67
58
Luke
Mudgway
68
59
64
60
70
66
68
64
74
76
65
65
65
Florian
Vermeersch
71
62
66
70
68
71
63
70
70
74
67
75
72
Nils
Schomber
73
54
58
74
66
76
68
50
69
69
65
64
81
Loaned Out:
Thomas
Pidcock
71
71
72
69
71
73
68
71
71
76
67
80
69
Yacine
Hamza
71
60
66
60
70
70
67
60
71
71
65
64
61
Talents - Maxed
Nat.
First
Last
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
Thomas
Pidcock
72
77
80
70
73
77
72
71
72
83
74
81
70
Robert
Stannard
72
74
79
67
74
76
75
67
68
78
74
69
68
Florian
Vermeersch
78
62
69
70
76
77
67
78
78
77
68
76
72
Sergio
Higuita
69
78
77
65
76
78
79
60
66
75
73
64
62
Daniel
Habtemichael
67
78
74
74
74
73
76
52
59
66
68
69
74
James
Fouche
66
78
75
69
72
73
77
62
61
75
75
65
69
Salim
Kipkemboi
67
75
77
57
68
73
73
55
63
76
73
68
59
Yacine
Hamza
77
60
67
61
71
74
77
60
77
77
65
65
67
Bachirou
Nikiema
69
70
77
62
72
74
72
65
70
76
74
71
63
Stay Tuned for Goals, Rider Schedules and Interviews...
That is a really cool set of talents. You are going to have a lot of options on how to develop the team in a year or two. Habtemichael my favorite obviously, looks like he might have another season where he has the freedom to light up the breaks like he did at McCormick.
@hillis - Yeah I’m absolutely in love with his possibilities - a blessing and a curse I guess as I’m not looking forward to making up my mind!
@knockout - Yeah reaching out to as many local fans as possible is always a goal of ours and we really think the new signings provide our biggest number of home fans reached yet. Thanks!
@Ulrich - Thanks a lot Yeah it’s going to be so cool seeing the team built around home-grown talent for years to come and trying to decide the path we take around that group! And yes I would love Habtemichael to relocate his awesome 2019 with us this year, one of my favourite seasons of a loan-out (behind Jams at Podium Ambition that same year), he was awesome! Hope him and Higuita can have some fun this year as well as helping our leaders.
Great region focus and those talents look spicy Shame you missed getting Debesay back but I think the rest of the signings make that up! Looking forward to your first go in the top tier
@Ollfardh - If we're making such a famous talent-snatching team such as Lierse jealous, we must be doing something right Thanks!
@Abhishek - Yeah I was so gutted about how that went down, really going to miss him, but glad he's gone to a team that can train him how he deserves! Yeah I am too, it will be extremely tough but hopefully there's some races we can get proper results and in the others we can try and animate the race and have some surprise results and breakaway fun!
Even if you don't survive in PT you still had a good transfer period with Pidcock and Vermeersch. In hindsight I should've just done what you did and get a top talent, instead I missed out on every target
Xero Racing 2021 
Australia, 
Great Britain (minor), 
United States (very minor)
Syver Waersted [Loaned In]
Jason Tesson [Stagiaire]
Arvid de Kleijn
Carl Ngamoki-Cameron
Mingrun Chen [Stagiaire]
Than Tung Huynh [Stagiaire]
Akramjon Sunnatov [Stagiaire]
Abofazl Gilanipoor
Marvain Tognama Kossouhorou
Peter Velits
Geremie Nzeke
Rei Onodera [Loaned In]
Egidijus Juodvalkis
Jonathan Salinas
Daniel Afoa [Stagiaire]
Igor Antón
Aleksandr Efimkin
Ok Cheol Kim [Stagiaire]
Tour of Qatar
Volta a Portugal
Copenhagen-Malmo TTT
Tirreno-Adriatico
Classique du Grand-Duché
Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha
Macskako Kerekparverseny
GP Liechtenstein
Vuelta a Espana
Riga - Jurmala GP
Tour de Suisse
Scandinavia Open Road Race
Tour of Northern Europe
Tour du Maroc
Yeah I'm hoping we at least have some fight and can make it interesting for ourselves - and I'm pretty hopeful on that side of things 
And you shouldn't have to wait too long to meet our new faces...
Plus most of those "highest wages" are my FA offers to them so it's hardly their decision 
