So, after (nearly) all new teams have disclosed they're focus regions and the disband of Bonduelle is official we're the only French teams in the entire MGUCI circus, which means that we have to fight each other to the death in every aspect of transfers and race situations, don't grant the other any small success - well, at least that's the traditional way French teams treat each other Wink
As Nemolito said, I'm affraid we'll not be alone for the better riders, but maybe we can build Ligne Maginot again.
But as we both agreed on joint promotion in 2024 (I hope we'll find a catchy slogan for that) and are part of the class of 2022, I think we'll find a better way of getting along to rendre le cyclisme français encore meilleur. Alors, tout le meilleur et bonne chance pour le saison de transfert.*
Not that bad, and nothing to laugh at! Bonne chance à toi aussi!
Nemo: thanks for the message, and thank you for your work too!
Like Kandesbunzler wrote there isnt much competition now at the french market with such few french teams. But rest assured, I'll battle you two for every talented french rider too. Since I recently discovered France is part of europe and this is my focus
See above. Ligne Maginot again. Maybe the Belgian teams will stop you this time.
More seriously though, I'm happy I didn't went Northeast France interregio focus (FRA/LUX/GER) as initially intended, as it's becoming incredibly crowded.
Good luck to you too!
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
Like Kandesbunzler wrote there isnt much competition now at the french market with such few french teams. But rest assured, I'll battle you two for every talented french rider too. Since I recently discovered France is part of europe and this is my focus
See above. Ligne Maginot again. Maybe the Belgian teams will stop you this time.
More seriously though, I'm happy I didn't went Northeast France interregio focus (FRA/LUX/GER) as initially intended, as it's becoming incredibly crowded.
Good luck to you too!
A good example how quickly the overload from certain regions can change between season. Just last year we were all talking about how overcrowded the french market would be with several new CT teams.
Following most of other teams of the professional peloton, Bordeaux Métropole - Euskotren announced its post-renewals roster, ten days ahead of the transfert season.
Rider
2022 Wage
2023 Wage
Difference
Iturria Mikel
140 000
120 000
-20 000
Berthet Clement
100 000
90 000
-10 000
Sarreau Marc
85 000
Released
-85 000
Rochas Remy
80 000
75 000
-5 000
Armirail Bruno
70 000
65 000
-5 000
Wackermann Luca
65 000
70 000
+5 000
Rodriguez Cristian
55 000
60 000
+5 000
Renard Alexis
50 000
50 000
0
Doubey Fabien
50 000
50 000
0
Mottin Hugues
50 000
55 000
+5 000
Guerao Oscar
50 000
65 000
+15 000
Lazkano Oier
50 000
50 000
0
Martin Sergio
50 000
Released
-50 000
Pacher Quentin
50 000
50 000
0
Simon Jordi
50 000
Released
-50 000
Aberasturi Jon
50 000
Released
-50 000
Insausti Jon Ander
50 000
50 000
0
Martin David
15 000
Released
-15 000
Petrucci Mattia
10 000
Released
-10 000
Puccioni Dario
Released
0
Bizkarra Mikel
Released
0
Total
1 120 000
850 000
-270 000
In the questions that followed the press conference, team management said:
"We don't enter transferts with a lot of wage cap, but the goal always was to build around the existing team. We renewed our talents and the core of the team, and we hope than our veterans will be able to guide our youngsters to glory, as well as snatching a few more points. We already have our eyes on some riders, and we think that we can afford them, if they want to come here in Bordeaux."
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
This is a solid starting point with the current riders. I'm interested to see which areas of the team you're planning to improve with the remaining cap space.
I'm a bit sceptical about the contracts for Guerao and Mottin after their declines. But hopefully they can prove me wrong and provide some value for you. You have a lot of solid depth, and Berthet and Lazkano will in time add to that. At some point, you'll need at least one more true leader in addition to Itturria, though, if you want to tackle promotion. But it's still only your second year, so no need to rush it, I think
That seems like a solid roster, but probably not yet ready for promotion. But that's okay considering our gentleman's agreement of a 2024 promotion
I see that you haven't got the biggest cap space - and while that's a bit reassuring regarding my own transfer season (probably less bidding wars with you) I second cunegos doubts in regards of Mottin's and Guerao's renewals. I think there would have been available equally good or even better riders in Free Agency (though probably not matching the regional focus as well - but I don't have a good overview in the Spanish market) - or you could maybe even have resigned them for 50,000 (not speaking of the draft). Though given the huge number of new teams that could have been a risk too ... A tough decision and I'm glad I didn't had to make it.
I'm left with wishing you bonne chance for the transfers and may we don't meet there as that will make it cheaper for both of us. A bientot!
A good example how quickly the overload from certain regions can change between season. Just last year we were all talking about how overcrowded the french market would be with several new CT teams.
True.
Though due to most of us having two focus nations, France didn't felt that overcrowded last year. But yeah, three new French team coming at the same time was something I suppose.
This is a solid starting point with the current riders. I'm interested to see which areas of the team you're planning to improve with the remaining cap space.
All I can say is that I've already studied the DB more than last year. And that it will depend on how hard the FA market is.
I'm a bit sceptical about the contracts for Guerao and Mottin after their declines. But hopefully they can prove me wrong and provide some value for you. You have a lot of solid depth, and Berthet and Lazkano will in time add to that. At some point, you'll need at least one more true leader in addition to Itturria, though, if you want to tackle promotion. But it's still only your second year, so no need to rush it, I think Smile
I see that you haven't got the biggest cap space - and while that's a bit reassuring regarding my own transfer season (probably less bidding wars with you) I second cunegos doubts in regards of Mottin's and Guerao's renewals. I think there would have been available equally good or even better riders in Free Agency (though probably not matching the regional focus as well - but I don't have a good overview in the Spanish market) - or you could maybe even have resigned them for 50,000 (not speaking of the draft). Though given the huge number of new teams that could have been a risk too ... A tough decision and I'm glad I didn't had to make it.
Yep, I've thought a lot on these two, and while I agree it is suboptimal, it made more sense RP wise, and in the direction I want to drive the team in. For myself, I'm more skeptical about Insausti, who I might have renewed by mistake...
Other leaders are in sight, indeed, and I'm quite excited to the upcoming transfert season!
Some pretty interesting riders on that list. Whether they are available or not is a different matter probably[quote]
I think in theory, everyone could be available, though there are some riders for who I've got a soft spot
[quote]That seems like a solid roster, but probably not yet ready for promotion. But that's okay considering our gentleman's agreement of a 2024 promotion
Yep, as for you, it's not really the goal anyway. Better navigate the transfert season, plan better (a reason why I wanted to keep most of the team around) and a top 10 should be solid goals for the upcoming season.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
By a press release, Bordeaux Métropole – Euskotren has announced its first signings for the 2023 season. As of now, four riders have been announced: French puncheur Victor Lafay and German time-trialist Domenic Weinstein come for respectively 500 000 € and 300 000 €, while Basque and Spanish talents, Mikel Agirrebeitia and Javier Serrano, have been given their first professional contracts.
Victor Lafay
66
75
77
63
72
72
72
62
63
74
78
67
61
27
4
50 000
Domenic Weinstein
71
70
70
75
72
70
76
67
68
70
65
69
76
29
3
55 000
Mikel Agirrebeitia
66
67
63
69
66
68
62
60
55
65
59
72
65
22
4
50 000
Javier Serrano
65
64
68
64
71
74
67
69
60
68
69
71
62
22
4
75 000
At the same time, the team announced three departures: Oier Lazkano and Alexis Renard join Xero Racing and Fastned on loan, and Jon Ander Insausti leaves the team for MOL, in the Pro Tour.
We’ve reached the team management in Bordeaux, to ask their thoughts and these first moves.
We’re quite happy with this, given our budget and wage cap at the beginning of the transfers window. We’ve talked about Victor Lafay with ELCO last year, when we bought Rémy Rochas from them, but we felt we weren’t the right team for him to achieve his development. But as he did just that, we’ve reached out with him again. We have great plans for him this year.
Then Javier Serrano and Mikel Agirrebeitia are part of the future of Spanish cycling and, we hope, of our team. They’ll be able to enter the professional peloton in a familiar home, as most of our team is either Spanish or French.
Dominic Weinstein’s deal came a bit later, but we’re sure he’ll bring his talent to the team, most notably in the TTT. We see him in a comparable role as the one of Bruno [Armirail], and we don’t doubt that they’ll work together perfectly.
The number of Basque rider dropped a bit since last season
Not that much: Mikel Iturria he still here, and Oier Lazkano is technically still contracted with us, even if we felt he could go further into his development with a season in the PCT. For Jon Ander Insausti, the situation is a bit different: we’ve talked with him a lot, and we agreed that, without much support in the team, his talents would be better employed in another team. And he’ll ride in the ProTour! We hope to see him like in the WC, where he was very useful for the Spanish team, and thank him for his work last year.
We also targetted another Basque rider, but he was snatched by fellow CT Team Würth-Modyf before we even had time to ask. That shows our administrative machinery isn’t quite ready yet.
Is that all for this season?
Not at all. We’re still in discussion for some riders, and then there are the stagiare and the CT draft we’re already preparing. Stay tuned.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
As the transfer window is slowly closing, Bordeaux Métropole – Euskotren announced its second batch of recruits. And though for a moment they had Russian stage-racer Idar Aslanov coming on the Port de la Lune, in the end, it’s his compatriot Genadiy Tatarinov who’ll race on the Garonne banks.
But before we go into telling you the crazy 24h which lead to that – for the team’s management at least –, Bordeaux welcomes two French talents: the Bretons Mathis Le Berre, for his first professional contract, and Antoine Huby, who got a stagiaire contract. The two young men are actually born some 30 kilometres from each other, and have expressed their interest in riding next to each other.
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Mathis Le Berre
67
64
68
65
68
69
66
66
66
66
68
66
62
22
Mathis Le Berre
70
67
76
66
75
73
69
66
67
71
73
67
63
25
Mathis Le Berre
68
71
73
72
73
74
73
66
66
67
69
66
69
25
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Antoine Huby
68
63
67
62
64
70
68
66
65
72
65
64
66
22
Antoine Huby
71
66
75
63
71
74
71
66
66
77
70
65
67
26
Now that we’ve seen the new young additions, let’s hear Bordeaux Métropole’s vice president for sports explain us what lead to the coming of Genadiy Tatarinov.
“We recruited Idar Arslanov in a fast deal with PT team Gazelle, who were looking for some quick cash. And he was indeed the kind of rider we had been chasing for the whole window: still in the prime of his carrier, a good climber with TT abilities.
We then have been contacted by Russian team Tinkoff, who were looking to bring him on home soil. After a night of thought and a discussion with Idarn we’ve accepted the swap with Einer Augusto Rubio, a young and talented Columbian climber – who should have less difficulties to adapt to the team.
He has not finished his development though, so he’ll be loaned out to Minions for a last year – for now – in the ProTour. With the freed wage and the remaining budget, we could buy Genadiy Tatarinov to Evonik – ELKO, a team with which we’ve been a discussion for a long time, though for other riders. We’re sure Tatarinov will be an important part of the mountain setup.”
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Einer Augusto Rubio
66
75
72
64
75
73
73
60
60
71
71
64
64
25
Einer Augusto Rubio
67
77
74
66
77
75
75
60
60
72
72
64
66
26
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Gennadiy Tatarinov
69
75
74
63
71
71
68
57
65
73
76
63
63
32
So on the eve of the CT draft, this is the team which should enter the 2023 season:
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Wage
Mikel Iturria
71
77
73
72
77
74
76
63
60
61
69
66
73
31
120 000
Victor Lafay
66
75
77
63
72
72
72
62
63
74
78
67
61
27
100 000
Remy Rochas
67
77
74
61
70
70
73
60
61
73
72
66
62
27
75 000
Quentin Pacher
70
71
75
61
73
74
69
58
70
73
72
67
63
31
50 000
Luca Wackermann
74
68
74
53
74
74
73
56
74
72
70
64
51
31
70 000
Fabien Doubey
71
74
75
59
72
72
71
55
67
70
63
60
59
30
50 000
Cristian Rodriguez
70
70
76
67
76
70
70
55
65
71
75
74
67
28
60 000
Gennadiy Tatarinov
69
75
74
63
71
71
68
57
65
73
76
63
63
32
50 000
Domenic Weinstein
71
70
70
75
72
70
76
67
68
70
65
69
76
29
55 000
Bruno Armirail
72
71
73
72
73
75
73
60
61
65
74
68
71
29
65 000
Clement Berthet
64
73
72
58
68
72
64
60
62
72
71
75
58
24
90 000
Oscar Guerao
70
53
61
53
65
58
75
64
79
70
67
74
53
35
65 000
Javier Serrano
65
64
68
64
71
74
67
69
60
68
69
71
62
22
75 000
Antoine Huby
68
63
67
62
64
70
68
66
65
72
65
64
66
22
10 000
Mathis Le Berre
67
64
68
65
68
69
66
66
66
66
68
66
62
22
60 000
Hugues Mottin
65
54
57
75
61
68
60
50
50
50
62
67
75
35
55 000
Mikel Agirrebeitia
66
67
63
69
66
68
62
60
55
65
59
72
65
22
50 000
Loaned out:
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Wage
Oier Lazkano
64
66
72
59
66
69
66
60
64
71
74
61
59
24
50 000
Alexis Renard
73
61
68
66
67
74
66
66
68
68
69
66
68
24
50 000
Einer Augusto Rubio
66
75
72
64
75
73
73
60
60
71
71
64
64
25
50 000
Stay tuned for the CT draft, and then news on the calendar!
@ red not quite for now, but that's fine. Goal is to have a better planning than last year with riders I know, even though the game changes a bit. I thinks it also gives me a basis to build a more complete team next year.
@ Nemo I think too. Now I have to use him better than the last rider I bought to Sotd
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
With three of my old riders in Wackermann, Doubey and now Weinstein on your roster, it'll be easy to cheer for you!
Anything uphill will be fun with such a deep and versatile lineup there, let's see if you manage to avoid the rest enough to maximize your PPRD across the entire season.
Another "Cobbles are Lame" Partner
Overall a nice team you build there and the structure feels like we have alot of battles in a lot of races. Hopefully wer both can have a succesful season!
Great depth in the hills and climbs department
Although other races will be hard to watch, reminds me a bit of my own (first) season when I only had the cobbles.
Best of luck!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
I'm not sure what to think about your team this season. On one side I don't really see the big scorers here, but on the other side you're captains have a similar skill set to mine and you have even some more depth regarding their support riders (which obviously should leave me more optimistic). As I said, I can't really judge your team ...
On a side note: Congratulations to acquiring Le Berre and Huby (though I rather would have signed them myself if not for cap space issues)! You could also develop them to some hill / cobbles hybrid domestiques (via the classics route), that's what I had in mind for them.
cio93 wrote:
With three of my old riders in Wackermann, Doubey and now Weinstein on your roster, it'll be easy to cheer for you!
Anything uphill will be fun with such a deep and versatile lineup there, let's see if you manage to avoid the rest enough to maximize your PPRD across the entire season.
And no doubt, such cheering will be a great encouragement for my riders!
At first glance, I shouldn't suffer too much with flat races - at least, not more than what I envisionned when I chose to go with Guerao only.
Though even uphill, there's a fair share of too strong riders for my taste in the division.
@ Eeze
Ezeefreak wrote:
Another "Cobbles are Lame" Partner
Overall a nice team you build there and the structure feels like we have alot of battles in a lot of races. Hopefully wer both can have a succesful season!
At some point, even though renewing Insausti was half a mistake (not too much one, in the end, as it brought me some money - lesson learned), I envisionned to have a cobbles team!
It wasn't meant to be, as I've been looking for time-trialists/stage racers the whole transfer period. But I've now a good goal for next year.
Can't wait to battle with you indeed !
TheManxMissile wrote:
This team can only go up! Both on the road, and in the rankings
Let's make a club!
We will meet enough times this season. I just hope we don't get fed up with shenanigans. Good luck in the new season!
OK, but only for this season. Next year, I intend to have some cobbles capacities!
Good luck to you too
@ Laurens
Laurens147 wrote:
Great depth in the hills and climbs department
Although other races will be hard to watch, reminds me a bit of my own (first) season when I only had the cobbles.
Best of luck!
Except some mandatory French races, there shouldn't be too much of them. Or they're here for the youngsters to gather XP, so that's fine.
Also maybe Guerao will want to leave the team on a festival!
Thank you, good luck to you too!
@ KB
kandesbunzler26 wrote:
I'm not sure what to think about your team this season. On one side I don't really see the big scorers here, but on the other side you're captains have a similar skill set to mine and you have even some more depth regarding their support riders (which obviously should leave me more optimistic). As I said, I can't really judge your team ...
On a side note: Congratulations to acquiring Le Berre and Huby (though I rather would have signed them myself if not for cap space issues)! You could also develop them to some hill / cobbles hybrid domestiques (via the classics route), that's what I had in mind for them.
Bonne chance!
Except the fact I couldn't acquire any top CT time-trialist, and that Eeze snatched Elosegui, I think I built the type of team I wanted for this season: a team with riders I know, and that was the idea behind keeping Guerao and Mottin, to test what I've learned planning wise.
But I certainly hope that both the TTT and mountain support I've gained will help Itturia score better. In the same idea, in the hill departement, I hope I'll be able to do better than the points gathered by Wackerman and Rodriguez, thanks to a better planning and a better squad in general.
But you're right in the sense that there probably isn't any top 10 scorer in the team.
I'm not sure you're in any position to be envious talent-wise I'll look into the classic route indeed, thank you for pointing it out.
Bonne chance à toi aussi !
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
With the season about to begin, Bordeaux Métropole – Euskotren has announced the sponsor goals set for the year, and the general calendar for the season. They also presented the teams which will tackle January races.
Goals
C2 GP Plouay
Win
C2 Volta a Catalunya
Top 5
C2 Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt
Top 5
C1 Vuelta a Pais Vasco
KoM
CT Team Standings
Top 10
WIN GP Plouay
FL
MO
HI
ST
RS
SP
AC
FG
DH
Victor Lafay
66
75
77
72
72
63
74
78
67
Cristian Rodriguez
70
70
76
76
70
65
71
75
74
Fabien Doubey
71
74
75
72
72
67
70
63
60
Quentin Pacher
70
71
75
73
74
70
73
72
67
Steven Manuel Polanco
66
60
65
68
68
65
67
76
75
Bruno Armirail
72
71
73
73
75
61
65
74
68
Luca Wackermann
74
68
74
74
74
74
72
70
64
Antoine Huby
68
63
67
64
70
65
72
65
64
This one was obvious, commented team management. With a French race back at the CT calendar, it would become or win goal. More so as it is a winnable race, despite its flat classification. We hope to make the race hard enough for Lafay to shine, or for Wackermann to finish in a small group, a bit like in Zurich last season. Pacher might also have a card, in this regard. All in all, we bring on a strong team that we hope will be able to compete for victory. It’ll also be an occasion for our stagiaire Antoine Huby to race on home soil. He’ll represent our Breton contingent.
KoM Vuelta a Pais Vasco
FL
MO
HI
ST
RS
RC
AC
FG
DH
Victor Lafay
66
75
77
72
72
72
74
78
67
Cristian Rodriguez
70
70
76
76
70
70
71
75
74
Clement Berthet
64
73
72
68
72
64
72
71
75
Quentin Pacher
70
71
75
73
74
69
73
72
67
Steven Manuel Polanco
66
60
65
68
68
68
67
76
75
Remy Rochas
67
77
74
70
70
73
73
72
66
Luca Wackermann
74
68
74
74
74
73
72
70
64
Gennadiy Tatarinov
69
75
74
71
71
68
73
76
63
This race was a goal last year, it obviously is again this season. While Rodriguez won an unexpected mountain classification by the slightest margin, we hope to reiterate this feat with a team we think is set up for this goal. We expect to be in all the breaks, to take the jersey as soon as possible and to not let it go. If we bring in a stage with it, it’ll be even more satisfying.
Funnily enough, like last season, no Basque rider for this race.
TOP 5 Volta a Catalunya
MO
TT
ST
RS
RC
AC
FG
DH
Mikel Iturria
77
72
77
74
76
61
69
66
Victor Lafay
75
63
72
72
72
74
78
67
Bruno Armirail
71
72
73
75
73
65
74
68
Domenic Weinstein
70
75
72
70
76
70
65
69
Mikel Agirrebeitia
67
69
66
68
62
65
59
72
Steven Manuel Polanco
60
66
68
68
68
67
76
75
Lukas Talacka
57
74
71
73
68
67
73
63
Hugues Mottin
54
75
61
68
60
50
62
67
Another repeat from last year, though this team, we’ve been more measured in our expectations. Still, Itturia will have to do better than last season, when it was not the TTT who kicked out of GC expectations, but a poor final stage. With a decent – though not great – support for the mountains and an also decent TTT team, we hope we’ll manage to enter the top 5 this time.
TOP 5 Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
AC
FG
DH
Mikel Iturria
77
73
72
77
74
76
61
69
66
Remy Rochas
77
74
61
70
70
73
73
72
66
Victor Lafay
75
77
63
72
72
72
74
78
67
Gennadiy Tatarinov
75
74
63
71
71
68
73
76
63
Fabien Doubey
74
75
59
72
72
71
70
63
60
Clement Berthet
73
72
58
68
72
64
72
71
75
Mathis Le Berre
64
68
65
68
69
66
66
68
66
Javier Serrano
64
68
64
71
74
67
68
69
71
The goal here is simple : put Itturia in the best condition in the first days, so that he’ll be able to get a good result on the final ITT and finish in the top 5. With the climbing team we have, and what he showed last season in this type of race, we think that it’s entirely doable.
TOP 10 Team standings
Unchanged goal. We’re still in a learning process. This year, we can do it.
Goals
After the goals were discussed and commented, the management presented an overview of the team’s calendar.
Start
End
Race
Category
09-Jan
Gisborne GP
C2
21-Jan
30-Jan
Vuelta al Tachira
C2
30-Jan
Clasico San Jose
C2
---
15-Feb
20-Feb
Volta a Catalunya
C2
28-Feb
Coppa Placci
C2
---
03-Mar
Isle of Man TTT
C1
05-Mar
10-Mar
Vuelta al Pais Vasco
C1
12-Mar
15-Mar
Tour of the Middle East
C2
17-Mar
20-Mar
Tour of Guadeloupe
C1
30-Mar
GP Izola
C2
---
06-Apr
10-Apr
Baltic Chain Tour
C1
12-Apr
18-Apr
Tour de Pologne
HC
15-Apr
Berlin ProRace
C2
25-Apr
GP Wallonie
HC
---
03-May
08-May
Tour de Romandie
C1
04-May
09-May
Olympia's Tour
C2
18-May
24-May
Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt
C2
19-May
1 Jour de Dunkerque
C1
---
02-Jun
08-Jun
Tour of Vancouver
C2
23-Jun
Monterrey TTT
C2
---
01-Jul
Torshavn GP
C1
01-Jul
Uppsala Classic
C2
20-Jul
Paris Tours
C1
23-Jul
Betonexpressz GP
C2
25-Jul
29-Jul
Tour d'Andorra
C1
---
01-Aug
05-Aug
Tour de Vineyards
C1
07-Aug
09-Aug
Giro del Trentino
C2
10-Aug
15-Aug
Tour du Maroc
C1
11-Aug
15-Aug
Post Danmark Rundt
HC
17-Aug
GP Plouay
C2
23-Aug
31-Aug
Tour de l'Avenir
U23
---
01-Sep
05-Sep
Tour of Britain
C1
28-Sep
GP Lugano
C1
---
12-Oct
15-Oct
Euskal Bizikleta
C1
18-Oct
Giro dell'Emilia
HC
18-Oct
Zuri Metzgete
C2
Management explained that they entered the race selection with the ambition to avoid taking the plane all year long. Though that wasn’t possible, main racing will indeed be in Europe, or very near. Like last season, the team will begin outside of the continent though, with the New Zeeland’s Gisborne GP and the South American duo of Tachira and San Jose, where the team hopes to avoid another zero pointer.
For some races, the team isn’t well suited, explained Bordeaux Métropole’s vice-president for sport. Dunkerque and Paris-Tour are the most obvious of these. But we went with the idea to be in all the French and Spanish races. It’ll be a good experience for our young riders anyway, but we don’t expect anything from it.
In most other C1/HC race, we’ll hope for mountain and stage hunting, though we would’nt mind some results like Emilia last year. Speaking of that, we also have the same last month, with Euskal and Zuri adding to the Italian classic.
January Preview
Last year, with the same first month, the team earned 80 points, with Wackermann 7th place in Gisborne, and multiples good results in Tachira (Mottin, Guerao, Itturia). They’ll hope to do better than that, though in Tachira weight will mostly be on the climbers shoulders.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
TOP 5 Volta a Catalunya 
TOP 5 Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt 
Gisborne GP
Vuelta al Tachira
Clasico San Jose
Coppa Placci
Isle of Man TTT
Tour of the Middle East
GP Izola
Tour de Pologne
GP Wallonie
Tour de Romandie
Olympia's Tour
Tour of Vancouver
Monterrey TTT
Torshavn GP
Betonexpressz GP
Tour d'Andorra
Tour du Maroc
Post Danmark Rundt
Tour of Britain
