Inspired by seancoll I'll do a short review of the season so far. It will center around our expectations and the points we've scored in the first two months:
Name
Expected points pre-season
Points scored so far
Adjusted expectations
Zariff
200
4
100
Kozhatayev
100
131
200
Schomber
150
0
150
Page
100
18
100
Carpenter
100
28
100
Dennis
55
0
45
Nikiema
65
18
75
Barbari
50
0
45
Kiflay
30
0
25
Manfredi
50
1
45
Laas
50
14
50
Seboka
25
0
25
Smit
50
46
75
Liphongyu
15
0
15
Granigan
30
0
25
Moutsios
5
0
5
De Comarmond
5
0
5
Iradukunda
0
0
0
Aru
10
0
10
Mundle
50
26
65
As written pre-season the team expectations is to be just outside top 5, though we would love to join the battle for promotion. We've had a great January and a quiet February, which sort of balances each other out. Let's dive a little more into the over- and underperformances so far.
Zariff has only scored 4 point, but he's also only had 1 chance. I'm certain that he will score at a later point, but our expectations were probably too big in hindsight. Kozhatayev, on the other hand, took the CT with storm in Tachira and brought home the first GC win in the team's history. He should at least reach 200 points before the season ends. Our last captain, Schomber, hasn't really had the opportunity to prove himself yet, but 150 points still seems reasonable with races like Amissa Bongo coming up.
Page and Carpenter are doing well. Some minor points here and there, they're performing as expected. Dennis hasn't scored yet, and I think he's a big reason for our poor TTT in Catalunya. If he doesn't improve, we're going to have a hard time in the upcoming TTT's. Nikiema is scoring decent however, and more suiting races like Izola is yet to come.
Then we have a big field of luxury teammates and domestiques. Smit stands out with 46 points and could turn out to be our best bargain of this transfer period. Lastly, we have Mundle who has already proved his worth. He's not going to receive a new contract, but he could very well earn a place in the team's history books if he keeps delivering.
Ultimately, we expect around 1160 points after the adjustments. Last season that would have been enough for 7th, but right now it looks like it would only be enough for 9th place as Team Würth MODYF is projected to reach 1200+ points currently. Nevertheless, we'll keep pushing for promotion. Especially as 6th and 7th might also grant access to PCT (perhaps 8th as well, who knows).
We might as well divert the attention from TOME to some of our upcoming races in April, as our sponsors probably won't be too delighted with how the team performs currently.
Berlin ProRace
Nat.
Name
FL
ST
RS
SP
AC
FG
Nur Aiman Zariff
70
71
67
80
80
60
Dylan Page
75
72
72
78
79
62
Adel Barbari
71
70
69
76
79
76
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
71
70
57
61
67
Noah Granigan
74
70
74
74
76
67
Benedikt Mundle
78
67
71
58
67
79
Nils Schomber
73
66
76
69
69
65
Aurelien De Comarmond
68
67
70
68
69
62
Ah shit, here we go again... Another chance for Zariff to disappoint.
We're aiming for a podium spot with the help of a full leadout train and lots of strong guys to control the break, but I still have a feeling this won't go our way.
USA Pro Cycling Challenge
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
ST
RS
RC
SP
AC
FG
DH
Bachirou Nikiema
69
70
77
72
74
72
70
76
74
71
Robin Carpenter
67
76
76
72
71
73
66
72
72
69
Martin Laas
67
74
76
68
73
73
67
76
68
57
Matala Seboka
61
80
62
63
70
73
52
67
75
84
Andrea Manfredi
69
78
65
68
73
72
62
73
77
73
Nils Schomber
73
54
58
66
76
68
69
69
65
64
Martinos Moutsios
71
61
62
71
70
65
66
72
70
66
Aurelien De Comarmond
68
62
68
67
70
67
68
69
62
63
The competition is most likely going to be very tough, hence we don't really have any expectations. Nikiema and Laas should mainly chase stages, but Carpenter might sneak into top 20 in the GC.
The rest are here to support in any way possible or maybe join a breakaway. Especially Manfredi could be nice to see in an early attack under the right circumstances.
As long as Nikiema, Laas or Smit is in the points, I suppose we're happy. Two of them in top 25 should be doable, but let's see how the race unfolds.
Lisbon Classic
Nat.
Name
FL
HI
ST
RS
SP
AC
FG
DH
Nur Aiman Zariff
70
61
71
67
80
80
60
67
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
71
71
70
57
61
67
62
Noah Granigan
74
66
70
74
74
76
67
65
Benedikt Mundle
78
64
67
71
58
67
79
71
Metkel Kiflay
73
67
71
68
65
67
63
71
Nils Schomber
73
58
66
76
69
69
65
64
Martinos Moutsios
71
62
71
70
66
72
70
66
Aurelien De Comarmond
68
68
67
70
68
69
62
63
The first HC race in team history! We thought long and hard about the roster, but we already regret not bringing Smit. Instead, we have Zariff for the sprint and Mundle to cover attacks. Granigan is the only leadout guy available, but Zariff will most likely surf wheels instead as other teams should have way stronger setups.
Top 10 is the goal, although it could just as well be a zero-pointer.
The sponsors enjoyed the early April previews, so we'll continue that trend. Four races upcoming, but we've already presented our roster for Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt as it's a goal race, so this will be for the first three races of May.
Pro Hallstatt Classic
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
HI
ST
RS
AC
FG
DH
Matala Seboka
61
80
62
63
70
67
75
84
Andrea Manfredi
69
78
65
68
73
73
77
73
Fabio Aru
65
76
72
71
72
67
54
68
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
74
71
71
70
61
67
62
Rohan Dennis
69
71
72
68
70
63
66
53
Aurelien De Comarmond
68
62
68
67
70
69
62
63
Martinos Moutsios
71
61
62
71
70
72
70
66
Nils Schomber
73
54
58
66
76
69
65
64
Looking forward to seeing if Seboka can do anything here, or if he'll already start tiring before the climbing starts. Even if Seboka tells us he has good legs, we probably still want someone in the BOTD. Aru, Liphongyu or Dennis should be our primary targets. Manfredi is also more than welcome to try something from far out.
Olympia's Tour
Nat.
Name
FL
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
SP
AC
FG
PR
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
74
74
72
71
75
71
52
69
62
72
Adel Barbari
71
63
68
70
69
78
76
79
76
70
Rohan Dennis
69
72
75
68
70
62
62
63
66
78
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
71
73
71
70
72
57
61
67
72
Metkel Kiflay
73
67
75
71
68
66
65
67
63
76
Nils Schomber
73
58
74
66
76
68
69
69
65
81
Martinos Moutsios
71
62
73
71
70
65
66
72
70
73
Should we bring Kozhatayev, Smit or both? We decided to send Smit elsewhere, but still a team composed with the TTT in mind. Barbari is also here with a rare occurrence as our main sprinter. No support for him though, he'll have to surf wheels or find a reliable SEE turtle.
Dennis and Kiflay should also be looking forward to the opening ITT, whereas Schomber finally gets a chance to shine on the final stage.
Baltic Chain Tour
Nat.
Name
FL
HI
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
PR
Nur Aiman Zariff
70
61
71
67
77
60
80
80
60
72
Dylan Page
75
66
72
72
75
66
78
79
62
59
Adel Barbari
71
63
70
69
78
58
76
79
76
70
Rohan Dennis
69
72
68
70
62
50
62
63
66
78
Noah Granigan
74
66
70
74
73
55
74
76
67
71
Benedikt Mundle
78
64
67
71
65
61
58
67
79
54
Metkel Kiflay
73
67
71
68
66
62
65
67
63
76
Nils Schomber
73
58
66
76
68
50
69
69
65
81
Finally, a prologue for Schomber (and Dennis). Unfortunately, it contains cobbles, so we won't see any major result from him most likely, but Kiflay might perform decently.
Our priority will be to get Zariff to part of the sprints - which we haven't really succeeded with thus far... Page is even welcome to take over priority if Zariff doesn't perform, and should regardless be our best option for S5.
Lastly, I'd like to mention Mundle, though he should fly under the radar most of the time. Hopefully, he causes some havoc and might even score in one of the stages if he play his cards right.
Edited by Caspi on 16-12-2024 18:45
We've entered April so it's time to present our squad for the races in June, right? It might be a bit early, but better too early than late, or however that saying goes.
Hanko Classic
Nat.
Name
FL
ST
RS
SP
AC
FG
Nur Aiman Zariff
70
71
67
80
80
60
Adel Barbari
71
70
69
76
79
76
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
71
70
57
61
67
Noah Granigan
74
70
74
74
76
67
Benedikt Mundle
78
67
71
58
67
79
Nils Schomber
73
66
76
69
69
65
Martinos Moutsios
71
71
70
66
72
70
Aurelien De Comarmond
68
67
70
68
69
62
Zariff will captain the team in Finland. Barbari and Granigan are there to setup a sprint train if needed, but it's not expected from the team. More likely is it that we'll be present in the BOTD or see a late attack from Mundle.
Monterrey TTT
Nat.
Name
FL
HI
TT
ST
RS
DH
Rohan Dennis
69
72
75
68
70
53
Metkel Kiflay
73
67
75
71
68
71
Nils Schomber
73
58
74
66
76
64
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
71
73
71
70
62
Martinos Moutsios
71
62
73
71
70
66
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
74
74
72
71
75
74
Willie Smit
72
75
69
76
72
67
Should we have brought an 8th rider? Probably, yes.
However, we'd rather spend Carpenter and Barbari's race days differently, which means we could bring Manfredi or someone even less suited for TT's. Thus, we opted for a leaner setup, which hopefully still nets us some points.
Tour of Vancouver
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
TT
RC
AC
PR
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
74
77
72
71
69
72
Andrea Manfredi
69
78
65
72
73
65
Adel Barbari
71
62
68
78
79
70
Rohan Dennis
69
71
75
62
63
78
Nawuti Liphongyu
67
74
73
72
61
72
Metkel Kiflay
73
62
75
66
67
76
Nils Schomber
73
54
74
68
69
81
Martinos Moutsios
71
61
73
65
72
73
We expect big things from Kozhatayev in Canada; top 3 is the goal, but top 5 will still be considered a success. Manfredi was 8th last year, but won’t have the opportunity to improve, as he’ll be our primary mountain domestique, with Liphongyu as the only other capable support in this terrain.
Moutsios, Schomber, and Dennis are here to secure a decent result in the final stage, the TTT. That leaves only Barbari, who will be free to chase his own result on the three flat stages.
Edited by Caspi on 27-12-2024 20:25
As I thought the Zariff + Page/Barbari combo is not working out and they're better off separated. Zariff also might be better suited in a more of an underdog role in PT/PCT.
