This is exciting! Well done on renewals, and it looks like you have a plan for what you hope to do. Seeing Belgians being available, one way or the other, I will definitely make contact!
Thank you! The first thought when another team (and a bigger one, too) pivots to Belgian sponsorship is that it's bad to have even more competition, but then again it also opens up a potential trading partner, which could be nice I'm sure we'll have a chat come transfers
Interesting list for sure, we might be in touch! In general a super solid renewals season. You should be in a really good spot to take on promotion this year!
I think it's an interesting list, too. How close I can get to a promotion-ready squad might depend on how many other managers agree as well. Reach out during transfers if you have something specific in mind
Can I just say, I love some of the analysis you've done on PPRD in the post just before the renewals one Sadly, Stallaert's under 4PPRD for me did not quite live up to his stint for you.
And regarding your availability list and judging by others' reaction, it looks like you'll be active at the very least - always a good thing!
Did you know that to this day, Bini still talks about how he was happiest in his first season at Carlsberg, and yearns to return?
Looks like a decent chance for a shakeup down the roster! Not sure we'll have too much to discuss but you never know especially with loans and the like.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
Pellizzari, Vervenne and Amezawa available. Very interesting!
I'd be happy to have all three on the team again next year, but there are some funds that will need to be acquired for a specific purpose, and if need be, it's possible one or two of those could be on the move. We'll see
Can I just say, I love some of the analysis you've done on PPRD in the post just before the renewals one Sadly, Stallaert's under 4PPRD for me did not quite live up to his stint for you.
And regarding your availability list and judging by others' reaction, it looks like you'll be active at the very least - always a good thing!
Thank you! I did that analysis mostly to satisfy my own curiosity, but it's nice when others appreciate it, too. And I genuinely thought Stallaert still had a bit more in him than what he showed for you last season
Did you know that to this day, Bini still talks about how he was happiest in his first season at Carlsberg, and yearns to return?
Looks like a decent chance for a shakeup down the roster! Not sure we'll have too much to discuss but you never know especially with loans and the like.
I'm not sure Bini would be super keen on playing second fiddle to Per We'll see how much of a shakeup the roster will actually receive. Most of the advertised riders don't have to go at all costs, but I'm hoping for a decent market for at least some of them, in which case, yes, could be quite some turnover.
Good renewals it seems and plenty of transfer activity in the works. Targetting promotion should be very doable if you choose to go in that direction, but I won't complain if you keep Bini out of PT for another season
Seems like renewals went well for you Interesting list of availabilities that should bring in a decent amount to further the develop of a certain rider I would presume. If Amezawa is to leave, he should be able to net you a nice fee
Really excited about your team next year and the possibility of finding a home for a rider or two between us. Love your roster and identity and sense a fantastic year ahead.
Think you have a strong team already, in every terrain, and one that should challenge for promotion right away. A couple of improvements and that will become very likely!
Great season carrying the team to peaceful mid-table from two of my favourite riders in the peloton (until I have to face Bini more consistently). Excited to see how the project keeps evolving, and always love reading the stats and write-ups you do, and in such nice formatting. Best of luck, not sure if we'll have deals to make but surely FAs to squabble for and general chats to have I hope
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Good renewals it seems and plenty of transfer activity in the works. Targetting promotion should be very doable if you choose to go in that direction, but I won't complain if you keep Bini out of PT for another season
Thank you! Ideally, you will have to deal with Bini next year indeed But seasons can take unexpected turns, so who knows. Transfers are hopefully going to be fun though!
Seems like renewals went well for you Interesting list of availabilities that should bring in a decent amount to further the develop of a certain rider I would presume. If Amezawa is to leave, he should be able to net you a nice fee
You might presume right I'm hoping to keep Amezawa, but we'll see if a sale might become more beneficial.
Really excited about your team next year and the possibility of finding a home for a rider or two between us. Love your roster and identity and sense a fantastic year ahead.
Think you have a strong team already, in every terrain, and one that should challenge for promotion right away. A couple of improvements and that will become very likely!
That is the hope, at least. Got a few plans, most of them will inevitably fail Hopefully one decent one will stick.
Great season carrying the team to peaceful mid-table from two of my favourite riders in the peloton (until I have to face Bini more consistently). Excited to see how the project keeps evolving, and always love reading the stats and write-ups you do, and in such nice formatting. Best of luck, not sure if we'll have deals to make but surely FAs to squabble for and general chats to have I hope
Appreciate it, I'm glad people like the write-ups! As with red, I'm hoping to make your worries about facing Bini come true But the last time I went into a season with promotion ambitions, it failed quite badly. Time will tell if we do better this time around.
It's been an active transfer window at Bralirwa headquarters so far. Quite a few riders have been arriving and leaving via deals, and we'll get to those once things have settled down a bit.
But we can also welcome the first four free agent signings of the year. Typically, these would have been the yearly batch of talents that we tend to sign. Not so much this year. The average age of these riders is 33, and two of the guys are even 35, our oldest signings ever.
Why? Because we don't want to be shy about our ambitions for the upcoming season. With our young core of leaders coming into our own, this is when we want to push for promotion. And for that, we need some experience.
Valentin Madouas
30 y/o
Puncheur
400.000€
76.97
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
74
75
76
77
69
76
73
76
60
73
73
66
68
70
It is rarely a good idea to head into transfers with one single target in mind. And of course, there were some plans B through X. But there were certainly voices in the Bralirwa HQ that said this window could simply not be called successful unless Valentin Madouas joins the squad.
Luckily, those voices are now satisfied. At 400.000 - exactly double of what he made at Puma last year -, his signing was slightly more costly than we had hoped for, but we had mapped out our season with a rider at least very much like him in mind, so we're very excited that he joins us after a short but intense bidding war with our friends from Peugeot.
Tim Wellens
35 y/o
Climber
70.000€
74.52
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
68
78
75
71
68
73
74
70
58
59
62
60
66
68
As our second signing, one of the most prolific Belgian cyclists of the last decade joins us to spend (at least) one more year at home. Takeaki Amezawa and Lennert Van Eetvelt will be very busy on many a mountain slope, and after a few departures, our support system looked pretty thin. Enter: Tim Wellens.
We had identified him as a target early in the window, and to make our ambitions clear, we immediately started negotiations with a bid of 70.000. Be it thanks to that signal, or just a classic bit of luck and good timing, that was all it took, and we believe we have landed quite a steal. Tim doesn't just bring experience and tales of victory to the team, but he's still simply a very solid climber. Who knows if he can't score a good result or two for himself as well?
Warren Barguil
35 y/o
Climber
50.000€
73.79
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
66
77
74
71
66
71
71
73
51
60
69
62
72
66
To further bolster our mountain support, we found another iconic climber, ever so slightly past his prime: Warren Barguil. The French is, even at 35, reasonably well-rounded and should fill an important role throughout the year. He joins us for minimum wage.
Roman Seigle
32 y/o
Puncheur
50.000€
74.69
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
68
72
75
77
64
73
73
69
60
63
72
70
69
67
With our climbing support shored up, we needed a solid lieutenant for Valentin Madouas. And again, we found one on the free agency market - another French veteran, another signing for minimum wage: Roma(i)n Seigle.
Just like the man he's tasked with assisting, he is a decent climber in addition to his skills on the hills, and he could be strong enough to score a few good results himself, be it from a domestique role, or in a free role in some other race.
Let's talk come transfers if there's someone that interests you in particular!
But feel free to reach out anyway, maybe we can work something else out!
