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The Oz Cycling Project #PCT14
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 07-03-2014 20:11
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Directeur Sportif
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[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Graphics/MG_Oz_ClarkeSi_zps11755ac6.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]  Simon Clarke
On the team #2012
Age: 26 (when joining the team)
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Sprinter (FL 66, SP 79, ACC 78)
Clarke was one of the first signings ever for Oz Cycling (together with Westley Gough, Michael Vink and Blair Windsor) and therefore deserves a place in Oz's history book: "He will be a nice addition to the team... he's still a fast guy and I believe in his speed", said manager TS Moha prior to the 2012 campaign.
Well, we can't blame Simon for not scoring big time, as he was more like a lead-out for Cooke (or at least, he should have been so). But one of the manager's "main targets" for Oz's first transfer season at least had two quite good days in India!
His 10th place in Mumbai, where also Baden Cooke had his best days for Oz Cycling, plus his 6th place in Delhi, where William Ford grabbed an unexpected victory with a late attack, made Clarke becoming a favorite of India's cycling community (at least, we think so).
Anyway, the team had bigger (and better plans) for 2013 and so Clarke was sold to new found CT-team Credexbank, where he finished the season as 175th in the Individual Rankings, with less points than he had with Oz a year before though.
| Season | Rk | Race | Cat | #Div (Pts) | | #2012 | 6th | Tour de Delhi | | | | 10th | Mumbai Cyclothon II | | | | 317th | Individual Ranking | | CT (51) |
Celebrating William Ford's stunning victory and grabbing himself a 6th place in 2012's Tour de Delhi..
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 00:39
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 07-03-2014 20:18
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World Champion
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Really loving this small articles about your team's history.  |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 08-03-2014 15:56
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Directeur Sportif
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Thanks, Mig! This will be more fun with talents like Bobridge or Bennett in a few seasons, but i kinda enjoy focussing on those rather useless riders for now (of which Oz had enough especially in the first season) 
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 08-03-2014 21:29
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Graphics/MG_Oz_Khalmuratov_zpsea39d544.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]  Muradjan Khalmuratov
On the team #2012
Age: 30 (when joining the team)
Wage: 60.000€
Role: Climber (MO 74, HI 68, TT 70)
Muradjan was one of the better climbers in Oz Cycling's squad from 2012, which says a lot about the quality of the team in the mountains.. anyway, the veteran from Uzbekistan had only a few chances (44 race days) to show that he was worth the signing.
The Tour of Taiwan (with a rather weak startlist back then) was maybe the best race to do so. But even though this 10-days-event would eventually turn into a huge success for Oz Cycling, Khalmuratov was one of three unlucky fellows on the team!
Just one day after our best climber Shaun Lewis lost minutes due to narrow roads and bad positioning, Muradjan crashed on slicky roads in the fourth stage, losing all GC-hopes.. and also Oz's third-best climber (Philip Thuaux) would later be involved in a mass crash. This race was Muradjan's best chance and he missed it due to a crash!
But at least TS Moha's favorite rider - William Ford - could deliver: thanks to a breakaway attempt and a true fight in the concluding queen stage, Ford hang on for a 3rd place in the final GC! One of a only a few podium-finishes for Oz Cycling back in 2012.
Khalmuratov would leave the team off free agency and sign a contract with Pivovarna Laško, where he had a solid season as 229th in the PCT's individual rankings, collecting 82 points - 77 more than he did with Oz!
| Season | Rk | Race | Cat | #Div (Pts) | | #2012 | - | - | | | | 555th | Individual Ranking | | CT (5) |
Crashing on wet turf in Taiwan's fourth stage - bye bye, GC!
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 08-03-2014 22:02
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Hello Mr Moha
This is Cycle Man of Rebel-Aviva ProCycling. I hope that we can form a good alliance over this season and beyond, and we can maintain a a close connection during transfers. We are willing to loan or buy some of your Aussie talents in need of some development and so on.
Thanks
Edited by Cycleman123 on 08-03-2014 22:18
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 08-03-2014 22:09
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Team Manager
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@tsmoha Very interesting rider profiles - even of some relatively minor riders!
@Cycleman There's no place for development teams in the ManGame, that is not at all what we were looking for when selecting new teams...
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 08-03-2014 22:16
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SN: Yeah I know, I should've phrased it better. I didn't mean like a dev team in that I literally provide them with riders. I meant that we could have a close partnership close like we can work together in transfers. I realise I phrased it wrong, so I'll edit it 
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 08-03-2014 23:44
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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@SN: Thanks! We had quite a bunch of those minor riders, so i'm kinda forced to profile them but i also like talking about "underdogs", so more to follow!
@Cycleman: We will keep your interest in some of our maybe leaving riders in mind. Same goes for possible loan-deals, if there's any rider on our team needing CT-experience!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 09-03-2014 10:02
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Directeur Sportif
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 09-03-2014 10:04
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World Champion
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Well, that's a surprise!  |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 09-03-2014 12:52
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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@Mig: It is? More details on how the renewals went for Oz at a later point or in next few days, btw! Time to go on with the history feature!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Graphics/MG_Oz_ClarkeJon_zps3194a5c1.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l] Jonathon Clarke
On the team #2012
Age: 28 (when joining the team)
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Fighter (FL 71, FI 78) [img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Graphics/MG_Oz_ClarkeHil_zps0f90fcd6.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l] Hilton Clarke
On the team #2012
Age: 33 (when joining the team)
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Sprinter (FL 70, SP 70, ACC 71)
The Clarke-brothers really had the "blues" in 2012: while Jonathon, a fighter lacking outstanding stats, had the chance to show himself in 14 race days over the whole season, brother Hilton eventually would end up with 0 race days in Oz's shirt!
Jonathon would later say he still enjoyed his one-year-stint with the team, which saw him grabbing a decent 15th place in the HC-opener Down Under Classic! Even though he didn't play an important role, he at least was nominated for team's ProTour-appearance in the FDB Eire Tour, which was won by our favorite rider William Ford!
Hilton though didn't really enjoy the year, that brought him 50.000€ without racing a single stage though: "It's been a nice benefit, the money. I couldn't care less about not competing in races, in which I wouldn't have had chances anyway", said Clarke one year later after announcing his retirement from professional cycling.
His brother Jonathon, see his palmares for the 2012 season below, is still available in the transfer season after spending the 2013 campaign without a contract, playing in a Blues Brothers-cover band alongside brother Hilton and Graeme Brown.
| Season | Rk | Race | Cat | #Div (Pts) | | #2012 | 15th | Down Under Classic | HC | | | 501st | Individual Ranking | | CT (11) |
Jonathon as last one standing beside Baden Cooke, who would grab a 7th place in the 2012's season opener Down Under Classic!
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 09-03-2014 12:56
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World Champion
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I'm jealous on how many riders you managed to cover already. Great job
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 09-03-2014 16:28
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
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Thanks, alex! Once i fell in love with an idea (like your's), i'm all-in Plus having an only 2-years and rather shitty history helps going fast with those articles!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 10-03-2014 11:40
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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News on possible loan deals and NC-shirts revealed
With the transfer season 2014 approaching, a more detailed roster plan is in the making. As already announced before, Luke Durbridge will be loaned out to a PT-team next season and now it's confirmed, that also Wen Hao Li will search for a spot on a team in the highest division: being a decent TTler plus adding not too shabby sprint-stats, Li could be a nice addition to any team.
In other news, Oz Cycling will also consider possible loan-deals for less experienced Aussies Ethan Kimmince (CT-team) and maybe also Adam Phelan (both PT or CT). Especially Kimmince needs to boost his experience level now, to secure him a spot on the team for the upcoming years. A transfer instead of loan ain't ruled out though.
| Available for loan | | | | Rider | Div | Key stats | | Luke Durbridge | PT | TT 79 |  Wen Hao Li | PT | TT 76, SPR 74 | | Ethan Kimmince | CT | HI 67 | | Adam Phelan | CT/PT | HI 69, TT 69, FI 77 |
Thanks to another great piece of work by our premium shirtmaker aidanvn13, the Oz also presented it's (for now) two NC-shirts for Sono Delgerbayar (Mongolia) and Kin-Wan Su (Hong Kong)! The team is once again delighted by aidan's work and looks forward to see those shirts in action!
Sonomtseren Delgerbayar will wear this Mongolian NC-shirt..
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 10-03-2014 13:38
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Tour de France Champion
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Liking the Mongolian NC , once again aidanvn13 delivers a great jersey |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 10-03-2014 20:05
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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@sutty: Same here, really like the Mongolian shirt Well, what else to say, aidan is a genius!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 10-03-2014 20:24
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
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[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Graphics/MG_Oz_Gate_zps4dbca10a.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]  Aaron Gate
On the team #2012
Age: 22 (when joining the team)
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Fighter (HI 66, FI 74)
Aaron was one of four Kiwis in the team's first ever season back in 2012, one of four talents to be precisive. We didn't expect him to perform on high level and so it was a season for him to gain experience and improve his skills.
It was therefore a nice surprise so Gate showing some aggressive racing, which brought him three decent (while minor) results: a runner-up in Tour of South Africa's third stage and his 2nd place in Tour of Swaziland's KoM-classification made him declaring Africa as his favorite place to ride.
His biggest result though happened in America: thanks to another breakaway appearance, Gate managed to grab a 6th place in Tour of the Battenkill, which was won by Staf Scheirlinckx for local team Hollister.
Just like his compatriots Gough and Vink, also Gate would eventually leave The Oz to join Kiwi team Cadbury-Schwepes for the 2013 campaign. The experience he gained with Oz actually paid off, as he had a very solid season in the CT as 81st in the Individual Rankings (123 points)! He will be a free agent prior to the new season and could well be on Oz's list again.
| Season | Rk | Race | Cat | #Div (Pts) | | #2012 | 6th | Tour of the Battenkill | | | | 335th | Individual Ranking | | CT (48) |
Leading the breakaway in Battenkill, eventually finishing 6th!
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 10-03-2014 20:28
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Well best of luck for the rest of your season |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 10-03-2014 21:18
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
Joined: 19-07-2010
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Well, thanks Yves. The season is yet to begin though, so i'm not sure if "rest of the season" is the correct words here
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-03-2014 20:51
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Directeur Sportif
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