Really nice pieces of history you're writing here... And I still love that: 'Mre, I told you I can win!' expression of Maksimov
Thanks for the kind words, mate! Always nice to read stuff like that And yes, Maksimov definitely looks like he had something to say there!
Jesus arrives - "Tasmanian Devil" leaves
An unexpected late move in the transfers was sealed today: The Oz is happy to announce the arrival of our first Spanish rider ever! Jesus Del Nero (32) will both add experience and depth in pretty all terrains, which The Oz is focussing on this year!
Del Nero, sold for 125,000€ by PT-team Santander, is great on the flat and also decent on climbing short climbs, long stages, leading a sprint train and.. cobbles! Don't worry, The Oz won't aim for much success on the pavement (yet again), but both Del Nero and Visconti may give us a chance to appear in some events.
The arrival of Del Nero led to the team selling our best sprinter from 2013: Damion "The Tasmanian Devil" Drapac (yet maxed) will try his luck in the CT (Bank of Ireland) this season, which looks like a better place to be for one of the manager's favorite riders. Also veteran TT-specialist Adrian Laidler had to be sacked a few hours ago (after a possible transfer wasn't meant to work).
Rider (Age)
Key stats
Wage
Jesus Del Nero (32)
78 FL, 72 HI, 78 STA, 72 COB
100,000€
Cobbles and Oz? Well, not really.. but Del Nero certainly likes to hit some pavès from time to time..
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_15_Laidler_zps2797884a.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Adrian Laidler On the team #2012-2013
Age: 31 (when joining the team)
Wage: 65.000€ (in his best season)
Role: TTs (FL 75, TT 75, PRL 75 at his best)
The veteran TT-specialist was never going to be a key rider for The Oz, but his decent stats for flat races and timetrials wasn't definitely that bad for our rather weak squad back in 2012.
He did quite well in some stages (scoring three stage-podiums in stages of Southland, Corsica Intl and Taiwan) plus adding a decent 14th place in the Isle of Man ITT. He would eventually end the season with 50 points in his bags, so almost the same as riders like Shaun Lewis and Simon Clarke, who were expected to do better.
With a much stronger Oz-team in 2013, Adrian's racedays were cut down and he struggled to do anything special (his best single result was a 6th place in Langkawi's opening stage), but he worked hard for the team even without being in the focus as an individual:
Laidler was part of the team scoring the win of the Monterrey TTT, in which he fought hard until the finish-line (losing 2" eventually).. he also was one of The Oz's most seen riders in the Tour of America, where he tried his luck in several break of the days, empty-handed though. But his efforts at least made him finish as 70th in GC - not bad at all for a rider known for his non-existant climbing skills.
With The Oz trying to upgrade it's roster for the 2014 campaign, Adrian was sacked by the team late in the transfers period.. good news for him: soon after being sacked, he seems to be picked up by a CT-team.
Season
Rk
Race
Cat
#Div (Pts)
#2012
14th
Isle of Man ITT
3x podium
Stage-Finishes
321st
Individual Ranking
CT (50)
#2013
-
-
500th
Individual Ranking
PCT (9)
Adrian tried his luck in several breakaways during the Tour of America 2013 - not success though..
Goss talks about coming home and his future with Oz
It's been an eventful transfer season for The Oz Cycling Project (so far) and the biggest news is definitely the arrival of one of Australia's best cyclists these days: Matthew Goss! The premium sprinter was the team's main target (actually already last season) and 1,8mio euros made him coming back to his beloved Australia.
The Oz won't be the only team in the PCT to upgrade both team and sprint-leaders, so of course it won't be an easy season for Goss, who just came off a PT-winning campaign with US-based team Wikipedia.
#GossFirst of all, I'm happy to join this project! It's been a tough start for the team back in 2012, but the guys already made a huge step last year and with guys like Bobridge or Bennett back on the team, I'm confident we will reach our Top-15 goal.
Speaking of Bobridge, it ain't surprising to see him being the one to achieve most of The Oz's ambitious win-goals in 2014 (like Tour of Czech Rep and Britain), as he always was going to be the key leader of the team for the upcoming season.
#GossI'm actually quite happy not to be the one to achieve our most important goals this year (laughs).. no, seriously. It's a logical move to select goals like that, as Bobo was on the team prior to the transfers, opposing to me. So there's no reason to feel like a minor part of this team.
Gossy and TTs may be the key to any success this year..
#GossIt's more like a comfortable situation for the team, you know. We're well aware of our strengths this year, which should be TTs, some hills and sprints. So it's not all on Bobo's shoulders (except of these goals). It's good to know, that - f.e. - a crash of Bobo won't cost Oz the whole season.
Which of course is one thing we definitely don't want to see. How does Gossy rate his chances to shine in sprints this year? And what's his personal goal for the upcoming season and future years with The Oz?
#GossThere's been a hype about all those top-sprinters in the PCT this year, yes. Am I afraid? No. Confident to dominate? No. Do I know my strengths? Yes. I just want to score points for my team. And wins, of course. There are some races, I really would love to win. I guess it ain't too surprising that I'm talking about the Down Under Classic, right? As for my future: you never know. But I think we can be a promotion-contender in 2015 at least. So why not with me still leading the sprints?
Heavy competition shouldn't prevent Goss from winning stages..
Thanks for the kind words, Jes! As always appreciated
Transfers done - The Oz signs two stagiares
Two Kiwi-talents will join the team in August, trying to help both the team and themselves earning a contract for further seasons: Taylor Gunman (23) is already quite useful in timetrials and may help the team immediately.
Alex Frame (21) was actually already considered as a full member for The Oz, but the management went for similar-skilled Zhihui Jiang instead. Frame though offers a nice package of talents in both sprints and prologues, so he's likely to get another chance next season.
The two Kiwis conclude the transfer season for The Oz, so expect a complete roster-update soon. Also stay tuned for the announcement of the recently revealed ProTour-wildcards! The Oz will be featured in (at least) two PT-events in 2014!
Rider (Age)
Key stats
Potential
Taylor Gunman (23)
73 TT, 72 PRL
75 TT, 74 PRL
Alex Frame (21)
70 SP, 73 PRL
77 SP, 79 PRL
Gunman may add some depth in TTs later this year.
Frame is likely to stay with the team for more years to come!
Just as our transfer season has been officially finished, 2014's PT-wildcards were announced. The Oz Cycling Project decided to apply for one classic and a stage-race and we're proud to announce the events, the team will show up next season.
The Tour of California will be one of the team's highlights in 2014, that's for sure. 8 days on highest level, that will give us plenty of chances to prove we're worth the wildcard. Jack Bobridge or maybe even Kristjan Koren will be our biggest hopes for a decent GC-finish.
Two hilly stages and the most important hilly TT (35km) should suit Bobo very well, so we're hoping for him to be in a good GC-position before entering the crucial mountain stage on day seven. This is the day, where we may give up on a high GC-finish, but you never know.
#ProposedSquad
Jack Bobridge
George Bennett
Anthony Giacoppo
Kristjan Koren
Matthew Goss
Mark O'Brien
Wes Sulzberger
Jesus Del Nero
Climbing will be the key in California, with the "devilish" Mt Diablo as the highlight summit finish on penultimate day seven!
The team will also participate at the TTT Copenhagen - Malmo, for obvious reasons. After Michael Rogers made the podium in last year's Chrono des Herbiers (as our only PT-wildcard-race), we now wanted to aim for the team-event, which should suit us more, now that Rogers is aging.
The tough 59km TTT will be one hell of a challenge, that we're looking forward to take! Expect Oz's best TT-specialists to line up.
#ProposedSquad
Jack Bobridge
Michael Rogers
Miles Olman
Kristjan Koren
William Ford
Jack Anderson
Taylor Gunman
Michael Ford
The TTT Copenhagen - Malmo should suit our team: will Oz be as good in Chrono des Herbiers (3rd, Rogers) last year?
Today the Oz Cycling Project received an unexpected third ProTour-wildcard and just like our first PT-stage race in California, it will be 8 days of cycling against the best in the world: the Tour of Norway!
As this wildcard only happened due to a lack of interest from all other PCT-teams, we haven't proposed a squad yet, but one thing should be certain by now: Jack Bobridge will take another opportunity to prove his strengths on the highest possible level. Three hilly stages will give Oz some opportunities, while we also may try our luck in breakaways (especially in the flat stages).
#ProposedSquad
None
Breakaways may become an option for The Oz in Norway..
Thanks, viking! Race clashes can be bi***s sometimes, but it makes also for more fun and one more wildcard for Oz wish you the best, too. Nice team for Swedbank!
Here's Oz's roster for the upcoming season, also to be found on page one. Will reveal our calendar soon, as well as some more stuff here and then
#Leaders
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_01_Bobridge_zpsdfd28c5b.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jack Bobridge Age 25, on the team since #2012 (loaned out last year)
Wage: 350.000€
Role: Puncher/Leader (HI 79, TT 77, ACC 80, STA 74)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_02_Koren_zpsaeee3a6e.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Kristjan Koren Age 28, on the team since #2014
Wage: 180.000€
Role: Puncher/TTs (MO 72, HI 74, TT 78, STA 77)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_03_Goss_zps0fe60fd8.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Matthew Goss Age 28, on the team since #2014
Wage: 245.000€
Role: Sprinter (FL 74, HI 67, REC 81, SP 82, ACC 78)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_04_Bennett_zps6a0ab8e4.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]George Bennett Age 23, on the team since #2012 (loaned out last year)
Wage: 115.000€
Role: Stage Races (MO 76, HI 74, STA 74, REC 77)
XPs/Pot: 4.99/Pot 6 (MO 78, HI 75, ST 76, REC 79)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_05_Visconti_zps13b761c5.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Giovanni Visconti Age 31, on the team since #2013
Wage: 160.000
Role: Puncher (HI 76, TT 70, STA 77, COB 73, ACC 77)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_001_DelNero_zpsf3a568af.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jesus Del Nero Age 32, on the team since #2014
Wage: 100.000€
Role: Roleur (FL 78, HI 72, STA 78, COB 72, ACC 76)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_06_Rogers_zpsbc727ace.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Rogers Age 35, on the team since #2013
Wage: 220.000€
Role: TTs (MO 72, HI 67, TT 81, PRL 81)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
#FreeRole #Helpers
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_07_WFord_zpsfe6c3fea.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]William Ford Age 26, on the team since #2012
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Roleur/Fighter (FL 75, HI 69, TT 74, FI 80)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_09_OBrien_zps891cd312.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Mark O'Brien Age 26, on the team since #2014
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Stage Races (MO 73, HI 72, STA 73, REC 72)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_10_MFord_zps43917924.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Ford Age 28, on the team since #2013
Wage: 65.000€
Role: TTs (TT 81, PRL 81)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_11_Giacoppo_zps4b88405b.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Anthony Giacoppo Age 28, on the team since #2014
Wage: 80.000€
Role: Sprinter/Leadout (FL 70, TT 71, SP 77, ACC 75)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_12_Jiao_zps9d7f79fd.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Pengda Jiao Age 28, on the team since #2013
Wage: 80.000€
Role: Puncheur (MO 72, HI 76, STA 71)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_13_Olman_zps94b25293.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Miles Olman Age 28, on the team since #2013
Wage: 55.000€
Role: TTs (TT 79, PRL 79)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_14_Sulzberger_zps07ffced6.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Wes Sulzberger Age 28, on the team since #2014
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Roleur/Fighter (FL 74, HI 70, SP 73, ACC 73)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
#Helpers
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_xx_unknown_zps9f505564.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Sonomtseren Delgerbayar Age 26, on the team since #2013
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Roleur/Fighter (FL 72, TT 70, FI 80)
XPs/Pot: 3.01/Pot 4 (FL 75, TT 73, STA 75, FI 85)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_16_Anderson_zps8fc5fca7.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jack Anderson Age 27, on the team since #2014
Wage: 50.000€
Role: TTs (TT 74, PRL 72)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_17_Gerrans_zpsfc690674.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Simon Gerrans Age 34, on the team since #2013
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Puncheur (HI 73, REC 72, FI 75)
XPs/Pot: Maxed
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_18_OShea_zpsd4d4a7e3.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Glenn O'Shea Age 25, on the team since #2012
Wage: 50.000€
Role: TTs (FL 69, TT 72, ACC 70, PRL 72)
XPs/Pot: 3.31/Pot 5 (FL 74, TT 77, PRL 77)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_19_Phelan_zps0d2d5259.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Adam Phelan Age 23, on the team since #2013
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Puncheur (HI 69, TT 69, ACC 75, FI 77))
XPs/Pot: 3.00/Pot 5 (HI 74, ACC 79, FI 80)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_20_Gillett_zpsb257fe52.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Rhys Gillett Age 24, on the team since #2014
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Allrounder (MO 68, HI 68, TT 67, ACC 72, FI 74))
XPs/Pot: 3.00/Pot 5 (MO 73, HI 73, ACC 76, FI 79)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_21_Campanaerts_zps48935606.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Victor Campenaerts(Loaned in/Bpost) Age 23, on the team since #2014
Wage: 50.000€
Role: TTs (TT 71, FI 74, PRL 71))
XPs/Pot: 2.00/Pot 5 (-)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_22_Scully_zps63eea95e.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Tom Scully Age 24, on the team since #2013
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Sprinter (FL 70, HI 65, SP 74, ACC 76))
XPs/Pot: 3.49/Pot 6 (FL 74, HI 67, REC 79, SP 79, ACC 80)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_002_Gunman_zps01ab0fd0.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Taylor Gunman(Stagiare) Age 23, on the team since #2014
Wage: 10.000€
Role: TTs (FL 68, TT 73, PRL 72)
XPs/Pot: 4.00/Pot 4 (FL 70, TT 75, PRL 74)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_002_Frame_zps8076de53.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Alex Frame(Stagiare) Age 21, on the team since #2014
Wage: 20.000€
Role: Sprinter (FL 65, SP 70, ACC 70, PRL 73)
XPs/Pot: 2.00/Pot 5 (FL 71, SP 77, ACC 76, PRL 79)
#LoanedOut
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_24_Haig_zps68e62d81.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jack Haig(Maloja Mountain Nomads/CT) Age 21, on the team since #2014
Wage: 140.000€
Role: Stage Races (FL 69, MO 69, HI 69, TT 70))
XPs/Pot: 1.00/Pot 6 (MO 78, HI 74, TT 77, STA 76, REC 78)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_25_Durbridge_zpsae1f770e.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Luke Durbridge(Wikipedia/PT) Age 23, on the team since #2012 (loaned out last year)
Wage: 60.000€
Role: TTs (FL 71, HI 66, TT 79, PRL 79))
XPs/Pot: 4.11/Pot 5 (FL 73, HI 67, TT 81, PRL 81)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_26_Li_zps25fb22d6.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Wen Hao Li(Wikipedia/PT) Age 25, on the team since #2013
Wage: 55.000€
Role: TTs/Leadout (FL 73, TT 76, SP 74, ACC 74))
XPs/Pot: 4.01/Pot 4 (FL 75, TT 78, SP 75, ACC 75)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_27_Wohler_zpsc13ced37.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Alex Wohler(Privatbank - Nemiroff/PCT) Age 22, on the team since #2014
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Roleur/TTs (FL 70, TT 69, FI 80, PRL 69))
XPs/Pot: 1.00/Pot 4 (FL 77, TT 76, FI 80, PRL 76)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_28_Kimmince_zpsdedd38fc.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Ethan Kimmince(Fletcher-Garneau/CT) Age 22, on the team since #2013
Wage: 50.000€
Role: Fighter (FL 67, HI 67, FI 71))
XPs/Pot: 1.20/Pot 5 (HI 75, STA 74, FI 76)
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/MG14_Oz_Portraits/MG_Oz14_29_Jiang_zpsc862728b.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Zhihui Jiang(Siam Cement - Lenovo/CT) Age 20, on the team since #2014
Wage: 80.000€
Role: Sprinter (HI 65, SP 68, ACC 70, PRL 71))
XPs/Pot: 1.00/Pot 5 (FL 72, SP 77, ACC 77, PRL 78)
Thanks, Gustavo! I do have the same interest in how we will do this year Like said (a few times) before, I don't think we're set for promotion (especially as I may need to find the perfect way of planning a season with Bobridge, f.e.), but achieving more goals and finishing in first half of PCT would be good enough.
The Oz Cycling Project revealed it's schedule for the 2014 campaign. No real surprises, except of maybe some cobbled races (where we may hope for either Visconti or Del Nero to bring in some minor points).. other than that, we decided for more races instead of trying our luck in the Tour of America (which just makes sense with no true stage-racer on the team).
The team is looking forward to our first official race - the Down Under Classic. There's no doubt we're hoping for Goss to show something there. With some of our riders currently preparing themselves at the Bay Cycling Classic, this season kicks off "in style" for our team: three events Down Under (with the TDU as the last one) make for a great start.
We won't reveal any rider-specific raceplanning yet, but you may expect a few surprises here and then. It's always a gamble and we're hoping for some more luck than we had in a few races last season.. plus keeping the luck in some other races!
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar!
@sutty: Yap With no true stage-racer on the team, we went for one day races instead!
@547984: Yap No need to develop lvl1-riders and also no useful C2-eligible rider. Would have loved to race the Herald Sun Tour, but just makes no sense this year.
After a rather disappointing appearance at the Bay Cycle Classics, the Oz Cycling Project hopes for a more succesfull performance in our first official races in 2014! The team is staying in Australia, which will yet again make for a great place to open our season.
Opposing to our first two years, we have no sponsor goals for the Down Under Classic or Tour Down Under, but of course those are special events on The Oz's schedule. Not only because it's our last visit to Australia this year, but also because of our new sprinter Matthew Goss kicking off his season.
We do expect him to be in the mix for a prestigious win at the DUC, even though the competition will be tough.. and we also hope for both Goss and Giovanni Visconti to show something in the TDU a few days later. We won't be amongst the top-favorites there, but may have some dangerous riders in Wes Sulzberger or Simon Gerrans. Plus some hopes for maybe a Top-10/15 for either Visconti or Pengda Jiao. Stay tuned for our reports right after the races!
The Oz Cycling Project kicked off the season with a 6th place at the Down Under Classic. Matthew Goss, one of several top-sprinters in the PCT, missed a better result after leading the bunch into the final kilometre.
"He might have kicked too early", said manager TS Moha right after the race, which saw the whole team working nicely for our premium sprinter. Especially Anthony Giacoppo did a good job to bring Gossy into a perfect position for the tricky sprint finish: "He definitely showed that he could become a nice addition to our sprint train".
Missing the Top-5 (or podium/win) still hurts a bit, even though the team faced a packed startlist: "It's our only flat classic on home soil, so we were hoping for more", stated Goss a few minutes after crossing the line. "Unfortunatelly, I lost some ground on this final metres. I feel sorry for the guys, who worked so well today."
Goss will now have the chance to score a stage-win at the Tour Down Under, which also features a heavy startlist though. No time for excuses - we want to show something Down Under!
A heavy startlist for the Tour Down Under, Oz's second and last race on home soil, and a dominating Michael Van Stayen destroyed all our hopes for a Top-10 in GC.. Giovanni Visconti eventually would have had a shot at such a decent result, but lost some time in one of those tricky hilly stages.
The Italian puncheur did quite well on Willunga Hill though, at least securing the team some points. The big guns appeared to be too strong anyway, so we will go for this 17th place and wait for our more promising races to see, how the team's really going this year. Though we must admit, that we had hoped for our team to be more aggressive at home. No breakaway appearance ain't acceptable.
Matthew Goss at least grabbed Oz a stage on fourth day. After a disappointing opening stage (9th), our premium sprinter took the line honours three days later, plus adding a decent 3rd place in the concluding circuit.. not exactly what we were hoping for, but given Van Stayen's dominance, not that bad either.
And yes, Maksimov definitely looks like he had something to say there!
Jesus Del Nero (32)
Taylor Gunman (23)
Kristjan Koren
Tour of South Africa
Kenya Mountain Classic
Rheden GP
Scandinavia Open Road Race
Tour of Ukraine
Tour of Taiwan
Tour of the Battenkill
Duo Differdange
Melaka's Governor Cup
5 Jours de Dunkerque
Berlin ProRace
Tour of the Czech Republic
Monterrey TTT
Zimnyanya GP
Isle of Man ITT
Post Danmark Rundt
Taldykorgan GP
Volta a Portugal
Tour du Faso
Japan Cup
Roman Maksimov
Hassen Ben Nasser
