((Disclaimer: All characters portayed in this story are fictional. All names and abilities are purely co-incidental. The views/actions of any of the characters in this story are in no way a representation of any real life person they may share any characteristics with. I think that's my ass covered.))
When Liquigas announced it was pulling out of cycling after what seems like forever, question were asked about the future of the team that already existed. Mainly, would Cannondale take over single ownership and would Nibali be staying.
As we know, the answer was yes and no. Here is how things could have been a little different.
Red Bull - Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
Sometime towards the end of the 2012 season
Cannondale Press Officer: "Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen of the press. I know lots of rumors have been doing the rounds over the last few days so I shall get right to the point. Cannondale is proud to announce that from the 2013 UCI WT Season we shall be entering into a partnership with a team we feel have a proven track record in sporting success. A team that has won world championships in multiple sports and shown a real commitment to developing young talent.
That team is none other then Red Bull. I'm sure you'll agree they will be a welcome addition to the peleton."
Assorted Press: "What does this mean for the futures of riders like Nibali and Sagan? Will they be staying or leaving. With no Italian lead sponsor, will the squad become more american based?"
Red Bull Press Officer:"I'd like to answer this one. I can confirm today that both Peter Sagan and Vincenzo Nibali will both be riding for us next year. Both are true champion riders and we at Red Bull want to be champions. To let either go would be foolish. There will be a lot of changes to the squad before the new season, but updates on that front will come over time. We seek to sign the best and brightest riders and are very much an international team and the squad makeup is likely to represent that.
As for our basing, there are no plans to relocate to the states despite Cannondale natural basing there. The current basing is up to a pretty good standard and will certain be fine for next season. As the UCI World Calander is mainly european based it makes sense to stay close to heart of the action."
Assorted Press:"Do you think you can beat team Sky? How will you go about doing that if that is your plan?"
Cannondale: "Naturally beating Sky is what we would like to be able to do. They had a very successful season last season and we would like to do the same."
Red Bull: "We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could win. We feel confident that by the time the new season starts we will be capable of victory in a great many races. Thank you for you time today and you shall here more from us over the coming weeks,"
Game Info
Database: PCM13Expansion
Difficulty: Medium (Because I suck!)
Edited by Flair on 04-04-2013 19:53
Atlantius has covered nearly everything for me now XD
Feedback is always nice. Let me know what you like, what you don't, if you've already been reading you'll know I'm open to feedback and will change things to make them more enjoyable for you guys. Let me know what you thinking!
Suggestions for Personal Goals would be great
Planned Updates
25/03 - No stage update, but will get the front sections updated with rider results, some rider goals, as well as some updates on any scouting and any training increases that may have happened as the next race is a few weeks away.
26/03 - Start of Tour Med, with Tommy Voeckler making his debut.
What to expect
- Daily Updates.
- Some really bad photography
- Poor attempts at hillarious commentary
- 3d picture reports for most big races. And those I think are interesting.
- Some odd simulation results from races I cant be bothered with.
- Lots of Sagan wins. Probably.
Edited by Flair on 24-03-2013 21:52
To members of the press. Please find attached a list of all current Liqiugas-Cannondale riders whom will be retained for the 2013 Season.
Peter Sagan
Vicenzo Nibali
Ivan Basso
Moreno Moser
Elia Viviani
Damiano Caruso
Cayetano Sarmiento
Fabio Sabatini
Juraj Sagan
We shall also be honoring the contract offered by Cannondale to Lucas Sebastián Haedo , and welcome him to the team.
Edited by Flair on 12-03-2013 01:34
This morning I can bring you the names of another 5 riders whom will be riding with us next season.
Italian National Road Race Champion Franco Pellizotti
Italian National Time Trial Champion Dario Cataldo
Slovak National Time Trial Champion Peter Velits
Former Australian TT Champion Cameron Meyer
And the third of our leaders next year. The always entertaining, ever endearing and Frances "le Chouchou". Like Chesney Hawkes he is, the one, the only, Thomas Voeckler.
We hope that is enough to keep you full enough until our next rider announcements.
Edited by Flair on 12-03-2013 11:46
Cheers sutty. Editing the DB at the mo so all the riders are right XD
Next 5 Riders Announcement
Also joining Red Bull Cannondale Pro Cycling from next season will be the following.
The Future of French tour Cycling, Thibaut Pinot
Two of Americans hottest young Talents, Andrey Talansky and Taylor Phinney
Dutch Starlet Wico Kelderman
and our team supplier of creamy brown beverages, the Irishman Nicolas Roche.
@ Atlantius: Well, Cannondale aren't exactly poor, Red Bull doesn't do things by halves and someone has to challenge Sky!
Edited by Flair on 12-03-2013 12:32
I love most of the riders who will ride for the team.
It's going to be a great season, and you can maybe beat Sky this season, but in a few seasons that's going to be easy for you. You've got some great talents! Good luck!
Ian Butler wrote:
Awesome, simply awesome. Sagan and Nibali should've stayed together, here it's so!
Indeed. I'm a Sky fan, but I would have loved for this too happen so we could have two super squads. Instead of going to dodgy russians to try and take the fight to Sky, instead Red Bull give him to team he needs. I wanna see them try chase down all the hits we can make XD
The Final 7
And without further ado, we can now reveal the final 7 members of the 2013 seasons 27 man squad. We feel our squad will be fully capable of achieving the team goals for this season.
Mikel Nieve
Nairo Quintana
Lars Ytting Bak
Simon Špilak
Kristijan Đurasek
Tony Gallopin
Jonas Ahlstand
We hope to soon unveil our ultimate goals for the season in the near future.
@ Jesleyh: You'd think it would get too easy, but never underestimate my immense ability to suck and attract horrible luck.
Edited by Flair on 12-03-2013 13:11
I dunno about P-N. I'm pretty sure I am going to suck on the cobbles as I dont remember looking at any cobbled stats. I kinda don't like playing with cobbles teams as the season isn't long enough. They get a 40 day program at the start of season and then its basically nothing. So I either have to get silly expensive cobble squad so they can do stuff off cobbles too, or i end up with a bunch of average riders. Which is fine if i'm not doing a dominate game, but this is .
Although I guess Sagan can prolly solo win them anyway. Just because his Sagan.
And yay, database now edited so all riders and thier contracts belong to me now XD Now to season plan
EDIT: Still struggling with the formatting of pictures. Hoping it just because they are cropped pictures rather then Screenshots.
Edited by Flair on 12-03-2013 13:51
Red Bull - Cannondale 
Pro Cycling Team
Tour of Oman 
E3 Prijs 
Tour de Romandie 
Tour de Pologne 
GP du Quebec 
Tour of Beijing 
Japan Cup 
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
.
