After a strong first season in 2024, earning automatic promotion from the Continental Tour division, Duvel - Tsingtao is back for the 2025 season to compete against high-functioning alcoholism and the rest of the Pro Continental Tour division.

Jean Wauters returns as Directeur Sportif for the 2025 season, but with significant roster changes and major new goals from the heavy-hitting sponsors, Duvel and Tsingtao.

Mr Wauters said of the challenges put forward to him by the sponsors: "Indeed, only 6 riders return from the team's inaugural roster, so major changes will be coming. We are still interested in bringing back some of those we couldn't yet agree to terms with during the transfer window, but we have high ambitions to stay in the PCT division, with also an ambitious target of 40% of our roster to be made up of Belgian and Chinese riders."

"This is a long-term development project and both of the sponsors have recognised the importance of getting a competitive roster in place for the 2025 PCT season, but not losing sight of the need to further improve the cycling talent in Belgium and China. This is of particular importance to our Chinese sponsors, with the riders often learning from the more-experienced Belgian counterparts."

The team looks forward to its first forays into HC and PTHC-level races. Fans can expect the full team calendar, team goals, final roster and the team jersey to be released at a later stage.

Welcome to the 2025 Duvel - Tsingtao team headquarters!

whitejersey wrote:
Looking forward to duking it out with you in the PCT once again mate, it's been too long

@whitejersey - Can't wait, I guess we'll each be struggling to fill out our respective nationality ambitions, still. These dang admins never add good Canadian or Chinese riders... Nevertheless, it's going to be a PCT reunion party this year

@Heine - Thank you for the well wishes, as I've mentioned to you separately I've learned quite a lot in the first season back and there are certainly some things I would've done differently, but can't really complain with the result, especially against what was in the end a highly competitive and challenging CT division. Good luck to you in your maiden venture in CT!

To hit that nationality quota, I'm sure there will be some rather one-sided deals that couldn't possibly help other managers bloat their respective training budgets

jandal7 - Shucks...I don't think it's too late for you to give up your PT entry to another deserving manager and come down to the PCT PARTY!

But seriously, cheers for the formal congrats. Bare bones and all that on the roster-front, but the cupboard is well-stocked with a pile of dosh. Classic Booker team-building typically means over-paying for mediocre riders in a desperate attempt to maintain PCT stability, let's see if I've learned any lessons or if I go for the time-tested methods!

As the crowd shuffled into the village hall in Recogne, in the heart of the Ardennes, all eyes were on the three figures on the stage at the front of the room. This day marks the official announcement of Duvel - Tsingtao's maiden roster for its upcoming PCT season and the reveal of its 2025 jersey. The three people on stage were Jean Wauters, Directeur Sportif of Duvel - Tsingtao, Elodie Dumas, Duvel's VP Marketing, Gao Wang, Tsingtao's SVP Europe Region. All sported matching Rolex's, presumably a promotion gift, as well as steins full of amber-coloured beer.

Wauters tapped the microphone a few times, took a gulp from his stein, and cleared his throat.

"Welcome to you all, to today's launch of the 2025 Duvel - Tsingtao team. As you all know, we were delighted to have had a successful first campaign, securing automatic promotion from the Continental Tour division, although it was a closer call than I was hoping for! We have now concluded our contract negotiations and are pleased to share that we have retained the services of Xianjing Lyu, Bert van Lerberghe, Timo Roosen, Sulkhan Akhmaevi, Christophe Noppe and Gianluca Pollefliet heading into the 2025 transfer window.

We firstly must thank all of our riders for their contributions to making 2024 a success and writing their names into the Duvel - Tsingtao history annals. We must also say a fond farewell to many riders, many of whom will go on to even better things.

The crowd uttered an audible groan towards the false humility, accompanied by one or two jeers, which quickly subsided as a graphic was shown behind the three figures on-stage, with the riders retained by the team.

Elodie Dumas, Duvel's VP Marketing, speaking to the crowd for the first time, poked her eyes out from behind her thick-framed glasses and sheepishly uttered, "Now, we move onto the jersey reveal. I think we're all really happy with how this jersey came out and we can't wait to see it in action in the Pro Continental Tour.

Jean Wauters said: "What words are really needed to describe the utter class, the striking brilliance of hillis91's design for our team's first foray into the PCT landscape? You can now see it for yourselves. I'm pleased to share this design which has been a stunning effort by a phenomenal designer."

The crowd murmured in excitement as Gao Wang, Tsingtao's SVP Europe Region held up the kit for the first time.


Mr Wang spoke for the first time, "I would like you to notice the strong presence of red in the jersey for 2025. This symbolises the continued close collaboration between Belgium and China in strengthening our shared vision for the development of cycling in our two nations. We look forward to seeing Chinese riders take a larger role in the PCT peloton this season and making China proud. I am positive about the future of this team and hope to see even further efforts to the advancement of cycling in our region, with our people proud of Duvel - Tsingtao's results on the road. We also maintain our humility with the clear presence of Duvel as the main sponsor on the kit, with Tsingtao and China learning from some of the most pedigreed riders in the world."

As the cameras continued rolling and photo flashes flicked across the stage, Jean Wauters came back to the microphone to wrap up the presentation.

"Thank you all for coming out today and showing your interest in and appreciation for our team's success. We're delighted to have given you all a product you can be proud of, in the Ardennes. We will be looking forward to the upcoming transfer window and will shortly be making further announcements about the anticipated roster construction for the PCT season. Stay tuned!"

@quadsas - More like dogsh*t negotiating skills. Nemo was in shock at my lack of sense. Dion will do a job for someone, and I've lost out on at least 500k budget, I'd guess.

@SotD - More than enough budget to play with, some might say it's essentially starting a new team again, just like last offseason. Let's see if the budget allows me to build something competitive for PCT. Thanks for the thoughts on Akhmaevi, I have to confess I hadn't really considered there might be extra interest, but let's see what the transfer window brings!

@kb - All credit to Hillis on that one, I really like the look of it, a bit of a classic / evil vibe to it. We can be villains if needed in PCT, though as you say, hopefully it'll be a very fun season

bballlover - Most of them got the boot because they couldn't handle a night on the town with the directors. Alcoholism is a prerequisite for this roster, so it'll be fun, but rest assured there will be a initiation ritual any free agents / transfers need to pass.

redordead - I recall building a PCT roster from the CT promotion is some of the most fun I've had in MG. It's going to be a wild ride where I'm sure all the pre-planning goes out the window 2 days into bidding. And to make matters worse, people will be wiser with the new transfer portal...Ezee always finding a way to make Duvel - Tsingtao's life harder!

Now, for the transfer post that people are more interested in, the availability of Duvel - Tsingtao's riders heading into the 2025 transfer window.

The major news is that Dion Smith is not coming back, thanks to the team's management having too much booze (repeatedly) during negotiations. We wanted to sign him, but he was not happy with keeping his salary similar to what he was previously on, and management believed they couldn't budge with the benefit of their liquid courage. Like a hangover, their post-bibations antics have led to deep regret. Smith will likely be a highly sought after leader for the CT division, after a stellar 2024 performance, securing a number of podiums while chasing Jorgenson's shadows.

Aside from Smith, there are also significant departures across the squad as the likes of Jingbiao Zhao, Quinten Hermans and Stan Dewulf did not make the cut, but there is still mutual interest in coming to an agreement in the FA window once they have tested what the market thinks of their respective skillsets.

The remaining riders all fell in line with the team's wage structure requirements in the hopes of showcasing their skills in a higher division.

Leaders must be sourced. Riders may need to go. There will be change.

Those that will certainly be available for offers are the cobbling contingent of Bert Van Lerberghe and Timo Roosen. Despite starting his decline, Van Lerberghe is still a very handy CT cobble leader with a strong sprint pedigree and solid backup stats. He can be a cheap leader for a smart CT team that wants to pick up points (171 pts, for 33rd in CT last year) while not spending the world in wages for the few cobblists on the FA market this offseason.

Similarly, Roosen is another potential CT leader or at the very least, top domestique. In fact, he can be a domestique in multiple divisions, on a very handy wage for what he brings to the table, namely: getting over hills, harassing the peloton with his fighting urges, and teeing things up for his team leader to attack late on. He was a big reason for Van Lerberghe's strong performance, and contributed 40 pts of his own.

We may consider offers for Sulkhan Akhmaevi or Christophe Noppe if there is strong interest from elsewhere. Lyu and Pollefliet are likely to stay.