The Cisco management would be happy to dicuss that with the fellow western-Asian Metinvest-Emirates team. A deal could certainly be established between the two teams.
If there's any specific riders Metinvest are interested in, I can arrange some sort of transfer by renewing the contract and then selling for a cheap price. Is that something Metinvest's manager would be interested in, or would it be preferred to pick up desired riders from the free agent pool after being released?
I'd be very happy if we could come up with a friendly deal that cools down Metinvest's interest in the Kazakh free agents.
Edited by Pellizotti2 on 13-10-2012 12:29
Management of Metinvest-Emirates team is very pleased with kind style Team Cisco responded to the transfer speculations regarding the both teams.
The first suggested option with riders transfering with their new contracts sounds very good to people at Metinvest-Emirates, same as mentioned word cheap. it also depends on their wages of course.
Riders especially admired by Metinvest are earlier mentioned Niemec and Dall'Antonia, together with young climber Girardi. These three would be great additions to our squad and also this move could establish nice friendly atmosphere between the two teams.
With our season now completely over, I thought it's about time to wrap up our first year in the Mangame. After this, I'm jumping on a plane leaving Italy for Kazakhstan. In other words, the new team headquarters will be ready soon.
The goals:
Win
Giro del Trentino
3rd - Fail
This was always meant to fail. Inexperience from a certain team manager was the reason behind setting this very hard goal at the start of 2012. Third place from Gianpaolo Caruso was far above what I expected after seeing the race's startlist, but it still doesn't make up for the fact that we missed the goal. It was close though, so still not as bad as it could've been.
So close, yet so far away from the Trentino goal.
Top 5
Le Tour de Langkawi
11th - Fail
Although everything can't be blamed on it, the major reason we missed this one was bad luck. After a very strong opening of the race from Caruso, including a stage win and two second places on the race's three decisive stages, the Italian champion unluckily got caught up in two major crashes that costed him several minutes. Second overall and success ended up with 11th overall and disaster. It still annoys me when I think about it.
After a flawless start, everything literally fell apart.
Battling to fourth, behind an Irishman, a Spaniard and a fellow Italian.
Stage win
Tour de San Luis
Stage 2 - Success
It feels like, and is, an eternity since Salerno's magnificent victory on the second day of racing in Argentina's only big race. After joining an early breakaway, he accelerated on the final climb, dropping all of his companions. A comfortable victory in the end, holding off all chasers. A shame that it only payed off with a single day in the leader's jersey.
Too strong for the rest on Mirador del Potrero.
Top 10
CTour - Team standings
21st - Fail
Another example of my inexperience and stupidity a year and a half ago. Obviously we were never going to achieve this goal with the 2012 squad, as, aside from Caruso and Niemiec, we lacked riders able to score decent points. Two riders alone are obviously not strong enough to secure a team an overall Top 10 spot. Next year the goal will be to top the 21st place.
Major lack of depth in the squad costed too much.
The final standings:
1
Team Bianchi
5068
2
Rapha Condor - Qhubeka
4830
3
Jayco - Red Bull
4461
4
Pokerstars.com
3802
5
California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized
3786
6
Aker Solutions - Bergans
3634
7
Team Venchi ProCycling
3476
8
UniCredit
3474
9
Team Puma - SAP
3443
10
Hollister Pro Cycling
3359
11
VolksWagen - Siemens
3292
12
Pirelli - Alfa Romeo
3266
13
Emu Export
3113
14
Vespa - Aprilia - De Rosa
3058
15
T.CS Bank - OJSC Rosneft
3056
16
Team Trilux - Falke
3039
17
Team Bpost
2832
18
Saab-Scania
2393
19
Cyclevox
2383
20
Team Rothaus - Aegon
2275
21
Ferrari - ERG
2241
22
Team CSC-Orbea
2217
23
Team WWE
2169
24
Proximus - Trek
2145
25
Focused Cycling
2031
26
Koppert Cycling Team
1816
27
Cerne
1765
28
Meiji - Fuji
1506
29
Oz Cycling Project
1323
Not great obviously, but it could've been worse. All chances on a spot in the Top 20 probably blew up when Caruso crashed away a lot of points in Malaysia, but we still almost made it. Don't expect us to enter the Top 10, or probably even 15 next year either, as the plan is for that to happen in a few years time. 2013 will be mainly about building a young ground.
Well, well, well. That's basically all.
It's time to wave goodbye to Italy and red sports cars, and start to look forward to a blue and yellow country, where our future success hopefully will begin. Arrivederci Italia e Ferrari, and hello Kazakhstan and Cisco!
