@quadsas - Don't worry, I let the haters know pretty much as soon as the final rankings dropped Very silent on their end. A great season for Schomber proving the doubters wrong and contributing to a promoting team.
@kandesbunzler - Thanks! Enjoyed your delivery of that one and glad you enjoyed it! Boileau was a very good loanee, scoring more than our previous ones usually did and mentioned a fair bit working in the reports - and part of many of the big races during the season for Areruya.
The team are pleased to present the sponsor line-up for 2023 after finalising negotiations. Quite a lot of contracts were up for renewal, but after the team acheived its highest-ever PCT finish, saw success in a Grand Tour, sealed a return to the PT, and Areruya had a superstar season which saw him alone break the team's wins in a season record, they all wished to continue with the team heading into cycling's highest tier. We are also pleased to confirm the team will continue to race under the name Xero Racing and a New Zealand-South African license.
The Primary Sponsors
About: The overnight success that is Xero is now a international company still based in little ol' NZ. They develop online accounting software for small businesses but are moving into larger clients as well. Sponsor Since: 2016 Contract Until: 2024 *new contract Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain (minor), United States (minor)
Xero stepped in at the last minute in 2016, and since then have been a great asset to the team and are now nearly synonymous with us after seven years as title sponsor. They had publicly noted their disappointment in our lack of impact on the young blood of New Zealand cycling and with only two full-time New Zealand riders left in the team, there were always serious questions as to whether Xero would want to continue, with rumours their renewal for 2021 had more to do with PT exposure than local interest. However recent corporate reshuffling and aggressive international expansion led higher ups to see the team in a new light, and 12 months ago they renewed their title sponsorship for a two year stay, which they have added a year onto after promotion.
About: Qhubeka is a non-for-profit, the South African programme of World Bicycle Relief, distributing bikes to help connect people to schools, clinics and jobs. Sponsor Since: 2018 Contract Until: 2024 Focus Nations: South Africa
A charity which helps use bicycles to support communities in poverty, as well as as a tool to help people of any age move forward in life. Not a sponsor by any means, quite the opposite. We ride for Qhubeka to increase awareness and taking part in fundraising, both of them increasing their funds and reach. We are delighted to head into our second year of the current partnership with Qhubeka
About: Visit Rwanda is a premier tourism company operating in, you guessed it, Rwanda. Sponsor Since: 2019 Contact Until: 2025 *new contract Focus Nation: Rwanda, The World (minor)
The Rwandan tourism company stepped up their involvement in the team after local hero Joseph Areruya established himself as a star in 2021 with his 27th-placed finish in the Pro Tour, including gaining huge exposure and popularity with an aggressive Giro d'Italia, where he won the white jersey. After two seasons of massive exposure in the PCT, and his achievements at the PTHC level, it only makes sense for them to follow him and us to PT exposure.
The Secondary Sponsors
About: Octagon is the sports and entertainment marketing division of the Interpublic Group (IPG). The IPG is one of the "big four" advertising companies and so being sponsored by the South African arm of the sports arm of the IPG is a smaller deal but with big background. Sponsor Since: 2016 Contract Until: 2026 *new contract Focus Nations: South Africa, The World
Octagon help us get our name on the backs of buses, billboards, wherever, in our target countries. Good for publicity, finances and fans. They have stepped down from their title sponsor role (2016-18) but maintain a solid presence within the team as our marketers and talent representatives. We are very pleased with the work they do and proud to have them onboard through to what would be our eleventh season in 2026 - with Xero they are our only remaining sponsors from our inaugural season.
About: Castle Lager is South Africa's favourite beer and is now available in over 40 countries worldwide. Sponsor Since: 2019 Contact Until: 2024 *new contract Focus Nations: South Africa, The World (minor)
Castle Lager continues their long association with South African sport as they extend for another season with us.
About: Expedia is an American online travel shopping company - from flights to hotels and cars. Sponsor Since: 2022 Contract Until: 2025 *new contract Focus Nations: The World
Expedia joined us as a new sponsor this season and we are very pleased with our work with them as a secondary sponsor and also our travel partner! They extend for another two-year contract.
The Minor Sponsors and Partners
About: Cell C are a South African mobile operator and telecommunications company. Sponsor Since: 2022 Contract Until: 2024 *new contract Focus Nations: South Africa
Cell C, much like Castle Lager, have a long-time involvement with South African sport, and after MTN and Telkom used to sponsor Project: Africa, Cell C are the third such company to be involved with South African cycling teams. They extend with us for another season.
About: Stoney Creek are New Zealand's most trusted brand in outdoor clothing. Sponsor Since: 2022 Contract Until: 2024 *new contract Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia (minor), Great Britain (minor), United States (minor), Canada (minor)
Stoney Creek make amazing products which keep our team warm and protected off the bike, and the riders have been very happy with their first foray into cycling-specific gear and are very pleased they will be entering into the last of a three-year deal as clothing supplier, and also extending as a sponsor too.
About: Telkom Indonesia is a majority state owned telecommunications company, the largest in Indonesia. Sponsor Since: 2017 Contract Until: 2024 *new contract Focus Nations: Indonesia
Jamalidin Novardianto is an absolute fan favourite and nowhere is this more clear than in his home country of Indonesia. Not investing too much money, the state-owned telecommunications firm wanted in and are essentially sponsoring the team, just so they know we're tight and all, as long as he rides for us. So until he retires, then. They are the third of our sponsors to have been on this journey since the CT days, having signed on in our second season!
As we make our way through writing our individual rider reviews we thought we'd share some of the stats we're using. As evidenced by the fact we employed two overlapping tough flatbeast sprinters for three years and the way we are training Thomas Pidcock, we aren't the most analytics-based team, so these aren't the most in-depth numbers and don't have much analysis, as we're going to break down all the riders in the coming weeks - we just thought putting them all in one table and showing how they rank in a couple of key efficiency stats would be interesting. Check out the difference from last year in terms of production and efficiency from our depth scorers and domestiques! We hope you enjoy it:
A very good National Championship season for Xero Racing, with major jerseys secured for some of the team's big nations and big riders. Our first bit of contention saw Pidcock and Houle take very close 2nd places in the British and Canadian Road Races respectively - Pidcock's first real chance at contention, and maybe Houle's last.
In New Zealand Strong and Fouche helped George Bennett take his first title since 2019, and his third overall. A nice way to end a season of a huge high and terrible lows for Mr. Xero.
Next up Morne van Niekerk won his second ever South African TT title, making it the first time ever we have won a New Zealand and South African jersey in the same season. We look forward to having both on the road next season, even if they tragically can never be together.
There's an argument that the Rwandan NC is one of the hardest races Joseph Areruya has when he's in the PCT, with a Bralirwa army and the other teams voting on the route usually out to get him. Last year he won an uphill sprint against a sea of white jerseys, and this year on a flat route he was far from a favourite. However he defended his title here in a late small group sprint over Nsengimana and Hadi.
Henok Tesfaye Heyi entered the Ethiopian Championships and won our only double title of the year, with a fast uphill finish that even beat Chiarello, who was there competing in a joint race with the Brazilian Championship.
Finally, Salim Kipkemboi defended his Kenyan Road Race title for yet another season, making it five national champions in the squad and four of the major African titles. A great haul for us!
We are pleased to announce the developments of our young riders over the 2023 season. This is one of the smallest cohorts of talents we've had in some time, but that does not mean we are wanting for quality riders. Xero-grown riders have had a very successful season, either here or, unfortunately, riding for other teams, and can provide some great inspiration for this bunch of riders. Two of our riders have reached the peak of their powers now, while three more are a year in the Pro Tour away from doing so themselves, but all look like great riders already. These should also act as a season review for these young guns!
Ilan Van Wilder 23 | 3.33 > 4.50 | 75,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
66
72
70
71
66
70
67
60
67
68
64
66
70
'23
67
75
72
73
68
72
69
60
67
69
65
67
72
'24
...
68
77
73
75
70
73
71
60
67
69
65
67
74
'25
Ilan Van Wilder had a solid sophomore season for us, being a great domestique for Areruya and Bennett in particular. He has continued to work on all-around stage racing, making him look like a very good domestique for the major stage races in the Pro Tour next year, and eventually into a premium lieutenant or even a minor leader in a variety of races.
Corbin Strong 23 | 3.40 > 4.48 | 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
67
71
70
58
65
74
70
58
67
73
63
66
58
'23
68
73
72
58
66
75
72
58
67
75
65
67
58
'24
...
68
75
74
58
66
76
73
58
67
77
67
67
58
'25
The youngest of our Kiwi climbing trio, much like James Fouche Corbin Strong is a very attacking climber with the ability to attack hard and many times, which he's been working on this season. We are looking forward to him being a little stronger and able to hang on and help for longer next year, and in the further future him being a threat for KoM and stage hunting as well as a capable domestique when the road goes up. Always paired with Van Wilder, they came into the team together, room together, and have shared similar schedules so far in their careers, and after next season will reach their peaks together as well.
Yacine Hamza 26 | 4.33 > 4.100 | 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
75
60
67
60
72
72
74
62
75
75
65
65
63
'23
77
60
67
61
72
73
77
60
77
77
65
65
65
'24
Our Algerian sprinter is an interesting one to try and place into the future of the team for multiple reasons, but what cannot be questioned is his quality which has grown this year as he finishes his development into an absolutely premium-quality leadout man who can even battle for his own chances due to his toughness.
Florian Vermeersch 24 | 3.73 > 4.82 | 95,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
74
62
67
70
71
73
65
73
74
76
67
75
72
'23
76
62
68
70
74
75
73
76
76
77
68
76
72
'24
...
78
62
69
70
76
77
67
78
78
77
68
76
72
'25
After a false start due to the loan rules in his debut season, Florian Vermeersch may be a year behind in his development but it will all be worth it as he is one of the brightest talents around when it comes to the Northern Classics, as well as a very handy sprinter. He had a solid season with a few points finishes and some great work across a variety of terrains, being involved as a powerhouse workhorse in some of our biggest results, even on hilly days for Areruya. He has balanced both cobbles and sprinting again this year in his training and is looking like a great young rider already, unfortunately he won't get his maxed season at U25 level but that doesn't matter as much for classics riders! We are not sure what his role will look like next season, as it stands he is our best sprinter and best cobbler but that might be a big ask for a still-developing rider in the Pro Tour! If we can hire some experienced leaders in those fields they will be lucky to have Florian as a lieutenant and leadout man, as he continues to learn on his quest to become one of the premier northern classics riders in the peloton.
Thomas Pidcock 24 | 4.86 > 4.100 | 330,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
76
74
75
71
74
77
72
73
73
80
72
82
71
'23
78
75
76
72
75
78
73
74
74
81
74
83
72
'24
It might have been very easy to forget Thomas Pidcock is still a part of our talents stable, as in his third year in the peloton (but first actually riding for the team) he was a stunning 23rd in the PCT rankings, winning the GC at the Benelux Challenge as well as two stage wins for 3 victories on the season, 573 points and a key contributor as the second-leading scorer in our promotion campaign. One of the best performances by an still-developing rider we've seen. He'll get a full season review at a later date as he merits, but for now we can see that he's improved across the board, perhaps the ultimate baroudeur, opportunist, all-rounder, whatever you want to call it. Pro Tour will prove tough, with maybe less favourable races and stronger competitors, and with severely limited race days relative to his level it will be a test of the faith and money the team have invested in him. But he's leapt far above every barrier so far, so why not continue as such?
I thought your talents would be better, but what happened to Pidcock there?!? from the best Puncheur talent ever to a rich man's Tony Gallopin in 3 Seasons...
Amazing batch of versatile talents. Looking forward to see how much training you can give to Pidcock over the next couple of years but also Vermeersch maxes at a very high level already
Indeed, some really nice talents. In particular the Belgians look really nice - and Pidcock is just Pidcock. Looking forward to see what he can do (well, maybe not, given that I'll be up against him again ). Actually a great statline for further training, but if every single training already costs 1M that's quite a lot ^^
Will be interesting to see how you are going to shape your roster, definitely some work to do - even though Scareruya will keep you up singlehandedly
Good luck for transfers!
I thought your talents would be better, but what happened to Pidcock there?!? from the best Puncheur talent ever to a rich man's Tony Gallopin in 3 Seasons...
While I get that initial sentiment, he can still join the best in the world in ANY of the 4 main disciplines IF there are 2.000.000€+ dedicated to him for each of the next 3-4 years.
And if that is done, his versatility will set him apart by miles.
Now if jandal is willing and/or able to do that is another question altogether, and we can both attest to how much of a struggle it is to have two riders around the 1 million wage range, but the path is surely still there!
I actually would've done something similar, maybe a little push further into the stage racing direction.
Can always trust a Pidcock post to stir up activity in the HQ
@Croatia - Yeah, guess I'm stuck with Areruya in the hills
@knockout - Thanks! Yep Pidcock vs Vermeersch is a tough decision training-wise, both could become top top riders with some investment.
@Fab - Yeah the OVL thing hurts Pidcock in training a lot. Think this season will be a real test if it's a worthy OVL in PT - he nearly lived up to it in PCT! Definitely another factor to consider for me going forward. Some work to do for sure, not quite thinking Areruya can do the job by himself but I appreciate the sentiment
@cio - There were a lot of options on the table as you say when developing Pidcock 1>Max, as there are in training him. Will be a tall task for me, not really known for my money accumulation usually though obviously I did a good job with Areruya the last two years, but we don't have any Higuita, Rowe or Stannard-type sales coming our way in the next couple of years As always I appreciate you for seeing the vision with Pidcock In fact perhaps you even see a brighter vision than me sometimes, as my thought was always "wouldn't it be funny if I made a super-baroudeur"
@UU - Thank you <3 Yeah it'll be interesting, even just comparing ToNE to Benelux is a microcosm of that difference - not a vast change in the calendar but a bit less suited in the PT on first glance. A baroudeur with a leader's RDs will always be a strange one to plan as well.
Vermeersch is a really nice rider. Him, Bini and eventually De Lie will be good successors for Stallaert. In a more general sense, I mean, not necessarily on my team of course Hamza is interesting. I still somewhat regret letting go of El Sabbahi, so I hope you find a good role for him!
cunego59 wrote:
Vermeersch is a really nice rider. Him, Bini and eventually De Lie will be good successors for Stallaert. In a more general sense, I mean, not necessarily on my team of course Hamza is interesting. I still somewhat regret letting go of El Sabbahi, so I hope you find a good role for him!
Thanks! Really like Vermeersch, think he’s going to have a great career with us which I’m excited for. And yeah I love the archetype Hamza fits so made a lot of sense to sign and develop him.
This was our squad for 2023, our eighth season, the fifth in the Pro Continental Tour, and the third team to achieve promotion. They came together brilliantly to come back from the bottom half of the table at the midway point to finish on the podium, securing promotion to cycling's highest tier. They did it all as a team, but now we're going to break it down and review all of their individual seasons, from A to V. Damn, we need somebody with a Z surname! The leaders of the squad will have their own slightly longer reviews after.
Alan Boileau
Marshalling the peloton - Balkans International
Highlights: Consistent work on the front of the peloton and picked up double-digit points! Lowlights: Could have done more in breakaways in a few races where he wasn't with a major leader Points: 12 (408th in Division/13th in Team) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 0 Verdict: No breakaways this year for Alan Boileau but he might still have been our most effective loan-in, being a great domestique for our leaders doing strong work particularly for Joseph Areruya where he joined him for both his GC wins as well as other big successes like in the Dauphine and a few classics, We really liked having him this year and will always keep an eye out for him as he returns to Ekoi next season after their promotion into the PCT - though more than likely we'll face him in the Pro Tour next year if he can find a loan spot.
Kees Duyvesteyn
Giving Tesfaye a KOM assist - Vuelta a Colombia
Highlights: Solid bottle-carrying and a few breakaways. Lowlights: Not as involved as we'd have liked in the second half of hilly stages. Points: 4 (451st/16th) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 4 Verdict: Always good to maintain our transfers relationship with our friends at Spark, Kees was one of two loanees from them this season and our third Kiwi rider we have helped them develop. He had a few early breakaway successed but ultimately learned through failure quite a lot on the hard roads of the PCT. Still, we believe he came a long way this season and will return home a stronger rider!
Felix Engelhardt
In the mix among the world's best young riders - Tour de l'Avenir
Highlights: 6th in an Avenir stage (not for Xero!) Lowlights: None really Points: 0 Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 0 Verdict: Felix came in as a stagiaire, having ridden for Würth MODYF at the Tour de l'Avenir, and provided some solid domestique work for Areruya at the Balkans International and Grand Prix Cyclistes. Certainly a talented young rider who just needs a full contract to be able to achieve his quite good potential - we hope he finds it in 2024, for Xero or elsewhere!
Yacine Hamza
8th in a tight sprint - Tour du Maroc
Highlights: Good domestique work in Benelux, and sprints in Maroc. Lowlights: Not a lot of sprint success or work in the flat classics. Points: 5 (438th/15th) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 2 Verdict: A quiet season of progress for our Algerian, with a few bright spots and a couple of breakaway adventures but otherwise not a lot happening. Still, he will come back for the 2024 season a strong sprinter who should be a very valuable rider.
Highlights: His performance in the Tour of South Africa, winning a stage, spending time in yellow and coming in 10th on GC.
Though I obviously like that you liked Boileau staying with your team I'm pretty sure this didn't happen to him (or actually any of your riders, at least this season ). But maybe it's a sign of his future, in which case it's highly appreciated though it spoils things a bit
kandesbunzler26 wrote:
Though I obviously like that you liked Boileau staying with your team I'm pretty sure this didn't happen to him (or actually any of your riders, at least this season ). But maybe it's a sign of his future, in which case it's highly appreciated though it spoils things a bit
Copy-paste error, thanks for pointing it out
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
This was our squad for 2023, our eighth season, the fifth in the Pro Continental Tour, and the third team to achieve promotion. They came together brilliantly to come back from the bottom half of the table at the midway point to finish on the podium, securing promotion to cycling's highest tier. They did it all as a team, but now we're going to break it down and review all of their individual seasons, from A to V. Damn, we need somebody with a Z surname! The leaders of the squad will have their own slightly longer reviews after.
Salim Kipkemboi
Pulling off the front after delivering Areruya to the winning sprint - Giro dell'Emilia
Highlights: A solid final domestique for Areruya, and in the Italian Fall Classics good individual finishes too. Lowlights: Next to no individual scoring or even attempts to! Points: 26 (316th in Division/10th in Team) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 1 Verdict: Not the individual year we wanted for Salim Kipkemboi, but the role we had been grooming him for since his neo-pro year was that of one of Joseph Areruya's key domestiques, and in that area he had a very solid first season.
Jamalidin Novardianto
A perfect leadout leads to finishing off a 1-2 - Benelux Challenge
Highlights: A massive hand in Pidcock's Benelux GC win, while finishing 11th on GC himself. Lowlights: Didn't stand out while co-leading the C2 flat classics. Points: 82 (178th/8th) Rider of the Month: 1 (May) Victories: 0 Breakaways: 5 Verdict: The team's longest-serving legend, Jamalidin Novardianto had his best PCT season of his career with some solid scoring across the board, great domestique work, with the highlight his Benelux Challenge, being the key player in Pidcock's GC win and coming 11th on GC. He also extended his lead in several team statistics - more on than at a later date - and even grabbed his fifth-ever Rider of the Month award by lighting up a lifeless May.
Edgar Andres Pinzon
Following attacks - World Championships U23 RR
Highlights: Got on TV in the U23 World Championships. Lowlights: Didn't do much in a Xero jersey. Points: 0 Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 0 Verdict: Our second stagiaire in 2023, Edgar Andres Pinzon is certainly on his way to being a solid domestique in the mountains one day in his future, and we hope he can secure a contract for 2024 at Xero or another team to make it happen. As it stands, he's not yet on that level and so didn't perform as such this season in his limited RDs.
Jhon Stiven Ramirez
Breakaway day! - GP Izola
Highlights: Two breakaways! Lowlights: Sixty-six other race days! Points: 0 Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 2 Verdict: Dubbed the worst rider in team history before the season, Jhon Stiven Ramirez, a loanee from Spark, found his way into a couple of breakaways that might give him the argument that it wasn't the worst season by a rider in team history - we'll have to check the records. However, after a year of tough learning he is no longer worthy of that moniker at any team he goes to in the future, developing into an okay climber.
This was our squad for 2023, our eighth season, the fifth in the Pro Continental Tour, and the third team to achieve promotion. They came together brilliantly to come back from the bottom half of the table at the midway point to finish on the podium, securing promotion to cycling's highest tier. They did it all as a team, but now we're going to break it down and review all of their individual seasons, from A to V. Damn, we need somebody with a Z surname! The leaders of the squad will have their own slightly longer reviews after.
Nils Schomber
Taking yellow - Benelux Challenge
Highlights: His three consecutive prologue wins in the mid-season. Lowlights: The ones he didn't win! Points: 170 (112th in Division/5th in Team) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 3 Breakaways: 3 Verdict: After eight years of being maligned by the cycling world, Nils Schomber stepped up and made the difference between promotion and non-promotion with an amazing season as the best low-wage rider in the PCT. Three victories, four days in yellow, 170 points and also probably his most effective season in road stages with solid domestique work and a few breakaways. A heroic effort that shall never be forgotten in team history.
Corbin Strong
Heartbreak on the line - World Championships U23 RR
Highlights: A silver medal in the U23 World Champs, equalling the best ever WC result by a Xero rider (Higuita 2020 in the same event). Lowlights: Could have gone for some more breakaways. Points: 4 (450th/16th) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 1 Verdict: Our young Kiwi had a tough time of it during the season, but showed how much development he'd gone through over the year with an outstanding ride in the U23 World Championships Road Race, finishing an agonising 2nd in the final sprint after being fairly active during the race. We couldn't be prouder of one of the team's, and New Zealand's, great WC efforts.
Henok Tesfaye Heyi
Launching a double-attack with Areruya - Strade Bianche
Highlights: Either his 4th in the Betonexpressz GP, or his 12th on GC in the Tour of Lithuania. Lowlights: None! Points: 126 (138th/6th) Rider of the Month: 0 Victories: 0 Breakaways: 9 Verdict: Our well-travelled Ethiopian had one hell of a season, consistently involved be it in the breakaway, competing for points in the flat classics, being a great domestique or mixing it up in a sprint. Can't speak highly enough of what he does for the team and that was proven as our sixth-highest scorer and in the top 150 of the division. We hope he never leaves us, just the type of rider every team would like to have twelve of.
Very silent on their end. A great season for Schomber proving the doubters wrong and contributing to a promoting team.
New Zealand, 
Australia, 
Great Britain (minor), 
United States (minor)
South Africa
Rwanda, 
The World (minor)
Canada (minor)
Indonesia
Shimano
fi'zi:k
from the best Puncheur talent ever to a rich man's Tony Gallopin in 3 Seasons...
In fact perhaps you even see a brighter vision than me sometimes, as my thought was always "wouldn't it be funny if I made a super-baroudeur" 
