As we reach the end of the transfer window we can announce two more signings for 2011, in the shape of time-triallists Tyler Butterfield and Shaun Higgerson. These two are Bermudan and Australian respectively and should be very useful in TTT's this year, a discipline where we aim to be strong. They both came in on a 50k wage. Tyler is a former triathlete, who competed at a very high level, while Shaun comes from the great AIS school.
We are currently close to a deal with one rider and may look to make a stagiare signing.
Our final signing of the transfer season (possible stagiares not included) is from the world-dominating British track team, part of their record-breaking team pursuit squad and epicly ginger. It's of course Ed Clancy! Of course he won't be turning out in any sunny races, but on the road he is a time triallist-cum-sprinter who will be a part of our TTT team and our lead-out train. He will remain a part of the British track squad and so won't race a lot with us, but we only paid him the nominal sum of £50,000. He will get on well with Bradley Wiggins and Steven Cummings, former pursuiting team-mates from the track squad, and will also know the other British riders on the squad, including the youths. And with that, we conclude a successful transfer season!
We can now proudly announce our official squad list of 24:
Bradley Wiggins David Millar Steven Cummings Ed Clancy Tim Kennaugh Mark McNally Thomas Faiers - On Loan to Vesuvio - Accumalux Matt Cronshaw - Stagiare Mikael Cherel Mathieu Ladagnous Amael Moinard Sebastien Duret Phillipe Gilbert Frederik Willems Nico Sijmens Jaume Rovira Esteban Mardones Cherif Abdallah Juan Van Heerden Andrea Moletta Eduard Vorganov Borut Bozic Tyler Butterfield Shaun Higgerson
There will be an extended team presentation soon.
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 05-04-2010 09:55
We can also show you the team's stats for this season:
With this squad we believe we can prove Smowz opinion of our team to be an underestimation and get that top 10 we want.
We can also announce that our season goal of Top 5 in the Tre Valle Varesine has been changed to a Top 5 in the GP of Wales, a British race that is more important to our sponsors.
One of our best riders last year, the Belgian national champion returns for 2011, once again aiming at the hilly classics. He will be the one to achieve most of our season goals and take most of our victories. Last year, he was unhappy with both his support team and his racing calendar, so the first has been strengthened while the latter has been tailored to favour his strengths. His main goals for the season are the GP of Wales, the Tour of Pendle and the Philadelphia International Classic, alongside a personal goal of retaining his national title, which he achieved last year solo, while this year he will have the support of both Nico Sijmens and Frederik Willems.
As Belgian National Champion he will wear this jersey in road races for the following season, designed by Will007:
Juan Van Heerden
The South African sprinter was our most successful rider last year, placing 6th in the individual rankings, and continues into this season, though with stronger support for the sprints. He will have the backing of Borut Bozic, an improved Cherif Abdallah, Mathieu Ladagnous and Nico Sijmens as lead-out men, who will help set up the kind of long sprint he loves. His best result last year was probably his 3 stage wins, 3rd overall and points jersey victory in the Tour du Faso, a race we return to this year, with stronger support for him in the opening TTT. He also did well on the cobbles last season and showed that he is very capable of getting over tough terrain before winning the finishing sprint.
The ageing Italian puncheur may see this as his last season at the top and we intend to give him the chance to make the best of it. He will spend a lot of time at the end of races combining with or helping Phillipe but there will be 4 races where he can ride as outright leader this year. His strength on the hills is his obvious strong point, but he can also finish races very well from a small group. Andrea also has great experience and will hopefully be able to impart some of that to Esteban Mardones, as he has been given the job of mentoring him this year.
A sprint king, the best in Slovenia, and a great addition for this year. The 31 year old is at home in the thick of the action, at the head of the bunch sprints. He is also capable of getting to the finish line in a diminished bunch, so will prove useful throughout the year, mostly racing where Juan is not, but sometimes leading him out. He will lead the team 10 times this season.
Legendary British Olympic Gold Medallist Bradley Wiggins MBE is one of our Great British time-trialling duo this year. Coming from 100% ME for the astonishing transfer fee of over £1,000,000 , we hope he will make it worth our while. His strength obviously lies in his testing, where his race aims will be this year (alongside TTTs), but he is a capable enough rider on the hills as well, which could mean high GC positions in races with TT’s and relatively easy hilly stages.
Much of what is written about Bradley Wiggins also goes for David Millar. Great in the contre de la montre and a good rider on tough terrain, he will be used in the much the same capacity as Bradley throughout the year and will spend a lot of the time racing with him.
Racing for British Airways last year, David won the British Time Trial Championships, a race both he and Brad aim for this year, and will therefore wear this Will007-designed jersey in all TT’s this year.
One of our French super-domestiques is Mathieu Ladagnous. The Frenchman is a strong time-triallist, sprinter and flat rider, meaning that he is almost the perfect lead-out man and that he will be following Juan Van Heerden through all his races this year. However, he will race without Juan, racing 18 days without him, mostly for his TTT and lead-out usage.
Another of our French super-domestiques is Amaël Moinard, a climber/puncheur born on the Cherbourg peninsula in Normandy who came to prominence on the French youth circuit, including 8th overall in the Tour de l’Avenir. He comes to Pendleton’s as a willing helper for the hills, although we regret not being able to race him in the mountains. He is a very strong all-round rider, able to score a good result himself, who should be up there at the business end of the races splitting it up for Phillipe and co. He may do well at the Giro del Capo where he will ride his only mountain stage of this year.
A guy who was with us last year, Russian Eduard Vorganov excelled in our squad. Although it was a step down from his previous ride with the ProTour Nintendo team, his results were a step up – a bunch of top 10’s in stages and on GC in hilly races and top 10’s in hilly classics were topped off with a stunning hilltop stage win in the GP Torres Vedras, where he maintained his racing to finish 3rd on GC and take the biggest result of his career. Thanks to his consistent results he finished 91st in the Continental Tour Individual Classification with 236 points. He also managed 2nd in the Russian National Road Race Championships. He is obviously built for the hills but won’t get such freedom in them this year as he did previously. He will spend his time like Moinard, working for Gilbert, Moletta and Cherel, although he could do well if he is in a big group, because his sprint is quite good. He can also TT quite well for our hilly riders, so he will get to ride in lots of races with TTT’s and hills.
Our Egyptian sprinter rode well with us last year, almost taking a victory when he came a close second in a flat stage in the Ras and impressing us throughout the year. He has progressed again, but has taken the spot of third sprinter as our squad strengthens. It is, as yet, unknown as to how he will do but we are sure he will want to get a win on board, although his opportunities may be limited this season.
After conquering in the Egyptian Road Race Championships last year, Cherif will wear this jersey all season.
Jaume Rovira
A quality climber who comes with the added bonus of sprinting well, this rider will be of best use on the hills, both as a domestique and lead-out man, although his time may come if a big group without sprinters makes it to the finish. The Spaniard may see this as his last year to shine and I’m sure he will take all the opportunities he gets.
The original Frenchman surviving from AON improved greatly over last year, showing his potential as a team-mate and in breakaways, especially when he held the mountains jersey in the ProTour Vuelta al Pais Vasco and when he made a break in the World’s View Challenge then kept up with the attackers when they bridged up to the group, eventually finishing a stellar 4th. He seems to be at his full potential, which sadly means he will once again be riding as a team-mate. In spite of those obligations, he will be given his chances to get into the breaks again.
This Belgian is uber-strong and a willing worker, a great addition to our team for 2011. Useful on the hills for most of the year and a helper for Juan Van Heerden on the cobbles at the Tour du Faso, he is an industrious guy who can just work all day. He will be called upon to do that throughout the year and, thankfully, he is happy to do so.
Another of our host of new Brits, Steve switched from the track to forge a road on the career. He may have reached the extent of his ability as a team-mate but he’s a hell of a good one. A good time triallist and a rider who can cope with the hills, he will mostly ride in stage races with TTTs. His target for the year will be the Isle of Man TT, where he can ride for himself.
A rider akin to that of Jaume Rovira, Nico comes in slightly different proportions, as a sprinter who can ride the hills. He saw a lot of action with Accumaluc in the ProTour and has a chance to dispense some of what he has learned to some of the younger riders. Another lead-out man and team-mate, he will also be useful in breaks, as he tries to emulate the highlight of his 2010 season, a stage win in the Tour de Georgia.
The only Bermudan rider on the circuit, Tyler comes from a triathlon background and has headed into the field of road cycling. As you would expect from a triathlete, Tyler is predominantly one for the TTs and his skills in that area will be utilised in TTTs throughout the season.
Stats: Flat 70 TT 74 Stamina 70 Resistance 73
Wage: 50,000
Ed Clancy
Our sponsored rider, British track cyclist Ed Clancy will ride in Pendleton’s colours when competing in individual events in the Revolution series, among others including the British Track Championships. He should also return to the road for the British Nationals, the scene of his greatest road result, where he came from nowhere to finish 2nd by just 2 seconds in the National ITT Championship.
A product of the AIS system, Higgerson is a typical Aussie TT rider. He’s not half bad on the road as well and should be useful as team-mate in the stage races with TTTs.
The guy who will be Britain’s best stage racer since Robert Millar, Tom Faiers is a 24 year old Britain who cut his teeth racing amateur in Spain, therefore evading the watchful eye of British Cycling. Coming from a triathlon background, he went on a Graham Baxter training camp where he discovered his talented, keeping up with the likes of Valverde and Samuel Sanchez on training rides. He subsequently moved to Spain and rode the best of the amateur circuit, showing his quality climbing ability and grabbing our attention. So, after a long transfer battle, he signed for us and we sent him off on loan to a ProTour team, namely Vesuvio – Accumalux, David Millar and Nico Sijmens’ old team. He will gain experience there this year and we have learned that he will ride the Vuelta a Espana this season.
Britain’s other stage-racing talent has a big brother to race against this year: Peter is riding for 100%ME. He may be a sprinter but this Manxman is built for the climbs and the TTs, just like Faiers. He has come through the British Cycling system and this should stand him in good stead for a season where he will gain experience. He may be a little less of the rider Tom Faiers is, but he is still going to have one hell of a career.
British talent was one of our main areas of investment this season and Mark is no exception. He is a more all-round rider than the others, so we wait for the indications as to where his career could develop. He has potential on the hills and in the sprints but is just generally strong. He will be gaining experience this season before we assess where he can be asset.
This Spanish mountain goat rode with us last year and didn’t have the easiest of pro debuts. He rode a lot of races he wasn’t best suited too and had a torrid time of it but we felt that it would really strengthen him, both mentally and physically. And boy has it! We’ve seen a huge change in him this season as he has matured and is a lot stronger, despite lack of training. He won’t be leading this season, but gaining experience again before we can let him loose on the climbs. Just you wait!
This is another of our sponsored riders who will train with the team throughout the season while racing amateur races. He is a puncheur and that will be where he aims to improve. He will ride British Premier Calendar races mostly this year.
After a failed start to the season in Bloemfontein, the team headed to Australia to try and redeem themselves in the Down Under Classic and the Tour Down Under. And redeem themselves they did.
The classic was a short flat criterium and we sent our best sprinters. Bozic even tried to get in the break to well and truly cover that option. The break was brought back though and we settled down for the sprint. Allan Davis exploded away for a home win while Cavendish pipped Juan for 2nd. We managed to fit 3 guys in the top 10, with Borut in 9th and Mathieu in 10th. Cherif came in 19th to round of a great race for Pendleton's.
We stayed in Australia with a similar squad, although the sprinters went out and Moletta came in, covering the hilly options. Come stage 1 and Nico Sijmens was mixing it with the breaks but it wasn't to be, so we set up our lead-out train. Mathieu led the peloton with Juan on his wheel, forcing the South African to go a tad too early. He was just passed by Cavendish and Vantomme to take 3rd and some valuable bonus seconds.
Another flat stage followed and Mathieu took the final intermediate sprint. In the sprint, Yukiya Arashiro took a big early lead but I was on the edge of my seat as Juan led the chase. But the gap was just too big and the Japanese rider took the stage, Nico Sijmens coming in a surprise 5th. However, it wasn't a dissapointment, as Juan took the leaders jersey.
The terrain was a little tougher for the third stage, with a rise to the finishing line. Sijmens made the break again but it was destined for a sprint. It may have come down to a sprint, but it wasn't one for the sprinters. Hilly rider Flugel took the stage with Jaume Rovira our highest finisher in 14th. Juan came in 70th, relinquishing his leaders jersey.
The 4th stage was a sprinters stage but Juan was swamped coming into the finish and couldn't find a way through, finishing 33rd behind Luke Rowe, Frederik Willems our highest finisher in a surprise 12th. Sebastien Duret mixed it in the attacks during the stage.
The 5th stage was the one everybody had been looking forward to with apprehension. Would a move stick on Willunga? It certainly provided some drama. Sijmens was once again in the break, taking an intermediate sprint. The real deal started just before Willunga as a horrible day started for 100%ME, their two hilly leaders crashing. No attacks made it on that first ascent as they skirted the base of the climb to return for more. Lots of attacks went and some got some gaps and a few were clear as we headed to the finish. Mass crashes in a jittery peloton took out Martin from 100%ME (really bad day for them), Rowe and Carrara. The attackers were caught, but Arashiro saw his chance and took it, storming into the lead and taking the stage! Juan came in 17th, to cement 2nd on GC, with Mathieu 9th overall. Cavendish lost 1"30 to drop out of contention.
The last stage is a crit crash fest and this year's was no exception. Our riders were prepared and vigilant near the front of the group but none were prepared for the dividends that would pay. As the bunch split after the crash, the lead group contained only 5 riders from the top 32 overall. And we had 7 riders in there! Sadly Mathieu crashed and lost time, and with it a potential top 5. But as Jimmy Casper won the stage, Sebastien Duret's 12th place catapulted him into 4th on GC while Andrea Moletta's 15th propelled him into 5th. A final day we could barely have dreamed of.
Overall, a great race - Jaun came 2nd on GC and won the young rider's jersey, Sebastien rode very consistently to take the result of his career finishing 4th on GC and Andrea rode a great race debut to take 5th,a result that beckons well for a good season. Frederik Willems was 18th on GC, Nico Sijmens 32nd after being in nigh on every break, young Tim Kennaugh a great 41st, Mathieu, our only unlucky rider in 48th, and Juame Rovira a surprising and unexplained 131st. Well done to everyone involved.
These two races send us to the top of the teams classification! We don't expect to hold this position for long but it bodes fantastically for our goal of a top 10. Our current points haul is just under 1/5 of what we had scored by the end of a last season and judging by those results we would only have to achieve these results 6 times over to take top 10. And we've only ridden 3 out of 45 races!
In the individual rankings, Juan is happy with 2nd, while Seb is at a career high in 15th, Andrea lying 17th.
The nest race is also HC, as we make our European debut in the Tour Mediteraneen. We hope for results in the TTT, having sent some of our best riders, the sprints with Borut present and a good GC ride from Mr Moletta. After this race, I can only say, bring it on!
Our racing resumed in Europe with the esteemed HC stage-race, legendary for the climb of Mont Faron. It also included a TTT so we were prepared for that, Bradley Wiggins and David Millar making the team sheet alongside a few other TT specialists/domestiques, while Borut Bozic was there for the sprints and Andrea Moletta the GC challenger.
The opening stage looked harmless but caused a lot of havoc. Bradley Wiggins led the break in some of our fetching new arm and leg warmers.
They were caught with 26km to go and it headed for a sprint. But, and I still don't know how, the bunch was only 56 strong come the finish with a 1"21 gap extending to the next group. And Andrea was back in that group. I snapped my clipboard in annoyance. Wiggo, Cummings or Ladagnous were going to have to lead our GC charge.
The TTT was what we had been waiting for but, despite visual aggression (see below) we fell 29 seconds short, in 4th place.
We were still well-placed for the GC though and know were confronted with a few rolling stages where we would have to keep our well-placed guys in contention and help Borut for the sprints.
Stage 3 yielded eleventh for Andrea Moletta while Stage 4 was better for Borut as he came in 5th and for the team as the hills helped Ladagnous move into 10th overall. Mr Bozic continued to sprint well coming in 4th on Stage 5. We awaited Mont Faron.
Millar made the break and Vorganov went with the pre-Faron attacks as we tried to cover every option. Ladagnous put his hand up and took the leadership role so the team protected him up the lower slopes before sending him on his way. He managed to overhaul Stefan Schumacher part way up and continued to ride hard.
On the final kick to the line, Schumacher distanced him but Ladagnous held on for 7th.
This took him to 3rd overall behind stage winner Maxime Monfort, a great result for the team after the mistakes of the opening stage. Steven Cummings rode strongly to 12th on the stage and 13th overall, while Bradley Wiggins came 36th for 14th overall. Andrea and Borut came 34th and 35th on GC respectively as we took some great results from a race we thought could be ruined.
Giri di Sardegna and Capo
Our next to races are in Sardinia and South Africa as we stay in the hills. In the Italian race we are led by Mikael Cherl and Eduard Vorganov in the hills and Borut Bozic once again in the sprints. We have no particular goals for this race so we hope to be pleasantly surprised. Amael Moinard and Andrea Moletta are the team leaders in the South African race that contains a 'mountain-top finish', while Bradley Wiggins and David Millar will be aiming for a good finish in their first ITTs of the year.
Cycle Sport: The mood is buoyant here. How has the start of the season affected morale or has it been this high since your first meet-up in November?
Mathieu Ladagnous: The whole team's bonded really well so I guess there wouldn't be much of a difference without the start we've had, but good results always make it better.
Mikael Cherel: Some of us are still waiting for ours!
Cycle Sport: So Sebastien, you kicked off the season brilliantly.
Sebastien Duret: Yeah, it was a really great way to begin for me. I was always up there throughout the Tour Down Under and 4th on GC in an HC race is my best result to date. It was made even better by Andrea Moletta and of course JVH's results.
Cycle Sport: You've really blossomed here haven't you?
Sebastien Duret: Certainly, Sam Jackson's given me some great opportunities and I always try to make the most of them. I loved the set-up last year and with Pendleton's on board everything has taken a bit of a step forward.
Cycle Sport: And Mathieu, you've enjoyed some brilliant early form.
Mathieu Ladagnous: I always like to be ready for the early season and I was expecting to be leading out at the Med, like I was down under. I already came 10th in the classic and would have been up there on GC but for the crash so I knew I was riding well. I guess I was a bit lucky that Andrea got caught out, although I wouldn't wish it on him. That meant that Steve, Nico and I were the team's GC guys and both Steve and I held our hands up for it. Steve was really decent and kind and said I was probably in better form so I grabbed my chance. We did quite well in the TTT and then I was consistent in the hills. I was amazed on Mont Faron, where I managed 7th on the stage, which gave me 3rd overall.
Cycle Sport: So what's up next for you guys?
Amael Moinard: I'm off to the Giro del Capo in South Africa. I get a chance to ride in the mountains, although it's not a very tough stage. With it being mountainous, it's between me and Andrea Moletta for GC and I guess we'll just have to see on the day. There's a bit of everything there: mountains, hills, a couple of flat stages and a final TT.
Mikael Cherel: And before that, Seb and I are in Sardinia.
Sebastien Duret: Time for me to do some work for someone else now.
Mikael Cherel: joking And I get a chance to lead! It should be a tough race tactically because it's going to be about timing your effort and getting in the splits due to the terrain being relatively mild. Borut will have a crack at the sprints and I'll do my best to see us well on GC.
Cycle Sport: Well, we wish you success for the rest of the season and can tell you that the French are finally getting some support in Britain, thanks to you.
After our stunning start to the season, a little impetus seemed to have been lost. However, as of the Rund um den Eischborn Frankfurt, our season has been slammed back into top gear.
The German hilly classic began on the flat before hitting 4 large climbs and then a circuit with one steep climb that is tackled 3 climbs before a flat finish. The rain was poundind down which we were of course pleased about, knowing Phillipe's affinity for it.
Moletta got in the break, policing it for Gilbert.
As the peloton split over the hills, Phillipe and another made the selection.
And with over 20km left, he launched a blistering surprise attack, just before the hills.
He was caught though, first by Caruso adn then by Pozzato, Ben Nasser, Monfort and, in much better news, Molleta.
Both of our guys were there come the start of the sprint.
Despite the presence of brilliant sprinter Pozatto, Gilbert kept pulling away to take our first win of the season: The Rund um den Eischborn Frankfurt!
Moletta was 6th after hanging on from the break, with the rest of our guys around 30th. The sponsors were very happy.
We were gunning for a TTT victory and did not dissapoint, taking a sweet 7 second victory.
Teamwork.
Although the first road stage was a dissapointment, this seems to show thhat success comes in waves for Team Pendleton's. Let's hope this one continues 'til the end of the season.
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 16-11-2010 18:56
With many sponsors dropping out of cycling at the moment, we are happy to announce that with both their economic success and the team's results, Pendleton's will continue on as our main sponsor.
In other news, the teams push for promotion looks good, although everything hangs in the balance.
The biggest race of the season for our riders takes place around Zagreb, Croatia. Both the time trial and road race courses are very tough and could even favour a pure climber. Despite missing out on some racing we'd hoped to be involved in, Pendleton's are well-involved here.
So this is what's going down:
The opening event is the team time trial and we have a good representation - Mathieu Ladagnous' dynamite season is rewarded with a place in France's team, Gilbert makes the Belgian squad while Shaun Higgerson rides for Australia. And in the Great Britain team we have 3 riders - Brad Wiggins, Dave Millar and Steve Cummings.
In the U23 Individual Time Trial our sole representative is Bryce Moore from our successful U23 squad, who will take part for the African team.
It was the Elite Time Trial where we'd hoped that Brad or Dave would get a place but alas no, Ian Stannard and Andy Tennant chosen instead. We maybe felt that our riders would fare better on the hilly course but we reserve our judgement and wish the British team good luck.
Onto the U23 Road Race and two of our main team's riders make the cut, Esteban Mardones relishing the climbs for Spain while Tim Kennaugh does the same for Great Britain. He will be joined by our U23 team rider Matt Cronshaw. 3 of our U23 riders make the African squad and will be looking to tear it up again - good luck to Charles Anguillet, Hilary Kiprotich and once again Bryce Moore.
The jewel in the UCI's crown is the Elite Road Race, often the best day's cycling of the year. 6 riders are riding for us here...Eduard Vorganov will be propping up the Russian team after another year of aggressive riding and, although the course maybe a bit mountainous for him, Mr. Gilbert will be on the Belgian team. Two of our riders go for France, Mikael Cherel and Amael Moinard well-suited to the course. Tom Faiers has been riding through the mountains of Europe on loan to Vesuvio all year and will be a strong cog in the Great Britain team. Our final rider will not be accustomed to this terrain but Juan Van Heerden has showed his strength and will show his humility in working as a team-mate in the three man South African team.
All in all, the Worlds will once again be a great occasionm and I hope our riders can live up to it.
OMW Sports are pleased and proud to announce that Pendleton's Twicer will be expanding for 2012. The team will grow alongside the brand which has also enjoyed a very successful year and will be adding some more sponsors to help them on their way. The Guardian newspaper has seen cycling as a great expanding sport in Britain while anotheer legendary northern sweet joins Pendletons in sponsorship: Uncle Joe's Mintballs. CBoardman will take over as bike sponsor for the year.
The budget will be decided depending on whether or not the team promotes, which looks possible at the moment, but will definitely enable us to move onto bigger and better things for next year.
With the announcement of new sponsors comes a new jersey. Beefed up and just as garish for 2012, Will007 has returned and applied his brilliant jersey design skills to my horrible taste to create this masterpiece:
(Or at least be able to stand it 
