Pellizotti2 wrote:
You need to copy the "Direct link" on the right side of the picture.

aidanvn13 wrote:
Our goals have been released See post #3.

Firefly21 wrote:


An African team with African goals? I'm stunned! [/sarcasm]

Anyway, gl in the season, love the HQ thread, though we may not see much of each other as I don't see my team heading to Africa very often!

TheManxMissile wrote:
Its a very nice looking HQ.
Good luck as a new manager.
I hope to see you in a few races, especially the Nelspruit Classic

I have done a 2nd design for MTN-WBR because I'm not 100% happy with the current one. Tell me what you think of this new one! Better than the 1st?

Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Nice goals indeed, i am looking forward to our joined african adventures (especially in Tour of South Africa).

And your thread is really lovely, simply the best one around (but it loads for a long tie now).

We are delighted to reveal the first riders that will be riding in the outfit in the 2013 season. We are very pleased with our first transfer season as we managed to secure some very strong riders and some young talents with sterling potential. We bring to you the list of our new recruits:


[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/abdalla_benyoucef.png[/img-l]

Name:	Abdalla Ben Youcef
Nationality:
Age:	26
Specialisation:	Sprinting
Team Role:	Lead-out Man, Sprinter
Wage:	€50 000

Here we have another strong African sprinter. The Algerian is a fast finisher and surprisingly got picked up by us for the minimum wage! He would sometimes serve as a lead-out for Cherif Abdallah, but would definitely be receiving a sprinting role in some races.




[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/tyler_day.png[/img-l]

Name:	Tyler Day
Nationality:
Age:	24
Specialisation:	Sprinting
Team Role:	Sprinter
Wage:	€50 000

We are extremely happy with this signing. Tyler is a strong sprinter and still has lots of time to improve, he is a mere 24 years old. We are very surprised that our bid for him went uncontested, but no complaints from our side! Look out for him on the flat stages during some of the many stage races we will be riding as well as some sprint classics.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/herman_fouche.png[/img-l]

Name:	Herman Fouche
Nationality:
Age:	26
Specialisation:	Sprinting
Team Role:	Domestique, Lead-out man
Wage:	€50 000

Herman has been brought in from the Pro-Continental team, Metinvest-Emirates (formerly Metinvest - Slovnaft). He is a strong workhorse and will be a valuable domestique on this team.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/stefan_ihlenfeldt.png[/img-l]

Name:	Stefan Ihlenfeldt
Nationality:
Age:	24
Specialisation:	Climbing
Team Role:	Mountain Domestique
Wage:	€50 000

Stefan is yet another young talent on this squad. He is a strong climber and will be a valuable domestique to our leaders once the road tilts upwards. We look forward to developing his talent and to see him grow as perhaps one of the future leaders of MTN - WBR.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/craig_lewis.png[/img-l]

Name:	Craig Lewis
Nationality:
Age:	28
Specialisation:	Stage Races
Team Role:	Domestique, Mentor
Wage:	€50 000

Craig was signed because of the American influence of WBR, his capability as a loyal domestique and his experience abroad. We hope that he is able to pass this experience on to younger riders and will be a loyal team lieutenant on the road. Craig joins us from Pro Continental team CSC - Orbea.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/jc_nel.png[/img-l]

Name:	Johannes Christofel (JC) Nel
Nationality:
Age:	22
Specialisation:	Climbing, Fighter
Team Role:	Domestique, Young Talent
Wage:	€50 000

Here is another man for the future. JC is strong all round, but is looking to improve on his climbing ability. He is 175cm tall and ways a mere 60kg! He is known to sneak into breaks on the local scene and is also looking to replicate this throughout his races.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/james_perry.png[/img-l]

Name:	James Lewis Perry
Nationality:	(National Champion TT)
Age:	34
Specialisation:	Time Trial
Team Role:	Domestique, Mentor
Wage:	€50 000

James has always been one of the strongest time trialists from South Africa and is the current national TT champion. He joins us from airBaltic - Endura (formerly Cyclevox). James will try to pass on his experience and knowledge to the younger riders and will be a captain on the road.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/johann_rabie.png[/img-l]

Name:	Johann Rabie
Nationality:
Age:	26
Specialisation:	Puncheur, Time Trial
Team Role:	Domestique
Wage:	€50 000

Johann is our super domestique. He is a very strong rider, on flat and hills. He also has a good ability against the clock. He will be a very valuable domestique, but will surely have a shot at winning as well.


[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/julian_rodas.png[/img-l]

Name:	Julián Rodas
Nationality:
Age:	31
Specialisation:	Climbing
Team Role:	Leader, Mentor
Wage:	€60 000

And here we have one of our team leaders joining us from Team CSC - Orbea. He is a strong Colombian talent and will surely be very capable of achieving most of our team's goals. Not only is he an excellent climber, but he does posses some skill against the clock. Rodas will pass on his climbing experience onto more inexperienced riders.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/meron_russom.png[/img-l]

Name:	Meron Russom
Nationality:
Age:	26
Specialisation:	Stage Races
Team Role:	Domestique
Wage:	€98 000

After a fierce battle on the transfer market with Jaguar - Eritel, we have signed this Eritrean hopeful. He is perhaps over-shadowed by countryman, Daniel Teklehaymanot, but should not be underestimated. He posses climbing ability, time trial skill and shows loads of potential.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/rafiki_uwimana.png[/img-l]

Name:	Rafiki Uwimana
Nationality:
Age:	30
Specialisation:	Sprinting
Team Role:	Lead-out man, Domestique
Wage:	€50 000

Rafiki is a strong 30 year old from Rwanda and has a fast finish. He has never really had the chance to prove himself on the Continental Circuits, but will fit perfectly into this team. He will be a strong lead out for our big sprinters in the various stage races we enter.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/dennis_vanniekerk.png[/img-l]

Name:	Dennis van Niekerk
Nationality:	(National Champion RR)
Age:	29
Specialisation:	Climbing
Team Role:	Domestique
Wage:	€50 000

Dennis joins us from Metinvest after we managed to struck a deal with them. He's a loyal domestique and is very capable of winning races, as we saw in Vuelta a Asturias earlier this year. We are happy that the national champion of South Africa is present on our team. Look out for Dennis as he looks after our team leaders on mountain stages.

Mresuperstar wrote:
Rodas as leader ? This should be fun to watch, good luck mate.

Mresuperstar wrote:
Rodas as leader This should be fun to watch, good luck mate.

ember wrote:


His performance in Venezuela really caused headache for Alarcon. If he can copy 50% of that, I guess he'll be a bargain for MTN

-New Signings:

[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/cherif_abdallah2-1.png[/img-l]

Name:	Cherif Abdallah
Nationality:	(National Champion RR and TT)
Age:	26
Specialisation:	Sprinting
Team Role:	Lead Sprinter
Wage:	€50 000

Cherif is our team's sprinter. He joins us from Rapha Condor - Qhubeka and I'm sure will bring us points in fast, flat races. We are also happy to have another NC on our team, Cherif is both Road Race and Time Trial Champion of Egypt!



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/louis_meintjes2-2.png[/img-l]

Name:	Louis Meintjes
Nationality:
Age:	21
Specialisation:	Stage Races
Team Role:	Young Talent, Domestique
Wage:	€180 000

This man is Africa's hope for the future and we are ecstatic to have him on our team, but it didn't come cheaply! He is a strong climber, but can ride a TT bike, so it is a difficult decision to decide what his training focus will become.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/ngockyves_ngue.png[/img-l]

Name:	Ngock Yves Ngue
Nationality:
Age:	24
Specialisation:	Puncheur
Team Role:	Breakaways, Domestique
Wage:	€85 000

Ngock is a young rider from Cameroon. He is a very punchy rider that is very capable of winning from a breakaway. He does have a bit of a sprint kick to aid him if the break does go to the line. We hope to have him represent us in many breaks throughout all types of terrain.



[img-l]https://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/aidanvn13/adrien_niyonshuti.png[/img-l]

Name:	Adrien Niyonshuti
Nationality:
Age:	24
Specialisation:	Climber
Team Role:	Protected Rider
Wage:	€92 000

This man's life story has touched many people and if you don't know it, just Google his name. That is not why we signed him, however, he is one of the strongest African climbers and will compliment this squad as we head into the mountainous races. If he isn't in the bunch going up passes, he'll be in the break.

-Plans for 2013
Our main focus in the 2013 season will be stage races. We have a few riders that are very capable of performing in all different spheres of a stage race. We hope to be present at most African races, whether the profiles suit us or not, as this is where we want to achieve our goals. We have an all round squad with a few strong climbers, a decent sprinter, but no cobble specialists.

-Official Team Rivals
After this transfer season it is clear which teams will cause the most trouble for us in the 2013 season. The staff has decided to set out a list of names (no order of importance) that will be know as our "Official Rivals". If your team is present on this list, be afraid, be very afraid.

- Team Cadbury - Schwepes	Debry Jack
- Team Privatbank	fjhoekie
- Kenya Airways - Barclays	FroomeDog99
- Die Berg Komt Er	Vien
- Jaguar - Eritel	SportingNonsense
- Metinvest - Emirates	Avin Wargunnson