Another new sponsor has been announced - the Spanish sportswear company Joma Sport will join the long list of partners of Vivacom-DataMap Cycling Team. Ivaneurope announced the deal in a press conference in which he stated - "We're pleased to have a partner like Joma in our team. In their 50+ year history they supplied numerous sports clubs worldwide and this will be their first foray in cycling"

Joma Sport is known kit supplier in Bulgaria. They currently supplying the national team of Bulgaria as well as renowned Bulgarian clubs like Levski, Beroe, Slavia, Dunav and many more. In their portfolio they also have sponsorship deals with teams like Swansea, Villarreal and Sampdoria. This will be the first time they sponsor cycling team. Joma's involvement could also increase the Spanish influence in the roster

Also in front of the press it was unveiled the new kit designer for the next season - Craft of Scandinavia. "We've been in negotiations with Craft over the past few weeks and we're glad to reach a deal that suits both parties" - said ivaneurope.

Ale will continue to be kit supplier until the end of the season. Gaerne - who provide the footwear for the team - would likely provide the shoe design, but it is more likely to be rebranded Joma.

When asked about who will be 2017 frame supplier, ivaneurope informed the press that the team is currently negotiating with their current supplier - Focus Bikes - and few other interested

The Tour of Malaysia turned out to be a sour taste for Vivacom-DataMap - after inititial good performance and top 5 placing until mid-race, Mikel Nieve had a huge slump and droped in the rankings (he finished 31st). Also he was uncompetitive in the recent Barcelona Classic which sparked rumours regarding his future within the team. According to some sources ivaneurope was extremely unhappy with the slump in Malaysia and reminded him that if he doesn't perform, he will be shown the door at the end of the season. The Spainiard however managed to finish 5-th in the KOM, but the sudden drop and his place being questioned could prove crucial later in the season and only good results can help him secure his ride with the team for 2017.

The race in Malaysia wasn't that bad either - Nieve finished 2-nd on the first big test (Stage 3). The young Pole Michal Podalski caped 3-rd at Stage 7, Clive Ebejer of Malta was 5-th in Stage 8 and Bulgarian Nikolay Mihaylov finished 5-th in Stage 9. As it was mentioned Nieve is 5-th in KOM and Vivacom-DataMap finished 9-th in the team standings - their best team finish.

In Azerbaijan the team was led by the Kazakh Andrey Zeits. Zeits, who is the most expensive rider in the entire roster, proved that the sallary is well deserved with 13-th place on the final stage and 12-th in the GC. Georgi Georgiev was 23-rd and Jan Stöhr performed well in 29-th. The solid performance of the team meant that the team bested their Tour of Malaysia record by finishing 8-th in the team standings.

In the Barcelona Classic surprisingly Marildo Yzeiraj from Albania was the team's best rider in 19-th.

However the roster is worried about their future - it was mentioned that Nieve's poor performances will play vital role. Also JJ Rojas is not secured for 2017. Nako Georgiev could be sent for 2017 in developmental team. Clive Ebejer however looks determined to remain after strong 5-th in Stage 8 of Tour of Malaysia.

In the Euskal Bizikleta one rider had to prove that he can save his job. After poor second half of Tour of Malaysia and abysmal performance in the Barcelona Classic the Spainiard's future with the team was hanging in balance. He came in the Basque Country to prove that he can still fight with the best in the Continental Circuits. And he indeed delivered the strongest ever result of the team ever - 2nd in GC after strong showing in the final queen stage of the race. He finished on little under 2 minutes from the stage and GC winner Dominik Klemme of Kratwerk.

This was also the first time that both team leaders - Nieve and Andrey Zeits - were in the squad choosen by the team manager before the season beginning. The start was good with JJ Rojas finishing 38th after being in the break for so long in the stage, taking the KOM lead as well. In stage two most of the riders finished within the peloton, but the 3rd stage was the first big test for the riders. Nieve and Zeits finishing in the first large group. The final stage determined who will be the best Vivacom placed rider and this was Nieve. Zeits finished 23rd in GC and Vivacom finished 8th in front of teams like Podium Ambition.

Speaking of Podium Ambition ivaneurope was asked if he is willing to sell any of the team's former riders back to the. the replay was: "If they want to get their former employees back they will need to have deep pockets. If the price is right I may consider transfer. The same applies to my transfer intentions for some PA riders - they won't be cheap that's for sure". He also stated that Zeits and most likely Nieve will be off limits for any teams willing to have them.

While at the present time it's quiet for the team, Vivacom-DataMap made an announcements for the upcomming seasons. After weeks of negotiating with various bike manufacturers, it was announced that Canadian bycicle manufacturer Argon 18 will supply the team with bike frames for 2017. This deal means that Focus Bikes - their current supplier - will end its cooperation with the team at the end of the season.

Meanwhile DT Swiss, which is their current tyre supplier, confirmed that the talks for prolonging their contract are in an advanced phase and it's expected a deal to be signed very shortly. Shimano is also negotiating for extenting their groupset supply deal.