Welcome to the Team HQ of Credit Suisse Pro Cycling We are an ambitious and newly founded project based in Zurich, Switzerland. As this is our very first season we will ride in the Continental Tour of ICL this year but ultimately our goal obviously is to make it to the very top of the sport in the future.
The focus of the team not only lies on Switzerland, but nearly the whole Alpine region, including Austria, Germany, Italy and France. Nonetheless the main focus will remain on our swiss talents.
Main Sponsor
Credit Suisse Group is a Swiss multinational financial services holding company, headquartered in Zürich, that operates the Credit Suisse Bank and other financial services Investments. The company was founded in 1856 and nowadays has got around 48.000 employees.
Credit Suisse is by no means new in the sports business. Since 1993 Credit Suisse has been the main sponsor of the Swiss Football Association (SFA) and in 2009 a sponsorship deal with probably the best swiss athlete of all times, Roger Federer, has been made. With the success of these in my mind, Credit Suisse decided to take a step into unknown territory and build a cycling team from scratch, with the upbringing of talented riders from the Alpes and success with those in the World Tour of ICL as the long-term aim.
Jersey
All credits to FroomeDog99 for this great jersey.
Team Roster
Our aim before the transfer season was to stay within our focus nations and have at least one rider from each of those countries. Furthermore we wanted to have a swiss core with a minimum of 50% of the riders, including one of our leaders for the season. As our transfer Season is already done, we are happy to confirm, that we've managed to accomplish all of these goals.
The Team will head into its first season with 2 experienced and clear leaders surrounded by young talents and a few super-domestiques who will get their chances as well in certain races.
The first leader and also biggest name of the team is Fabian Cancellara. The 36 year old is one of the former superstars of cycling, having multiple wins at Paris-Roubaix, Ronde Van Vlaanderen and the World Time Trial Championships. At his now advanced age he stepped down a division in order to still be competing for victories. He will not only be the undisputed leader in cobbled classics and time trials, but will also fulfill the role as "road captain" with his endless experience and handy language skills.
The other leader is going to be Damiano Caruso. The Italian climber has just turned 30 and should subsequently be in his absolute prime right now. Additional to his climbing skills he is also an okayish time trialist and possesses a decent sprint for a climber. He will not only be leading us in climbing stage races, but probably also in hilly classics.
With Paul Voss, Marcel Aregger or the Italian duo of Andrea Pasqualon and Simone Ponzi, we'll hopefully have even more options, especially in the hilly races.
Edited by Vali on 01-08-2016 17:11
Yes, I researched my Spaniards before declaring "Basque"
Santos-Euskadi/PureBlack Racing Team Presentation 2017
It's surprising to some that half of the new-look Santos squad are retained riders from their disastrous first year. Sure, two have graduated from PureBlack but it show's what a year's improvement in skills and transfer policy can do. They've gone from battling for the wooden spoon to almost battling for promotion.
PureBlack, on the other hand, have got more potential in their team now, but undoubtedly much less points to be scored.
Both teams are inching towards a better Basque and Spanish focus now, with their ultimate leader Mikel Nieve a Basque himself. However, it's still not good enough. Less Kiwis now and a few South Americans, with still an Italian leader and now a Belgian one, too. A Lithuanian and a Dutchman round out the much more nationally focused Continental team, whilst the development riders two Spaniards, a Kiwi, a Brit, and first-time nationalities in a Moroccan, a Peruvian and a Norwegian.
The biggest doubt many have: If they don't go up, their leaders are old and they'll have to rebuild. Well, that and their best TTist is a domestique who isn't that great and the next best is in the Dev Team.
Santos | Leaders
Mikel Nieve
Age
33
Wage
360
Rider Type
Climber
Target Race
Tour d'Andorra
Likes
Piña Coladas and Big Mountains
Dislikes
Getting Caught in the Rain and that scary carbon thing with the black wheel and the weird bars
Do Say
Hey Mikel, mountains today!
Don't Say
Just kidding, you're going for an ITT/Henao is in your division
Mikel Nieve signed with us on a fairly cheap price and wage from SAP. He's had success at this level before and we have every faith in him to try and replicate that. He's our biggest leader because he's a Basque man and will be ably supported as the missing piece in our puzzle, the star on top of our mountainous Christmas tree.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
76.1
65
78
75
63
61
53
64
70
62
77
73
72
75
Jelle Vanendert
Age
32
Wage
400
Rider Type
Punchy Climber
Target Race
"All 56 days"
Likes
Anything that goes for a long time or goes uphill, preferably both
Dislikes
Cobblestones (Jelle doesn't do stereotypes
Do Say
You're a nutter and we love it.
Don't Say
Henao is in your division
After some prising one of the CT's top puncheurs who was slaving it out in the WT, Jelle Vanendert, came to us for a bargain price from Italo-Ventalair. We have high hopes for him to perform in boht mountains and hills.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
76.6
69
76
77
64
64
63
65
76
68
73
76
72
73
Davide Appollonio
Age
28
Wage
420
Rider Type
Sprinter
Target Race
Circulo de Juarez (TITLE DEFENCE)
Likes
Winning
Dislikes
Marcel Kittel
Do Say
You've beaten Demare fair and square.
Don't Say
You're still not the best in CT
Our one retained leader, "Appo"'s claim to fame is beating Arnaud Demare in a tight battle for the GC win in Mexico at the Circulo de Juarez (along with a stage) and being the guy who won that one piddly GC that his manager won't stop banging on about. With more CT races and less GTs to come in the minor places in (Kittel ), Appo is back for more.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
76.4
74
65
71
63
65
65
77
77
69
61
68
66
68
Santos | Lieutenants/Co-Leaders
Evaldas Siskevicus
Age
28
Wage
320
Rider Type
Tough Sprinter
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
74.6
73
65
71
66
67
68
75
75
73
67
71
67
70
Argiro Ospina
Age
26
Wage
600
Rider Type
Climber
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
75.7
70
77
75
67
65
60
67
72
69
76
70
67
69
George Bennett
Age
27
Wage
320
Rider Type
Puncheur
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
74.0
70
70
76
68
68
65
67
71
69
75
71
66
67
Santos | The Rest of Them
Spoiler
Name
Nat.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
Wage
Age
Ochoa
Diego
73.8
69
75
74
64
62
59
62
69
67
74
67
63
68
280
24
Rivera
Ever
73.7
67
75
73
65
63
60
62
69
70
75
67
63
67
280
26
Atkins
Joshua
72.3
69
73
71
67
66
58
64
70
68
74
67
63
65
230
25
Smith
Dion
72.2
72
64
68
67
66
66
73
71
70
63
67
65
64
230
24
Bevin
Patrick
72.1
70
63
70
67
67
66
73
72
69
64
67
65
68
230
26
Paredes
Nicolas
71.4
67
73
71
64
61
59
63
68
67
70
66
64
66
210
25
Bravo
Garikoitz
70.2
70
71
71
70
69
57
60
67
65
62
64
65
67
170
28
den Dunnen
Gilbert
65.9
60
66
66
55
57
54
52
65
71
66
64
62
65
100
21
Barba
Flavio
65.7
66
57
63
62
62
64
63
63
72
67
63
60
62
100
21
Perez
Felipe
65.6
66
62
64
66
66
61
61
64
70
63
63
64
63
100
22
Barajas
Lucas
63.6
64
55
58
57
55
62
60
58
63
66
60
58
56
70
20
Otermín
Roberto
56.4
54
56
58
52
52
54
53
56
65
56
52
52
53
30
19
Santos | Schedule
Nat.
Race
DIV
Date
Tour d'Indonesia
CT.2
14/1-19/1
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
CT.1
21/1-27/1
Christchurch - Akaroa
CT.2
29/1
Volta ao Algarve
CT.2
3/2-6/2
Vuelta a Mallorca
CT.1
13/2-16/2
Tour de San Luis
CT.2
14/2-20/2
National Capital Tour
CT.2
23/2-26/2
Clasica Iberica
CT.2
2/3
Clasica di Tirreno - Adriatico
CT.1
3/3
Roma Maxima
CT.1
7/3
København Byrundtur
CT.2
25/3
Critérium International
CT.2
28/3-30/3
Tour of South Africa
CT.2
2/4-12/4
VDK-Driedaagse De Panne
CT.2
14/4-17/4
Giro del Trentino
CT.1
16/4-20/4
Rheden GP
CT.2
19/4
4 Jours de Dunkerque
CT.2
23/4-27/4
Colombia Team GP
CT.1
30/4
Tour de Romandie
CT.2
2/5-7/5
Amgen Tour of California
CT.2
16/5-23/5
Tour des Fjords
CT.1
25/5-28/5
GP Moscow
CT.2
31/5
La Jurassaine
CT.1
1/6
Tour de Suisse
CT.1
12/6-20/6
Tour d'Andorra
CT.2
12/6-16/6
Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt
CT.2
18/6-22/6
Le Géant de Provence
CT.2
30/6
Volta a Portugal
CT.2
12/7-22/7
Circulo de Juarez
CT.2
26/7-30/7
Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian
CT.1
1/8
RideLondon–Surrey Classic
CT.2
5/8
Course du Lac d'Annecy
WT
12/8
Tour do Rio
CT.2
14/8
Criterium Hainleite
CT.2
23/8
Post Danmark Rundt
CT.2
26/8-31/8
Cigar City Classic
CT.2
1/9
Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha
CT.2
6/9
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
CT.2
28/9
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
CT.2
30/9
Giro dell'Emilia
CT.1
6/10
Vuelta a Colombia
CT.2
8/10 - 18/10
Japan Cup
CT.1
22/10
PureBlack | Squad
That just leaves these 8 who will be racing in the development grade as well as the three CT GTs and Christchurch-Akaroa, some big events in general and especially for us. We had so many talents as you may have seen 5 were left out and will race in orange. But in black in 2017 we have:
As of now, CarbonSports Cycling Team p/b Lightweight looks like one of the brightest teams on the horizon. The perennial classic team leads the World Tour Ranking with a 300 points lead over Bunzl, the World Cup with 4 points ahead of Italo and most impressively, the Prestige Ranking with a whopping 800 points to Allianz. Their superstar Peter Sagan also sits in the yellow jersey on today's Tour de France rest day. It looks as a good looking team with a working set up for years.
But behind the curtain the team looks to move towards an active transfer window. Two of their biggest stars might be on the way out. According to our scources the team management believes that star transfer Carlos Betancur might harm the development of the talent core of them. Rumor is that third year pro Marc Geyer is expected to make a massive jump during off season training to replace him as leader on the hills.
Superstar Greg Van Avermaet might also look for a new team for his last days at his prime. Within his current team he has to share a leader's role with Peter Sagan and it is expected that French talent Florian Senechal will take a step up in the team hierarchy as well so Van Avermaet has to look elsewhere for a lone leader's role.
Team officials didnt want to comment on those rumors: "We cannot comment on individuals at this moment. Roster planning depends on many unknowns and a lot will depend on whether we will top the final rankings".
Taking a different approach to our scouting and talent recruitment this seemed to pay off and then some for us this year, with some of the class of 2017's finest young talents being signed. Excited by our long-term plans for them and for the team, and also excited by getting paid, these 9 young men have signed with us from the 2018 season and hopefully for a while yet:
Davide Albini
U21 WC ITT: 43rd U21 WC RR:2nd
Davide is, in our opinion, one of the future's brightest stars and his silver in the U21 World Championships backs that up. He is adept in the hills, in a sprint, heck even on a TT bike this man can shine. But his real strength is in his superb bike handling and descending skills gained from doing cyclocross and mountain biking as well in his youth, which have already been praised enough in various news outlets as not far off the likes of a Sagan or a Stybar, and maybe one day even Nibali.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
72.1
69
54
71
65
73
57
70
76
85
69
73
68
68
Christian De Grootte
U21 WC ITT: 13th U21 WC RR: 17th
His name translates to "The Size" but we prefer what it almost is: "The big one." Young Christian is a big guy with a big heart and big power, whether it be over cobblestones or in a time trial. He performed consistently in the U21 World Championships and shows a lot of promise for the future. He too has dabbled in the cross and shows almost as good a bike handling skills as Davide, and those two will have many a competition in the future, we're sure.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
68.2
66
62
60
69
68
68
58
66
80
69
71
66
66
Loïc Astier
U21 WC ITT: 17th U21 WC RR: 57th
The 18-year old Belgian is quietly building up a pedigree for himself in the youth grades as an inexperienced rider with outstanding all-around abilities. He's taken a risk coming to this level so quickly but hopefully, the development level and some time playing a co-captain or free role for PureBlack will help him mature so that in a year or two he can lead there, and maybe one day at Santos too. He possesses talents in a time trial, a hilly race or a cobbled one and it'll be interesting to see how he develops.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
67.4
67
57
69
67
66
66
62
68
68
67
64
68
65
Mousin Verkuyl
U21 WC ITT: - U21 WC RR: 34th
The Dutchman has been the least discussed talent signed by us this year in the press but is a class act in his own right and will be PureBlack's cobbled leader next year. He is also good in a sprint or solo which gives him already multiple options in his arsenal. A true powerhouse with a sprint, what more do you want?
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
69.5
70
54
62
60
61
70
66
67
65
65
67
68
65
Jeffrey Ross
U21 WC ITT: 35th U21 WC RR: 4th
The young Kiwi has been on the PureBlack radar for a while and when he stated his intention the move up the either the pros or development grade we were in there at once. He sprinted to an impressive 4th in the road race at the World Championships. He possesses a great sprint and can maintain high speeds for a few kilometres alone as well, making him a threat in short prologues. If he's in the wind for much longer he's not the best though.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
69.8
68
54
62
63
69
55
71
69
68
67
64
61
65
Christian Lecomte
U21 WC ITT: - U21 WC RR: -
Little Christian, as he'll have to be known, didn't participate in the flat world championships but has shown himself to be a true force in many junior races this year and although if you tell him to do anything other than climb or, surprisingly given his weight, descend you won't get anywhere, boy can he climb. Packing a punch, surprisingly versatile and already at 18 an able climber, this boy is a natural and will surely entertain for years to come. The French hope of him winng mountain jerseys and stages in their races but right now he needs to knuckle down and work.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
68.5
62
69
68
56
58
56
59
67
74
69
67
62
62
Gilberto Jimenez
U21 WC ITT: - U21 WC RR: 72nd
The 19-year old Colombian isn't as punchy as Christian, as rounded as Christian or maybe as good as Christian but he doesn't mind - they're already getting along very well at training camps, both being outgoing jovial guys. What Gilberto is good at is holding the wheels up climbs or setting tempo and wearing out opponents. They won't be the top climbers in the development peloton next year but will be a dangerous duo.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
66.6
62
68
66
57
55
57
63
61
73
68
68
64
63
Anders Estdahl
U21 WC ITT: - U21 WC RR: -
A late addition to the squad but certainly no less valued, Anders is young but already very quick in a sprint and will be keen to help out Ross in his races. Whilst rumours still fly about whether or not he'll move to another team with fears of over-congestion the team and rider haven't said anything.
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
66.6
65
57
59
58
59
58
67
67
66
61
65
60
63
Otto Pichlmann
U21 WC ITT: - U21 WC RR: 40th
Otto is a young powerhouse who is useful on the flats, be it slaving on the front or in a leadout. Whilst on terrains other than the flat he can struggle he's an able domestique and can occasionally win races by going solo. Rumours also are spreading about him but you could see why PureBlack might also want to keep him
AVG
FL
MO
HIL
TT
PRL
COB
SP
ACC
DH
FTR
STA
RES
REC
65.2
68
61
59
61
59
60
60
66
67
62
69
69
64
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
Pichlmann only recently signed a contract with PureBlack Racing racing but is already linked with a transfer to German superteam CarbonSports Cycling - Lightweight. It is widely known that CarbonSports Cycling - Lightweight was one of the rivals in the fight for Pichlmann's services but couldnt match the financial details of PureBlacks offer.
CarbonSports declined to answer our questions about Pichlmann but we've heard from inside the cycling business that Pichlmann would fit well into the plans of the team as the team wants to continue building a team around sprint superstar Marcel Kittel and his heir apparent Caleb Ewan while increasing the number of German speaking riders. It's too soon to say whether a deal is realistic but this could be a minor storyline to follow in the upcoming off-season.
Feryn Bikes
), Appo is back for more.
Otto Pichlmann
