With the commitment to 'push-for-promotion', the 9 riders whose services were retained by WCC for the 2017 season have already been presented. Previously management was perhaps a little coy regarding highlighting all of the 14 riders who had been released, with one eye on potentially re-signing one or more dependent upon progress in the transfer season. In the end it was not necessary or possible to re-sign any of our released riders (although with Alex Peters we were just $2500 short of being able to offer a stagiare deal ).
In order to properly farewell all of our riders, we ensured to gather all the 2016 squad and staff members together at WCC Colombian HQ in Medellin for a farewll bash prior to turning towards preparation for the 2017 team launch the following week. We are also delighted to report that many of our released riders were able to attract the interest of new teams for 2017. Also joining the list of departing riders is our one transfer-out dealing of the off-season with Thanawut Sanikwathi moving to In-n-Out p/b Carrefour late on in transfers as the 'push-for-promotion' plan gained 100% commitment for 2017.
situation
2017 team
Jones
Brenton
under contract
The Balkan Cycling Project
Karagobek
Muhammet Eyüp
under contract
Indosat Ooredoo - ANZ
Ardila Cano
Alex
retired
Puerta Zapata
Fabian Hernando
amateur
Naesen
Oliver
under contract
Minions
Backaert
Frederik
under contract
Proximus Continental Team
Moreno
Javier
retired
Bouglas
Georgios
under contract
Festina - Dexia
Peters
Alex
amateur
Clifford
Goodnews
under contract
Minions
Ochoa
Diego Antonio
amateur
Molano
Juan Sebastian
amateur
Sweeck
Laurens
under contract
Spotify - Haglöfs
Mayho
Dominique
amateur
Sanikwathi
Thanawut
transfer
In-n-Out p/b Carrefour
Some of the guys who have been forced to return to amateur racing for a season are quite a surprise. One or two may well receive future contract offers from WCC if we are successful in securing PCT cycling for the 2018 season.
Alex Ardila Cano retires with two victories on his palmares (St 5 2008 Paris-Nice, and St 6 2010 Volta a Portugal). Slightly surprisingly Javier Moreno never managed to get his hands into the air during his MG career, but can reflect on many years of excellent service for his various team leaders. Perhaps the pinnacle for Javier was his time on the GT powerhouse Santander squad. Both competed at a high level for many years and can be satisfied with their time as well-renumerated professional cyclists.
We wish all the riders moving on from their time at the World Cycling Centre every success in their future endevours.
Edited by Scorchio on 19-09-2017 02:33
The first order of business when the transfer season opened for staff at the World Cycling Centre was to utilise our extensive network of contacts to find PT loans for our two level 4 riders Isaac Bolivar and Flavio De Luna. Given both riders qualities as bike racers, temporary homes for 2017 were organised in short order with Wiesenhof - Andritz and Gazelle respectively. WCC has agreed to a 50/50 wage split for both riders with their new hosts. Management were delighted to be able to sign contracts on both loans very early in the transfer window, avoiding any last minute disappointment by waiting until later in the transfer season. We extend our thanks to both host teams who we are sure will benefit from the efforts of two hard-working young cyclists. It is the intention of WCC management to establish long-term relationships with key PT partners to establish a conveyor belt of talent development emerges from the WCC development program.
Isaac Bolivar started his professional cycling career in 2013 and has since developed into a rider well suited to the pave roads of Northern Europe despite his diminutive size. Given this is an unusual pathway for a Colombian cyclist, he is seen as a prized long-term asset by WCC team management. In 2016, Isaac benefitted from a period on loan with Evonik -ELKO who were particualrly impressed with his contribution at the epic Tour of Northern Europe where he was able to utilise both his cobbled and TT skill to assist his team to 2nd in the crucial stage 2 TTT that formed the basis of team leader Greg Van Avermaet securing 4th overall on GC. We are sure with an additional year of physical development, Isaac will deliver similar strong support for his new team-mates at Wiesenhof-Andritz. We expect to see Isaac taking to the roads of Europe in conjunction with Ruben Zepuntke and Enrico Franzoi as a key component of the Wiesenhof - Andritz classics line-up.
Isaac Bolivar | Age:26 | Colombian | XP 4.08 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
71
61
65
69
73
69
68
75
64
69
66
75
69
When Maxed:
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
73
61
66
69
74
70
69
77
64
69
68
75
69
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2013
PCT
561
3
Evian-MIAT
2014
PCT
384
24
Boeing-Bulgaria Bicycling
2015
PCT
527
2
Lululemon/Bulgaria Blackfish
2016
PT (Loan)
502
28
Evonik - ELKO
2017
PT (Loan)
Wiesenhof - Andritz
Flavio De Luna remained in relative cycling obscurity riding local amateur races in his home country of Mexico throughout his teenage years and early-20's. Spotted by WCC scouts, Flavio was offered his first professional contract for our inaugural season, hence turning professional at the relatiively late age of 26. WCC were delighted with how quickly he found his feet in the professional peleton. Flavio is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, and was utlised by WCC in everything from mountainous stage raes to one day cobbled semi-classics. He has shown some skill in TT events, and will be working with our coaching team to further develop his riding position, pacing and overall riding strength back at WCC HQ after the 2017 season concludes. While not certain, WCC hope to see Flavio potentially on the start line of one of the flagship 3 week Grand Tour events in 2017. We will monitor his progress while on loan at Gazelle closely.
Flavio De Luna | Age:27 | Mexican | XP 4.00 Pot (3) | Wage: 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
67
72
70
74
66
71
68
66
56
68
66
67
73
When Maxed:
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
67
74
71
75
67
72
70
66
56
68
66
67
74
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2016
CT
357
1
World Cycling Centre
Mexican ITT Championship
2017
PT (Loan)
Gazelle
Spoiler
With inspiration/thanks to tsmoha for aspects of layout, alexr00 for the rankings summary posts, and Aquarius for his brilliant MG victory spreadsheet
The first rider to sign for the World Cycling Centre from Free Agency is Sam Harrison who we hope will build a formidable partnership with incumbent team captain Robert Bush in tackling the key cobbled events of the Continental Tour calendar. Harrison is a multi-talented rider with strong sprint characteristics backed up by solid ability on the rough roads and in time-trial events; impressive for a young man of only 25 years of age. WCC were not the only organisation seeking his services for the 2017 season, so were forced to offer a salary of 150,050 to secure his signature. While perhaps a little higher than desired, his youth offers plenty of opportunity to maximise returns in this investment across future seasons. Both Sam and Robert are just reaching what should be the peak years for any cyclist, and we are excited to see how they work in tandem once racing gets underway in the new season.
Sam Harrison first caught team manager Scorchio's attention a decade ago when seen riding the Junior Tour of Wales with dispensation as a youth. His ability at such a young age to compete toe-to-toe with riders from a more physically mature age group was impressive. Great success as a track rider followed before kicking-off his professional MG road career with Team Cadbury-Schweppes in 2013. He has since gained experience riding in all 3 divisions of the MG cycling universe on his journey to reaching his maximum potential. Sam entered the 2017 season in Free Agency after the collapse of the Banc na hÉireann squad, and we are delighted to welcome him to the World CYcling Centre family.
Sam Harrison | Age:25 | British | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 150,050
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
72
61
67
72
73
70
76
73
78
81
60
62
72
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2013
CT
213
28
Team Cadbury-Schweppes
2014
CT
165
50
Bank of Ireland - Irish Cycling
2015
PT (Loan)
298
90
Vesuvio - Accumalux
2016
PCT
145
108
Banc na hÉireann
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Robert Bush was signed as nominal team leader by WCC for our first professional season in 2016, and was immediately re-signed as soon as the contract renewal window opened. Although he delivered a string of steady results throguhout the 2016 season, he was outshone on his preferred cobbled terrain by the domination of Podium Ambitions Geraint Thomas, and within WCC by team-mate Rodriguez Galindo's steady point scoring success. Robert saved his best performances for when competing at a higher level in C1 races facing PCT competition. Team mangement have addressed some of the pressure that Bush felt in the 2016 season by signing additional riders with leadership capabilities on other terrains, and bringing in Sam Harrison as co-leader for the cobbled classics. It is hoped that combining Bush's strength over the pave with the reassurance that Harrison should be a favourite if the semi-classics come down to small bunch sprints will free-up Robert's racing style. We hope to see an aggressive attitude this year in his race style and tactics knowing that Harrison provides a robust Plan B option. Acknowledging his relatively poor 2016 season, Bush has taken a significant pay-cut over his lucrative Free Agency deal and remains commited to the WCC cause.
Robert Bush | Age:27 | American | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 119,500
I have to say your team looks very good to me and our goal of top 10 should be within reach easily. With a bit of luck, a promotion push might not be a far off target.
@all: Thanks for stopping by and commenting . @Croatia: prepare to be surprised when we announce our full calendar after race planners are submitted . (In reality in 3 seasons in MG, only attended ToA once (last season), even although I love that race and the 3 PT GT's).
Further WCC sponsor goals revealed
Pre-season, WCC were in a position of only being sure to retain one potential CT-level leader through the renewal process, cobbled specialist Robert Bush. Hence our goal races were in large part planned around his potential race calendar. Our top 10 CT team standings goal has already been revealed, and now we highlight three races that are of paramaount importance for our cobbled unit.
[C2HC] Win Goal: Tour de Faso
[C2] Win Goal: Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne
[C2HC] Top 5 goal: Lillestrom GP
Robert finished equal 5th at the Tour de Faso last year, and would have been higher still if not for the persistence of some surprise aspirants who survived on GC from the succesful break on day 1. KBK is a new race at C2 level, dropping down fromthe ProTour. The Lillestrom GP is a completely new race on the MG calendar. Having already introduced our 2nd card for the cobbled race, Sam Harrison, we believe this duo provide a significant threat at each of these three races, although it is acknowledged that management have been ambitious with goal setting. A number of strong rivals have been signed up by CT opposition teams also well suited to these races, so some exciting racing awaits.
Later on in the transfer season, WCC secured two additional riders to assist Bush and Harrison on the cobbles (will fill 'man #3' and 'man #4' on the cobbled team-sheet). They will be fully introduced later. WCC have a strong cobbled contingent that is able to rely on two of our returning up-and-coming developing young riders Clement Venturini and Abou Sanogo to fill 'man #5' and 'man #6' on the cobbled roster.
Clement Venturini had a very successful neo-pro season in 2016 with WCC, picking up impressive stage victories in Slovenie and the Tour of America. He is developing nicely towards being a specialist sprint lead-out rider with additional qualities on the pave.
Clement Venturini | Age:24 | French | XP 3.35 Pot (5) | Wage: 62,500
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
71
62
67
65
70
72
72
69
70
73
63
72
69
When Maxed:
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
75
63
68
65
74
74
79
72
75
77
63
73
69
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2016
CT
97
76
World Cycling Centre
St 4, Tour de Slovenie
St 21, Tour of America
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Reigning Ivory Coast national RR champion Abou Sanogo provides an important part of the wide-ranging international flavour of the WCC set-up. Abou had a relatively light neo-pro race program as he worked on completing his school studies alongside his racing ambitions. Even so he managed to progress to level 2, and has now built the necessary base to cope with a heavier race program. Abou's future lies in the cobbled classics, and is likely to be best suited to those which feature the legendary bergs of Belgium. We look forward to seeing Abou racing this season, and he himself is particulalry excited about the newly instituted U23 race program featuring the traditional Tour de l'Avenir as its pinnacle in the 2017 season.
Abou Sanogo | Age:23 | Ivory Coast | XP 2.01 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000
The World Cycling Centre is delighted to confirm it has finalised ongoing negotiations with various equipment sponsors and identified preferred partners for the 2017 race season. This season, our riders will benefit from access to Scott Bicycles range of frames. Rider preference will dictate race-to-race whether to use the lightweight Addict RC, or Aero Foil, with of course the Plasma RC option for TT events.
WCC will also avail themselves of Scott helmets to ensure safety, comfort and style on the bike.
We will be pairing our beautiful new steeds with Campagnolo components and wheelsets, continuing a long-term relationship between the Campagnolo company and Scorchio Cycling Management teams, now entering into a fourth season. This provides a diverse set of options for our riders to ensure optimal performance whatever the race course or conditions.
Team managemnt at WCC had taken an early pre-season decision to in the main forego mountainous races and instead focus on cobbles (leaders already introduced), sprints, and hills (and here we are!). Hence acquiring a puncheur leader to take over the mantle from hard-working Michael Rodriguez Galindo and being able to work well with Michael going forward was a top priority. A number of interesting targets were identified, and after much negotiations, David Boily was secured from RBC Pro Cycling for 850,000. This is a significant investment for a small outfit like WCC, however we feel his characteristics and age profile will ensure that we will reap a solid return in the long-term. We are hopeful that David should be a consistent top 5 puncheur candidate in the CT, and even manage to prove competitive in occasional PCT-level outings at selected races. David and Michael should offer a good 1-2 punch(eur) for the 2017 season.
David Boily joins WCC after spending 4 years with his 'hometown' team the RBC Pro Cycling organisation (including one formative year out on loan at Festina). Our sponsors are delighted to have an additional leader from North America alongside Robert Bush to assist in their marketing efforts. Team management is similarly delighted to have David on board, building a core of young team leaders for now and the future alongside Bush and the highly versatile Sam Harrison. Boily will be undisputed leader in every race on his programme for the team this season. David is good on the short hills, and also has strength as the hills turn more mountainous. His great acceleration and descending skill should ensure that he is a proactive presence. Although he struggles with short TT efforts, he is able to defend himself well in longer TT's. We hope that he quickly develops a fruitful partnership with his 'wing-man' Rodriguez Galindo. David's results will go a long way towards determining the success or otherwise of WCC's 2017 'push for promotion' campaign. We place great faith in the fact that he has proven himself a very competitive rider in higher grades of cycling, with his top 30 in the overall individual rankings of the PCT in 2015 providing good reassurance that he has a great season ahead of him.
David Boily | Age:27 | Canadian | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 160,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
67
76
78
70
72
72
69
56
68
74
69
79
61
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2013
PCT
97
236
Alstom-RBC
St1, Volta ao Algarve
St 5, Tour of Utah
2014
PT (Loan)
85
412
Festina - Canal+
St 5, Vuelta al Pais Vasco
St 11, Giro d'Italis
2015
PCT
27
569
RBC Pro Cycling
St 6, Tour de Romandie
St 2, Volta a Portugal
2016
PT
115
270
RBC Pro Cycling
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Returning team lieutenant and ex-Colombian national RR champion Michael Rodriguez Galindo is a favourite of management, now in his third year under the wing of the Scorchio Cycling Managment set-up, being one of the few riders to transcend both the Grupo Nutresa and WCC incarnations, a rider keeping faith even after the implosion of the Nutresa team. Michael had a stellar 2016 season, often performing above expectations, particularly in stage races, and was WCC's top point scorer in 2016. Expecting Michael to reproduce this scoring rate would be unfair on him given the changes to the CT calendar having removed a number of races that suited him particuarly well last season. Instead he is being asked to work closely with David Boily given their similar characteristics, and has been set his own more modest individual points target, identified as #2 protected rider in hilly terrain. Michael's programme in large part mirrors Boily's, with some room for experimentation in his additional RD's when his team leader has completed his races.
Michael Rodriguez Galindo | Age:28| Colombian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 69.500
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
69
74
76
66
72
72
69
55
58
67
73
71
66
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2013
PCT
318
41
Repsol-Cativen
2014
PCT
141
156
Repsol-Cativen
St 7, Tour of Britain
2015
PT (Loan)
188
156
Vesuvio - Accumulaux
Colombian National RR Championship
2016
CT
29
209
World Cycling Centre
St 2, Tour of Scotland
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
With our front-running puncheurs identified, we can reveal our final sponsor goals that will be a focus for David and Michael:
[C2HC] Gisborne GP: Top 5
It seems that a number of CT squads are targetting this race as a sponsor goal, so we expect tough competition on the day.
Edited by Scorchio on 28-09-2017 15:50
Hey dev, thanks for stopping by. We have consciously identified arnd recruited a core of riders that are just reachinbg their peak, and should be good assets both this year and in future whether in CT or PCT, minimising the necessity for a big turnaround season-to-season in that department going forward. Guys like Boily, Rodriguez Galindo, Bush and Harrison are at the heart of this strategy.
Good luck to you in your maiden PT season. A few season now since we were battling away together in CT!
NOTE: A slight update to the preceding post has revealed the final sponsor goal for WCC for the 2017 season.
Boily looks like an incredible rider to have in CT, especially since he doesn't have a terrible ACC stat. Wouldn't even be surprised to see him end in the individual top-5 of the rankings. On top of that a very strong squad, so I don't think it'd be much of a surprise to see you end up very high.
Cheers SelwinK. We like Boily's stat line for CT a lot. Although a secondary stat, I also like to pay a bit of attention to Downhill, which Boily is an ace at. For most riders and situations DH makes little impact, but I think Boily could well end up in race situations where it proves invaluable. Of course his main stats are what he has to deliver against to make use of good secondaries! That being said I'd be surprised (and impressed!) if he makes the individual top 5. If he makes the top 20, WCC management will be more than satisfied. Any less will create questions marks in our mind.
It's a slow process introducing the riders in this much detail, but all the background fact gathering has been put in place, so hopefully a steady output should have us pretty much all the way through by the end of the weekend, by which time hopefully all race planners will have been submitted and attention can switch to pre-season predictions in advance of racing getting underway! .
Folks can obviously see our full team in the DB, but the intention is to keep the complete HQ 'reveal' for after all introductions, when management can also then sum up hopes and expectations for the full squad in 2017.
Every team needs those hard-working domestiques that can be relied upon day-in, day-out to do the hard yards sheltering their leaders, putting the hurt on the peloton when required, and taking the occasional chance for personal glory should it come their way. To this end, WCC are pleased to welcome Ilia Koshevoy, Sven Vandousselaere and Carlos Qunitero to our ranks.
Joining in a trade from Becherovka - Petrof for 105,000 is Ilia Koshevoy. Ilia has only recently reached his full potential, and at 26 years old has a long career ahead of him. As WCC is not focussing on mountain parcours this season, Ilia will get the opportunity to act as 'leader' for the mandatory [C2HC] races; Tour d'Andorra, Giro del Trentino and home-race the Colombian Venteaux. With his all-round abilities WCC believe that we can potentially rely on Ilia to challenge for GC positions 15-20 at the stage race events, or at the very least hunt for stage results if GC aspirations fall short. For the rest of the season, Ilia will fit neatly into WCC's hill-focussed unit, supporting Boily and Rodriguez Galindo throughout the year.
Ilia Koshevoy | Age:26| Belarussian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
69
76
73
68
71
72
74
56
60
69
74
75
67
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2013
CT
314
6
Team Credexbank
2014
PCT
608
0
BelarusBank Pro Cycling
2015
Amateur
2016
PT
491
38
Becherovka - Petrof
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
It is approaching a decade since Sven Vandousselaere signed his first pro contract, and even although there were a couple of years back in the wilderness, he has built a solid reputation as a go-to man in time-trial, and particuarly team time-trial events. With all of his professional racing to date having been in the higher PT and PCT racing divisions, Sven is excited to get the opportunity to try some new TT stages in various stage races and see if he can gain some good personal placings, although is a little disappointed that there are no TTT events to look forward to in the WCC 2017 calendar. Apart from ITT's, his day job with WCC will be to support our sprinter wing, doing the long chasing miles into the wind, hopefully killing the will of many breakaways during the season. He also offers handy skills when it comes to getting the sprint train into position before the real fast men takeover in the last k's. With all of his accumulated experience, we can rely on Sven to be a steadying influence out on the road, with something of a 'road captain' role envisaged.
Sven Vandousselaere | Age:29 | Belgian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,050
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
74
55
69
76
72
72
71
62
70
71
76
60
76
Palmares
[
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2009
235
PCT
32
Virgin Media
2010
---
Amateur
2011
---
Amateur
St 2 Saschen Tour
2012
271
PT
114
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
2013
198
PCT
102
Team Bpost
2014
299
PT
108
Team Bpost - Vlaanderen
2015
141
PCT
112
Team BPost
2016
424
PT
59
Bpost - Vlaanderen
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Colombian Carlos Quintero rejoins the SCM family under it's current WCC guise having turned professional two seasons ago with Nutresa. Previously an unhealded amateur rider, Carlos made a siginificant break-through on the amateur scene in 2014 warranting a first professional contract at the age of 29 (!). After the collapse of Nutresa, he found no problem securing a new team, and we are now happy to have him back in our ranks. Carlos is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades kind of rider, no stand-out strengths that make him a leadership challenger, but the type of guy you always find yourself wanting to fit into team rosters due to his versatility until you quickly realise all his RD's have been used up. Hence we will see Carlos dabbling with some TT's in stage races, supporting the hill squad on easier parcours where big bunch finishes are an outside possibility, and in particular working longside Vandousselaere as part of the engine room of the sprint squad. At times Quintero will be called upoin to act as 'man #1' of the sprint train, at other times to work earlier in races to ensure breakaways are kept in check. Who know he may even get one or two opportunities io himself dabble with riding in the breakaway if circumstances allow.
Carlos Quintero | Age:31| Colombian | XP 4.100 Pot (4) | Wage: 50,050
Historically, the teams who have operated under the Scorchio Cycling Managemnt banner (Nutresa and WCC) have steered clear of competing in massed bunch gallops. Minor dabbling in this arena has ended up with egg-on-face, Brenton Jones being an excellent example in WCC's first season where he had a completely anonymous season apart from a couple of top-5 results at the Tour of America. Admittedly, we have never had a 1st rank sprinter (in the context of our division) on the books, and hence have also not paid any attention to offering lead-out support. This all changes this season, with the World Cycling Centre recruiting two top drawer (CT-level) sprinters in Jaime Alberto Castañeda from Free Agency, and Saulo Lay in a 300,000 transfer from Pokerstars.com (now known as Iberia - Team Degenkolb). Sam Harrison already introduced as part of our cobbled classics squad also has strong sprint credentials, although will spend the majority of his race days focussed on events incorporating pave. We have futther invested in riders like Vandousselaera and Quintero to act as the engine room on behalf of our sprinters throughout the season, and commited to a further investment in our sprint chances by hiring a bespoke lead-out rider late in the transfer season at the behest of Jaime and Saulo (yet to be 'revealed'. Both lead sprinters have similar characteristics in terms of experience, sprint strength and handiness in short TT events. They both also can experience some difficuly when facing more lumpy parcours which will have to be carefully managed.
Jaime Alberto Castañeda (JAC) has been at the top of the sprinter tree in South American cycling circles for many years now, although as times inevitable decline approaches and young pretenders like countryman Fernando Gaviria emerge his crown in the region is increasingly under threat. JAC has amassed solid results in both the PT and PCT divisions over the years including 5 individual stage victories, but still has multiple personal objectives to maintain his motivation. Hopes of one-day winning a stage at one of the 3 PT GT races are perhaps receding now, but he is still determinedly chasing a first one-day race victory (all his victories to date being in stage race sprint stages). Signing such a legend of Colombian cycling is a real feather in WCC's cap, and helps improve the visability of our home nation in our eclectic international line-up.
Jaime Alberto doing his stuff!
Jaime Alberto Castañeda | Age:31| Colombian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 75,050
Spanish sprinter Saulo Lay has spent the last couple of season as part of the Pokerstars.com all-conquering sprint-train. Like JAC he has many years of hard-won PT and PCT experience, but does have an understanding of CT level competition having spent a very succesful 2013 with the Iberia - Comunidad Valenciana outfit, where he delivered 4 sprint victories in various stage races. Saulo's rapid acceleration is a particualrly noted characteristic of his sprint style, although he does suffer a little in comparison to many of his peers in the very longest stages/races. At 29 years of age, Saulo has the opportunity to establish a place for himself with the WCC organisation for a good few years to come. We have a number of up-and-coming sprint-type riders like Emiliano Contreras (currently out on loan) who would benefit significantly by working with a rider like Saulo in future seasons.
Saulo (in green) a close 3rd behind new team-mate JAC claiming the victory!
Saulo Lay | Age:29| Spanish | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 70,000
Castañeda and Lay will have opportunities at joint leadership at key events, but their race programmes will also diverge when appropriate to provide specific individual goals and sprint leadership opportunites. They will also get the opportunity to work in different combinations with various team-mates as team managment embark on a hand-on education as to what works well or otherwise in the CT sprint races. Team management will be very interested to see the first few races where they feature together to see if they can work well together, particularly if an opportunity for a sprint train arises. In the CT division it is not totally clear whether WCC will get the opportunity ot create a sprint train at the most hotly contested sprint events, but feel a degree of confidence that our train will see a number of outings at less obvious or keenly contested events.
Great write-ups, mate. Enjoying the detailed introductions and those history facts of your riders . Didn't know that Castaneda has a quite solid PT history.
Yes, it's great to see all the history in the pasts. Castaneda took full advantage of the 2011 season where, aside from Boonen and Bennati (85 Sprint at the time), a considerable amount of the best sprinters were in the 2nd division. Four stage podiums at Qatar, including a stage win, in a wind battered race. A 3rd place in the Tour seems to have been his best GT result, and that indeed is unlikely to be bettered - but there's plenty for him still to achieve for you this season, and the chance to be one of the few riders with victories in all 3 divisions.
Thanks guys. A bit of MG history is always great imo, and with the various resources now compiled by guys in the community, not too complicated to pull some headline info together.
Not everyone has access to the SN encyclopedia of knowledge though! Great extra image and facts. Your post made me go hunt out the actual race reports. JAC took the points jersey overall at Qatar that edition. Like TSM I was surprised to see that he had broke well into the top 100 on individual rankings in PT in 2011, and not too far off the next season as well. SN's explanation helps understand somewhat. If he gets anywhere near that actual points haul in CT, we will be over the moon! . (Of course comparing apples and oranges here, but hey!, why not? )
).
Colombian | XP 4.08 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 
Mexican | XP 4.00 Pot (3) | Wage: 50,000 
British | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 150,050 
American | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 119,500 
. 
. (In reality in 3 seasons in MG, only attended ToA once (last season), even although I love that race and the 3 PT GT's).
French | XP 3.35 Pot (5) | Wage: 62,500 
Ivory Coast | XP 2.01 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 
Canadian | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 160,000 
Belarussian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 
Belgian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,050 
Spanish | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 70,000 
. (Of course comparing apples and oranges here, but hey!, why not? 
)
