Our goal was to improve from 4th in 2019 including some depth scoring...unfortunately we weren`t able to acchieve this despite still getting a bit of a result at least.
Sean De Bie might have become the best puncheur on paper, but his performance didn`t improve at all unfortunately in his season debut, so hopefully he can improve quickly in the following races.

In the end our leader acchieved 5th in the starter, not able to beat the ageing veterans Ponzi or Hagen and neither weaker puncheurs such as Koretzky.

Depth wise we clearly failed to improve from 2019 but at least new rider Loic Vliegen as 22nd did fairly well and showed that he might be the new elite support for his country man this year while Zardini 86th, Carboni 104th, Stuyven 123rd and others underperformed quite a lot depth wise.

1	Simone Ponzi	Team UBS	6h04'56
2	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Air France - KLM	s.t.
3	Clement Koretzky	Festina - OAKA	s.t.
4	Tomohiro Kinoshita	Rakuten Pro Cycling	s.t.
5	Sean De Bie	Aegon - Peroni	s.t.
...
22	Loic Vliegen	Aegon - Peroni	+ 1'37
86	Edoardo Zardini	Aegon - Peroni	+ 4'14
104	Giovanni Carboni	Aegon - Peroni	s.t.
106	Thomas Dekker	Aegon - Peroni	s.t.
123	Jasper Stuyven	Aegon - Peroni	+ 5'34
130	Giulio Ciccone	Aegon - Peroni	s.t.
164	Ziga Rucigaj	Aegon - Peroni	s.t.

The Tour of Qatar was once again a successful Aegon stage race.
Not as superb as last year when Groenewegen came in 2nd in the GC but as 4th in 2020 he was almost as successful and actually only missed a tiny second to finish 2nd again!
4-12-4-16-2 his sprint finishes here which show the problem of consistency really as twice he missed out on bonus seconds. That said, if on a good day he is coming very close to win against highest competition. In especially day 5 was unfortunate as Groenewegen already celebrated his stage win, when Kennaugh passed him very late, so that he only came over the line 2nd! The missing bonus second for the GC podium?

Other than him not a lot to tell about our team as Frison as best time trialist came into a top50 GC, while Van der Hoorn and Boom only went for a breakaway appearance and Ballerini, Van Hooydonck and Bauhaus were needed to chase and support Groenewegen!

1	Dan Holloway	EA Vesuvio	15h43'07
2	Salem Kemboi	Farfetch Pro Cycling	+ 25
3	Sam Bewley	Moser - Sygic	s.t.
4	Dylan Groenewegen	Aegon - Peroni	+ 26
5	Eduard Grosu	eBuddy	s.t.
...
48	Frederik Frison	Aegon - Peroni	+ 1'02
111	Lars Boom	Aegon - Peroni	+ 1'19
112	Nathan Van Hooydonck	Aegon - Peroni	s.t.
138	Adam Toupalik	Aegon - Peroni	+ 1'26
169	Phil Bauhaus	Aegon - Peroni	+ 1'46
177	Taco van der Hoorn	Aegon - Peroni	+ 2'10
182	Davide Ballerini	Aegon - Peroni	+ 4'03

We predicted, it would be hard to achieve the top10 here due to the high quality startlist, though wanted to try as Olivier used to perform well in the mountains, but more so on longer stage races and less on one day climbs.

And as expected, we failed this as well but the bigger surprise, it wasn`t Olivier, who came closest! The Dutch actually only finished 19th while it was Valls as new mountain co-leader to come into 15th on the climb, whcih resulted in 16th for the GC, unfortunately last of 5 riders within the same time!
Also Zardini in 37th showed an improvement from Badaling while Machado, Dekker, Rucigaj and Ciccone all are inside the top100 for depth!

The highlight though the 3rd from Groenewegen in the opener, which shows his great early form already.

1	Taylor Phinney	Isostar - Specialized	5h39'20
2	Silvio Herklotz	Team Puma - SAP	+ 2'05
3	Justo Tenorio	Desigual	+ 2'11
4	Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier	Festina - OAKA	+ 2'24
5	Jan Hirt	Moser - Sygic	+ 2'32
...
16	Rafael Valls	Aegon - Peroni	+ 4'36
19	Daan Olivier	Aegon - Peroni	+ 4'48
37	Edoardo Zardini	Aegon - Peroni	+ 5'59
65	Tiago Machado	Aegon - Peroni	+ 7'27
72	Thomas Dekker	Aegon - Peroni	+ 7'34
94	Ziga Rucigaj	Aegon - Peroni	+ 9'51
97	Giulio Ciccone	Aegon - Peroni	+ 9'56
131	Dylan Groenewegen	Aegon - Peroni	+ 14'13
...
3rd	Dylan Groenewegen	Stage 1

Last year the team was pretty well set for a TTT, this year it`s just a race day to do.

Frederik Frison	71	56	67	77	73	71	67	54	65	65	63	67	77
Lars Boom	71	67	71	74	69	70	66	70	57	69	71	76	74
Thomas Koep	68	75	73	72	74	75	75	53	52	57	54	65	72
Thomas Dekker	69	75	69	72	68	73	71	55	61	62	63	61	72
Rafael Valls	68	78	74	71	77	76	76	55	61	71	68	65	71
Giulio Ciccone	67	77	73	71	70	70	73	50	51	69	59	59	79
Nathan Van Hooydonck	71	63	70	70	73	72	68	78	61	72	64	67	70
Michael O'Loughlin	68	62	65	70	64	69	63	62	63	64	66	64	68

That said, the lineup is a full 70+ lineup with the average at 72 only though. Basically just Frison at 77 is a real time trialist with veteran Boom unfortunately no longer is a known TT winner, neither goes for Dekker. With the amount of hill/mo skills though we at least might storm the uphill section quite well.
No result expected here! In especially as in last couple years we always switched between a good and a bad result yearly, so this year apparently must go bad again.

It would have been a perfect Sean De Bie race here, who already did well as 5th in 2018 in a hilly edition. Plus he used to do much better in stage races anyway. Though he is not riding it!

Edoardo Zardini	69	76	77	67	70	66	66	68	72	68	72	74	72
Giovanni Carboni	69	76	75	67	71	71	71	62	66	68	61	72	67
Mathieu van der Poel	73	69	74	69	77	76	73	72	72	76	76	79	73
Adam Toupalik	75	64	73	63	71	72	68	68	64	68	65	74	67
Thomas Dekker	69	75	69	72	68	73	71	55	61	62	63	61	72
Frederik Frison	71	56	67	77	73	71	67	54	65	65	63	67	77
Harm Vanhoucke	68	70	67	67	66	69	70	63	67	66	69	69	68
Alan Banaszek	70	61	63	62	68	70	65	57	73	77	65	68	70

Instead it`s Zardini leading the team in his home race. Actually he did well in the hilly P-N last season as 9th in the GC, just one spot behind De Bie! Though it`s less of a hybrid race this season with clear hill finishes.

Goal can only be to show ourselves here with a top20 for Zardini with main support from Carboni and Toupalik.

Additionally van der Poel is showing himselves as "leader" as we give him lots of freedom to aim for a top25-30 himself with the chance to "sprint" on the hillier stages for stage results. Might not work out in the end, but let`s give it a try.

Olivier starts his stage race campaign of 2020 in Paris-Nice and has big support behind him.
Though support is partly for Groenewegen, who is going for a stage win on the 2 flat stages!

Daan Olivier	72	81	76	69	76	80	77	59	65	71	70	71	69
Peter Velits	68	79	72	71	69	68	67	52	62	62	67	60	71
Tiago Machado	67	78	71	68	68	65	65	50	56	63	63	55	68
Thomas Koep	68	75	73	72	74	75	75	53	52	57	54	65	72
Ziga Rucigaj	68	72	69	69	70	71	69	61	63	63	68	66	72
Harold Tejada	65	70	69	65	66	70	65	57	59	67	65	63	65
Nathan Van Hooydonck	71	63	70	70	73	72	68	78	61	72	64	67	70
Dylan Groenewegen	73	61	67	64	74	71	85	59	82	81	59	64	72

With the small amount of flat TT kilometers in the prologue, Olivier is aiming for the top10. Velits (last year 15th in T-A, Olivier`s main lieutnant Machado and Koep to support him, which should be a strong depth behind him.
Sprint wise Groenewegen hopefully can grab a stage win as those 8 race days might be too much for many top sprinters.

For once Sean De Bie starts in Grand Duche trying to avoid many top puncheurs in the stage races going for a classic win!

Sean De Bie	73	71	84	72	77	76	69	68	72	75	74	65	68
Loic Vliegen	71	67	77	61	76	70	70	68	66	74	71	69	67
Jasper Stuyven	70	63	77	58	75	67	68	62	66	74	79	69	58
Arvid de Kleijn	70	60	73	60	70	70	75	66	74	74	63	64	67
Giulio Ciccone	67	77	73	71	70	70	73	50	51	69	59	59	79
Lars Boom	71	67	71	74	69	70	66	70	57	69	71	76	74
Davide Ballerini	71	64	71	57	72	71	71	70	72	78	74	72	57
Taco van der Hoorn	75	60	70	55	76	69	60	75	56	66	84	66	52

De Bie with his 84 hill always is one of the top favourites but in the hope of just 4-5 top top puncheurs, we hope to win in Luxembourg. After a suboptimal Badaling, this must be our goal now as even the podium would be a small disappointment in this event.
In fact pre season we decided to make this our win goal! So he better delivers.
Vliegen has done well as helper, Stuyven must improve. But in general the support is there with the rest of the team being 70+ even though also 73 max.

One of the hardest races on the calendar, going up and down all day with long climbs. So clearly a big hybrid event. Having Spilak as race winner in the first two editions, it clearly shows to be a perfect race for riders like him.

Olivier was 11th in 2018 and 28th last year when instead Keinath went up to 9th.

Daan Olivier	72	81	76	69	76	80	77	59	65	71	70	71	69
Peter Velits	68	79	72	71	69	68	67	52	62	62	67	60	71
Tiago Machado	67	78	71	68	68	65	65	50	56	63	63	55	68
Giulio Ciccone	67	77	73	71	70	70	73	50	51	69	59	59	79
Edoardo Zardini	69	76	77	67	70	66	66	68	72	68	72	74	72
Ziga Rucigaj	68	72	69	69	70	71	69	61	63	63	68	66	72
Harold Tejada	65	70	69	65	66	70	65	57	59	67	65	63	65
Harm Vanhoucke	68	70	67	67	66	69	70	63	67	66	69	69	68

Let`s hope Olivier is more in his 2018 form as he will lead us here aiming for a late top10 or minimum top15. Behind him Velits, Machado, Ciccone, Zardini as top support. In especially later actually could also enter the top20-30 himself with Velits having small chances himself.

Bitter-sweet 2nd last year for Groenewegen. Far more than expected but always unfortunate if winning the main sprint only beaten by a solo attacker.

Dylan Groenewegen	73	61	67	64	74	71	85	59	82	81	59	64	72
Mathieu van der Poel	73	69	74	69	77	76	73	72	72	76	76	79	73
Davide Ballerini	71	64	71	57	72	71	71	70	72	78	74	72	57
Loic Vliegen	71	67	77	61	76	70	70	68	66	74	71	69	67
Jasper Stuyven	70	63	77	58	75	67	68	62	66	74	79	69	58
Adam Toupalik	75	64	73	63	71	72	68	68	64	68	65	74	67
Nathan Van Hooydonck	71	63	70	70	73	72	68	78	61	72	64	67	70
Taco van der Hoorn	75	60	70	55	76	69	60	75	56	66	84	66	52

The tactic though remains. All-in for Groenewegen to have a good day passing the climbs as good as possible to again fight for a top5 here, top10 though is the goal as startlist will be tough. Therefore he will have strong support including hill sprinters Van der Poel or Ballerini. Both not maxed yet but already able to sprint for minor positions themselves.

Vliegen and Stuyven lead a strong hill support to cover Groenewegen or even attack at one point with Toupalik and Van der Hoorn trying to control the peloton as much as possible.

roturn wrote:
Olivier starts his stage race campaign of 2020 in Paris-Nice and has big support behind him.

Nemolito wrote:


That's a nice way to forget a not so great result in East Java, just ignore it ever happened

		FL	MO	HI	TT	ST	RS	RC	CB	SP	AC	FG	DH	PR
	Rick Zabel	74	60	69	55	74	70	79	65	81	79	66	52	55
	Jesse Sergent	78	64	68	79	67	72	69	52	60	50	69	58	79
	Enrico Barbin	69	68	78	63	75	73	70	57	71	76	65	67	63
	Bilguunjargal Erdenebat	73	60	64	76	76	76	72	51	59	64	68	68	77

Our biggest signing so far is Rick Zabel. Pretty unexpected, as usual, our plans changed and we are back to 2 sprinters going into the season (for now) making it a lot more fun to plan the season. The German sprinter might only be our no.2 but should be able to show up here and there.

Jesse Sergent not really suiting our regional focus on just 4 Nations but as every year, 2-3 riders for elsewhere are with us (no loans). After having decent time trialists in the past, last year was one of the worst TT seasons for us and all his experience will help to improve in that area.

Barbin was on our long list for quite some years already but never really made it any close to sign with us. This year, we decided to do some long shots for 50k and the Italian puncheur accepted. To be honest, he is coming out of an awful year on CT level for him, but his tasks with us are mainly domestique work for De Bie. Something he clearly should be capable of.

Last but not least our first (early) loan signing this season. Just like Sergent, Erdenebat improves our TT squad by a bit and will be there for the TTTs mainly before going back to his actual team a lot stronger.

		FL	MO	HI	TT	ST	RS	RC	CB	SP	AC	FG	DH	PR
	Mathieu van der Poel	73	70	76	69	78	77	74	72	72	77	77	79	73
	Rafael Valls	67	77	73	70	75	74	73	54	60	69	67	64	70
	Jasper Stuyven	70	63	77	58	75	67	68	62	66	74	79	69	58
	Davide Ballerini	73	64	71	57	73	71	72	71	74	80	74	72	57

As ember said, an unlikely never really stops me from doing trades. And so it`s not surprising that 2/4 riders only were a clear yes with the other two being unlikely deals and then they were quickly sold.

van der Poel is a really interesting rider and with 2 Giro stage wins last year, he already showed skills unmaxed. Still quite early we decided to let him go as there is one problem with him. He would need training to really stand out in one of his main stats as it`s the brilliant balance and allround skills that makes him special. And there was no really realistic plans on saving as much money on him as he likely deserves.

Valls joined him in the deal to Mapei. The Spaniard had a few good days for us last year but now became older and not really was needed anymore. He will look for late career glory elsewhere.

Stuyven joined us last year for a minimum contract and was part of the De Bie supporting squad. He easily is replaced by Barbin this year and is going down a division for a bit more freedom.

Ballerini as next wasn`t planned before. But just like vdP he misses the real top main stat being a decent allrounder. His strength likely is in the lower divisions, which is why we accepted a deal for him.