Current rumours have it that Colombia may loose it's only WT team next season. The team Grupo Argos - Quala, managed by Kristijan Brajkovic, has been on a rollercoaster of sponsors in their recent history. In the recent days we had more and more so-called news that Brajkovic may guide his squad back to Europe. Boundaries between Brajkovic and the Leopard Foundation still are remarkably tight, last but not least visible with their development investments into the team.
Investigating the future of the team you see the names of Alaphilippe, Kelderman, Polanc, Mohoric and Buchko standing in first line. To build a future around this young core of Europeans, that all have more or less the same time frame when they are projected to hit the top of the class, the team may go back to the roots and ride under Luxembourgian flag as the "Leopard Foundation Project".
However, the South American sponsors are quite happy with the teams development so far. Hence they won't cease their investments: It may well happen that main team and development team swap names! With the class of Husillos, Ollero and Preciado projected to lead the development team there is a strong focus on south americans here.
We believe that there a name swap may be pretty likely here. Our sources though tell us that nothing is decided yet, just accumulated hints in the same direction. Stay tuned!
For months the eyes of the cycling world was on CarbonSports - Lightweight, the team that dominated the season. No matter the profile of the race the German team looked united in the fight against everybody else in the pursuit of the first World Tour title in team history. Now that this goal is achieved the first rumors are spreading about tears in the team structure.
While the majority of team members celebrated their season at the Friedrichshafen Sportgala a number of team members stayed away. While a couple of youngsters including the luxembourg duo of Peiffer and Engeldinger asked to ride the luxembourg NC because they feel that every chance to ride on their own would be benefitial for their development, others stayed away without telling anybody. The Sportgala was marketing the evening with Contador as the face of the night so it was very surprising when he did not appear on the red carpet. Instead he posted selfies from a spanish steakhouse together with Ion Izagirre, Tiago Machado, Stefano Locatelli and Giovanni Visconti, all handpicked domestiques by the Spaniard on the same evening. Asked about this Contador just shrugged while Izagirre hinted that they stayed away to prepare for the national championships.
We've heard from the rest of the team that they believe the group wanted to set a sign because the south europeans dont feel valued enough as long as the team is still seen as a classics-first team despite the success that especially Contador enjoyed this season. Whether they did themselves a favor with this action is in doubt though.
Rafal Majka, the dissapointment of the cycling season, has resurfaced this week, which saw the Santos manager buy billboards outside the office of every major cycling publication saying "I told you we hadn't sold him into slavery, we didn't even consider it at all." It's funny what people feel like they have to deny, but he's earned it.
The first question I had for the Pole was, naturally, why was he so private despite apparently riding both the National and World Championships. Rafal denied any knowledge of doing so, and seemed genuine. So I thought I'd check it out.
After much digging, four police-style interrogations and only one count of waterboarding, I discovered the truth. That wasn't Rafal Majka. That was his twin brother, Lafar Majka! A huge cover-up from Santos-Euskadi meant that they went to the Carpathian Mountains, where they found Lafar training every day to be better than his brother. Rafal may have had all of the glory and success (until 2018) but did you know that Lafar is a full 4 minutes older? Imagine the humiliation!
And so it was Lafar, not Rafal, who did sweet FA in his NC debut, perhaps feeling the pressure of leading Santos. However in the World Championships, he lead out Kwiatkowski to the podium, showing that Lafar has cultivated a style of caring about the team which cannot be said of his younger brother.
However like a neverending twisty thing this tale had a lot of twists, and the next one was just around the corner, when I travelled back down to Zegartowice, the hometown of Lafar and Rafal. However when I found the parents of the duo, they thought I was insane. Which my shrink says I am but he's got snakes for eyes so what does he know?
It turns out that they had no knowledge at all of Lafar and that Rafal was an only child. This befuzzled me, as Rafal looked exactly like Lafar and I trusted Lafar. I was ready to call the police to report a murder and that Lafar had kidnapped Rafal and stole his skin to wear as a suit, when the father broke down. He admitted that they had always neglected Lafar and despite them both showing talent in cycling, they abandoned Lafar in the mountains to focus on Rafal's career.
From there, Lafar was raised by wolves. That was until he found a TV showing cycling two years ago in a village. From that day, watching Rafal, the favourite child, being a top cyclist, he vowed to outdo him and found a bike and trained every single day.
And so the truth has come out. Lafar has been found and so has Rafal. It's time for my interview. And yes, whilst investigating this mystery for the last eleven weeks Rafal has sat in that chair, waiting for question two.
Rafal, sorry about that. Needed to do some research.
No problem. So why was I there when I was in Spain and Colombia the whole time?
Well, it definitely wasn't because you have a secret twin!
Hahahahahahaha you are a funny man Mr. Interviewer!
Santos found him and he rode those races. I tracked him down and your parents told me everything.
Wow.
I know right! Anyway, tell me about yourself, what did you do after the Vuelta?
I was dragged away by some guys speaking some nonsense language. I knew instantly they worked for the team - it must have been Basque. I was tied up and thrown in a cell at the back of the team bus.
Then the manager came in with a gun. His face was so skinny, he hadn't showered he looked like a madman. I knew that this was the end. But instead of shooting me, he started to cry. He cried for about three hours. He then screamed for some water because he'd lost it all crying. Then he did two more. Then he left.
I was dropped off in the Basque country, where I was given a home. I got to Skype my family, and I was happy and healthy. Some people thought I was dead but I was alive. I stayed there for a few weeks before I escaped-
Escaped?
Escaped?
You just said you escaped.
No I didn't.
Yes you did.
Nuh-uh.
Fine. Go on.
Anyway, I, uh, travelled to Colombia. And I loved it. I met a lot of the Grupo Argos guys, and they took me in. Not that I needed caring for or anything. I spent a lot of time with Nairo [Kelderman] and Wilco [Quintana] and for the first time since Vege- I mean since before the flight, I was happy.
Yes, and the media saw you there. Ready to sign, they said.
Yes, in fact that's my next appointment. I loved their Colombian spirit and their HQ in Colombia, such a great Colombian team, Nairo's Colombian family were so nice and I loved training in Colombia.
Well, did you see the report they are moving out of Colombia?
No! What?
Yes, this morning's El Frente in fact.
Nairo says that's a good paper.
Yes, they broke the story on your trip there.
Oh no, oh no.
What?
I was only signing there because I loved Colombia! Now I'm stuck at Santos and -
Stuck?
I don't remember saying stuck. Anyway, that's, uh, not a problem. I love Santos! I can't wait to be happy and healthy back with them next year. Cool cool cool cool cool cool cool I love it there no torture cool team. No problem!
[The Santos handler takes Rafal with him to leave]
Rafal wait! What are all those scars on your back? Rafal! Rafal!
WWE CEO Vince McMahon announced today that Team WWE will officially be disbanding after 1 year in operation after finishing second to last in their debut season. Vince compared this attempt to the 2001 failed XFL season and stated that WWE will be moving forward in other areas to fulfill the international market such as a special show in Saudi Arabia and Australia in 2018 - 2019.
Vince thanked all of the cyclists for a fantastic effort and also the managers and executives of the league that allowed WWE to take part in this league. WWE did turn a slight profit from running the team but saw it to not be high enough or successful enough to maintain. Vince stated he was pressed for time and would rather focus his attention on other things at this stage in life.
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
Following relatively decent season, Polestar Cycling AB announced that the Polestar cycling teams will continue within the ICL Continental Tour in 2019. "Polestar Cycling AB is proudly announcing that the Polestar cycling teams on both Senior and U23 level will compete in the forthcomming ICL season. Polestar understands the value of cycling and we've decided to continue our adventure within the professional cylcing" - said ivaneurope, CEO of Polestar Cycling AB
"Polestar Performance is glad to announce their full commitment to this cause. We are not looking for mere brand exposure, or product placement, we're here to stay" - said HÃ¥kan Samuelsson, president of Volvo Cars, parent company of Polestar.
New sponsors came in as well. Norwegian telecommunication company Telenor joined the team as co-partner and as part of the agreement the U23 will be registered in Norway instead of Sweden like the main team. Telenor also announced their new innitiative - the Telenor Rider Search p/b Polestar team will also receive a online reality/documentary show, which will follow the season of the U23 team en route of finding the next big star. "It is with great pleasure that we at Telenor along with Polestar announce the Telenor Rider Search p/b Polestar innitative to help developing the next generation of superstars." - said Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor ASA
The team will also receive Cervelo R5 bikes for the season. POC is contracted to design the kit and Umbro will provide the team with teamwear clothing. More partners will be announced later.
Some more drama coming out of the ongoing Majka Twins story as the ICL have refused Lafar's racing license, saying he was "not mentally fit" to participate in professional cycling and paying two so-called "world class" (though they're neither fit to lead a WT team) riders is impossible as the team goes down to CT. This reporter is unconvinced - just because Lafar can only communicate in wolflike howls is no reason to deny him a license - it's not very far off of the incessant moaning of Rafal, anyway.
Santos management were seen throwing their thongs (both types) at officials as they left the courtroom, and having a loud argument. I couldn't make out all of it over the commotion in the press gallery at this news, but I heard the phrases "I don't think those fat twits can tell the difference", "I'm going to rip that..." and "Rafal is younger, does that make him more of a talent?"
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
