Drapac stars in Red Bull colours as juniors give solid account
Damian Drapac took an excellent sprint victory in the opening stage in one of the two U23 stage races which was the pick of the results from Red Bulls sponsored youngsters in the U23 division. The sprinter also managed a 6th place in the flat classic in France and a top five in the final stage of the other stage race.
It was a moment to savior for the 23 year old Australian who was delighted with the win. "At the start of the season when I failed to get a contract I was a bit low, but my family kept behind me and I thought I would keep training over the year. Adam (Semple) has been in contact throughout the season and told me about the opportunity here and I am delighted to be able to show my stuff."
The five stage Sachsen Tour International was an attritional race with the smaller inexperienced teams struggling to control the peleton a surprise winner came from the Pendleton's sponsored African outfit. Kiwi James Williamson managed a decent 9th place finish.
The 22 year old rider from New Zealand was also 9th at the GP du Canton d'Argovie and a 3rd place finish on stage 3 in Germany.
The German stage race also featured a lengthy time Trial that saw Stephen Vicelich take a 4th place and Shane O'Niell take 10th.
The net result saw the team finish 9th on the team standings - which was a fair reflection of their contribution here. More importantly the team impressed enough to earn a trip to the U23 premiere race of the Tour de l'Avenir.
Michael Matthews was on hand to cheer the his peers on added "There was hardly an anonymous day at all from the lads, they were either in the breaks or up there in the sprints. We just lacked that overall contender or that one telling break to get us a result which in my opinion we deserved"
"Still someone took notice as me and Adam (Semple) will join the lads in France - we have a couple of other youngsters on the Red Bull books who will join us - but I am really looking forward to this Avenir race."
Five of the squad indeed join four full Red Bull Cycling riders to make up a useful looking Avenir squad. Carlos Manarelli should figure in the sprints as the team will also look to get into breakaways.
Shane O'Niell has found a ride on the Pendletons Avenir squad.
Red Bull's Adam Hansen and Konstantin took a stage victory in the early August stage races. The Iberia peninsula hosted three key High Category races at the beginning of August. The climbers classic Urkola Igoera, the five stage Vuelta a Burgos and the 11 stage Volta a Portugal.
The climbers classic Urkola Igoera was dominated by the climbers with Riccardo Ricco taking victory over the Ikea duo of Taaramae and Alarcon. Konstantin Siutsou was in training for Portugal mode and with the top three all going to Burgos he could be reasonably happy with an 11th place.
At the Burgos race (which clashes with Portugal) there was no doubt the big three of Ricco, Alarcon and Taaramae would be out in force as all finished inside the top 4. However the presence of a time trial meant Taaramae would win over Abal(Santander) and Lloret (Petronas) with Ricco 4th and Alarcon 8th. John Lee Augustyn represented Red Bulls GC hopes here but could only manage 13th despite a decent performance on the only mountain stage of the race. Victor Orozco managed a very good 20th place overall showing once again his liking of Spanish stage races.
But it was Adam Hansen who took a shock stage victory in the final stage that gave Red Bull cycling something to celebrate. Hansen was recently DS for the U23 riders and said "It was obvious that the sprinters were poorly organised, I had been telling the youngsters from the espiors team just give it a go, so I took my own advice!"
Portugal saw Konstantin Siutsou show his class riding to an excellent 4th on GC behind Youtube Franco Pellizotti who had a battle with Jose Serpa and Bernhard Kohl for the overall honours. The pick of the moments for Siutsou, who gives us his top moments...
"I had the points jersey, so I was just looking for a high placing. I managed to get in front of Delgado, but I could see Pellizotti behind me so I gave a big kick to get up to the front runners. Theo Eltink had won the stage before and I felt could take him, it was a great feeling to win the stage.
2) Climbing with the favourites on Torre
"I enjoyed the Torre climb, it was steep in places but only for a short while. It suited my charactoristics. It was a shame that Kohl was on a stormer else I may have kept my GC place on the podium, But to finish ahead of Jose Serpa on a climb like that made me feel super confident ahead of the Time Trial"
3) Taking the mountains jersey
"I know I only shared it with Pellizotti, but I had to work really hard to get in green and to keep it throughout was a boost every day!"
Kontantin Siutsou fired some warning shots to Pellizotti ahead of the 21 stage Tour of America that he would fight him every inch of the way for that one.
Urkola Igeora results:
11th Konstantin Siutsou
28th Julian Rodas
36th Edwin Parra Bustamante
41st Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez
48th Victor Hugo Orozco
54th Jianhua Ji
100th Adam Semple
110th Michael Matthews
Vuelta a Burgos results:
13th John Lee Augustyn
20th Victor Hugo Orozco
56th Adam Hansen (Winner stage 5)
64th Yuki Arashiro
76th Jamie Ball
84th Michael Matthews
96th Fumi Beppu
106th Carlos manarelli
Volta a Portugal results:
4th Konstantin Siutsou (Winner stage 7, share of KOM jersey)
27th Edwin Parra
33rd Luis Felipe Laverde
34th Kin San Wu
50th Adil Jelloul
71st Adam Semple
81st CJ Sutton
96th Ahmed Haider Anuawar
Welcome to the Red Bull mid-America tour press conference.
Question: Smowz, What is your assessment of the race so far?
Answer: The team started slowly in the first few stages, we were particular sluggish the team time test. Since then though the squad, Siutsou in particular have worked really hard and if it was not for the presence of an on fire Franco Pellizotti I am sure we would have been rewarded with some stage wins.
The aim now is to support Konstantin through the hilly stuff that remains, that time trial worries us - Tinkoff are obviously going to look to snatch second place off us there.
Question: Wasn't the aim here though for stage wins?
Answer: Yes, but we can see at the moment that is not possible, I would love for Roman Kilun or Scott Zwizanski to get away one day, but this Youtube and Tinkoff squad look too powerful.
Question: How do you assess the achievements of Red Bull this year?
Answer: Well after starting with a bang with a wonderful performance with Arashiro and a good team effort in Tachira we have found a lot of things out about our riders. We have lacked that superstar quality in the highest category - we can see that here with Pellizotti. The recent race at Vattenfalls evidenced this also. Part of our problem was probably our no European transfer policy (with the exception of Siutsou) and unfortunately that left us a bit short.
Question: There is some speculation that teams that a number of teams may be invited to the Protour next year outside the promotion spots. Any thoughts?
Answer: Well I will say on record right now, that Red Bull Cycling is nowhere near ready for the Protour. However, Konstantin, John-Lee and Yuki will be given the oppurtunity to talk to Protour teams, they have the quality to make an impact. The rest of our riders have indicated that they are enjoying themselves at this level. The only exceptions are Adam Semple and Mikey Matthews who will also be looking for Protour experience.
Question: Assuming they stay at the squad.
Answer: (cutting in) Yes we have been told by the President to keep mum an any comings and goings. Obviously some of our riders will retire this year and others may be used as makeweights in transfer dealings. We have too many riders on our books some changes will need to be made.
Question: Any news on your sponser?
Answer: Jayco are pretty keen to get more involved with a cycling squad and Red Bull are happy to share the load. Red Bull see the Oceanic countries as a growth area - one condition therefore may well be a stonger focus on southern hemisphere countries.
Question: But your roots are in the States?
Answer: Yes, however with teams like Quiksilver, Mercedes and Wikipedia providing oppurtunities it does seem like a crowded market. Petronas are rumoured to be phasing out and some well known Australian cyclists like Rogers and Docker are going to be looking for new teams also....
Question: Are those targets, they sound like protour riders!
Answer: I prefer as I said before to keep mum on potential future deals, not being in the protour though does not limit us. We may well apply for entry into some big Protour races next year.
America: Pellizotti Perfection - Siutsou is second best
The 21 stage Tour of America has just finished and it was Youtube's Franco Pellizotti who produced a sensational rider to win the race by a full THIRTEEN minutes and ten seconds. He also won a whopping TWELVE stages to absolutely dominate a small field.
Behind him there was a massive battele between Red Bull's Konstantin Siutsou and Tinkoff's Evgeni Petrov for second place - Red Bull's Siutsou managed to just about hold on despite losing 72 seconds on the final stage.
He said after the race, "That final week I was running on fumes, as was the rest of the team - we came here looking for stage wins as well, but Franco was just unstoppable. I think I sealed second place on the GC on stage 15 - getting away with Delgado and Franco"
"Tinkoff I think came here looking for the overall win - they were still looking for it halfway through giving me som,e breathing space, but it was quite a battle I can tell you"
Team boss Smowz was happy with the GC placings, but could not hide the disappointment of a failled attempt at stage wins.
"I kinda knew the score when Ahmed Haider seemed to be missing out on the final sprints. Then on the one stage he was there you know who managed to beat him."
"We managed to penetrate the podium pretty consistently, Konstantin almost got second on the points comp - but had to settle for third when amazingly Petrov beat Pellizotti in a sprint on the last stage"
Meanwhile, the team had a quiet preparation race in Missouri - Roman Kilun (9th in America) proved the highest on GC, but the highlight was seeing Arashiro go close on the stage one sprint.
The race was won by Mikhail Ignatiev, who has been dominating short tours involving a Time Trial all season.
America:
2nd Konstantin Siutsou
9th Roman Kilun
16th Edwin Parra Bustamante
22nd Scott Zwizanski
29th Adam Semple
33rd Ahmed Haider Anuawar
34th Michael Matthews
Missouri
13th Roman Kilun
28th Adil Jelloul
30th JL Augustyn
36th Scott Zwizanski
88th Luis Felipe Laverde
95th Yukiya Arashiro
117th Adam Semple
144th Michael Matthews
Wikipedia dominate the world - Van Garderen World Champion
Tejay Van Garderen, wikipedia's young American punchaer took a cagy World title on a hilly course in Croatia. Despite the difficult parcours things came down to a large group style sprint, but Van Garderen managed to pwoer away before the sprinting began to hold off Trofimov, Pozzato,Gilbert and Boassen Hagen.
Red Bull had six riders in the race, the most active being Australian Adam Hansen riding for Australia. He got into the races key breakaway, however this was pulled back and subsequentely dropped before the last circuit. John Lee Augustyn came ine with the front group, but was a little tired after riding without a team mate for a number of kilometers.
Also in action were the Chacons (Jose and Franklin) for Venezuala, Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez for Columbia and Roman Kilun was part of the victorious US team. Kilun was in high spirits as one would expect after the race and took high morale into a small Mexican 7 stage race that immediately followed the World.
Speaking from Mexico "I have been on a high all week here in Chihuahua, Tejay and Taylor have shown that the Americans are now right at the top of world cycling" Kilun then reflected "You know this is a legacy of the US Postal/Motorola days, guys like Lemond and Armstrong are the legacy and now Wikipedia have taken that mantle on. Talking to Taylor you have to believe that this guy is going to be a multiple GT winner"
Kilun took a very fine second in this stage race getting two podiums in the process. Scott Zwizanski also rode well to a 12th overall and battled for KoM points.
Back to the worlds and most of the headlines previous were taken by Taylor Phinney who won both U23 titles (Road and TT) and also pipped teammate Zabriskie in the Road TT.
In the U23 road race, it was an Avenir reunion for the Australian youngsters as Red Bull full squad members Adam Semple and Michael Matthews were joined by Timothey Roe, who were riding in support of Jack Bobridge who managed a top 10. Up front no-one was surprised to see Avenir winner Tenerio and Phinney battle for the win. Italys Zaini took the bronze.
Shane O'Neill from the U23 squad was in action in the U23 TT, but could only manage 17th behind the winner Phinney. Tenerio was second again with Schadlich third.
Plenty of Red Bull riders were in action in the Team Time test, Edwin Parra Bustamante narrowly missing a medal for the Columbian team.
They were edged out by the Russians who took bronze behind the favourites as Spain managed to take the Gold over Holland. Siutsou (Belerus), Jose and Frankilin Chacon (Venezuala) and Hansen (Australia) were also in action. There were also a New Zealand team with Williamson and O'Neill from the U23's involved.
Worlds:
RR - 70th Jl Augustyn
88th LF Laverde Jimenez
98th Adam Hansen
124th Roman Kilun
128th J Chacon
140th F Chacon
U23 RR - 41st James Williamson
42nd Michael Matthews
75th Timothey Roe
79th Adam Semple
U23 ITT - 17th Shane O'Niell
TTT - 4th Columbia (inc. Edwin Parra Bustamante)
12th Australia (inc. Adam Hansen)
17th Venezuala (inc. Jose and Frankin Chacon)
21st New Zealand (Inc. James Williamson and Shane O'Neill)
23rd Belerus (inc. Konstantin Siutsou)
Vuelta Chihuahua International
2nd Roman Kilun
10th Julian Rodas
12th Scott Zwizanski (3rd on KoM)
24th Adam Semple
30th CJ Sutton
34th Michael Matthews
37th Carlos Manarelli
Red Bull's leader of the second half of the season Konstantin Siutsou won the season ending Tour of Japan stunning the CTour punchears. In a star studded field, Siutsou cleverly bridged with a small group to a large breakaway and outsprinted his companions to take a famous win.
Siutsou was understandably ecstatic at the finish paying tribute to his teammates.
" Fumi and Yuki were pretty clear with 100km to go they said the break will stay away. They knew the parcours were going to make it difficult to pull back so I went with an attack by Italian riders Proni, Nocentini and Carrara"
"You could tell it was hard to get back as we took a fairly long time to get there. It was cagey in the chase group everyone was measuring their efforts carefully. But once we got up there we had young Adam up there - he had a sensational race and you know he is going to be a useful teammate in years to come."
"Once we made the juncture, we knew we had the race between us. The Japanese rider and a couple of youngsters tried to break it up, but I felt so strong. Portugal has given me the confidence that I can outclimb most riders so I went to the front and said come round me if you can"
"You know what they couldn't!"
Team boss Moss was in Japan and it proved a very popular victory with the locals too.
"Yuki and Fumi were one of the first to congratulate Konstantin at the finish, for the Japanese I suppose it is as good as a home victory. This was a superb result, just look at the field here Ricco, Gilbert, Ponzi, Pozzato... Just wow."
He then briefly mentioned the squad in Australia.
"You know the squad in Australia showed some winning form in the Sun Tour - getting Cj up there to win the sprint on stage 3. We didn't really perform on GC there though so to get a high placing here was fantastic."
Herald Sun Tour placings
19th JL Augustyn
22nd Kin San Wu
30th Adam Hansen
34th Adam Semple
41st CJ Sutton (Stage win)
50th Michael Matthews
60th Fumi Beppu
Japan cup placings
1st Konstantin Siutsou
20th Adam Semple
105th Yuki Arashiro
107th Luis Felipe Laverde
108th Scott Zwizanski
129th Kin San Wu
141st Fumi Beppu
160th Michael Matthews
2012 Shirt
Good morning cycling fans after some slow sales of our former proposed jersey for this season, we have decided to revert back to the U23 jersey that we used for the new 2012 year.
This red and yellow maillot should be quite distinctive as we are very much hoping that we can continue the success from last season.
On Goals
Whilst we only achieved one of our five preset goals last season at the Volta a Portugal, sponsors Red Bull are happy to continue at least in a co-sponsor role with Jayco.
With Jayco coming in we will no doubt target some of the Australian races this year.
Which riders will stay?
At Jayco-Red Bull we do not hold any riders as slaves to their contracts and if a ProTour team came calling we would certainly listen to what they have to say.
I will add that it is highly likely that all 4 of our Australian cyclist will be retained and we will be making John-Lee Augustyn, Konstantin Siutsou, Yukiya Arashiro and Roman Kilun contract offers.
Other than these eight none of our other riders are ring-fenced!
Which riders will come in?
We will be looking into some of the best free agents from the Oceanic countries - but we will add that we believe Zakkari Dempster is slightly unsettled at the American Quiksilver outfit. We would be the first to snap him up if this excellent Time Trialler were to become available.
Simon Moss sits at a press conference with elite Australian riders Adam Hansen and Christopher Sutton. Videos roll in the background with Michael Rogers TT at Herbiers last year.
And Mitch Docker taking a stage win at the Giro d’Italia.
Before finally Simon Gerrans enjoying victory at the World’s View Challenge.
Moss enjoys the clips and stands to speak:
“You know Australia has that potential to be really up there as an elite cyclist’s nation. Co-sponsors Jayco were most concerned to see three of the best Australian names to lose their trade teams for next year. I think we may well be the best place to place a bid for these riders.
The other co-sponsors Red Bull have warned that they expect continued improvement this year, they do not wish for this to become too xenophobic. There is this sneaking suspicion that our non-Europeans policy counted against us last year.
Our best individual rider last year was our only European Konstantin Siutsou who rode well on some of the hardest stage races in the circuit such as the Catalunya and Portuguese tour before taking a landmark win at the Tour of Japan.
The demands are simple we must finish in the top five in the continental tour next year thereby virtually guaranteeing Protour promotion. “
Adam Hansen hints at race schedule Late November, Australia
Brief extract from interview with Adam Hansen on Channel 9 in Australia:
Interviewer: Adam any indication of when we can see you in Australia this year?
Hansen: Well for sure we will be involved in all three Australian races mate. The Tour Down Under which Yukiya Arashiro won is a targeted race and we have added the Down Under Classic to our races this year looking for a top 5 place.
Interviewer: And across the ocean in New Zealand?
Hansen: Yeah we missed the Wellington race last year, but I am pretty sure we will be taking in that this and maybe the Tour of Southland too. The boss is keen on going to all the races on the Asian calendar this year, he is looking to become the new number one team in the area filling the Petronas void.
Interviewer: Thats interesting, this implies he may be keen on keeping Yukiya Arashiro.
Hansen: Good point mate. I wouldn’t really know about that, I think it is highly likely that Yuki will be offered a contract. He was inspirational to the team last year showing us that we could compete, I surprised the sprinters myself at the Vuelta a Burgos! I think we are listening to offers, though if it was a continental team I think it would have to be a very good offer indeed!
Two Jayco-Red Bull stars speak out on Red Bull race and rider targets next season
Extracts from Konstantin Siutsou and John Lee Augustyn's webcast on the Jayco Red Bull website.
Fan: JL, we are hoping that next year Red Bull come to South Africa, we missed you and Bally (Jamie Ball) at Dome2Dome.
JL: Yeah, sorry to miss you there mate, it was a busy time of the season. I wasn't at my best in the latter half of the season - but I have talked to the boss and South Africa is in the team plans. We should be at the inaugural Tour of South Africa. I would like to ride there if I get a contract, the team have targeted a top five.
Fan: Konstantin, whadda performance in Japan and Portugal, any interest from the Protour?
KS: I seem to be asked about this a lot, but you know I am happy here and given the chance to lead. The team have promotion aspects of their own so why not be a part of it? I am pretty sure Portugal and Japan will be part of our schedule, but I have asked the boss to target a couple of smaller races such as the Vuelta a Mallorca, Tour of Taiwan and the Tour de Beauce. I think sorts of races may suit me, the Tour of America was a little bit too long for my tastes.
Fan: For both, any news of any new riders joining the ranks.
JL: Not really mate, we will have to see who's available. I would be very surprised if the boss didn't make a serious bid for Trent Lowe or Mark Renshaw.
KS: Yeah, the new sponsors Jayco are pretty keen on attracting Australians. I have been talking to Denis Menchov a fair bit recently, the boss is preparing an attractive offer for him - this serves notice that we are looking deeper into Europe for success and are serious about becoming a really big team!
Contracts press conference 1:
Three youngsters looking forward to develop
Mossy strides out to the press conference with young Australian riders Adam Semple and Michael Matthews in tow.
Mossy Jayco-Red Bull are delighted to introduce three young riders who will be continuing their development with us next year. First Michael Matthews who we saw in our new strip at last year's Tour de L'Avenir[/b]
Matthews Really pleased to be here, we have a number of excellent sprinters and CJ Sutton has been a real mentor to me. I feel as if my speed has increased, though I think I can help lead out sprinters at this stage.
Mossy Castille Y Leon stage five winner CJ Sutton has also signed up for another year with the squad. Our other two Aussies Adam Hansen and young climber Adam Semple are with us next year. Adam really looked to prove himself on climbs last year.
Semple It's great to be part of the core group of 4 Aussies, I know the team boss has been hoping to add to our contingent of Australian riders. I am hoping to climb with a lot more consistency this year and perhaps strike from breakaways.
Mossy Jianhua Ji is in China visiting relatives, but before he went he signed a contract with us. I can tell you he has been busy training on climbs and I can tell you he is up there with our Columbians for climbing ability now. We recall of course his superb Criterium victory from last season
Mossy All three riders will be available for talent sharing agreements with Protour teams. They could do with testing themselves in Grand Tours and other ProTour races to further hone their skills. I will open the floor to two questions.
Press Any news of any other riders who you have retained for next year.
Mossy Negotiations are still under way, though I can tell you that climbers Rodas, Parra Bustamante, Kilun and Kin San Wu have been retained. Jelloul, Manarelli and Beppu have also been signed up for another year. All seven riders really are great domestiques who are capable of producing something special out of the bag.
I am frustrated at some of the press attention for one of riders, who we are finding it difficult to reach common ground. Yukiya Arashiro may not be defending his Tour Down Under title in Red Bull colours.
Press Of course you yourself have been chasing a rider from another team. How is that progressing?
Mossy You are talking about the excellent Time Triallist Zakkari Dempster, I cannot hide my interest and I will continue to say come on home to Jayco-Red Bull Zak! I have heard little from his squad Hollister as yet, I am keeping a keen eye our for their press releases.
Darn, I figure with Arashiro as a free agent there will be much more interest than if he had re-signed with Red Bull, because I still would have pursued him if he stayed with Red Bull.
My Directueur Sportif would like to congratulate you on the excellently run press conference Smowz! He has reported back to me with plenty of notes! He has gone off on holiday now, my DS, China or somewhere...
valverde321 wrote:
Darn, I figure with Arashiro as a free agent there will be much more interest than if he had re-signed with Red Bull, because I still would have pursued him if he stayed with Red Bull.
Potentially easier for you if he is a free agent, as I presume you would be the one with the highest maximum for him! But dont jump the gun just yet, Smowz' negoations with him are ongoing.
Contracts press conference 2:
Star Climbers retained
Out strides Mossy once again with this years Japan Cup winner Konstantin Siutsou and South African climber John-Lee Augustyn.
Mossy Red Bull are pleased to say that our two climbing leaders from last year have signed their names under contract with us for next year. I identified during last years Tour of America the need for riders with geniune protour quality. I think Konstantin showed this brilliantly as a protagonist in last years Pro tour race Volta a Catalunya.
Siutsou I have loved the chance to be the leader this year and been given a realistic chance to win races. I had a couple of really good goes at stage races last year in the Voltas Portugal and Catalunya and having a go at the Tour of America. I am in my Thirtieth year so I had to consider my options on signing up with Jayco Red Bull, I would love to race a couple more big Grand Tours again. The boss sold me that he would be looking at entering one this year fulfilling my greatest wishes.
Mossy It's true that I am interested in competing in one of the Grand Tours, I had the chance to commentate on the Tour de France last year and nothing really compares. John-Lee Augustyn has raced at the Tour before and I am delighted that he too has signed on the dotted line. We recall his gritty performances at stage races last year fondly
Augustyn I was so proud to take a stage and the points jersey in my home race, I think we will race well in South Africa again this year. I had to consider my options carefully, I lost motivation at the end of the year and the blame is all mine. Reassurances about possible race schedules and the prospect of protour races excite me.
Mossy I have also reassured John Lee and Konstantin that they will be informed of any Protour teams offer, for which out of respect for their abilities I will listen too. I am delighted that there is already some talent sharing interest in young Jianhua Ji, though it is hardly a surprise he is looking to make a big step up this year.
Press What about Arashiro, will he be part of the free agency?
Mossy Yukiya Arashiro is still in negotiation, I feel we have made him a very generous offer. Lets face it the guy is a superstar in his home country, but he is just one man I will not break the budget to keep him here. The free agency has some major league talent in it we can see already with the likes of Valverde, Rogers and Cunego just to name a few. If he thinks he can stand out there and get a better offer then what we have offered, then he is free to do so.
I would also like to add that we have also retained the services of a third Columbian climber in Victor Hugo Orozco. The former Vuelta KoM winner, is always a handy rider to have around in the mountains!
Contracts press conference 3: Japanese star remians with Jayco Red Bull
In the final contracts press conference Mossy comes out to meet the press with his two Japanese riders, Fumiyaki Beppu and Yukiya Arashiro
Mossy Last night Jayco-Red Bull and Yukiya Arashiro found the common ground we have been looking for. I am excited to say the best two Japanese racers in the pro peleton have signed contracts to be part of Jayco Red Bull.
Mossy I understand that their efforts have inspired a new Continental team from Japan. We are not barbarians at this team and any rider is free to talk to another team. However any transfer offer will need to come through me after the renewels period is over.
I would like to add that Malaysian sprinter Ahmed Haider Anuawar has also been retained. He will be looking to add to the stage victory he took in last years Vuelta a Tachira.
Mossy That completes the Red Bull contract signings. My assistent will hand out a dossier of a full list of riders under contract.
Mossy stands up to leave with his Japanese riders following somewhat glumly it must be said behind.
CURRENT LIST OF RIDERs UNDER CONTRACT WITH JAYCO RED BULL FOR 2012:
Team Captains
Konstantin Siutsou
John-Lee Augustyn
Yukiya Arashiro
Climbers
Edwin Parra Bustamante
Julian Rodas
Victor Hugo Orozco
Jianhua Ji
Kin-San Wu
Romain Kilun
Adam Semple
Sprinters
Christopher Sutton
Ahmed Haider Anuawar
Carlos Alexandre Manarelli
Michael Matthews
With most teams renewels nearly completed Jayco-Red Bull wishes to join the other squads in transparency by publishing its riders wages for the following year:
Leaders All three riders have indicated they are interested in joining Protour squads.
Konstantin Siutsou 195,000 A massive reduction in wage from nearly 375,000 last year. Konstantin has expressed that he would be interested in joining TCS Bank Rosneft or a top Protour outfit.
Yukiya Arashiro 135,000 Yukiya could not hide is interest in joining Team Meiko-Fuji, though he is concerned about that teams long term prospects.
John-Lee Augustyn 110,000 JL remains concerned about the sponsors lack of interest in African races for which the team was commited last season. He has been reading the press releases from Team Emu Export with much interest.
Sprinters
Christopher Sutton 80,000 CJ is really commited long term to the Jayco-Red Bull product and is very reluctant to leave, considering his generous wage who can blame him
Ahmed Haider Anuawar 65,000 Ahmed continues to target his home tours, though admits the Tour of Langkawi is more hilly and testing then ever this year. He proved much of a muchness last season, though the team have a soft spot for the sprinter who grabbed a stage win in Venezuala last year
Carlos Manarelli 60,000 Carlos could not quite get up to take a sprint last year, but he continues to develop. Is interested in joining any team that wishes to focus on racing in the Americas
Domestiques
Roman Kilun 80,000 Roman wonders whether his form team Wikipedia are interested in one last roll of the dice in the Protour ranks. We are prepared to listen to any offers on such a rider
Edwin Parra 80,000 Disappointed from time to time but rode well enough in his home tour Vuelta a Colombia. Struggled from home sickness in the Red Bull squad, is desperate following work in the Worlds TTT to join the Cafe du Colombia squad or at the very least a team preapared to give the American tours a go
Adil Jelloul 50,000 The team have an excellent relationship with Adil Jelloul, who enjoys the team atmosphere. Does not wish to change teams at this time
Kin-San Wu 50,000 Kin San Wu enjoys his domestique role at Red Bull and is looking forward to more of the same.
Julian Rodas 60,000 Unsettled, feels the need for a new challange
Adam Hansen 65,000 Part of the Jayco RedBull franchise well and truly Adam has appeared on several billboards in Australian cities promoting the brand. Very unlikely to be interested in leaving
Fumiyaki Beppu 50,000 Feels he is struggling to get noticed in the squad, always good for a breakaway and happy enough with domestique duties. Sees himself playing second fiddle to Arashiro in his home countries affections
Victor Hugo Orozco 55,000 Former Vuelta KoM, feels that last year was a wasted year despite a stage win in his home tour.
Youngsters All three youngsters are would be delighted to join Protour teams, Red Bull are committed to their development and would be happy to pay their wage to any Protour team prepared to maximise their development by loaning them out. Matthews and Semple are not available for transfer only for loan. We would listen to offers for Jianhua Ji however.
Jianhua Ji 60,000
Michael Matthews 50,000
Adam Semple 50,000
