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Wiesenhof-Andritz - Jersey reveal!
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| Heine |
Posted on 10-12-2012 20:49
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First riders ready
The first signings this season are ready, they are:
Christoph Taubel
Taubel is an austrian cobble talent that in the future will be a great helper for Zepuntke
Matthis Brändle
One of the big targets this season. Brändle is already a good TTer and will turn into one of the best GC-helpers in the world with a great Time-trialling and a good climbing
Phan Age Haugard
The new norwegian on the team, a future TTer that will be an important part of our TT-train
Jaime Alberto Castañeda
The new fastman of the team, considering the prices other sprinters go for this year, he's a bargain and should be important this year.
4 new riders, we are awaiting news of more riders soon 
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| cio93 |
Posted on 10-12-2012 22:01
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World Champion
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Brändle is more awesome than many know, I believe 
I would have challenged you way over 200k if I wasn't in need of so many PT material riders 
And thanks, you're actually the first guy to tell me Taubel is Austrian, had him as German in my mind
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| Heine |
Posted on 13-12-2012 13:46
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Brändle is awesome indeed, with stage race training I will have a rider with 76 in climbing and 79 in TT. A great rider to drag my riders around in GT's in the future
Several new faces on VolksWagen-Mapei
We will start off by the shocking news of seeing Kai Reus, Lucas Schädlich and Marco Marzano leave VolksWagen. Last year they where 2 of the most important riders on the squad, but the management seemd to prefer other riders. According to the VolksWagen manager Lucas was already replaced by the youngsters Brändle and Haugard. To replace Kai and Marco however there has been done some major tranfers, with the signings of Martijn Keizer and Damien Gaudin. Keizer is one of the best Time Trialers in the world, and sources also tells that he are posting the same times up mountains that Marzano did before leaving. VolksWagen sources claims that he have lost some weight and are riding on lower gears this year, he is also responding well to a change in diet. When Keizer himself was asked he told that he have been training more seriously (Quote: I'm on my bike for 5-6 hours every day) and changed diet. Gaudin has been signed as a cobble leader this season, and mentor for young Ruben Zepuntke. Gaudin is a strong rider that should be able to stay with the best in the cobble races.
Another notable signing is the leadout legend Marcel Sieberg. Sieberg has proven many times he's one of the best leadout riders in the peloton and this season he will work closely with Schorn, Zabel and Castenada. Teaching the first two and leading the last to many victories. The team believe that Sieberg will be the piece that will fullfil the dreams of a sprint train. Sieberg comes from Project 1t4i
The team has also signed the veteran puncheur Matthis Kessler, who will be Flügels most important domestique and leuitenant during the season. He will use his experience to place Flügel in the front and then he will secure VolksWagen additional points afterwards.
The last definite signing for the team is the young Kazak Shishelov, who will be a domestique in the flat races, working to keep the peloton together. Other than that the team is looking to secure some climbers to ensure that Keizer and Ratiy will be in the best positions possible to win races.
During a short press statement manager Heine wrote: "The team for next season is looking really strong, while we have let some good riders go we have been able to replace them with great riders and most importantly we have been able to fix the weaknesses that hurt the team last year. This season every single captain got atleast 1 helper that will manage to stay with him to the end, some are new signings some are talents that have developed. We also see that we still got a team with a lot of potential, 9 of the currents riders need atleast 2 years to reach their prime. Fans of the team got a lot to look forward to!"
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Posted on 22-11-2024 07:57
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| Heine |
Posted on 14-12-2012 22:41
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With two more riders signed it might look like VolksWagen-Mapei have finished the transfer season, except for 1 stagiare to be signed later. The only way this can change is that the team gets an offer it can't refuse. Anyway, without further ado, here is the team for 2013:
While focusing more on getting the team stronger and more experienced than last year we still managed to keep the team one of the most talented teams in the world. No less than 10 of our owned riders are still far away from realising their full potential, and we will already this season see the fruits of that youth work. Zabel, Zepuntke, Brenes, Preidler, Anacona, Schorn, Brändle, Taubel, Haugard and Predatch are members of one of the strongest youth setups in cycling and are riders that will set their mark on cycling.
Compared to last season our GC leaders are Ratiy and Keijser (compared to Ratiy and Marzano), we feel this is slightly better becuse of Keijsers strenght in TT. The main strengthening in the department however is that last season the support was Noval, Müller and Pfannberger (aka nothing) while this season we got Delgade, Zurita, Brenes, Anacona and Preidler for the mountains and Haugard, Müller, Brändle and Bøchman for the Time Trials. Way better support.
When it comes to hilly races Flügel is still the king, and the fact that he alone has gotten better makes this part of the squad stronger than last year. In addition to that Kessler is a new signing and will be an important rider, together with other riders like Bøchman and Preidler.
Last season the spriting squad was supposed to be a three headed monster, but ended up being a zero headed cute puppy that the other teams loved to race against. We will change that this year by having Castenada as the sole leader, strongly supported by Sieberg, Schorn and our super-talent Zabel. Maybe this can finally be the year we sprint well?
The next part of the squad is the cobbles department, lead by the strong frenchman Gaudin, with support from Zepuntke, Sieberg and Taubel. Considering that we have never had a cobbles department this is strengthened by a lot, and should hopefully give the team some extra points.
The last part is the TTing of the squad. Keizer is among the best TTers in the world, but will focus on stage races. What does that leave us? Haugard, Müller, Brändle, Bøchman and Predatsch dosen't really scare anyone, and compared to Schädlich and Reus from last year this is nothing. But there should be enough to support the leaders in TTTs and with Haugard and Brändle there is a lot of talent here!
So to sum it up, the team is stronger in every area except for TTing, this should be an interesting season!
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-12-2012 13:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
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VolksWagen-Mapei to the Tour de France
After some negotiations after the deadline it's official that VolksWagen-Mapei are going to the TDF. Last year the team attended both the Giro d'Italia and Paris-Nice, getting a stage win in both races, and the main goal in France this year is the same. In addition the team wants the young stage races Vadim Ratiy to get a top 15 in the race. Both goals should be possible for the team.
In addition to Ratiy the team are planning to send the colombian sprinter, Jaime Alberto Castenada to hunt for stage wins on the flat stages, and to support him Marcel Sieberg, Rick Zabel and Daniel Schorn. Hopefully they will be able to create a strong sprint-train.
To support Ratiy it's a battle between 5 riders, Winner Anacona, Gregory Brenes, Georg Preidler, Matthias Brandle and Phan Age Haugard. 4 of these will get their chanse to ride their first ever Tour de France.
As a extra VolksWagen-Mapei has said that Tour de France will not be the only 21-stages stage race for the team this season, Vadim Ratiy will also get to lead the team in the biggest stage race on the continental calender, namely the Tour of America. The big question is if the young ukrainian are capable of riding 2 so hard races, or if this will destroy his young legs.
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 23-12-2012 15:41
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World Champion
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Sieberg is a great lead-out man in the Tour. Thanks to him Van Stayen got 2 stage wins in 2011. Maybe Castenada will take one as well even though it will be really hard.
Good luck!
Edited by alexkr00 on 23-12-2012 15:41
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-12-2012 15:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
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Siberg got a great combination of flat and sprinting stats, I really hope the addition of a rider like that will work wonder for my sprinting results
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| Heine |
Posted on 19-01-2013 08:35
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Calender for the VWM leaders annonouced
Considering that so many other teams has made their calenders offical, VoksWagen has done the same:
Martijn Keizer
Spoiler HC: Corsica International
HC: Tour of Vancouver
C1: Tour de l'Ain
C1: Classica Quetzaltenago
C1: Tour de Slovenie
HC: USA Pro Cycling Challenge
C1: Tour de Vineyards
Alexandar Flügel
Spoiler HC: Tour of South Africa
C1: GP de Lugano
C1: Scandinavian Open Road Race
C1: Tropicale de Amissa Bongo
C1: Giro del'Appelinnio
C1: Schwartzwald Classic
C1: Ster ZLM Tour
C1: Rund um Bad Herzberg
HC: Manx International
C1: Taldykorgan GP
C1: Nespruit Classic
HC: Classica San Sebastian
C1: Zagreb-Ljubljana
C1: Milano-Torino
HC: Giro dell'Emilia
HC: Tour of Beijing
HC: Japan Cup
Vadim Ratiy
Spoiler C1: Tour de Langkawi
C1: Classica a Quetzeltanego
C1: Sibiu Tour
C1: Vuelta a Burgos
HC: Tour of Hellas
C1: Tour of America
PT: Tour de France
Damien Gaudin
Spoiler C1: Bahir Dar
C1: Dwars Door Vlaanderen
C1: De Brabantsje Piil
C1: 5 Jours de Dunquerque
C1: Tallin-Tartuu Grand Prix
HC: Criterium Hanleite
C1: Rund um bad Herzburg
HC: USA Pro Cycling Challenge
C1: Tour of the Battenkill
C1: Wanze Arenberg
Jaime Alberto Castenada
Spoiler HC: Corsica International
HC: Tour of Vancouver
C1: GP of Moscow
C1: GP Tunis
HC: Berlin ProRace
C1: Ulanbaatar GP
C1: Baltic Chain Tour
C1: Tour of America
PT: Tour de France
It will be an interesting season, with a lot of the races heavily contested, we hope that the little extra we lacked last season will be given by Kessler (who rides pretty much the same races as Flügel), Zurita/Delgado/Brenes/Anacona (who nearly always 2 are to support Ratiy/Keizer), Sieberg (leadout for Castenada) and Zepuntke (together with Sieberg always support for Gaudin). In addition to that we hope that Bøchman, Zabel, Preidler, Brändle and others will be able to score some points during the season.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 19-01-2013 08:48
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Ratiy v Serpa should be good in Langkawi |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 19-01-2013 11:56
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Team Manager
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One mountain stage only certainly makes Langkawi a gamble for both of you - but if the Mountain stage proves decisive, then it should work out very nicely for you
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 21-01-2013 07:28
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Ouch, i hoped for a slightly less challenging squads for Tour de l'Ain, but now i see Keizer is going. It will be nice battle with our Popo,as we both have also fairly strong TTT lineup, i just hope i will be stronger in the mountains. 
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| Heine |
Posted on 21-01-2013 07:53
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Ouch, i hoped for a slightly less challenging squads for Tour de l'Ain, but now i see Keizer is going. It will be nice battle with our Popo,as we both have also fairly strong TTT lineup, i just hope i will be stronger in the mountains.
Keizer ended up in Tour de l'Ain becuse of some mistakes with my planning... Becuse of that I decided to send him as much support as possible for the harder stages and instead count on luck (That Keizer takes a loooong relay on the TTT) and the support helping him to a good position. So this race he should max be challenging for a top 5 :/ (depending on the other climbers there).
Looking back at it the mistakes I did when planning the season seems bigger and bigger... I got to learn soon
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| Heine |
Posted on 15-02-2013 14:43
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Sieberg secures the first points!
While the hilly team is in South Africa the cobble riders were riding the Bahir Dar. VolksWagen hoped to secure a top 5, but the results were way better than the team had hoped for. Newly signed German rider Marcel Sieberg, originally signed to lead out Castenada in the flat races suprised everyone when team leader Damien Gaudin lead him out at the end of the race, securing a fantastic second place. In addition to that Gaudin himself got into 6th. VolksWagen might have started the season late, but if the team continue to score points like this the Germans got a lot of fun in the future.
Sieberg crossing the line
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| CountArach |
Posted on 15-02-2013 14:53
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Grand Tour Champion
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Living up to Mapei's legacy
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| Heine |
Posted on 15-02-2013 16:10
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Grand Tour Specialist
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CountArach wrote:
Living up to Mapei's legacy
Hope it contiues that way
I've wondered many times if I should've used the money I used on cobblers (or rather, on Gaudin) for other riders, but if I get results like this it might've been my best move during the transfer season Then again, I doubt it will contiue, my biggest hope is in Dunqerque, where Gaudin should have home-bonus.
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| Heine |
Posted on 24-08-2013 20:42
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TDF let's forget it, go Avenir
VolksWagen participated in TDF, and that is all we will say about that. Other than that the team will be sending one of the worlds most promising sprinters to the Avenir this year. Rick Zabel are ready to live up to the familiy legacy and the team has made it an offical goal to make Zabel a Avenir legend. Because of his age Zabel will not only be able to participate this year as one of the favorites for all the flat stages, but he will also be able to participate in 3 more additions. We are looking forward to him setting records
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| jph27 |
Posted on 24-08-2013 20:53
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Should be epic. Bennett v Matthews v Zabel v the French with nat bonus (Petit, Coquard, Demare). |
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| Heine |
Posted on 22-11-2013 07:30
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I have to admit that I'm not one of the most active HQ-updaters during the season, but with everyone posting transfer rumors I think it's time to do so myself.
First and foremost both VolksWagen and Mapei has decided to sponsor the team for another year, we are therfore looking for a designer who can upgrade the jersey a bit. If you feel up for it please PM me
Then we can get over to the more interesting stuff, who will stay and who will leave? This season we haven't been able to get the results we want and there will most likely be some big changes. The riders are ranked from "Are you sure you are willing to pay that much?" to "Get the hell out of here". This means that no riders are unsellable, just the some riders will cost you all your money, both your legs and your right arm.
Are you sure you are willing to pay that much?
Alexandar Flügel
Rick Zabel
Ruben Zepuntke
Georg Preidler
Mattias Brändle
Our golden germanic riders will most likely be staying with the team. Here we got one of the PCTs best puncheurs, and some of Our coming stars, including Avenir greeen jersey winner Zabel, future Paris-Roubaix winner Zepuntke and our Austrian greats Preidler and Brändle.
Hmm, that looks like an interesting offer
Martijn Keizer
Vadim Ratiy
Jaime Cãstenada
Christoph Taubel
Gregory Brenes
Winner Anacona
Several of our captains end in this category. We are willing to let them go, but we would prefer a good offer and/or a rider in Return. Some of them, like Ratiy, got a great wage and would therefor cost quite some money. Taubel, Brenes and Anacona are good talents that will do great for either us or the team buying them.
Yeah, I can let him go for that
Damien Gaudin
Phan Age Haugard
Kevin Predatsch
Daniel Schorn
Fulgencio Bru
Some good riders and talents in this group. We wont demand as much for these riders, but would need a fair offer. If we can't get that we will keep the riders.
You're right, he's not worth more
Marcel Sieberg
Christian Müller
Lasse Bøchman
Gilber Zurita
These are riders we are more willing to let go. They are still usefull riders but will most likely be replaced by younger ones. Here we are listening to offers.
Get the hell out of here
Matthias Kessler
Yeison Delgado
Both Kessler and Delgado are reaching the end and will need to find new teams as free agents next season.
We are looking forward to an exciting end of the season, and a great transfer season. Remember, we are always willing to listen to offers
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 22-11-2013 07:43
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Hi.
Im not currently in the MG but if I get a team I would be interested in Gaudin and possibly Sieberg.
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| Heine |
Posted on 31-01-2014 07:42
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4116
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We are still looking for someone who can update our jersey
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