I think we will see quite there to the bottom of the table unfortunately.
Our teams will need leaders that are in close-up throughout the season or we're in trouble
Many Issues. Much Dissapointment. Such Shock. Wow.
Yep, still going with this title style!
To business. We'll try and keep this to the point as we rattle through the futures of our various current sponsors. The team isn't having the season us or the sponsors wanted and the struggle for results, poor rankings position and questionable transfer policy has strained a lot of relationships.
Lululemon Athletica - We failed to bag any big name riders from their focus regions and we've failed to mount a decent campaign on the road. Ultimately it's just been too much and Lululemon will step down from the title sponsor role. They will, however, continue to be our clothing provider and sponsor.
2015: Title + Clothing Sponsor
2016: Clothing Sponsor
Bulgaria - They've been a title sponsor for 3 seasons and we've had a serious commitment with them for developing Bulgarian cycling. This relationship is coming to an end. We can't deliver on our goals with Bulgarian Cycling so the support of the Bulgarian Cycling Federation comes to an end. But we still have plans to keep several Bulgarians onboard and the Tourism Board of Bulgaria will continue to sponsor us, just in a much reduced fashion. Though i bet they are slightly rueing the decision now!
2015: Title Sponsor
2016: Minor Sponsor
Nike - Lululemon stepping up to provide all our clothing, so Nike will no longer be associated with the team. Nice and simple, no hard feelings on either side.
2015: Clothing Sponsor
2016: No Association
Specialized - We've admited defeat on the American rider market, the same year we bagged our first American, and this means Specialized don't want to partner with us. A fundamental difference in marketing focus like this made the connection untennable.
2015: Bike Supplier
2016: No Association
Zipp - Zipp provided our wheels and a few other bits and pieces. Same as with Specialized, no American interests means we can't continue our partnership.
2015: Components
2016: No Association
Starbucks - They've been a sponsor as long as Bulgaria has! But this company is too big to be bothering with us in our failing ways. It's an agreeable goodbye, they cut the losses and we can get a more interesting food&beverage partner that isn't evil.
2015: Minor Sponsor
2016: No Association
Dogecoin - You'll all be happy to know that Doge won't be featuring with the team next year. It was a fun idea but this was never gonna be a long-term sustainable sponsor.
2015: Minor Sponsor
2016: No Association
IMAX - Again, we are withdrawing some of our focus on the North American markets and IMAX is a casualty. They were willing to continue sponsorship but we got a better deal with someone else, so it's a fond farewell.
2015: Minor Sponsor
2016: No Association
Canucks - They drop out of the sponsorship side, but they will continue to help manage the team on a day-to-day basis as well as taking over general ownership at the highest level.. That's their expertise and we will maintain a great working relationship with Canucks.
2015: Minor Sponsor
2016: Owners
Whooshh Innovations - The Fiiiish jersey shall remain! Our NC specific sponsor shall continue. It's not a huge investment for them as we really want to promote the Salmon Cannon in any way we can.
2015: NC Sponsor
2016: NC Sponsor
There you go. There's gonna be a lot of change for the team. A lot of sponsor spots to fill, including the title spaces. We've got our deals lined up and we'll be announcing them over the next few days. Some of the contract specifics arn't confirmed but that's only due to not knowing which division we'll be in.
That was a lot to read, so here's some music to enjoy, from Chicago!
Well now we can start to announced our new sponsors. We're gonna do this in two parts, one now and one tomorrow. So where shall we begin?
Avanti - The New Zealand bicycle manufacturer is here to step into the gap left by Specialized. With heavy presense in the Oceanic and European markets our team seems like a great fit. High performance bikes which wil be excellent for the riders. No major requirements from them, apart from to ride fast.
Jumeirah Group - The Dubai based company is a major player in luxury hotels. Their flagship is the magnificent Burj al Arab. Anything out of the UAE is non-traditional in cycling and we love being different. Any big name rider is good for them but also it couldn't hurt to try and get a local name.
Antofagasta PLC - A Chilean conglomerate with fingers in a huge number of pies. They really are looking to bolster their name across markets in Australasia and North America, and we can really help there. Another American rider or two couldn't go amiss to keep them happy.
So there's our new bike and two new Minor Sponsors for the team. Tomorrow we'll have three more to present to you. Clearly there's a shifting of focus, being much more wide spread and global. We certainly won't be bound by borders next year.
Interesting changes, i am curious who will be the new head sponsor for your team. As i tweeted, not a big fan of changing focuses often, but that is call of every team.
Btw. UAE are no-traditional, but we had a two year partnership with Emirates, so they were already into cycling. These desert people are greedy, watch out.
@Avin - Only our first change of focus and hard to say we didn't need one. Jumeirah are no Emirates
Many New. Much Investment. Such Variety. Wow. Part 2.
So it's time for the "one tomorrow" part of the double release. Three more sponsors which will complete our backing set-up for the 201 season. And then the big jersey reveal!
Shimano - The Japanese firm is one the biggest players in the world of cycling. Their components are on an insane number of bikes and teams. It's a quality partnership that will only benefit the team, albeint with a caveat that they want us to pick up an Asian rider or two.
Mauritius Commercial Bank - The Mauritian bank is the largest and oldest in the country. In the last few years it's been a real innovater and grower in the African market. A great opportunity for them to begin growing more globally and for us to get a unique partner. That said we will need an African ride for them to market with.
Mount Gay Rum - The Barbadan alcohol firm is the oldest producer of Rum in the entire world. It's a huge global brand with interests in all markets, especially the Americas. For them growing brand awareness against other Carribean companies is key, doing this on a platform of local riders could be fun.
That's our new equipment sponsor and two more sponsors. Note how none have been called "Title" or "Main" sponsors. Most teams use their primary sponsors in name, it's a privelage of splashing extra cash. Well all our sponsors are paying equal money, and obviously we can't have that long a name. So what will our team name be? You're gonna have to wait a while for that.
Band wagon time! Yep we'll join in on all the Rider Gains stuff. Plus here's some first hints at possible rider availabilities (obviously pending on our division next year).
Caleb Ewan
2>3
3.99
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
69
61
68
60
67
68
66
66
76
75
63
70
73
71
61
69
60
69
69
68
67
78
77
63
70
73
Caleb continues his path towards greatness. Every year he becomes more competitive and if we do go CT, he'll be a potentially winner. No threat of him leaving as we nailed his XP gains.
Isaac Bolivar
2>3
3.81
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
67
61
64
69
69
66
66
70
60
68
65
74
69
69
61
64
69
71
67
67
72
62
68
65
74
69
The Colombian Cobbles sensation hits a new level. Still very much a support rider he's growing nicely. Certainly a good rider to keep around with multiple uses. Got his XP gains pretty good as well
Julian Alaphillippe
3>4
4.14
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
68
85
71
62
70
67
69
62
72
73
75
72
64
70
66
72
62
72
68
75
64
75
75
75
73
64
Monsieur Julian is getting there as a good rider. He needs a loan to Max so lucky he has his uses and skills now. Certainly we want to keep him on the books for his great combination of skills.
Max Losch
1>2>3
3.3
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
66
51
64
62
65
65
63
66
69
72
78
62
66
69
51
64
62
68
66
65
68
73
75
78
62
65
Max has been out on loan at Fox Sports. They've done the easy job of getting him to Lvl2 and then some to get him to Lvl3. When he's max'd he'll be useful but is still really a year short of significant use now. Do love that FTR/SP mix though!
Momchil Robov
2>3
3.90
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
68
69
69
65
66
70
67
50
68
67
72
65
65
69
70
71
65
68
71
69
50
68
68
73
65
65
Robov's year hasn't been as good as last but he's made the nessessary gains. His rounded talent makes him a very useful and entertaining rider. He won't be leaving, possibly ever, and i'm sure if we are in CT he'll be back to his brilliant best.
Romain Bardet
3>4
4.15
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
65
72
69
58
70
68
67
51
52
71
62
70
58
66
75
72
59
71
69
69
51
52
73
65
71
59
I don't know what to do with Roman. He's ready to be max'd and will be a decent climber when finished. But i don't need him and releasing him could get him big gains. Very much division dependent. Certainly shouldn't be too hard to loan out.
Simon Yates
3>4
4.19
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
71
69
73
67
72
68
66
51
72
75
72
63
70
72
70
76
68
75
69
67
51
73
78
74
64
71
A real favorite of mine. The dream of pairing him with Twin Adam doesn't seem like it'll ever happen but he's still brilliant. Needs a loan to max and he's a great rider for a PT team to pick up for a year. Or if we go CT he'd be a brilliant Hills leader... Decisions...
Stefan Hristov
4>M
4.100
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
71
63
63
66
71
69
67
75
65
71
69
64
66
72
63
63
66
73
70
68
77
66
71
69
64
66
Stefan is our second rider to Max with Red Bull (and might not be the last). Finally we can provide good support to Thomas (sorry Martin). Not exactly versatile but he's good at the one job we want from him, so that's nice.
Sven Fritsch
2>3
3.58
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
69
64
69
64
67
65
68
61
65
65
64
67
68
70
65
71
64
69
66
69
61
66
67
65
67
68
Luxembourg RR NC (suck it SN!) goes up a level. He's coming on nicely as a rider. Never going to set the world on fire but can be very dependable and has his role in the team even now.
Valentin Stoenchev
3>4
4.10
FL
MO
HL
TT
STA
RES
REC
CB
SP
ACC
FTR
DH
PRL
71
66
66
71
70
69
68
58
63
62
60
60
71
73
67
67
74
72
71
70
58
63
62
62
61
74
Valentin is in line to be our first 1>4.100 rider. He needs a loan to cement that status in our team and in Bulgarian cycling history. Not the best TT'er ever but he's useful in other ways and i love him to bits.
Stanimir Cholakov and Pavlin Balinski do not increase any levels. They were sacrificed to maximise the gains for more important riders in the team.
Will Need Loans: Yates, Alaphillipe, Stoenchev, Bardet (PT Teams, if you take one of ours we can take one of yours)
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
That´s some nice talents, I guess Ahlstrand and Ewan will fight against each others a lot in the future
Also great work/planning with getting him to that XP. (Well dont really know what he had before the season )
Many Scouting. Much Suggestions. Such Talent. Wow.
We might be relegating downwards to the CT and we might be undergoing serious structural changes for next season, but our scouting network has been hard at it discovering new talent!
They've been busy scouring the globe looking for hot additions and have come up with a shortlist of 15 riders we hope to see around next season. Obviously the scouts are suggesting their maximum abilities rather than waht they may be right now, as is the custom for the Man-Game.
ID
Surname
First Name
FL
MO
HL
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FT
DH
PL
Nat.
Cont.
XP Level
XP Points
D
M
Year
Pot.
X
Hammarling
Karl
77
59
70
71
77
75
70
82
74
75
77
84
73
SWD
EU
4
100
24
12
1993
7
X
Ferrand-Prevot
Paul
71
73
83
66
75
75
72
75
71
80
74
85
66
FRA
EU
4
100
10
2
1992
7
X
Garner
Liam
74
64
73
63
70
72
77
62
82
82
63
70
66
GBR
EU
4
100
20
9
1994
7
X
Barnes
Harry
70
60
64
65
70
70
75
65
80
82
66
65
65
GBR
EU
4
100
4
5
1993
6
X
Glaessner
Jamie
71
73
76
73
71
72
73
60
63
69
77
72
70
CAN
NA
4
100
8
7
1992
5
X
Wiles
Tyler
70
82
75
82
68
70
77
61
61
66
67
70
79
USA
NA
4
100
20
7
1989
7
X
Cromwell
Tim
75
69
77
68
74
75
74
76
75
77
74
71
72
AUS
OC
4
100
6
7
1988
6
X
D'Hoore
John
78
55
64
62
77
77
72
78
81
77
64
65
65
BEL
EU
4
100
14
3
1990
6
X
Le Court
Kim
69
72
76
60
68
70
71
62
68
68
76
70
61
MAU
AF
4
100
23
3
1996
5
X
Lepisto
Loki
75
53
64
62
73
73
73
65
79
79
61
65
65
FIN
EU
4
100
28
6
1989
5
X
Solovey
Hanryl
70
64
75
80
64
71
66
68
62
68
71
63
78
UKR
EU
4
100
31
1
1992
6
X
Longo Borghini
Elia
76
75
79
75
77
78
75
77
75
79
79
75
73
ITA
EU
4
100
10
12
1991
7
X
Niewiadoma
Katzik
66
79
74
70
70
71
70
54
60
70
71
71
68
POL
EU
4
100
29
9
1994
5
X
Moberg
Emil
67
65
75
75
66
68
68
70
75
75
70
66
75
NOR
EU
4
100
12
7
1991
5
X
Dideriksen
Anders
68
66
82
77
75
74
70
66
71
78
74
64
75
DEN
EU
4
100
24
5
1996
7
Karl Hammarling is just one of a whole family of cyclists. A hot young talent with a mixed nationality who we predict can win multiple Monuments in a real strong man fashion. Other family membesr include some sprinters in Johan and Kristian and a rather nice CX specialist in Mikel. Paul Ferrand-Prevot is going to be an all-time legend. Already a known quantity in both CX and MTB he's well on his way to multiple National and World titles in those disciplines, but the Road could just top that off. Laim Garner is already a known factor at a domestic level and whilst wins come in a variety of terrains it is all about his sprint for the future. Harry Barnes is similar but spending a few seasons in the USA has tuned him into one of the best Criterium riders around. Jamie Glaessner comes from the Big White North and whilst won't set the world alight is a driven and talented individual with a capactiy to challenge on many terrains is he can get away in a break. Tyler Wiles came pretty late into cycling. But my word is he making an impact picking up big wins in just a few seasons. The heights of the sport becon for the Phinney-esque individual. Tim Cromwell has a great all-round ability. Over hills cobbles and then in a sprint he's a force. How Tim has been ignored this long is an unknown as he'd be key and devastating in the lower levels. John d'Hoore had a breakout season this year making a real name for himself. More than just a quick sprinter he's as good on the pave as many and better than most. Shake him or watch him power past you at the line. Kim Le Court is a rarity out of Mauritius, MCB put us onto him as an option. Not the biggest talent ever but a great future option from the African nation who could surprise the established cycling powers. Loki Lepisto is a lightning finisher. Scandinavian teams are blazing trails in all divisions which just spurs him on to train and rider hard in hopes of being picked-up and putting Finnish cycling back on the map. Hanryl Solovey shocked all a year ago with a rapid rise that has slowed but not stopped. Originally seen as just a time trialist he's expanded his skills to become a decent puncher as well which has rocketed his value as Ukranian cycling hits a new golden age. Elia Longo Borghini could be the greatest Italian one-day racer ever given the chance. Talented on hills, on cobbles, in a sprint and ain't half bad against the clock or up a mountain pass. Comparissions to Coppi are inevitable for the wanna-be Campionissimo. Katzik Niewiadoma follows in the wake of several trailblazing Polish riders of recent years. A strong climber means a good future is there for the taking if the young rider is nutured properly in his first years. Emil Moberg won't set the world alight, especially not when you see some of the other Norwegian talents around. He wants to breakaway from them and forge his own path knowing he'll never be more than a helper if he goes there. Anders Dideriksen is our last shortlisted rider. No questions about talent here. A top notch puncher and time trialist, it's a combo that can't fail to bring points at any level of the sport in a few years time. An absolute find for any team that takes the chance.
Obviously we'd love to sign all these riders but that would never happen. We'll leave it up to the bean counters to sort our budgets and up to the UCI to see if they'll give any of them a top-level racing liscence. Best wishes to all those riders and the many more who didn't make out shortlist!
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
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