SportingNonsense wrote:
Yes, it's great to see all the history in the pasts. Castaneda took full advantage of the 2011 season where, aside from Boonen and Bennati (85 Sprint at the time), a considerable amount of the best sprinters were in the 2nd division
And then I came and made it even easier by taking Bennati down to CT
With a small squad, and various race types to cover, experienced riders with good qualities on multiple terrains are an important consideration to provide appropriate depth/support at races throughout the season. WCC are delighted to introduce two new riders signed fro Free Ageny who offer great assistance both in the hills and on the cobbles in the shape of Sander Armee and Giovanni Visconti. Both riders are heading towards the twilight of their careers, but offer excellent versatility slotting into our hill and cobbles line-ups at 'man #3' and 'man #4' on both terrains. Both riders additionally bring a depth of experience from racing, placing and even winning at higher levels of competition. They will provide vital support whenever they pin a race number on throughout the season.
WCC were somewhat surprised to see that Sander Armee did not have his contract renewed with Euskaltel, and pounced to sign him up. At 32, most of his best years are behind him, but we believe he still has at least one year of good performances let in his legs. Sander has spent the last 4 seasons racing in the PCT, steadily accumulating ranking points, aiding team leaders, and contributing the occasional victory. The biggest results on his palmares is a stage and overall at the 2013 Tropical Amissa Bongo, with stage victories in prestiguous races like the Volta a Portugal and Tour de San Luis in more recent times. Sander links back up with David Boily having spent a succesful season working together in 2015 at RBC. He offers solid support in puncheur and cobbled races, and still maintains a rapid burst of acceleration and downhill prowess.
Sander Armee | Age:32| Belgian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,500
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
71
68
74
64
69
69
70
71
67
74
72
76
64
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2013
PCT
77
303
HTC Nieuwsblad
Profonde van Belgie 3
St 2, Tropicale Amissa Bongo
GC, Tropical Amissa Bongo
2014
PCT
165
117
Quickstep
2015
PCT
174
90
RBC Pro Cycling
St 11, Volta a Portugal
2016
PCT
216
58
Euskaltel
St 8, Tour de San Luis
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Also in the twilight years of his professional career, Giovanni Visconti has had a career with distinction, regularly featuring high up in the individual points ranking in both the PT and PCT for his various former teams. Undoubted road captain for both our hilly and cobbled squads, David Boily and Robert Bush will lean heavily on his experience and racing nous to hopefully guide them to success. He still packs a good punch on the hills and cobbles, always a useful combination. His stamina has stood him in great stead throguhout his career, and he still has the ability to engage top gear after a long day in the saddle, even if it has been slightly blunted with age.
Giovanni Visconti | Age:34 | Italian | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 50,050
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
71
63
74
68
74
68
66
71
62
71
75
61
68
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2010
PCT
45
424
Team Starbucks
St 7, FBD Insurance Ras
GC FBD Insurance Ras
2011
PT
45
722
Team Starbucks-Radioshack
St2, Tour de Suisse
2012
PCT
73
341
UniCredit
2013
PCT
125
180
Oz Cycling Project
2014
PCT
67
309
Oz Cycling Project
2015
PT
47
628
Oz Cycling Project
St 2 Omloop Het Volk
2016
PCT
172
82
Compal-Merida
St 10, Vuelta al Tachira
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Armee and Visconti have very similar race programmes, figuring in our 'Plan A' hills and cobbles units. As previously indicated the fit in as man #3 and #4 on both terrains.
In the hills, this will enable WCC to field a hill squad rated 78, 76, 74, 74, 73, 73 with a spread of ability to offer additional weight in more mountainous, flat or TT stages across these riders characteristics. On the cobbles, their input means WCC field a line-up of 78, 73, 71, 71, 69, 69; where Armee and Visconti both back-up their 71 on the cobbles with 74 on the hills to potentially provide leadership opportunities when the bergs become more dominant on the cobbles and limit Bush's chances.
Transfer news #7: More youth loaned out for 2017 season
The transfer summaries to date have been more or less in chronological order as they occured during the transfer window. At that stage of the cycle, team management decided that a full 'push-for-promotion' strategy was warranted given recruitment to that point. Hence a little bit of turnaround was required. We sold Thanawut Ankiwathi on as already indicated in order to free up his wage space for a rider with more ability to contribute now, although this was a short-term move of the type that we had hoped to avoid. Similarly, we had been keeping an eye out for loan possibilities for level 3 riders Emiliano Contreras and Salah Eddine Mraouni, as unlike compadre Clement Venturini, both would fall short of reaching level 4 by the end of the season on a CT calendar diet. If we could enter into a suitable wage sharing process, we were ready to let them focus on XP development for this season. Clement quickly found a new temporary home at PCT promotion challengers Orange Pro Cycling on suitable terms. An opportunity for Mraouni to join some ex-WCC colleagues at the Minions in the PCT was negotiated on terms too good to turn down; fully divesting of his wage contribution for the season in return for a straight cash settlement. This decision dug into the meagre budget being held back in the hope of providing a much needed hill stat bump to Robert Bush, but this sacrifice was considered worthwhile looking at the longer term big-picture.
Argentinian National RR Chanpion Emiliano Contreras is being groomed to take over JAC's sprinter role, as Emiliano maxes out just as Jaime Alberto starts to decline. A season spent racing together still sounds likely in 2019. Although not projected to have quite as high a top speed, Emiliano will be better able to defend himself in undulating and mountainous terrain, and has qualities well-suited to long stage races. Whether obtaining his 4.100 license will indicate his highest potential progress will largely be determined by future economics at WCC. Emiliano is looking forward to learning more about the detail elements of the sprint game working alongside Peter Kennaugh at Orange Pro Cycling, a man with plenty of victories on his palmares. We will also look to see how Emiliano copes with the U23 race calendar to get a view upon how he compares against his young peers.
Emiliano Conteras | Age:23 | Argentinian | XP 3.01 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 (half borne by Orange Pro Cycling)
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
68
64
67
63
71
71
68
59
73
76
73
67
70
When Maxed:
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
72
64
68
64
73
75
77
59
78
80
73
68
74
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2016
CT
243
14
World Cycling Centre
Argentinian National RR Champion
2017
PCT (Loan)
Orange Pro Cycling
Two-time and defending Moroccan National TT Champion, Salah Eddine Mraouni started his career as a stagiare with the PT Quickstep outfit in 2015 before signing his first full-time contract with WCC for 2016. Salah is developing into a domestique par-excellence given his future and indeed current strength on the flat and in the TT, while still being competent enough in all other terrains to be worthy of a supporting start slot. Seeing him in this support role has led management to slightly realign his future training plans to be more of an all-rounder while only slightly sacrificing his 'flat-beast' characteristics. We wish Mraouni good luck with the Minions in 2017, and give him strong assurance that we will either have a roster spot or PT loan for him in 2018 before settling down with WCC for the long-haul.
Salah Eddine Mraouni | Age:25 | Morrocan | XP 3.01 Pot (3) | Wage: 52,500
Simply incredible team of young prospects and top quality leaders with greatrider presentations too. You've done a top job putting this together and turning into possible title contenders!
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
Thanks Marco, glad you had a good sport for Mraouni, his year in PCT will see him return a much more seasoned rider.
@ IB You did have first option on a loan opportunity for Contreras to see him rider one season in his career for his most local team, but let it pass . In reality the present situation suits much better as he will manage to level up riding in PCT.
Transfer news #8: Rounding out the squad and filling gaps
The last tranasfer news indicated why and how we managed to loan out Mraouni and Contreras for the season to optimise development. This left roster space under the wage cap for two more FA riders, and we were keen to optimise the shape of our roster to best support our team leaders, even though by now the transfer window was winding down. Letting Mraouni depart short-term left a gap for a rider comfortable covering TT's and mile-eating on the front of the peloton. Scouring the riders still avaialble in Free Agency, we were surprised and delighted to see that a rider of the quality of Jay Thomson was still on the market, with additional benefit accruing through his potential to add depth in the hills. He was quickly snapped up! For the final roster spot, after much delieration and various consultations with wiser heads, it was decided to secure the best available remaining minimum wage lead-out rider to support the investment placed in the trio of JAC, Lay and Harrison with a dedicated lead-out presence. Although not meeting every criteria we would ideally envisage, with but days left in transfers, an excellent option was identified in ex-Metinvest - Decia stalwart Andriy Vasylyuk.
Defending South African ITT Champion Jay Thomson has bags of experience to draw upon from many years of professional life, including having completed the 3 GT in one season triple in his first professional season for the Unicef RT squad. Jay is a calming presence on pretty much every terrain except cobbles, and WCC are already well provided for in that context. He will have a heavy diet of hilly and flat stage races to digest, with the ocassional one-day hilly classic substituting for Armee or Visconti when they need to balance their own race programmes appropriately. Jay is a very welcome member of the squad for 2017, his versatility being a prized asset for the varied race programme all CT teams face.
Jay Thomson | Age:31| South African | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,050
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
73
65
73
74
72
69
74
52
65
68
74
67
72
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2010
PT
259
110
Unicef RT
2011
PCT
438
13
YouTube - Twitter
2012
PCT
505
11
Koppert Cycling Team
2013
Amateur
2014
PCT
246
67
Project: Africa
South African ITT Champion
2015
PCT
402
12
Project: Africa
2016
PT
271
111
Kenya Airways - Dimension Data
South African ITT Champion
2017
CT
World Cycling Centre
Ukranian Andriu Vasylyuk was the final permanent full-time addition to the WCC squad, and provides welcome support for our sprint cadre. He has spent 4 season riding for the now defunct Metinvest-Dacia squad in the PCT and laterly PT divisions. Although he has tasted only limited personal success, he has developed a solid reputation as a willing team-mate, and lead-out rider in particular. Andriy will fill the 'man #1' or #man # 2' sprint role depending upon the specifc race roster, and in the hope that WCC at times are deemed worthy of forming a lead-out train in the competitive CT sprint field. We think his characteristics should mean he is an excellent lead-out option in eithe train position given the context of CT-level competition.
Andriy Vasylyuk | Age:30| Ukranian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,050
'Good god, will he ever stop?' we hear you intone, and thankfully for the few dedicated readers, yes, this is the final wrap-up of transfer introductions from the 2017 season (all of which could be gleaned in 5 minutes looking at the most recent DB ).
With a main line-up finalised for the season, the finishing touches were applied by signing Jhonatan Restrepo to a stagiare contract, and bringing in young neo-pro Kasper Asgreen in on a wage-free loan from Carlsberg - Danske Bank.
Spoiler
Colombian youngster Jhonatan Restrepo seemed destined for a professional cycling career from a very young age when the village elders named him for his love of Rest, and re-synthesized EPO . No, let's maintain the normal fairly serious approach to these updates.
Colombian youngster Jhonatan Restrepo was an obvious stagiare choice for WCC given his national origins, and interesting development prospects. Of particular significance was identification of the potential to ensure he would level up even within the limitiations of a 15-day stagiare contract (which we hope we have correctly planned), hence keeping in lock-step of development with even his most feted peers. Although not at the top of the profession, Jhonatan has potential to develop as a worthy 'flat-beast', TT specialist, lead-out or hilly wildcard rider given his current stats. WCC management currently believe he will best fit WCC future needs by developing his puncheur skills, as is indicated in the stat block below. Jhonatan also adds to the contingent of WCC associated riders participating in the exciting new U23 calendar alongside Sanogo, Asgreen (loan in) and Contreras (loan out). Not as big a contingent as would have been possible last season where a full WCC team lined out at the Tour de L'Avenir, but still pleasing all the same.
Jhonatan Restrepo | Age:23 | Colombian | XP 2.50 Pot (4) | Wage: 15,050 (Stagiare contract)
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
68
64
69
69
67
66
70
55
69
69
62
67
69
When Maxed:
FL
MO
HI
TT
STA
RES
REC
COB
SP
ACC
FI
DH
PRL
71
67
76
70
72
69
73
55
70
73
66
68
70
Palmares
Season
Div
Rank
Points
Team
Victories
2017
CT (s)
World Cycling Centre
Danish neo-pro Kasper Asgreen was signed up by his 'local' MG team Calsberg - Danske Bank. No surprise given his nationality, or the marketing prospects from 'probably the best (green-canned) beer in the World', and a kid with a green Ass - a marketeers dream!
WCC were aware they would have a fair few unutliised RD's, so took the last-minute opportunity to play to our underlying development roots and assist our colleagues at C-DB by offering Asgreen a chance to take up a 50-60 day race programme that features outings ranging from C2 all the way up to HC. Combined with his U23 race calendar commitments, Asgreen will gain substantial invaluable experience in his first year of professional racing. Kasper may find himself at times asked to fill in on unfamiliar territory, but it is in the nature of all neo-pros to have to spend these apprentice years fetching bottles and rain-capes for more senior squad members before themselves graduating to having a neo-pro around to do their bidding.
(Note: We have refrained from providing a 'when maxed' line in Kasper's Palmares file as he is not contracted long-term with our organisation, so decisions on his future direction do not lie in our hands.)
Kasper Asgreen | Age:22 | Danish | XP 1.00 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 (Borne by owning team)
All of the riders having been introduced, it is now time to asses the strengths and weaknesses of the 2017 squad. I've really liked a number of other managers approach to breaking down their squad by terrain, so will 'borrow' this model!
Before doing so, we highlight some of our all-round thinking that underpins the approach used to put the WCC squad and calendar together. To more or less guarantee promotion to PCT (Which is this seasons overall defined goal), 1500 ranking points would appear to be the goal from examining the outcomes from the previous couple of CT seasons. We will be tracking our progress towards this target using a simple metric of requesting our riders combine to harvest 15 ppRD from [C2HC] races, and 10 ppRD from [C2] races (where less points on offer) and [C1/HC] races (where significantly higher levels of competition await). With a programme with 60 [C2HC} RD's and 60 at other events, this would equate to 1500 points exactly.
Note: It is our belief with the squad we intended to build (and at least partially succeeded) that there was less inherent risk and higher potential reward from f.e. attending 5 HC/C1 one-day races (5x2RD spend) than attending the Vuelta al Tachira (10 RD spend). Similarly for Langkawi, etc. This thought would have been different if we had been among the teams attracting the best stage race talent, but WCC believed that our best way forward was to concentrate on the other terrains.
Mountains
Yes, that's right, only one mountain riders in the dedicated mountain 'squad'! Ilia will do what he can for the team on the long steep passes, leading 12 RD's of mandatory [C2HC] racing at the Tour d'Andorra, Giro del Trentino and homerace the Colombian Venteaux. He will be joined by a rag-tag bunch of young riders needing experience, and whichever senior riders that had race days left over during the planning stage. We do not expect to reap many points from these 12 mountain dominated race days, but harbour hope that thrust into a leadership role, Ilia might overcome some of the spent 'mountain train' riders from our rivals and step above some of his peers to grab placings in the 15th-20th range. The others have free reign to get in the BotD, pick up mountain points if successfully making BotD, etc. If we come away from these races with any points, it will in fact be considered something of a bonus! This was a deliberate move from the get-go as outlined above, as we hope to make up for points lost in this terrain elsewhere.
Our target for the mountain 'squad', (i.e. from all our riders attedning these 12 RD's) is 36 points total (or 3 ppRD).
Puncheurs
This is hopefully an area of strength for WCC, with Boily a potential top 5 candidate pretty much everytime he contends in CT races. We have fingers crossed that on his day, podiums and even an occassional victory might not be out of the question. More difficult will be a string of C1 and HC races used to maximise his race day usage in favourable terrain. Less lofty placing ambitions are obviously harboured in those outings (recall the 10 ppRD ambition at higher level racing; Boily will have to make the biggest contribution towards this, but others also have opportunity to kick in).
Our second option for these races, and hence also a protected rider, or domestique-deluxe for Boily when required is Michael Rodriguez Galindo. The combination of Armee, Visconti, Koshevoy and Thomson act as the main support of this terrain. They will not regualrly all feature alongside Boily and Rodriguez Galindo, but generally at least 3 will depending upon best fit to terrain to be faced, and balancing races days (most difficult for Armee and Visconti who also feature as significant components of the 'cobblers' unit).
Our combined target for the puncheur squad (hence from the races that predominantely feature this terrain) is 550-600 points.
Cobblers
Our cobbles unit has a 3-pronged approach to the various races signed up for ranging from outings at HC-level through to C2 races. In typically hard, flat cobbled terrain, Robert Bush will lead. In cobbled races where a reduced (but still sizeable) bunch finish takes place, Sam Harrison will be best placed to maximise point scoring potential. When the terrain combines steep bergs and cobbles, Armee/Visconti will have a chance to either shine individually, or try and shepherd Bush/Harrison through the undulations. Previous seasons have shown that there is potential for scoring depth in the cobbled terrain under the right circumstances, and we believe all 6 riders have the opportunity to chip in towards the final points taget for the cobbled unit on their day.
As there are slightly less cobbled race days available, even when mining opportunities across the race classes (and hence also facing increasing levels of competition), we have set our cobbled squad a combined target for the races that feature this terrain to harvest 450-500 points.
Sprinters
Our sprint unit looks strong, but can they convincingly work together (and are they strong enough to please the PCM AI gods!). JAC and Lay are the obvious leaders; how they contend with hills will be of some importance given their weakness, but we believe that the majority of their key race days will feature limited undulations. Harrison spends the majority of his RD's attending cobbled events, but does have a smaller 'sprint' focussed component to his calendar as well, with one or two individual opportunities to shine, and also a couple of stage races supporting Castañeda and/or Lay (note we are not considering the contributions of riders across terrains in targets, f.e. Harrision's RD's at cobbled races only contribute to the cobbled target). There are a number of key meet-ups for the CT sprinters, both one-day and stage-race outings. There are also opportunities at various mixed terrain stage races for sprinters to compete on the flatter days. Hence we decided that having two primary options was worthwhile to cover the breafth of the calendar. We also have reliable riders who can act as lead-out options away from the few days when the 3 sprint 'stars' line-up together.
As a number of the sprint focussed stage races feature short time-trial events, we note that our sprint riders have decent charactersitics to defend and even improve their positions overall in these races using their (short) TT prowess.
Our combined target for the sprinter squad (hence from the races that feature this terrain, including individual stages in mixed terrain overall stage races) is 500 points.
You will note that WCC are not listing TT riders separately this season. This is by design, as we are not attending any one-day TT races, or any races that feature a TTT this year. This is a little unfortunate, but the clash of the Monterey TTT with the mandatory Tour d'Andorra for instance we felt was too limiting. Although unintentional, we would have quite a decent TTT unit (for CT racing) if it had been required. A basis for 2018! Vandousselaere is our one 'out-and-out' TT rider, and we look forward to seeing him perform in stage races where TT's occur, and hence contributing to the appropriate terrain target. He is the most obvious 'float' rider, stepping in and out of the various terrain squads, although is listed as part of the sprinter unit due to his higher RD count with that unit. The same could also be said for Quintero whose versatitlity sees him also have a very varied calendar, joining up with the various 'terrain-specialist' squads.
Complete team including loaned-out riders
NOTE: Rider wages listed is the cost on WCC's 2017 wage bill.
Although there may be criticism from some quarters that WCC have abandonded their development routes, we like to see it as just a scaling back in order to maximise this seasons 'push-for-promotion'. Nevertheless we have still managed to eke out a decent budget to continue to support our most promising development riders with loan-out positions for the season as you can see listed above, and have also integrated Venturini and Sanogo into the 'push-for-promotion' squad. The introduction of Restrepo as a stagiare is also welcome looking to the future.
So to conclude by re-examining the point total target, the lower end target achieves 1536 ranking points. The upper target range indicates 1636 ranking points. Our 'push-for-promotion' target is ambitious, but we hope achievable with a little good fortune along the way. Then again, identifying specific points targets could well be shown up as little more than a hand-waving exercise when the racing gets underway! As an example, in our inaugural 2016 racing season WCC management assessed a 950-1000 point target and achieved just over 900, so falling a little short. We have suitably tweaked our intenral thinking from this lesson, although the step from 900 points one season to 1500+ the next is a massive one to achieve.
We will try to keep track of how we are progressing versus the basic ppRD targets identified here at/in the WCC HQ to suitably manage our own and external expectations as the season evolves. We are hoping for success, and hence being able to realign back towards our wider development goals in 2018.
Edited by Scorchio on 09-10-2017 00:21
Great review of your team. Promotion should be achievable, although I predicted you to finish 8th, but imo the zone between 4th and 8th will be really close and will be decided by little details.
Really like your HQ, one of my favourites currently And not for being one of the few who actually uses my MG Wins List
That was a big amazing in-depth analyses. As revealed you are my title favourites, and your thoughts and planning seem to more and more justify that, eventhough I'll hate your HC appearances already. Let's see whether Bush will be a pain for Polanc as he was for Drucker. Both more failed hand in hand in C1 though last year, so I hope it goes better for you this year (beind Polanc of course ).
Thanks guys. Will try and get time to do a full calendar reveal tomorrow (Monday my time), although lots of hints have now been dropped!
Spoiler
EDIT: Oh, and in passing, as in previous seasons, I believe closer to, or even surpassing 2000 ranking points will be needed for CT standings victory, hence why WCC rule ourselves out of it in favour of others.
Re: The cobbled unit in C1 races: WCC were quite close to the 10 ppRD target laid out last season relying on Bush, Naesen, Backaert and Clifford. Believe Bush, Harrison, Visconti and Armee is a stronger all-around unit. Then again the PCT isn't standing still either in the mean-time! Polanc being an excellent example of the quality opposition that won't be too worried by WCC on the start list, looking more towards their PCT peers. We aren't going to be challenging for victories in PCT level-races, just mopping up as many points from lesser/minor placings as possible!
As it does, life has got in the way of MG for the WCC management the last few weeks. Had masses of time for MG, then none! Should slowly be able to ramp back up again. Priorities are:
1) Get HQ up to date now that racing started.
2) Still have the bones of a PCT preview to complete fleshing out and post -obviously this is now coming after season has started, but all positions already decided upon, and will post as is without re-calibrating to the fact that racing has started.
3) MG GT watch will return to business once the above are in order. This isn't such a time pressed issue given how far away the GT kick-off is. Nevertheless, PT teams now have the opportunity to start to contribute re: line-ups/hype/banter, etc. if they choose now that racing started, so I assume the hold out PT scheduler is complete.
Great to see such a lot of progress has occurred of late (Now time to catch up!). .
The World Cycling Centre allowed a number of the teams riders to interrupt pre-season training camps to participate in various Continental Championship races; it is of course a great honour for any rider to represent their country at such prestigious events!
First up was Belarussian Ilia Koshevoy who indicated he is in fine form for the start of the season finishing in the front group over a mountainous circuit, finally sprinting to 11th in the small bunch finish.
Continental Championships European 'B' RR
11
Ilia Koshevoy
Belarus
s.t.
Next up were various individual time-trial events. In the African contest, Jay Thomson (generally considered an outsider for the top 10) had a stonking ride to claim the silver medal. "I was on a 'float' day, it felt like I hardly needed to press on the pedals and I was flying along". Even more surprising to the pundits was the victory by little fancied Lotto Petrus, and no-show by the pre-race favourites. Team managment are delighted that Jay has this opportunity for some personal glory before taking up team duties for the majority of the season. Developing riders Mraouni (loaned-out to Minions) and Sanogo gave decent accounts of themselves in a discipline not yet best suited to their talents. Mraouni does harbour ambitions to develop further as a tester, and was pleased to have the opportunity to experience such a major event as part of his cycling education.
Thomson crosses the finish line in a spectacular time!
Continental Championships African ITT
2
Jay Thomson
South Africa
+'13
19
Salah Eddine Mraouni
Morocco
+ 58
31
Abou Sanogo
Ivory Coast
+ 1'04
Next up was the American ITT race. WCC only had one representative, Flavio De Luna (loaned-out to Gazelle for the 2017 season). Obviosuly inspired by his team-mate Thomson's efforts earlier in the day, De Luna also had a fantastic ride to 6th place overall, displacing multiple riders more recognised for their TT prowess. He was so shocked to achieve such a result high-up on the standings that he at first had no idea that this would qualify him to participate for the Americas in the Inter-continental TTT event, enabling him to race with cycling luminaries such as Taylor Phinney.
De Luna proudly racing in Mexican colours
Continental Champioships American ITT
6
Flavio De Luna
Mexico
+ 1'25
That completed the ITT events. With mountainous courses selected for the various CC parcours in the 2017 season, this does not fit well with the WCC roster. Nonetheless a number of riders received call ups and worked hard for team-mates as well as there own chances.
Continental Championship African RR
78
Salah Eddine Mraouni
Morocco
+ 18'01
121
Abou Sanogo
Ivory Coast
+ 37'34
Continental Championships American RR
22
David Boily
Canada
+ 5'59
72
Flavio De Luna
Mexico
+20'13
Finally, Jay Thomson (Africa) and Flavio De Luna (Americas) took great pleasure in representing their respective continents, relishing the opportunity to integrate with some fo the top riders in the world in this unique TTT event. Jay finished strongly in the five counters for Africa, backing up his medal performance in the ITT event. De Luna gave everything he had, only tailing off in the final metres when it was clear that the Americas squad would safely have five counters at the line. Even as professional cyclists, both riders were massively enthused by their experience as part of the Intercontinental face-off.
Belgian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,500 
Italian | XP 4.100 Pot (6) | Wage: 50,050 
Argentinian | XP 3.01 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 (half borne by Orange Pro Cycling) 
Morrocan | XP 3.01 Pot (3) | Wage: 52,500 
. In reality the present situation suits much better as he will manage to level up riding in PCT.
South African | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,050 
Ukranian | XP 4.100 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,050 
. No, let's maintain the normal fairly serious approach to these updates. 
Colombian | XP 2.50 Pot (4) | Wage: 15,050 (Stagiare contract) 
Danish | XP 1.00 Pot (5) | Wage: 50,000 
