Rothaus - Aegon wants to say thanks once again for the 2012 loan deal of Ben Hermans.
We hope that he will have collected some nice experience and comes back even stronger than before. He should be some kind of super domestique for Ponzi now and maybe we will see him taking a win in 2013 as well. Something he unfortunately wasn`t able to reach in 2012.
He was always a good leader for our team and did pretty well in most races. Our young riders learned a lot from him and will be much stronger this season.
So good luck for him and your team in the 2013 season and maybe we will face each other again in future.
A short resume of his 2012 palmares:
5th overall, Tour of Turkey
4x top10, Tour of Turkey
8th overall, Tour of Wellington
3x top10, Tour of Wellington
16th, GP Lugano
3x top10, Volta ao Algarve
14th overall, Volta ao Algarve
17th, Classique de Grand Duche (Pro Tour)
10th, Manx International
10th, Vattenfall Cyclassics (Pro Tour)
11th, Paris - Tours
Btw: Great jersey. Really like the contrast.
Edited by roturn on 25-10-2012 09:54
AMEXpc would like Wiggle to consider the possibility of loaning Mattia Cattaneo to AMEXpc on the PCT.
Attempting to advance his experience while on the PT would consume valuable race days with little team benefit on the 2013 tour. Riding on the PCT Cattaneo would be able to advance faster and further and give him valuable riding time as team leader for a young PCT team.
Look at these numbers:
Let's assume we have 50 race days to work with
On the PT Cattaneo would need 26 race days to attain lv3
Then in his reamaining 24 days he could push to 3.48
On the PCT Cattaneo would just need 11 race days to attain lv3
Then in his reamining 39 days he could reach 3.60
We hope this sounds interesting to Wiggle.
Edited by Mhaley45 on 05-11-2012 15:16
Rumours continue to build surrounding the upcoming transfer season. With no one really sure of what the future holds for any team or rider, the management at Wiggle Professional Cycling Team can only announce their decisions with regard to their own riders.
Pending contract renewals, and potential fees, riders who seem to be eager to leave on transfers to new teams are headed up by Jaroslav Popovych. Keen to follow in the footsteps of his country man, Oleksandr Martynenko is also looking to leave. With a strong focus from new teams on Eastern European countries, both riders are likely to find a berth on a new team. Vladimir Bileka, however, is unlikely to find any new team, considering he was pretty much "over the hill" last season. He won't be attracting a new contract from Wiggle.
The inevitable has occured. Leonardo Bertagnolli, having been on the team since the current management took over the team, has reached such as age as to consider retirement. With young riders such as Chiaffredo Grippo growing in stature upon the team, Bertagnolli's domestique role is no longer required. A sad day for the Wiggle team. Likewise, Rinaldo Nocentini, whilst joining the team later, has provided Wiggle with many great results and it is a sad day to have to say good bye to him as well.
Aleksandr Kuschynski came into the team late last season to fill a spot on the Northern Classics team. Not, it must be admitted, a hard spot to fight for, he did provide a suitable rider for the terrain he raced upon. He will not be offered a new berth on the team. Age is certainly against him.
Two more Eastern European riders, Blaz Jarc, and Grega Bole, were brought in to boost the numbers in the team, especially for the early season three race clash between Paris - Nice, Tirreno - Adiatico and Volta a Catalunya. Bole outshone himself at Paris - Nice, before returning to general obscurity for the remainder of the season. Both were close to being shown the door before Bole managed to clinch the Slovenian National title. Ensuring, at the very least, a space for both riders on Wiggle Professional Cycling Team. Hopefully both will find a space on a team more suited to their talents, and closer to home, where they will be truely appriciated.
When Wiggle Professional Cycling Team was originally set up, the team prided itself upon hiring a select bunch of British Talent. Since then, it's defended those riders, and ensured their financial and cycling futures on the team. Always the first to be re-signed, it has never looked like certain riders would ever lose their spots on the team. However, with the new direction professional cycling is taking, and the considerable lack of Pro Tour points brought in by a couple of brothers, there looks like there might be a couple more spots for some Brits on the team.
The Rowes, whilst being perfectly suited to previous seasons, securing victories in the Giro, as well as a National Championship title, have struggled this past season. Between them, with a wage bill in excess of 500,000, and a points score similar to that of two domestiques, the management is at their wits end. It remains to be seen whether just one will be sold, or both, but it depends entirely upon the bids apparently.
Is it Matt's, or Luke's, signature that is up for grabs?
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team are excited about the coming season. With a renewed focus on Italian races, and a potentially stronger one day squad, it seems obvious which Goals were to be chosen by the sponsors.
Winning the longest monument of them all, Milan - San Remo would be, without a shadow of a doubt, the team's best result. Period. And that is the aim for this season. Ponzi, Ignatiev, Hermans, Caruso will all likely feature for the team, though quite who will appear the strongest on the day is anyone's guess. As long as we win, the management don't really mind!
In preparation for winning, Ponzi will be aiming to go one spot higher in Tirreno - Adriatico this season, with a Top 3 on the cards. The team will also attempt to get a podium position at the end of the season at the Giro di Lombardi. Both equally achievable goals if the luck goes our way!
As always, stage success at this years Giro d'Italia is a must. And the team is likely to return to a native squad made of purely Italians. Cattaneo will certainly be returning after his debut with Vespa last season, as will Cataldo, and Costagli. It remains to be seen if Ponzi will turn up, with one day races and shorter tours potentially being a bigger focus for him.
After another long season, Wiggle hopes to finish in the Top 10 of all the teams in the Pro Tour, though with more competition this season, that could be tricky.
Edited by rjc_43 on 25-11-2012 21:34
Expected goals, you have absolutely lovely squad for the hilly monuments, shorter tours and stage-hunting and these goals should have been nicely achievable, good luck in that.
And be aware, that Team Metinvest is here, interested in italians both on transfer and loan, apart from that long-term target.
In a bit of a retraction to previous statements, Wiggle Professional Cycling Team have had to let go excess riders, and have expressed their deepest regrets in not being able to help those riders find new homes. Hopefully all will find a new team for the season, on a much better wage than they would have had had an agreement been reached between team and riders.
Released with immediate effect are:
Leonardo Bertagnolli Rinaldo Nocentini Grega Bole (National Road Champion Blaz Jarc Vladimir Bileka Oleksandr Martynenko Aleksandr Kuschynski
On a positive note, all other riders have been re-signed on (what the management call a farce) heightened contracts.
Key for next season's continued leadership role, Simone Ponzi has received an increased contract compared to previous years, whilst Yaroslav Popovych was happy to accept a lesser deal in preparation for his move away from the team. Mikhail Ignatiev was also happy to accept less, in recognition of his poor last season.
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team wish to announce to the cycling world just whom on the team are available for transfers.
After a moderately successful season, the team realise that to achieve more, new talent needs to be brought in, and riders whom no longer fit in need to be found new teams.
As has been long known, Yaroslav Popovych is on the way out of the team after just one year. Also rumoured to be leaving, should the price be right, are brothers Matt and Luke Rowe. Although both accepted lesser contract renewals, concern over their ability to perform at the Pro Tour still remains. Apparently other Brits are available for loans and transfers. In fact, some Italians are also up for loans.
Looking to Leave: Yaroslav Popovych Matt Rowe
Likely to Leave: Luke Rowe Russell Hampton Richard Tanguy
For the Right Deal: Ben Hermans Jonathon Tiernan-Locke
Possible Loans: Matteo Cattaneo Moreno Moser Scott Thwaites
Team Metinvest-Emirates could be very much interested in bringing in mentioned Italian youngsters on loan, as we admire the italian cycling and want to possibly help the development of their abilities. Both can be strong domestiques for our team, Cattaneo even more.
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team are exceptionally pleased to announce the end of their transfer period. Within 48 hours of starting to search for riders available to join the team, the management feared the very worst, but after a 24 hour period of frantic contact with other teams, riders and agents, the luck appeared to turn around.
Remaining with the team for the coming season are:
Luke Rowe Tom Diggle Steven Burke Scott Thwaites [out on loan] Andrew Fenn Paolo Scarponi Simone Ponzi Damiano Caruso Paolo Locatelli Stefano Locatelli [out on loan] Marcello Pavarin Daniele Ratto Moreno Moser [out on loan] Chiaffredo Grippo Teodoro Costagli Mattia Cattaneo Mikhail Ignatiev
Having left the team, we wish the following riders good luck:
Jaroslav Popovych Richard Tanguy Russell Hampton Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Matt Rowe Dario Cataldo Ben Hermans
But to replace those riders, we hired, bought, and loaned in:
Adam Blythe Mark Christian [out on loan] Rob Partridge [loan] Marco Zafferani Adrian Malori Alfredo Balloni [loan] Andrea Palini [loan] Matteo Rabottini Andrea Dal Col [out on loan] Jan Ghyselinck Michael Schar Marcel Wyss Maxim Belkov [loan]
A total of 25 riders will race in Wiggle's team colours this coming season, with the focus remaining on the classics. Now expanding from just the hilly variety into those cobbled hard man races as well. Having hired a handful of time trial specialists as well, the team expects times against the clock to fall, with Italian riders hopefully showing on the world stage in the race against the clock once more.
Although this season saw the departure of Ben Hermans, the longest standing member of the Wiggle team. As part of the deal for Hermans to leave, Marcel Wyss has joined. Wyss aims to take over from where his brother left off at the end of the first season when current management took control of the team.
I remember your team as one of the most active from last season's Paris - Roubaix. It will be interesting to see what Blythe can do together with Fenn and Rowe on the cobbles. Definitely looking forward to see them ride East Midlands Cicle Classic, which I think is the biggest chance for them to surprise Boonen, Bewley, Burghardt and Cancellara.
Luke Rowe
10.03.1990
Sprinter
€330,000
2008 ~ Amateur
2009 ~ Wiggle - Premier Inn
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2009 Best Result:
2.1 - Tour du Faso - 1st GC
2010 Best Result:
1.1 - Scandinavian Open - 1st
2011 Best Results:
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 1st Stages 5, 9 & 10
1.HC - East Midlands CiCle Classic - 1st
1.NC - British Road Race Championships - 1st
2012 Best Results:
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 4th Stage 10
2.GT - Tour de France - 4th Stage 13
1.PT - GP de Fourmies - 8th
2013 Results:
1.PT - East Midlands CiCle Classic - 8th
Simone Ponzi
17.01.1987
Puncheur
€510,000
2009 ~ Amateur
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2010 Best Result:
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 1st Stage 7
2.HC - Tour of Britain - 1st GC
2011 Best Results:
2.PT - Tirreno-Adriatico - 1st Stages 1 & 7
1.1 - Giro di Lago di Garda - 1st
2.HC - Tour of Britain - 3rd GC
2012 Best Results:
2.PT - Vuelta a la Region de Murcia - 1st Stage 1
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 1st Stage 8, 16th GC
1.PT - Seine - Marne - Seine - 2nd
1.MN - Giro di Lombardia - 4th
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team 2013 Protected Riders
Damiano Caruso
12.10.1987
Puncheur
€110,000
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
Paolo Scarponi
25.11.1989
Climber
€70,000
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2010 Best Result:
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 81st GC
2011 Best Result:
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 88th GC
2012 Best Results:
2.PT - Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - 1st KoM
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 35th GC
2.GT - Vuelta a Espana - 36th GC
2.GT - Tour de France - 45th GC
2013 Results:
- -
Tom Diggle
18.04.1988
Puncheur
€64,000
2009 ~ Wiggle - Premier Inn
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team 2013 British Domestiques
Scott Thwaites
12.02.1990
Classics
€0/€50,000
2011 ~ Neo Pro
2012 ~ CycleVox [Loan]
2013 ~ [Loan]
2012 Best Result:
1.PT - East Midlands CiCle Classic - 109th
Steven Burke
04.03.1998
Time Trial
€50,000
2011 ~ Waghlon's Wackos
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2011 Best Result:
- -
2012 Best Result:
2.PT - Tour of Qatar - 117th GC
2013 Results:
- -
Andrew Fenn
01.07.1990
Classics
€85,000
2010 ~ 100% ME [Loan]
2011 ~ Carmeuse Cyclisme [Loan]
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2010 Best Result:
2.1 - Tour du Faso - Stage 2 GC leaders jersey, 4th GC
2011 Best Result:
1.PT - Gent Wevelgem - 20th
2012 Best Results:
1.PT - Omloop Het Volk - 11th
1.MN - Paris - Roubaix - 9th
2013 Results:
- -
Rob Partridge
11.09.1985
Puncheur
€50,000/€5,000
2012 ~ Rapha Condor
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team [Loan]
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team 2013 Italian Domestiques
Chiaffredo Grippo
03.06.1987
Puncheur
€50,000
2009 ~ Amateur
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2010 Best Result:
1.1 - GP Llodio - 10th
2011 Best Result:
1.1 - Bloemfontein Classic - 16th
2012 Best Result:
2.PT - Tour of California - 2nd Stage 1
2013 Results:
- -
Paolo Locatelli
04.11.1989
Puncheur
€50,000
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2010 Best Result:
2.1 - Ster Elektrotoer - 2nd King of the Mountains
2011 Best Result:
2.U23 - Tour de l'Avenir - 25th GC
2012 Best Results:
1.MN - Ronde van Vlaanderen - 63rd
2.PT - Tirreno - Adriatico - 57th GC
2013 Results:
- -
Daniele Ratto
23.01.1989
Rouleur
€50,000
2010 ~ Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2011 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2012 ~ Wiggle - San Pellegrino
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2010 Best Result:
1.1 - Giro dello Romagna - 17th
2011 Best Result:
2.1 - Tour of the Channel Islands - 8th Stage 2
2012 Best Result:
1.PT - Gent Wevelgem - 59th
2013 Results:
- -
Mattia Cattaneo
25.10.1990
Stage Racer
€255,000
2011 ~ Neo Pro
2012 ~ Vespa [Loan]
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2012 Best Results:
2.GT - Giro d'Italia - 46th GC
2.PT - Tour de Suisse - 56th GC
2013 Results:
- -
Adrian Malori
28.01.1988
Time Trialist
€55,000
2012 ~ Milka
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2013 Results:
- -
Andrea Palini
16.06.1989
Puncheur
€50,000/€0
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team [Loan]
2013 Results:
- -
Alfredo Balloni
20.09.1989
Time Trialist
€50,000/€0
2012 ~ Vespa
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team [Loan]
2013 Results:
- -
Matteo Rabottini
14.08.1987
Puncheur
€100,000
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
2013 Results:
- -
Marco Zafferani
15.12.1987
Northern Classics
€50,000
2013 ~ Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
No recent news from Wiggle Professional Cycling Team in the past season has caused much concern for some within the cycling world, but has, for others, caused much relief. No news is, of course, sometimes, good news. In this case however, it may not be the correct saying.
After one glaring error followed by another throughout the season, the team's goal of attaining a top 10 finish by the season's end looks unlikely. Not only this, but it seems the manager has been embezzling funds set aside to keep friendly links with other teams, and especially in helping train those riders, and has been using said funds to finance his high rolling lifestyle as a luxury carpet sweeper. Something it is said he holds "close to his heart".
Clearly, with such an abstract manager whose true focus no longer remains on running the team, the sponsors cannot be happy with the current state of affairs. Rumours of upheaval and renaming of the squad are abound, along with the strict punishments expected for breaking previously agreed contracts.
One thing does remain certain however, and that is that the team will remain built around Simone Ponzi, though a much reduced squad is expected once more, to compact the team and to enable correct support of the riders throughout the season. A refocus upon classics, rather than attempting to expand into a time trial region may occur, though who this will cause to leave the team is anyone's guess.
If that means Malori will be available, it's rather interesting news.
Interesting quote talking about reducing the squad, it'll be worth following which guys you cut.
You'll have a shitload of free salary cap if you don't keep Ignatiev, so it's exciting to see who you'll target as well.
Edited by cio93 on 26-11-2013 22:59
Team Metinvest-Emirates would like to say thank you to friendly manager rjc43 and his Wiggle team for taking care of Andrea Palini and his cycling development in 2013. Despite some smaller issues the loan went well in the end and it was a good experience for Andrea.
There might be a chance that Andrea will be again looking for a PT loan for one more year, he should even be the more worthy teammate this year, with his great improvment in the hilly terrain.
With that in mind, we are always looking forward to talk with our friends at Wiggle, important partner to our italian side focus. Even more when they have such an interesting riders like Adrian Malori or even mister master Ignatiev. It also seems that Wiggle would use someone like Nolan Hoffman to improve their sprinting squad for 2014 PT competition.
We will always be keen to hear options from Wiggle manager.
Jaroslav Popovych. Keen to follow in the footsteps of his country man, 
Leonardo Bertagnolli, having been on the team since the current management took over the team, has reached such as age as to consider retirement. With young riders such as 
Aleksandr Kuschynski came into the team late last season to fill a spot on the Northern Classics team. Not, it must be admitted, a hard spot to fight for, he did provide a suitable rider for the terrain he raced upon. He will not be offered a new berth on the team. Age is certainly against him.
Blaz Jarc, and 
Rowes, whilst being perfectly suited to previous seasons, securing victories in the Giro, as well as a National Championship title, have struggled this past season. Between them, with a wage bill in excess of 500,000, and a points score similar to that of two domestiques, the management is at their wits end. It remains to be seen whether just one will be sold, or both, but it depends entirely upon the bids apparently.
Mikhail Ignatiev was also happy to accept less, in recognition of his poor last season.
Ben Hermans
Paolo Scarponi
Michael Schar
