For this preview I want to take a look at the stars of tomorrow. Guys like Ewan, Herklotz and Mohoric are gone, but there's quite some talent left. Rathet than making the rankings as others have done, I decided to just write something about each team. The strengths, the weaknesses, what I like, what I don't like. I'm also keeping an eye out for real talents, even if they won't score this season.
I know this preview is a bit short and cannot be compared to the fantastic previews we already had. Still, I hope those who follow the U23 competitions like it. Please forgive me for any mistakes I may have made while writing this. And for those who don't know me, I can occasionaly be a bit harsh in my criticism. I like this part of the game pretty much, so if I don't like your team (and I can be very biased when it comes to not having cobblers), I will let you know. Please don't take it personal, I'm pretty sure you deserved it based on your team.
Please do not reply until all teams have been posted. Thank you.
Not a bad team with 2 pot 7 guys. Martinez has the highest TT stat in the U23 division, though that alone won’t score that much points. Nakano looks promising at first, but his poor back up stats makes me say he’ll never reach the top. Yifan might be the main point scorer, shared highest COB stat in the league, but his low RES stat will hurt him a lot. They will win a TT and score on the cobbles, what else can they do though?
Blue Water Youth Project (Leopard - Evonik Pro Cycling /Croatia14)
No less than 3 pot 7 guys here. Preciado looks like future gold. Boileau supported by Alves make an excellent puncheur duo, though the competition is really tough in that area. The same goes for Buchko and Vaclavik, they’re good sprinters, but not the fastest in the field. This team will have a solid but quiet season, and an awesome team next year.
Bora - Argon 18 Junior Team (Allianz Cycling Team / jaxika)
Here we have the first guy I can see to dominate the season. Mathias Rask Jeppessen is the highest HIL in the league and can add a strong sprint and decent backup stats to that. He’s already 22 and only pot 5, so he’ll never be a superstar, but he can win the solo title this year. Mohamad Arbe also looks like a promising stage racer, able to score good points on his terrain. Ngake and Stefan will score as well. Could definitely be a contender!
Canada Dry Dev Team (Sugoi - Xanterra / Selwink)
Another team with an outstanding puncheur duo, Tremblay with Huaman in support. Unfortunately, that’s the only area they’ll score. Lopez can sprint to a top 10 on occasion, but the rest of the team is very weak. No cobbler and nothing that can climb or time trial. No talent on the lookout either, so I’m afraid I have to say they’ll need a much better offseason next year if they want to have a season to look forward to.
Celesio Pro Cycling Development Team (Celesio Pro Cycling / mvhoogdalem)
Our first team that has been here for 4 years, but the days of Mohoric and Herklotz are long gone. Colombo is a good climber, shared highest MO stat in the league, but if there’s a time trial, he’ll lose that advantage very fast. Brus is the more all-round stage racer, so how will the peck order be? The rest of the team are just fillers, I’m afraid to say. Another team that will have to get some new talent in next year.
Centrica Cycling Academy (Bunzl - Centrica / brewers90)
Well, we have to give them credit for trying the long term approach. Chapman and Rose are ok riders in their own field, they will get a few points this season. The rest of the team isn’t that good, but with a few pot 6 guys of 20-21, they’ll take a big step forward next year. This year will be tough for them though, but when (and if) I make the 2018 preview, I will speak differently about them.
I’m sorry to say, but this is a team that shows very little ambition. Pizzi is an ok rider, only 20 and pot 6. He will do his stuff for this team and with the right training he’ll be really good next year. The guys behind him will need a very good day if they want to score points though. There is no real talent present either, so another team that will need a very good offseason to get something done.
Finair Development (SAP - Bianchi / trekbmc)
Breuer is another good stage racer, but it’s all really close in that area. I don’t see any of them dominate, so it can go either way. Mapenga and Petraitis are ok in their own field. Pauly looks promising as well. If only they had a cobbler, I could really like this team. If Breuer win a lot, they can get far, but most likely it’ll be a season in the middle of the division for them. Next year though, who knows.
Korup (Feryn Bikes / The Rider)
It’s been a while, but 2 more pot 7 guys here. And two good ones actually. Alemayo could become a good cobbler (don’t ask) and Kweuke looks good as a climber. They’re only 20 though, so they need some more time to develop. The team relies on their sprinters this year, Kalale and Enoh, and maybe puncheur Mwanawasa scores a bit as well. Probably not enough to get a lot of wins, but give this team another year and they’ll be where they want to be.
La Fundacion (Illes Balears / Shonak)
Juan Pulido, remember that name. He’ll be amongst the long list of riders trying to be the best stage racer this season. But only 20 and pot 7, we think he can go very far. No real weaknesses and with Cuadros he’ll have the perfect lieutenant when they race together. A lot of young talent otherwise and just look at those nationalities (7 ESP, 1 POR). I can only say, this is what a dev team should be.
Podravka Development Team (Vegeta Cycling Team / SSJ2Luigi)
Wow! I’m being blown away by the awesomeness of this team. Not only did they fill 10 spots, the only team to do so, they’re incredibly strong as well. Racz, Hajdu, Varro and Biro will dominate the mountains, Farkas and Maltar will do the sprints and Rumac everything in between. The extra numbers will give them an easy planning a well. Without any doubt, the strongest team and favourite to win the 2017 title.
PureBlack Racing (Santos - Euskadi / jandal7)
Woe to the team that follows after the favourite. But then again, I’m afraid to say that this team would be disappointing either way. Ventura is ok, but no more than that. The rest of the team is young, but no super talent. Given some time, they’ll get better, but the team really needs to make some changes if they want to win a big race. If they avoid the last place, it would be a good season already.
Reizen Waes - Pinkpop Development Team (Filliers - Mora Pro Cycling Team / Ollfardh)
A familiar looking team, must be because they’ve been here 4 years as well. Two pot 7 guys, especially Dumont looks incredible. Vanbutsel has shared highest cobble stat, but with better backup stats and Groen at his side. Pizarro, Gonzalez, Aleman and De Bruyn all ok riders on their own terrain. They will do excellent on the cobbles, but miss a second area with high results to win the title.
Specialised Development Team (Specialized World Cycling / Scatmaster111)
Wachter can be considered the fastest man in the league, with good enough backup stats. He has no train whatsoever though, which is a huge missed opportunity to dominate the sprints. Oomen and Schulze will get some results as well. Not good enough for the top, but they will get their wins. No big talents in the waiting room though, so if their leaders go to the pros, they have a problem.
Suntory Orangina (Suntory Lucozade Sport / DaveTwoBob)
Another pot 7 here, although I don’t like Crochet that much, his back up stats are lacking. Olesen is another member of the stage racers club, but again not the best back up stats. Romano and Castillo are solid riders as well, they’ll get some points as well. The strength of this team is that the domestiques are all very strong and should follow their leaders deep into the final. But are those leaders good enough?
Team PrivatBank (VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff / fjhoekie)
Climber madness here, with both Budyak and and Sklar have a shared highest MO stat ingame. Budyak also has the best TT of them, but that’s not saying much. The rest of the team is a bit of a letdown though, but you need to give them credit for sticking to their roots. But when both their leaders become pros next year (no doubt about that), they have nothing to replace them currently.
Saving the best for last? Maybe, because Peter Geissler is an absolute beast, as per team tradition. There’s nothing this man can’t do and he’s my second favourite to win the solo title, even though his support could be a bit better. Besides this future superstar, Peiffer covers the mountains, even if he lacks the time trial for the stage races. If these 2 pot 7 leaders score well, the league title will be very close.
Another great preview, thanks Ollfardh. I always follow the U23 races with curiosity and also like to do the races a lot. La Fundacion had a great setup last year with Navarro and VDP, the latter could have gone for one additional year but the long term development is more important than getting a trophy in the U23 rankings. Pulido may get some points this year but I don't expect too much from him tbh.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Juan Pulido, remember that name. He’ll be amongst the long list of riders trying to be the best stage racer this season. But only 20 and pot 7, we think he can go very far. No real weaknesses and with Cuadros he’ll have the perfect lieutenant when they race together. A lot of young talent otherwise and just look at those nationalities (7 ESP, 1 POR). I can only say, this is what a dev team should be.
Ahh, so close, but points knocked off for not having twins in the team. Get on my level.
Mr & Mrs Pugh are big fans of our project. So is Cycling New Zealand.
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
Just read through the first previews - many thanks to jandal and Croatia for doing that! The format of it is great and it's the kind of in-depth analysis that I was hoping might turn up before the season, mostly to remind me of who is in which team and who I should look out for to step up to the next level.
I don't share your optimism for TVM though. I'll be very surprised if we finish above the relegation zone to be honest. My main aim in the ICL is to provide a realistic and likeable team first, with the results hopefully following through steadily. That means I don't make as many tactical race selections and often fill my squad with riders who aren't the best choices stat-wise, instead focusing on team balance and sponsor focus (a bit like a CT version of Vegeta, IMO).
All excuses aside, we weren't strong enough at CT level to earn an automatic promotion. Boswell, Slagter, Van Baarle and especially Mollema were fantastic recruits, but we still really lack a top cobbles or sprint star which would guarantee WT points. I think we might be able to finish above Spark and hopefully 1 or 2 of Vegeta, Alitalia (maybe even Peugeot or Sugoi if everything goes right) but survival is still unlikely.
CT-wise I think Fiskars will easily win, but if they choose not to promote again then my tips would be Gaerne (finally), Lufthansa and the Ukrainians, with Cymru ahead of Coldeportes or Sevilla as best dark horse. Sad to see CCC might only reach mid-table, since they deserve the final WT spot as much as we do. Credit Suisse would have earned promotion in most past seasons but will likely just miss out with a lack of depth scoring.
jandal - "Pillsupthepoggio" is a fantastic nickname - I hope it sticks mate
PS: I'll cover the other previews soon guys, looking forward to reading them too.
The Rider wrote:
Baleares Could be a close battle down in the relegation places.
Now you scaring me.
I didn't mean it. My bad for not starting a new paragraph there!
--
Fantastic insight with Ollfardh putting in his views now! Everyone rating Korup high-ish this season, we will see how that goes. Heavily relying on sprints there, a win would be nice for Korup: 2 or more would be great. Probably have the best train for the sprints, yet they underwhelmed previously: hopefully no more!
Did Silvio even win a sprint last season in the U23 races? I remember he said like they'll dominate every sprint but can't remember a win of them. U23 is so random.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
am I just so out of touch with PCM at my age (lewl) that I have completely wrong expectations of my teams?
I fail to see that Valverde's decline puts me from solid midfielder to #1 favorite for relegation despite adding actual support for the leaders. this makes them better right?
also Podravka top favorite for U23? whut? for reals? how? did I make good U23 selections or did everybody else just make bad ones
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
am I just so out of touch with PCM at my age (lewl) that I have completely wrong expectations of my teams?
I fail to see that Valverde's decline puts me from solid midfielder to #1 favorite for relegation despite adding actual support for the leaders. this makes them better right?
Yes, because every team keeps the same roster and never improves, there also was no promotion, disbandments, training or development
Honestly, feel free to prove me wrong, just my opinion
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
Those Bongo, Indonesia and Akaroa startlists are beautiful, just great for us
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
Will try to be more active this time through the season.
I'm hoping for decent results in January. Ulissi will start his calendar in March so I think I will not score many points at the beginning, but still.
2 races with CCC riders in it:
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 21.01 - 27.01
With Santambrogio and Komisarek we are hoping that Komisarek in those 4 flat stages can finish inside top 10 on some of those. Mauro doesn't look as he is capable of finishing this race inside top 10 in GC, but one good result would be nice.
Christchurch - Akaroa 29.01
Team
AVG
HI
SP
AC
ST
RS
Nowaczek
Mateusz
74,3
76
69
71
72
68
Hoping for a Top 10 here which would be okay, but I will be very happy if Top 5 will happen.
Btw. I want Kittel to win his 4th Palm Classic, it could be... Classic.
I think I'm going to do previews like this for each month for my team.
matt17br wrote:
If Moser doesn't win Tropicale I fucking swear
You just did
Also, on it boss, will do!
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
Palm Classic 11.01 
Tour of Toowoomba 23.01 - 27.01 
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 21.01 - 27.01 
Tour d'Indonesia 14.01 - 19.01 
Christchurch - Akaroa 29.01 
Copa America de Ciclismo 11.01 
