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[PT] Evonik - ELKO | 2022
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| knockout |
Posted on 28-08-2022 20:03
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
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cunego - Fully agree, it hurt to sell Dzamastagic, Budenieks and Borisavljevic to fit him in but he is a great signing that fits my plan well. Starting next season, he should be a valuable asset that can deliver almost immediately.
Ezee - Thanks for the nice words. Glad you were so willing to take him on loan for the first year and hopefully he can have some first highlights with you already.
Fabianski - I guess i have to accept being a stage racing team now. Regarding Plapps lack of explosiveness, i'm still unsure which path i prefer. I like the 79/78/73 one to get at least some additional explosiveness but the straight stage racer path has its advantages too. There are other options as well that i didnt list in the table where he could e.g. get 79/78/74. So many options... Will be a tough decision by the end of the season.
jandal Compared to them, everyone is a complete steal. I kinda disagree on the best talent signing, that has to be Skjelmose. But i've got a pretty good one at a reasonable wage so I'm very happy with the outcome of my rebuild.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 00:38
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 29-08-2022 04:12
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Tour de France Champion
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I certainly hope you're right that Skjelmose was the better value this transfer season, but no doubt that Plapp is the superior rider. As inflation dies down, he will be a force to reckon with. Nevertheless, I hope to make my Dane as competitive as possible in those duels!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| redordead |
Posted on 29-08-2022 08:08
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Grand Tour Specialist
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The team looks setup to challenge the top of PT for many years to come 
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 29-08-2022 09:38
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Classics Specialist
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Lecuisinier and MAL is an insane leading duo. Combine that with a relatively cheap top talent signing in Plapp and the great regional signings early on in the window, and you might actually have a shot of staying in PT for another year  For real though, looking forward to the Wilco - MAL battles and the PHL planning.
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-08-2022 12:05
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Grand Tour Champion
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BBL - Plapp seems the slightly better rider once maxed but i have little doubt that Skjelmose is a higher training priority for you than Plapp might be for me. But a lot can change till then...
red - I sure hope thats the case 
Nemo - Finally a realistic assesment of the squad strength this year
 Olli Kulppi (31)| FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | | 73 | 59 | 67 | 61 | 73 | 69 | 69 | 77 | 65 | 70 | 63 | 70 | 60 |
A third rider arrives through transfer deals to our squad: Olli Kulppi returns to Evonik. He already was part of the team in our debut PT season in 2016 when Valio - DeLaval loaned him to us. He joins us from Carlsberg - Danske Bank where he had agreed to a 50,000 euro contract.
Olli is a cobbler that is quite specialiced on these races. He prefers long flat roads with cobblestones and not much else. He is a much needed reinforment to our cobbles team and will assist Polanc and Neilands as well as possible..
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 29-08-2022 12:07
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World Champion
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Cool to see Kulppi return to the team where he was once a young calf on loan!
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
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-08-2022 12:08
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Grand Tour Champion
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jandal7 wrote:
Cool to see Kulppi return to the team where he was once a young calf on loan!
Moosic to my ears
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 29-08-2022 12:57
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Big moves, big team, maybe this is the year! unfortunately, lack of Zalgiris legends makes it an impossible task, even with someone like Lecuisinier 
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-08-2022 14:45
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Grand Tour Champion
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Joined: 21-12-2010
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quadsas - This is the year for what? Title attempt? Nah...
Free Agent Signing #9, #10
 Piotr Havik (28)| FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | XP | | 75 | 62 | 69 | 64 | 73 | 72 | 63 | 71 | 69 | 68 | 73 | 69 | 63 | 4.14 | | 77 | 62 | 69 | 64 | 74 | 72 | 65 | 72 | 71 | 70 | 73 | 69 | 63 | 4.100 |
We are always looking for ways to improve so we are active till the very end of transfers. On the final day, Piotr Havik signs a 50,000 contract with us.
Piotr is a rouleur who can cobble well. He has a solid sprint finish and can survive shorter hills too. This all-round skill set can be very useful in the future and in the present.
Sakari Lehtinen (29) | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | | 67 | 75 | 73 | 65 | 72 | 69 | 70 | 60 | 65 | 67 | 67 | 70 | 60 |
Our final signing of the season and we once again scouted in Finland: Sakari Lehtinen was only approached in the final minutes of the transfer window. He signed a contract worth 50,000.
Lehtinen is another proper climber for our squad who can fill our squad in the mountains and hills. The main reason for his signing is to strengthen our climbing support for Lecuisinier so you can be sure that he will ride a large chunk of his schedule with our star transfer.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-08-2022 20:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
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Aero Training for Lecuisinier
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier used the off-season for extensive research in a windtunnel. He made various small tweaks to his body position that reduce the aerodynamic drag when he's racing alone on the road. We think this effort should help his chances to win the Grand Tour of our choice.
| FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | OVR | | 2021 | 71 | 85 | 75 | 77 | 78 | 80 | 79 | 65 | 67 | 74 | 65 | 70 | 77 | 81,29 | | | | | ↓↓↓ | | | | | | | | | | | 2022 | 71 | 85 | 75 | 78 | 78 | 80 | 79 | 65 | 67 | 74 | 65 | 70 | 77 | 81,35 |
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| SotD |
Posted on 29-08-2022 20:32
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Damn straight!
Although this means that you paid 1,4 mio too little for him
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 29-08-2022 20:43
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The luxury of spending a couple of millions to get a rider, and then still having more than a million left to train him - welcome to the PT top class 
The training obviously makes PHL even more of a beast, and I guess with that minor OVL increase you don't lose any RDs ^^
Have fun seeing him in action!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 29-08-2022 20:45
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World Champion
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SotD wrote:
Damn straight!
Although this means that you paid 1,4 mio too little for him
Just means that the next guy owes knockout 5.7m + a top 10 GT rider
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
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 30-08-2022 02:12
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Directeur Sportif
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Lecuisinier becomes an even bigger favourite for the GT win this season, not that it was ever in doubt. Awesome stuff!
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 30-08-2022 13:53
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Classics Specialist
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Happy to help you get this final bit of training over the line PHL is an absolute beast!
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| knockout |
Posted on 30-08-2022 15:31
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Grand Tour Champion
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SotD - You got too much if i only could do one minor training. And that training was only possible because i had to start the big sale after getting Plapp which wasnt really planned when we talked
Fabianski - Thanks i guess
No lost RDs indeed. Was a key reason in my decision process after he already has so little RDs this season. Still think GT favourites are the riders most hit by the RD reduction so no need to limit myself further for the next years.
jandal - I like the sound of that
abhi - Thanks, that was the plan!
whitejersey I agree. Thanks for helping!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| knockout |
Posted on 01-09-2022 01:23
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Grand Tour Champion
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Transfer Season is usually the place for the celebration of new riders but we went through a huge rebuild which saw a group of riders leave the squad that immensely shaped the history of the team and have played a key role in getting us to the position where we are now. Before we look at the new team, it is only right to honor those who left the team. Four loan riders (Aleksa Crncevic, Jan Xandri, Stephen Williams, Syver Waersted) left the squad as agreed and we already announced the departure of Ramunas Navardauskas and Serghei Tvetcov after renewals took place. Ramunas Navardauskas continues his career for one last season with Bianchi - Panerai after being drafted in the CT draft while Serghei Tvetcov ended his career this offseason. Eight more riders from last season's squad ended their stay with the team and almost all of them would deserve a news article on their own.
Hugo Hofstetter was only part of the team for a single season but was a very reliable team member. He was signed for his versatility and had arguable the most impact on the cobblestones as a crucial domestique to Jan Polanc in the more difficult classics. He returns to Zara - Irizar where he developed into the rider that we could enjoy for the last 12 months.
Gabriel Chavanne was part of the team for two seasons after a year long campaign to free him from Sauber Petronas Racing. He was and still is one of the best prologue specialists in the world as he returns to his home country trying to help Jura GIANTS promote this year by dominating the CT prologues.
Kristaps Budenieks joined the team four years ago and quickly became a favourite of many cycling fans. His versatility is extremely rare in the peleton as he can race on almost any terrain. Just last season he finished top 15 in a hilly and in a cobbled classic (12th in Classique du Grand-Duché, 9th in Macskako Kerekparverseny) but he also excels in the mountains as seen during Rein Taaramae's Vuelta victory last year or when he was in the KoM jersey as well as on the provisional podium for a week during the infamous Giro d'Italia 2020 also knows as the Malecki incident. Strava will be lucky to have him.
Ingus Eislers also joined the team four years ago. As a late blooming sprint sensation from Latvia, he promised one of the most interesting short but high peaks the cycling world has seen. Overshadowed in his first years by sprint legend Michael Van Stayen he grew into the leader position over the last 12 months. The public might mostly remember him for the struggles of our sprint train during last year's Giro d'Italia but under the radar, he had a solid season with podium finishes in Paris - Tours and Riga - Jurmala as well as stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and Paris - Nice. He joins Crabbe-CC Chevigny for the season where he reunites with former team mate and sprinter Emils Liepins.
William Chiarello was only part of the team for two seasons but he paved the way for GT leaders in the Evonik jersey as the first strong stage racer in team history. Twice, he did the Giro - Tour double and twice he finished 7th in the Giro and added one 8th place finish and one 11th place finish in the Tour with a Tour de France stage win in both of his participation. He is widely regarded as one of the Top 10 GT leaders who signs the most team friendly contracts and ELCO - ABEA will surely be happy to have him this season.
Rein Taaramäe leaves the team after only one season with us but that time was enough to leave a huge impact. Winning the Vuelta a Espana during our first attempt at podiuming a Grand Tour with a baltic leader and accompanied by two latvian lieutenants is just a dream come true for every member of the team, every fan and all the little childs in front of the TVs. He will continue his swan song with Zara Irizar in the PCT peleton.
Yannick Stoltz was part of our inaugural season in 2014 and returned for a second stint from 2016 that lasted till today. He was not only a strong prologue specialist winning the 2018 Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha prologue but his main claim to fame was his huge engine. As one of the most powerful engines in the cycling world, he was the anchor to our strong leadout team for years and was partly responsible for lots of splits and late attacks by our other classics specialists. Despite not being a good sprinter himself, he often placed top 20 in sprinter classics such as GP Moscow, Milano San Remo or Riga Jurmala (at least twice in the top 20 in each listed race). Nobody wore the Evonik jersey on more race days than him. He will race his presumed retirement season with our friends at Philips - Force India.
And finally, Mark Dzamastagic is one of only two riders who were contracted to the team in every season. He was loaned out to Pokerstars.com in our first season and rode every other season with us. In his very first race as an Evonik rider, he shocked the world with a late attack at the Down Under Classic 2015 which he won as a still unmaxed rider. He later went on to win the GP Moscow in similar fashion. Outside of late attacks, he was also known as one of the strongest leadout riders in the peleton. His partnership with Michael Van Stayen was feared for years and sometimes his leadouts were so powerful that he just dropped his lead sprinter and all rivals to win a sprint stage from the front as seen during the 2019 Vuelta. For a long time, it was unthinkable that Dzamastagic would ever leave the team but with the shift to a stage race focus, our manager's favourite rider will wear a HelloFresh - Lampre jersey for the upcoming season. It still hurts.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 02-09-2022 11:54
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World Champion
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Awesome post that I really enjoyed reading, I love the love you so clearly have for your riders and your team
I can imagine how hard it must be letting go of these guys, from those with short but awesome leadership stints like Chiarello or Rein, long-term team staples like Budenieks or true team legends like Stoltz or Dzamastagic, I really love the tributes to each of them
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
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 02-09-2022 12:24
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3367
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I agree completely with jandal's post above. A very nice and touching farewell to some riders that will be in Evonik's history books for ever. I am sure that It will feel great for you if you can see some of them perform well in their new teams.
And definitely like the training on PHL as well. Keizer likes it a bit less though
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| knockout |
Posted on 02-09-2022 19:30
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7735
Joined: 21-12-2010
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Thanks a lot! Some of them i accepted early that i would have to let them go to finance Lecuisinier but especially those that were let go to fit Plapp in (Dzamastagic and Budenieks, newly signed Borisavljevic was a lot easier) were super tough to do. Actually became somewhat emotional or at least nostalgic during writing this post. Cool that you could feel that
Of course, I'm gonna be cheering for them in their new teams but possible victories will surely feel bittersweet to some extent.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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