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[PCT '24] Feb Preview/Sony - Force India
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 14-09-2024 08:01
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Indeed a very nice roster of talents, your (former) regional sponsors can only be proud. Hayter fighter training looks like a must-try 
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| knockout |
Posted on 14-09-2024 17:23
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Grand Tour Champion
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A very nice mix of a strong team to be very competitive this year and a bunch of strong talents for the future when riders like Daan Olivier decline. Future looks bright.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 15-09-2024 17:51
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Directeur Sportif
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@Nemolito: Former sponsors are proud, current ones not so much! Don't be a hater for the real Hayter
@knockout: Hope you are right about the future, and indeed the present!
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 15-09-2024 19:11
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Impressive crew of talents, you seem to specialize in finding second tier guys at good prices. They not only generate great depth scoring but also have good value if you want to raise money.
Alben, R Singh and Trezise all occupy similar spaces so yo have some decisions to make there. My favorite is Mick Van Dijke, his SP/AC values make him a successor to Meurisse. A little worried about Hayter's HI, at some point i think low hill begins to be a problem for stage racers, although his nice AC might help offset that.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 16-09-2024 08:18
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The MGUCI have recently announced the wildcards for PCT teams and we are delighted to have received a wildcard to the only race we applied for. We will be going back to a Grand Tour for back to back seasons, and also headed back to the Giro for the first time since 2018. We are hoping to be able to showcase ourselves in the best possible way when this premier event rolls up in April.
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@Ulrich: I never seem to have enough wage available to get the top talents, with Hayter being an exception last season! But your assessment is definitely correct, so I'm fine with the ones I have been able to recruit over time. The idea is for Trezise to become more of a Roleur than a sprinter, while the other two takes on the latter role in the future. Hopefully Hayter's low hill will not bother him too much, but will improve it if required in the future.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 10-11-2024 23:40
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| Fabianski |
Posted on 16-09-2024 09:00
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Hum... Olivier in the Giro then? I think he'd better try to repeat his 3rd place in Pologne 
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 17-09-2024 06:19
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Fabianski wrote:
Hum... Olivier in the Giro then? I think he'd better try to repeat his 3rd place in Pologne
Pologne was never in the plan for the stage racer we ended up getting! Gotta give Leemreize some races to show himself
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| DarkWolf |
Posted on 17-09-2024 09:52
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I was thinking of applying to a wild card myself, but then I thought it is better to play for survival in the PCT this season. Of course, I had a bit of surprise during transfers and planning, but in the end I don't regret that much. It's nice to see you getting the wild card and I wish you all the best in Giro d'Italia.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 18-09-2024 11:13
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DarkWolf wrote:
I was thinking of applying to a wild card myself, but then I thought it is better to play for survival in the PCT this season. Of course, I had a bit of surprise during transfers and planning, but in the end I don't regret that much. It's nice to see you getting the wild card and I wish you all the best in Giro d'Italia.
With the exception of last year, I have always only applied to Wildcards if I had money left over and no way to use that for training. The same was the case this time, even picking it late as Giro was still open! Thanks for the good wishes 
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 18-09-2024 11:57
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Always glad to see a team like Sony in a GT. Looking forward towards the Eastman vs. Olivier battle. And Zmorka vs. Howson. And your designated sprinters vs. the other PT sprinters! Go Sony!
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 20-09-2024 10:07
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Directeur Sportif
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The team management is proud to present the NC jerseys that some of our riders will be wearing this season.
Australia - Individual Time Trial - DAMIEN HOWSON
Belgium - Road Race - TIESJ BENOOT
Canada - Individual Time Trial - ALEXANDOR CATAFORD
India - Road Race - ESOW ALBEN
Israel - Road Race - AVIV YECHEZKEL
Philippines - Road Race - JONEL CARCUEVA
Credits to Ezeefreak for these amazing jerseys.
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@Nemolito: Thanks for the nice words on our GT participation! I do believe we'll come out second best in both the battles that you mention  Hope we can still have some fun in the race.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 20-09-2024 23:37
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Do we start the count of how many consecutive Indian road race titles you can win now?
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 22-09-2024 18:11
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Directeur Sportif
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You can if you want
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 22-09-2024 20:39
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Let's start: One
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 26-09-2024 10:47
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Now that we have firmly established that we have won our first ever Indian RR NC, and also the Indian ITT NC by the way, we would like to present our goals for the coming season. Similar to last time, we selected two goals for Benoot, and two goals for whoever our Stage Racer turned out to be. Luckily, we found a pretty decent one in the transfer window!
Benoot won here last season, and we are hoping he can repeat it this time.
Benoot finished on the podium here last year, and won the year before. We're hoping he can get close to the same performance again.
Picking the home stage race after finishing 2nd here last season was an easy choice. However, Choi has left the team, but Olivier did finish 3rd, so we're hoping for another repeat, or near about result.
We do expect a tough startlist at this race, but we're still hoping Olivier can achieve this goal.
Our target once again, is to firstly improve on last season, and then to finally get into the promotion spots after two Top 10 finishes. If we do that, this goal will be successful!
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 26-09-2024 12:44
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Seems like a set of goals primed for a 5/5, some big targets but given the track record of your riders and the quality of the squad this year I think they're very doable ones!
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 28-09-2024 02:50
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jandal7 wrote:
Seems like a set of goals primed for a 5/5, some big targets but given the track record of your riders and the quality of the squad this year I think they're very doable ones!
Hope we can get 4/5 at least because I don't remember the last time we got more than 3 successful goals! Think it has happened only once. Going to need the extra money next season either way
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-10-2024 09:07
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It is time to reveal this year's calendar. We chose our bands and additional races to suit Benoot and any stage racer that we would sign. We were also always on the lookout for a top Time Trialist, and we were able to sign a couple of those as well!
| Start | End | Race | Category | | 07-Jan | |  Down Under Classic | HC | | 19-Jan | |  Badaling International | C1 | | 26-Jan | 29-Jan |  Tour of Guadeloupe | C1 | | --- | | | | | 01-Feb | 08-Feb |  Volta a Portugal | PTHC | | 04-Feb | |  Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | HC | | 04-Feb | | Viana do Castelo | C1 | | 08-Feb | |  Isle of Man TTT | C1 | | 10-Feb | |  GP Herning | C2 | | 10-Feb | | Le Samyn | HC | | 22-Feb | 26-Feb |  Circulo de Juarez | HC | | --- | | | | | 05-Mar | 10-Mar |  Vuelta a Colombia | PTHC | | 05-Mar | 08-Mar |    Tour of the Middle East | C2 | | 12-Mar | 15-Mar |  Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha | PT | | 12-Mar | 16-Mar |  Tour of Norway | HC | | 18-Mar | 19-Mar |  Franceville Classique | PTHC | | 25-Mar | |  Strade Bianche | HC | | 27-Mar | |  1 Jour de Dunkerque | C1 | | --- | | | | | 03-Apr | 23-Apr | Giro d'Italia | GT | | 03-Apr | 05-Apr |  USA Pro Cycling Challenge | C1 | | 12-Apr | 18-Apr |  Tour de Pologne | HC | | --- | | | | | 01-May | |  Cheshire Cycling Tour | PTHC | | 01-May | |  Pro Hallstatt Classic | C1 | | 03-May | 08-May |  Tour de Romandie | HC | | 11-May | 15-May |      Baltic Chain Tour | C1 | | --- | | | | | 01-Jun | | Hanko Classic | C1 | | 05-Jun | 08-Jun |  Tour of East Java | PTHC | | 12-Jun | 18-Jun | Criterium du Dauphine Libere | PTHC | | 28-Jun | |  Clasica San Sebastian | PTHC | | --- | | | | | 01-Jul | |  Riga - Jurmala GP | PTHC | | 01-Jul | |  Torshavn GP | C1 | | 03-Jul | 06-Jul | Arab Tour | HC | | 08-Jul | 11-Jul |  Euskal Bizikleta | C1 | | 13-Jul | 16-Jul | Uppsala Classic | C2 | | 18-Jul | 23-Jul |  Benelux Challenge | HC | | 19-Jul | | Philadelphia International Championship | PTHC | | 25-Jul | 29-Jul |  Tour d'Andorra | C1 | | --- | | | | | 07-Aug | 11-Aug | Post Danmark Rundt | HC | | 11-Aug | |  GP Kigali | C1 | | 15-Aug | 20-Aug |  Tour du Maroc | C1 | | 18-Aug | 20-Aug |  Ras Tailteann | PTHC | | 22-Aug | | Milano - Torino | HC | | 22-Aug | | GP Lugano | HC | | --- | | | | | 22-Sep | 26-Sep | La Tropicale Amissa Bongo | C1 | | 28-Sep | | Tour of the Battenkill | PTHC | | --- | | | | | 01-Oct | 06-Oct |  Tour of Japan | HC | | 04-Oct | | Paris Tours | C1 | | 09-Oct | | Japan Cup | PTHC | | 12-Oct | 16-Oct | Tour of Britain | C1 | | 18-Oct | | Giro dell'Emilia | HC |
Thanks to Fabianski for the calendar format!
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 04-10-2024 10:12
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It is time for us to take a look at the schedules of our leaders for the season.We continue our philosophy of trying to have a leader for every race and as many stages in each race as possible, and we have again got close to that.
Daan Olivier | Climber | Start | End | Race | Category | | 05-Mar | 10-Mar | Vuelta a Colombia | PTHC | | 03-Apr | 23-Apr | Giro d'Italia | GT | | 01-May | | Pro Hallstatt Classic | C1 | | 03-May | 08-May | Tour de Romandie | HC | | 05-Jun | 08-Jun | Tour of East Java | PTHC | | 12-Jun | 18-Jun | Criterium du Dauphine Libere | PTHC | | 25-Jul | 29-Jul | Tour d'Andorra | C1 | | 01-Oct | 06-Oct | Tour of Japan | HC |
Olivier goes to a mostly mountainous calendar, with the exception of Pro Halstatt, where he won last season. He has the responsibility of completing two goal races.
**Races marked in bold are Goal races.
Tiesj Benoot | Puncher | Start | End | Race | Category | | 04-Feb | | Viana do Castelo | C1 | | 25-Mar | | Strade Bianche | HC | | 27-Mar | | 1 Jour de Dunkerque | C1 | | 03-Apr | 05-Apr | USA Pro Cycling Challenge | C1 | | 01-May | | Cheshire Cycling Tour | PTHC | | 28-Jun | | Clasica San Sebastian | PTHC | | 08-Jul | 11-Jul | Euskal Bizikleta | C1 | | 18-Jul | 23-Jul | Benelux Challenge | HC | | 11-Aug | | GP Kigali | C1 | | 22-Aug | | Milano - Torino | HC | | 28-Sep | | Tour of the Battenkill | PTHC | | 09-Oct | | Japan Cup | PTHC | | 12-Oct | 16-Oct | Tour of Britain | C1 | | 18-Oct | | Giro dell'Emilia | HC |
Benoot goes back to his 2022 calendar, which proved to be more fruitful for his skillset. He is also given the responsibility of completing two goals.
**Races marked in bold are Goal races.
 Alexandor Cataford | Time Trialist| Start | End | Race | Category | | 04-Feb | | Viana do Castelo | C1 | | 08-Feb | | Isle of Man TTT | C1 | | 12-Mar | 16-Mar | Tour of Norway | HC | | 03-Apr | 23-Apr | Giro d'Italia | GT | | 01-May | | Cheshire Cycling Tour | PTHC | | 03-May | 08-May | Tour de Romandie | HC | | 01-Jul | | Riga - Jurmala GP | PTHC | | 03-Jul | 06-Jul | Arab Tour | HC | | 18-Jul | 23-Jul | Benelux Challenge | HC | | 07-Aug | 11-Aug | Post Danmark Rundt | HC | | 22-Aug | | Milano - Torino | HC | | 22-Sep | 26-Sep | La Tropicale Amissa Bongo | C1 | | 01-Oct | 06-Oct | Tour of Japan | HC |
Cataford will be riding in all but one ITT this season, and every available TTT (just 2 on our calendar).
**Races marked in bold are Goal races.
Gijs Leemreize | Climber | Start | End | Race | Category | | 19-Jan | | Badaling International | C1 | | 01-Feb | 08-Feb | Volta a Portugal | PTHC | | 05-Mar | 10-Mar | Vuelta a Colombia | PTHC | | 12-Apr | 18-Apr | Tour de Pologne | HC | | 03-May | 08-May | Tour de Romandie | HC | | 12-Jun | 18-Jun | Criterium du Dauphine Libere | PTHC | | 15-Aug | 20-Aug | Tour du Maroc | C1 | | 01-Oct | 06-Oct | Tour of Japan | HC |
Leemreize has been handed a huge responsibility to lead in four races - Badaling, Portugal, Pologne and Maroc. We do believe he should do well enough in those races, and this will be a very good indication as to whether it will be worth investing further in him in the form of future training!
**Races marked in bold are Goal races.
Damien Howson | Time Trialist | Start | End | Race | Category | | 04-Feb | | Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | HC | | 08-Feb | | Isle of Man TTT | C1 | | 12-Mar | 16-Mar | Tour of Norway | HC | | 03-Apr | 23-Apr | Giro d'Italia | GT | | 03-May | 08-May | Tour de Romandie | HC | | 11-May | 15-May | Baltic Chain Tour | C1 | | 01-Jun | | Hanko Classic | C1 | | 12-Jun | 18-Jun | Criterium du Dauphine Libere | PTHC | | 01-Jul | | Torshavn GP | C1 | | 03-Jul | 06-Jul | Arab Tour | HC | | 18-Jul | 23-Jul | Benelux Challenge | HC | | 07-Aug | 11-Aug | Post Danmark Rundt | HC | | 18-Aug | 20-Aug | Ras Tailteann | PTHC | | 22-Sep | 26-Sep | La Tropicale Amissa Bongo | C1 |
Howson also rides every ITT this season, besides the MTT in Japan. He will also be in a couple of the flat races to help the sprinting team.
**Races marked in bold are Goal races.
Alexandr Kulikovskiy | Sprinter | Start | End | Race | Category | | 07-Jan | | Down Under Classic | HC | | 26-Jan | 29-Jan | Tour of Guadeloupe | C1 | | 04-Feb | | Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | HC | | 10-Feb | | Le Samyn | HC | | 22-Feb | 26-Feb | Circulo de Juarez | HC | | 12-Mar | 16-Mar | Tour of Norway | HC | | 03-Apr | 23-Apr | Giro d'Italia | GT | | 11-May | 15-May | Baltic Chain Tour | C1 | | 01-Jun | | Hanko Classic | C1 | | 05-Jun | 08-Jun | Tour of East Java | PTHC | | 01-Jul | | Torshavn GP | C1 | | 03-Jul | 06-Jul | Arab Tour | HC | | 19-Jul | | Philadelphia International Championship | PTHC | | 07-Aug | 11-Aug | Post Danmark Rundt | HC | | 18-Aug | 20-Aug | Ras Tailteann | PTHC | | 22-Aug | | GP Lugano | HC | | 22-Sep | 26-Sep | La Tropicale Amissa Bongo | C1 | | 04-Oct | | Paris Tours | C1 |
Kulikovskiy will ride al the flat races, except Riga - Jurmala, along with a couple of other stage races and cobbled classics.
Shirota and Hayter will lead the team in the Tour of the Middle East, while Kooistra will do the same in Uppsala.
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 05-10-2024 11:26
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 05-10-2024 02:07
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Olivier and Yates clash less than I thought they might. I think just East Java and Japan. Seems like you have solid leaders for nearly every race.
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