Italian chocolate producer Venchi is back for another year in the Management Game, and is this year joined by Ferranti, meaning the team name for 2014 will be Venchi - Ferranti. The team will be racing in the Pro Continental Division, making its comeback after a tough debut year in Pro Tour. As previously announced, Venchi - Ferranti will keep on having an Italian focus. However, with Ferranti as a new co-sponsor, the team will be hoping to sign some Belgian riders and establish some ground on the Benelux market. Having previously mostly focused on punchers and sprinters, the new twist in focus is a part of a plan of building up more of an all-round team. Cobbles will for example be far more important this season than it has been in former seasons.
As a part of the new twist in focus, a couple of non-Italian companies will play a role in the sponsoring of the team. FFWD Wheels will deliver handbuilt wheels from Holland to the team. Venchi - Ferranti will be using FFWD F5R on the road bike. For the time trial bike FFWD Five will be used as a front wheel, while FFWD Disc will be the rear wheel. Furthermore, Belgian company VermarcSport replaces former co-sponsor Sugoi to supply Venchi - Ferranti with clothing. Their designers have already designed the team jersey, which can be seen below. While we still stick to the red, white and black theme, black is a lot more prominent on the new jersey. The team is very much looking forward to begin racing in it.
The Belgian company VermarcSport is behind the new Venchi - Ferranti shirt.
Continuing on from the last two years, Fiat will once again make sure the team has what it needs of vehicles. Also going into its third year of sponsorship are Giro, who will keep on supplying Venchi - Ferranti with helmets. The aerodynamic Giro Air Attack will be used for road cycling, while the team will use Giro Advantage in the time trials. Lastly, Italian cycling manufacturer Wilier Triestina will together with Shimano be responsible for the bikes. The team will ride on the Zero.7 road model and the TwinBlade time trial model. All the equipment have of course been customized to fit well with the team jersey. Hopefully, Venchi - Ferranti will experience much success riding in the new team kit.
Edited by Sykkel_Freak on 09-03-2014 11:44
Definitely a pro looking jersey design. Good to see the Wilier Trestina brand will be present in the PCT, we have similar support to provide CT representation. Of course we are on the correct groupset, Campagnolo!
Good luck in 2014, I like your goals. I'll see you at the Strade Bianchi, one of my goals as well but luckily a top five
By the way, how likely is it that Dan Craven leaves? As an African team it would be great if he was available. If he was I'm sure we could make a deal.
Good luck in 2014, your HQ looks great. I see you have top5 goal in the PCT standings. That should be easy for such stuffed team.
However there are speculations that Venchi will need to let some of their leaders go and Metinvest-Emirates sets highest priority on possible transfer of one of the Venchis punchers. There are three great punchers and every one of them would be key signing for 2014 season. Venchi manager will hear from us in the first seconds of transfers, if he is willing to listen.
I think you've got the wrong continent for Anuar Aziz, the Malaysian (not tunisian) would be a welcome addition to the Sauber Petronas lineup where he would be joining 5 of his compatriots as a joint leader/ free role for the first season before assuming leadership for the second year.
@Scorchio: Glad to see that you like the jersey. Quite pleased with it myself!
@Froomedog99: Thanks a lot! Strade Bianche will for sure be an interesting race.
Regarding Craven, his abilities makes him a valuable asset to the team and he is therefore unlikely to leave. However, I'm willing to listen to offers.
@Avin Wargunnson: I would hardly call the standings goal easy, but of course, in the end we do hope to promote!
When it comes to the status of Di Maggio, he will be unavailable for transfer. The status of Sagan is basically the same as Craven. He is unlikely to leave, but I welcome offers.
@sammyt93: Thanks for telling! Somehow got the country flags mixed up. Anuar Aziz is sadly not for sale, though.
Venchi - Ferranti releases 8 riders to free agency
After a day consisting of tough negotiations, Venchi - Ferranti finished off renewals with a roster consisting of 19 riders. Having gotten into the process with a roster consisting of 27, this meant that 8 riders had not reached upon an agreement with Venchi - Ferranti for the coming season. Having failed to show the qualities manager 'Sykkel_Freak' were after, the former stagiare riders Robin Stenuit and Michele Viola were not offered new contracts with the team. The two young riders were furthermore followed by Benedetto Monterastelli, Nevio Tirloni and Davide Viganò, who all were a part of the team for two seasons. After a season were they all lacked a big result, Venchi - Ferranti decided that it was time to split ways.
Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt stage winner Valerio Agnoli did not come to an agreement with Venchi - Ferranti.
All other riders have signed a new deal with the team, including profiles like Cesare Di Maggio, Fabio Duarte and Greg Van Avermaet. However, not all are guaranteed to stay with the team during the transfer season. Late reports suggest that Gianluca Brambilla might be on his way out. The Italian has been linked with Norwegian team Aker - MOT. Slovakian superstar Peter Sagan is also reported to be interested in talking with other teams. After demanding a significant wage increase, manager 'Sykkel_Freak' has supposedly opened up for the possibility of selling the rider. Whether these reports are true or not, are yet to be seen. But while waiting for an answer, you can check out the new wages of the remaining Venchi - Ferranti riders in this post.
Edited by Sykkel_Freak on 04-12-2014 15:15
Aker - MOT aren't the only ones who've got their eyes on Gianluca Brambilla. Kazzinc intend to make an attempt to keep the young Italian in the PCT.
He is of course likely to be of interest to many other teams as well, but after last year's successful loan of Elia Favilli, we'd be more than happy to deal with Venchi again. Provided Brambilla doesn't draw too many high-figure offers to him during the transfer window, you can expect one from us at some point
A long and hectic transfer season has come to an end. Venchi - Ferranti has been very active this year and been involved in no more than 14 deals. Although we are sad to see Gianluca Brambilla, Peter Sagan, Daniel Oss, Maciej Bodnar and Alberigo Passalacqua leave (as well as Sean De Bie and Sonny Colbrelli on loan), we are very happy to present the faces of our 8 new riders. The team went into the transfer season with a goal of signing a sprint captain and strengthen the time trial and cobbles team. We sadly did not have the economy to strengthen the cobbles section the way we wanted, but the team is happy that we at least can say we have accomplished the two other targets.
Starting with the time trial section, Maciej Bodnar leaving for Simply Red Bull was certainly a big setback. However, with the free agents signings of Luca Ascani, Olivier Kaisen and Alan Marangoni, we think the time trial team this season is better than ever. The first mentioned should also be of valuable help to our sprinters with his good flat and sprint abilities. On to the talent section, the signings of Adam Yates, Louis Vervaeke and Steve Bekaert makes the future of our stage racing department bright. We are especially excited with what Yates has showed at training. He could very well turn into one of the best stage racers in the world in a few years time. Furthermore, Pablo Mudarra loaned in from ONCE, will be an important part of the team in the hills this season.
Michael Van Stayen has signed a contract with Venchi - Ferranti.
Arguably our biggest signing this season, arriving from Simply Red Bull in a deal involving € 1.750.000 and Maciej Bodnar going the other, is Michael Van Stayen. The Belgian was by many considered one of the top, top sprinters in the world due to his ability to tackle hills before the transfer season. After taking further steps in both sprint and hills since then, we are eagerly awaiting to see him shine in the Pro Continental Tour. Van Stayen won no more than 8 stages in Pro Tour last season, and with the backing of Corioni and Van Avermaet, we believe he is capable of increasing that number this year. He will open his season in Tour Down Under which is soon taking place. While waiting for the race to start, check out the full Venchi - Ferranti roster here.
Edited by Sykkel_Freak on 04-12-2014 15:16
The team travelled to Australia in order to participate in the first stage race of the season, Tour Down Under. The 6-days race offered three sprints stages and three hilly stages. It was therefore quite an attractive race for many of the top sprinters and punchers in the world. Venchi - Ferranti chose to send Michael Van Stayen as their captain, supported by riders such as Greg Van Avermaet and Gert Dockx. This meant Cesare Di Maggio had chosen to stay home in Italy preparing for Vuelta a Mallorca, unlike his biggest opponents Diego Ulissi, Chris Froome and Alex Dowsett, who all raced in Australia. However, they would all struggle against Michael Van Stayen and his deadly combination of being a great sprinter and a decent puncher.
Van Stayen got off to a great start on stage 1, a flat stage with some challenges towards the end for the pure sprinters. After a brilliant team effort the last 30 kilometers, it was time for the last few kilometers. Gert Dockx and Greg Van Avermaet led out Michael Van Stayen who was able to outsprint Francesco Ventoso and Romain Vanderbeist for the next places. With the leaders jersey secured, the next stage marked the first hilly challenge with a tough hill a few kilometers before the finish line. The last climb did not create any gaps though, so it was once again time for a mass sprint. A well placed Van Stayen won the stage in front of Dockx, while Aregger became 5th. A massive team effort in other words!
Michael Van Stayen outsprints the opposition on the 1st stage of Tour Down Under.
Due to his two initial stage wins, Van Stayen had an advantage on 40 seconds to his main opponents before the 5th stage. The 5th stage was the queen stage of the race, where the riders would climb the legendary Willunga hill two times. Although putting in a great effort, Van Stayen did not manage to defend his leaders jersey. Chris Froome of Quickstep had a great day and took the stage win and leaders jersey. However, with the gap being no more than 18 seconds to Van Stayen, the Belgian had the opportunity to win the race with a late stage win, which he managed! On the last stage he took his 3rd stage win, the GC and the points jersey. Great start to the season for both him and the team!
Edited by Sykkel_Freak on 04-12-2014 15:17
After a bad debut year at the highest level in the sport of cycling, Venchi - Ferranti had to settle for relegation from Pro Tour last year. This year however, they came back strong. By winning four stage races, seven classics, eleven stage wins and five other classifications, Venchi ended 4th in the Pro Continental Tour, taking one of at least six promotion spots. "I'm very happy with the outcome of this season. We have gone through a transformation the last two seasons, investing more money in young talent, something we truly have seen the results of this year. Many of our riders are still developing, and I think we have a great foundation to build on for next season.", team manager 'Sykkel_Freak' told the press after the season finale in Japan Cup.
The season started out great for the Italian-Belgian team. Michael Van Stayen debuted with three stage wins and GC win in Tour Down Under, before securing the team's first season goal by winning Strade Bianche. He later followed up with a win in Race Horizon Park, as well as an overall win in Ster ZLM Tour and took care of the second team goal by ending amongst the top 10 in Zimnymya GP. Another rider who flourished after getting back to PCT was Cesare Di Maggio, who won no less than six races, the season goal in Giro dell'Emillia being one of them. But despite having a great season, he did not manage to get a top 5 placing in Milano - Torino. Venchi - Ferranti therefore ended up achieving four out of five season goals, a record for the three year old team.
The season in pictures.
Namibian rider Dan Craven also had a good season, and got a bit of a breakthrough by winning Tour of Ukraine in superior style back in march. However, rumours are flowing about the African's future with the team. According to several sources, the team manager of Venchi has told the rider that he is not a part of the team's plan for next season. The same is supposedly said about Italian veteran sprinter Claudio Corioni who earlier this season won a stage in Criterium International. With both having garnished a series of top ten results season, these news might come as a surprise to some. On the other hand, having failed to impress, it might be less surprising that also time trialers Olivier Kaisen and Alan Marangoni has been asked to look for a new team for next season. Which riders Venchi are hoping to replace these riders with, remains to be seen.
Are you going to release those guys to free agency or will you re-sign them and trade them? And will you post a full list of availability at some point? You've certainly got a few riders a new PCT tesm might be interested in.
Marangoni and Kaisen will be released to free agency. That might go for Corioni as well depending on wage and interest from other teams. Craven will for sure be re-signed (will at least try my best to do so).
Nothing special to note about other riders. Every rider can leave for the right price. Of course some are less likely to leave than others (mainly Van Stayen, De Bie), but for the right offer anything can happen.
Nice stylish recap, very good year from Venchi, but that was expected. maybe you thought even higher? But still you made it back straight to PT and that is all what matters. Congrats
Dan Craven can be one of our biggest targets for 2015, after we pursued him for two years now and still without succes, so you should hear from Metinvest.
