The final design of the 2014 look is still under construction, but with transfers nearing it is time to get the new season started for real. Will this be the season we finally turn the tables after two consecutive finishes outside the top 20 in the team ranking?
Sponsors
Several lengthy meetings have been held since the picture above was taken, and a mutual agreement sees last season's head sponsor Cisco step out early - to be replaced by a new sponsor from Italy, which will be revealed along with the final jersey design!
In the relatively short period of time that has passed since we presented the first draft of our renewing plans near the end of last season, a few things have changed.
Twelve riders are off to the free agency - including Agostini, Battaglin, Caruso and Osella, all of whom have been with the team since the start two years ago. The last two have simply grown too old to be of much use, and in Caruso's case - let's just say that his payment demands were a factor too!
Agostini and Battaglin meanwhile, just don't fit into the plans I have for the team. The same goes for the rest of the leaving riders: Galiev, Giogieri, Kochetkov, Manfredi and Umerbekov.
Clesen
Nick
€ 55,000
Not available
Dyachenko
Aleksandr
€ 70,000
Available
Efimkin
Aleksandr
€ 250,000
Not available
Favilli
Elia
€ 110,000
Available (loan)
Girardi
Edoardo
€ 50,000
Not available
Gruzdev
Dmitriy
€ 55,000
Not available
Possoni
Moris
€ 50,000
Not available
Pozzo
Mattia
€ 70,000
Available
Salerno
Cristiano
€ 60,000
Not available
Shushemoin
Alexandre
€ 80,000
Not available
Sterbini
Luca
€ 50,000
Not available
Taborre
Fabio
€ 85,000
Available
Now, the riders who are still under contract. Let me begin by saying that none of them are completely off limits, but it would take something out of the extraordinary to get sole remaining leader Efimkin to move anywhere.
Together with him, the following riders will stay unless something unexpected occurs: Clesen, Girardi, Gruzdev, Possoni, Salerno, Shushemoin and Sterbini. Favilli will go on loan to the Pro Tour again, in order to reach max level.
Finally, both Taborre and either Dyachenko or Pozzo (depending on offers) will be heading somewhere else, if things go according to plan. All three of them would make good helpers in a PT or PCT squad, and possibly even take on a leading role for one of the new CT teams.
Mattia Pozzo left a great impression while riding for us last season, so we would be thrilled to receive his signature under a full contract for next season.
Delighted to see some interest already. I'm hoping to add some extra cash to my pile for other transfers with these sells, so it's mainly going to be a question of what offers there are to choose from.
We'll keep in touch once the transfers have begun!
Amidst the transfer season and all that follows with it, we can at long last present our official 2014 jersey! OlegTinkov drew up a number of alternative looks, of which we picked out our favourite.
Meanwhile, we can also announce that the void left by Cisco will be filled by Italian airline Mistral. Now to prove that their investment was wise!
