22nd November 2015 | Wellington, New Zealand
I checked my notes were in order. I checked my tie was straight, my suit just right. I wasn't used to dealing with these small matters of appearances, but then again, I wasn't used to dealing with the New Zealand Government. Or a subsidiary of it, at least. I gulped. This was their reputation to uphold. With Kiwibank leaving cycling for a while back there, and Bewley running evermore rampant, how many tricks did our showpony have? On the home front, how do Octagon stop themselves being left behind?
I step out into the light. Representatives from our sponsors, guests, important people from Cycling NZ, wearing looks of skepticism, looks of hope, nerves, all for their own various reasons. And goddamnit, it's my job to tell them what they have been working towards the last few months, what it will look like, why it isn't a waste of money. After all, there's another option out there. The very name of our natural rivals hangs over us like some bad horror movie ghost, waiting to feast upon those who dare utter the words. It's silly, in my opinion. It's not we don't think rivalry is a good thing, it's just been thrust upon us.
The mic is on. I've no excuse not to start now. I open my mouth and know that this is it. I'm here.
The Primary Sponsors
These are our men with the money. Our sugar daddies, if you will. But they're no random rich sheikhs. These companies all have a passion for the sport, and, just as important if not more, the project itself.
About: Octagon is the sports and entertainment marketing division of the Interpublic Group (IPG). The IPG is one of the "big four" advertising companies and so being sponsored by the South African arm of the sports arm of the IPG is a smaller deal but with big background. Contract Until: 2016 Focus Nations: South Africa, Africa*
Octagon will help us get our name on the backs of buses, billboards, wherever, in our target countries. Good for publicity, finances and fans.
About: The overnight success that is Xero is now a international company still based in little ol' NZ. They develop online accounting software for small businesses (like our own?) Contract Until: 2017 Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain (minor), United States (very minor)
Xero stepped in at the last minute, but should be a great asset for the team. They'll be welcoming to the idea of sponsoring us, at least.
The Secondary Sponsors
Spoiler
About: Has nothing much to do with either government but helps bring New Zealand and South African businessmen and women together. Not related to the NZABC, a NZ-government approved company with the same values who unfortunately said no. Contract Until: 2017 Focus Nations: South Africa, New Zealand, Africa (minor)*
About: Another government-backed, state-owned sponsor, Kiwibank is a subsidiary of New Zealand Post. Of course as many of you know they were involved as a title sponsor for Becherovka, one of the best teams in the world. They left as the team pursued a more Slavic focus, and want to start helping building a team from scratch where no pesky Eastern Europeans will give them the boot. Contract Until: 2018 Focus Nations: New Zealand
About: My Food Bag is another hotshot emerging modern Kiwi company, an online food delivery service philosophising in “Eating food from the ground, sea or the sky. A sure-fire way to enjoy food the way nature intended, with less preservative, salts and a host of other artificial things. With recipes being focused on bringing natural ingredients forwards as the heroes”. We will help spread the word as they hope to develop this message with local (not always possible for us) and free-range produce. Contract Until: 2017 Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia
Short-Term Goals
- In 2016 place a solid CT ranking and develop young talents from our focus nations in particular
- Increase the popularity of all divisions of Cycling in NZ.
- In 2017 promote and come out trumps in the Oceanic CT battle.
- In 2017 continue to develop our younger riders.
- Have a team 75% from our focus countries
Medium-Term Goals
- In 2018 Survive in PCT and continue to develop riders.
- Survive with an at least 65% focus nations team
Long-Term Goals
- Promote to PT
- Max Out talents and develop new ones
- Sign Sam Bewley before he declines
- Establish ourselves as the Premier NZ and eventually Oceanic Team
- Establish NZ as more than just Bewley and Sergent, a global power.
- Keep the national focus and Xero ideals throughout our time in professional cycling
Why am I not surprised you have gone with a NZ based team?
It'll be difficult for you in the transfer season with quite a few small teams and a very limited market, hopefully you can have more success than other Kiwi teams in the past!
Welcome to the game jandal, great job with nicely looking HQ. bwiggins made a nice work with a jersey, that should be somewhat easy to spot. Good luck in 2016, you will need it with your crowded focus areas.
@LLS - Hehe, maybe because I'm a nationalistic patriot if there ever was one Thanks for the well-wishes, it will be hard but I'm sure we can divide and conquer for now, my African secondary focus should help me out there
@marco - Thanks a lot, and yes they are some ambitious goals, but I hope to achieve them someday
@Avin - Our #1 star, why not? It's most certainly a long-term goal, for a few years down the track yet Thanks for the welcome and the compliments, bwiggins certainly did a stellar job Thanks again, and yep, it's going to be tough in NZ this season
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." [PT] Xero Racing
@bwiggins - Just for unnoficial purposes, presented by a sports marketing company makes sense and its a lot of what they will be doing for us anyway. But yeah
@D2B - Thanks a lot, especially from a guy with an awesome HQ start like you that means a lot Hopefully we have some fresh blood from NZ soon or it will get dry fast and bwiggins is just amazing Edited by jandal7 on 05-01-2016 23:30
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." [PT] Xero Racing
Great opening post, I am really looking forward to see what you can do in CT considering you'll have a fierce opposition in transfers but especially how you'll update your HQ. That's a great start!
@Ian - i used your godsent Jamal Kuriba in CX, what do you want now Cheers, means a lot to have a fan
@matt - Wow, thanks a bunch! Will try to keep this HQ updated, maybe not regularly in February time but certainly its a goal of mine throughout the year. Yep, it's tough down under for riders at the moment, again my African focus helps take off the heat but not much.
@sutty - Cheers! the_hoyle did an amazing job with the banners Edited by jandal7 on 10-04-2017 00:23
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." [PT] Xero Racing
Xero Racing p/b Octagon 2016 
Africa*
Australia, 
Great Britain (minor), 
United States (very minor)
Clasico San Cristobal
Benelux Challenge
Tour of the Middle East
San Marino Hill Classic
Tour of Bulgaria
Betonexpressz GP
Tour of Almaty
Tour de Langkawi
Tour of Azerbaijan
Circulo de Juarez
Barbuda Birdmen Classic
Tour de Pologne
Volcan de Agua Classic
Tour de Slovenie
Tatranska Klasika
Acropolis Cup
Tour du Faso
Zuri Metzgete
