After a long and interesting season fighting in the Pro Tour, we have come back to the PCT level. Last season the team simply was not ready for such a big step, and despite some successes, the season did not go according to plan at all. We have learned some things though, and with more sponsors joining the team for this season we are ready to fight for the PCT-title this year, and show we are ready to promote this time.

Popo4Ever

Former rider, and member of our team, Jaroslav Popovych has joined the team as new DS. The former stage race specialist has achieved a heroic status back in Ukraine, and our main sponsor, which remains Nemiroff, has announced the team will carry the name of Popovych from now on

Just before the transfer mayhem will kick off, we would like to present you our new kit for the upcoming season, again designed by the_hoyle, whom we thank very much for his time and effort.

The team will stick to their colours which were introduced last season, and slightly altered designed, combined with our new sponsors have lead to this amazing creation.



Kits for our NCs, and the B-WC kit for Pluchkin will follow after the transfer window has closed.

Ignas Konovalovas

Our Lithuanian RR champion will leave the team for a second time in his career. The experienced rider has been valuable, but the years are starting to count, and with us having plenty of support for Oleksandr Prevar, we felt it was okay to let him go. We've agreed to trade him for another rider, who will be presented later in this update, from the Netia - Vónin team, where he will be one of the domestiques in their hills setup.

Jakub Skala & Roman Lutsyshyn

Both our local young talents who are ready for a year on the highest level of cycling, cobbler Jakub Skala from the Czech Republic and pure sprinter Roman Lutsyshun will join the French Air France - KLM team in 2018. They will have domestique roles, and we hope they can carry back valuable experience to be of use in our team next season.

Zouzou Andriafenomananiaina

Malagasy hero 'Zouzou' will also make a move to the Pro Tour, joining the RBC Team for a season on loan. Zouzou will likely be a key part of their stage racing team, bringing good allround capabilities to their squad. Next season the guy with the best name of the peloton will join us again, possibly to help Pluchkin win another GT.

Anatoliy Budyak

The best young Ukrainian besides Mark Padun, Anatoliy Budyak, is one of 3 promising riders to join the team on a full contract. Unlike Padun, Budyak is more of a puncheur, and will therefore be more of a helper for Prevar in the future. Anatoliy however will have more uses, being good in the mountains as well, and able to ride a very solid time trial. This season he will be a helper of Prevar mainly, and a superdomestique for Padun in Avenir,

Petr Rikunov

The second of the talents joining is Russian stage racer Petr Rikunov. Petr is a very similar rider to Zouzou, likely to be a bit better on the mountains, but lacking the punch Zouzou has over small hills. Rikunov is still a very young rider, and will need a few years to reach his full potential. For now he'll mainly be gathering experience in smaller races, and he'll also join Padun on his quest to win Avenir.

Deins Kanepejs

The other end of the Konovalovas deal is Latvian puncher Deins Kanepejs. Deins may not have to pure quality of Ignas, however he's still young, and has the potential to become better than Konovalovas has ever been. At least going up hill that is, the TT-power of the Lithuanian rider won't be matched by Deins. Again, a very solid investment in our team's future, and another asset for Padun in Avenir.

Ben O'Connor & Chris Hamilton

Aussie talents Ben O'Connor and Chris Hamilton join the team on loan from Bennelong - Mitchelton, and both are further strengthening our mountains and hills setup. The 2 guys join us to gain experience to eventually be ready to ride for their home team on the highest level, and we will make sure they also feel at home here, just like Alex Wohler did a few years ago.

This season again, the team has a few NC jerseys to be presented, all designed by our in-house designer the_hoyle, whom we thank a lot for his work.


Alexandr Pluchkin will be wearing this stunning jersey in all roadraces he attends this season. At least, assuming he doesn't have the leaders' jersey...


And for all TTs Alexandr Pluchkin gets to wear his national colours, which do make for an excellent colour combination!


It took some time, but Yevgeni Nepomnyachsniy finally gets to wear the Kazakh national jersey in time trials this upcoming season.


And last, but not least, new colours to the peloton! Darren Young will be the very first cyclist to wear the Samoan colours in the time trials.