Mission Accomplished. Xero Racing p/b Octagon earned promotion into the second division of professional cycling in 2017 as planned, however that simple two-word phrase doesn't do justice to the heart-stopping, pulse-racing, soul-crushing yet absolutely amazing season of racing the squad went through to get there. They hit the top early. They plunged to outside the promotion battle. But they Never. Stopped. Fighting. Many, ahem, accidents soured the season and left them outside the top 5, but moments of pure individual and team brilliance outweighed the pressure of the saboteurs among our rivals and secured promotion. Never less than entertaining.
So the squad faces the new challenge of survival in the second class of cycling and with a decent core of loyal men could tackle it in many different ways. Keeping much of their class of 2017, over half of the 2018 dogfighters will already be a tight-knit unit. 100% and a bit of panache is all we can ask for and by now expect from the Lionhearts.
Away from the sporting side of things, the management were delighted to announce the team will now be riding for Qhubeka, a South African charity using bicycles as both tools and incentives to support communities in poverty and to help people of any age move forward in life. The backroom staff and the riders are all passionate about the cause and can't wait to raise awareness and money in support of Qhubeka.
The Primary Sponsors
These are our (wo)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: 2018 *new contract Focus Nations: South Africa, Africa*
Octagon help us get our name on the backs of buses, billboards, wherever, in our target countries. Good for publicity, finances and fans. They have given us one last chance to put our, in the words of the Eritrel manager, "pretending to have an interest in African riders" into practice. Otherwise, it's bye-bye time.
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: 2019 *new contract Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain (minor), United States (very minor)
Xero stepped in at the last minute in 2016, but have been a great asset to the team. They are happy to renew for two more years of primary sponsorship, and continue to be our main title sponsor.
About: A 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
Kiwibank are still our third biggest sponsor and continue to be into 2018. They have taken the option in their two-year deal to become a primary sponsor upon promotion.
The Secondary Sponsors
Spoiler
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: 2019 *new contract Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia
They've now got a look at expanding abroad thanks to Octagon and we've loved the nutrition provided by the Kiwi upstart, and we're happy to keep going with this partnership for the 2018 and 2019 seasons!
About: Econet are an innovative company based out of Southern Africa but operate in the rest of Africa South America, Europe, East Asia and Australasia. Their core area is telecommunications and specifically broadband and fiber networks. They are also involved in other ventures in other sectors entirely Contract Until: 2018 Focus Nations: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Africa (minor)*, Australasia (minor) East Asia (very minor)*, South America (very minor)*, Europe (very minor)* *The choice of flags here means nothing
Econet are a truly innovative company which we are glad to be sponsored by. As a more worldwide company they don't demand any focus nationalities but will hopefully expand our influence even more in Southern Africa.
About: Telkom Indonesia is a majority state owned telecommunications company, the largest in Indonesia. Contract Until: 2018 Focus Nations: Indonesia
Jamalidin Novardianto is a cult hero now and nowhere is this more clear, other than the manager's room, than in his home country of Indonesia. Not investing too much money, the government wanted in and will sponsor the team, just so they know we're tight and all, as long as Jams rides for us. So until he retires, then.
About: Qhubeka is a non-for-profit, the South African programme of World Bicycle Relief, distributing bikes to help connect people to schools, clinics and jobs. Contract Until: 2019 *new Focus Nations: South Africa
A charity which helps use bicycles to support communities in poverty, as well as as a tool to help people of any age move forward in life. Not a sponsor by any means, quite the opposite. We ride for Qhubeka to increase awareness and taking part in fundraising, both of them increasing their funds and reach.
Official season goals and project goals yet to be revealed...
2016-17 Project Goals
Spoiler
- 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
Why change perfection? Another year in the absolutely stunning kit, by prolific and super-talented designer the_hoyle! Updated very slightly to reflect the new sponsor of Castle Lager and the new MGUCI size regulations.
Really hope you can sign some of the Africans available for the African side of your squad, though it probably doesn't matter who you sign, because Jams is going to ensure your promotion 100%. <3
I love the focus, and eventhough you got snubbed with your Kiwi additions I think you got some solid plans for the team growth on your side. Great job mate!
@trekbmc - I think so Yeah many top Africans on the shopping list and I was super excited about this transfers until many of their old boss decided to make his PT team part African Still excited though, and I think I still have superiority over his team as I have Jordan Schleck, a better African than he has and soon to be a better Schleck than he has And I am super excited as well about Jams being let loose in PCT <3
@Croatia14 - Yes, a shame for sure Thanks a lot, I hope you're right
Unlike last year in our promo bid, the phrase "the greater good" didn't appear in some of our rider's heads. However to be honest, other than one sad but not unfair departure, they did earn it.
We waved goodbye to Igor Antón and Simon Clarke, two loyal servants and successful Xero riders. The former wished to lead again in CT (like the pre-announced departure of Stijn Vandenbergh) but the latter felt that he deserved a higher wage as our probably sprint leader in 2018 again. We agreed, however we disagreed on what that higher wage should look like. We wish him luck on his next venture and would welcome either of them back if they so wished and the opportunity arose.
We also released Scott Ambrose, one of our stagiares. A young Kiwi talent, we may well see him in a Xero jersey in the future.
An official statement concerning rider availability has been released by Xero HQ. Many of the core are not for sale and no rider is marked as having to go, but due to the need for progression within the squad some riders will likely be sold. Chiefly among these is Tom Diggle, the British puncheur who is either a very nice superdomestique in PCT or CT or a low-waged leader who can score in the top30 in CT for a team focused on other terrains. More eye-catchingly, perhaps, is Anthony Roux, 2nd in the CT Individual Standings last season. The Frenchman is still on a relatively low wage for his talents and has the capabilities to be a great PCT superdomestique or even leader for the non-puncheur squads, or one of the absolute best riders in the CT who can take you halfway to promotion or most of the way to the top 10.
Also maybe available are the domestique in the mountains for any terrain, Lithuanian Egidijus Juodvalkis, and two very talented potential CT loanees, Nils Schomber and Daniel Afoa. The former can score points already in prologues and be part of a sprint train/breakaways, whilst the latter showed in just 15 RDs last season as a stagiare his fantastic skillset for CT breakaways, getting himself involved in many and even scoring some points and getting into KoM jerseys.
Only two riders have the bold no of being off the market for any price, with some more 95% staying. If the right deal comes in for anybody but Bennett and Novardianto, they could depart, however most of the squad wish to stay together.
Oh man I hope you sell off everyone except Jams and Train Bennett into a mountain goat
Also good to see another team with an Indonesian sponsor - albeit Indosat's direct competitor and a shame you didn't go through with the full re-name to Kiwibank! Jakstar and I will wait quietly in the corner for next season..
Anyway, as pre-mentioned looks like a solid base to build off, am interested to see how you go about it!
Always an awesome jersey, maybe the best in the peloton! Gonna be interesting to see how you end up in terms of leaders post transfers, which is the case for a lot of us promoting teams without an 80+ climber
@Abhishek - Thanks, and the same to your team! I am so hyped for transfers
@Eden - Haha always a possibility, would be very nice to have a top Kiwi for my team And don't lie, you're just waiting for me to sell off Jams! Yeah, maybe when we are all the same division it will be Telkom-Kiwibank, that'd be a big rivalry And thanks
@Booker - Oh yeah, can't wait to get some more sexy riders for my sexy jersey! Yes Clarkey and me had a very unhealthy love/hate relationship, but as with Vantomme and Netia I could also see us coming back together in FAs A happy jandal is all anybody but Aquarius wants, let's hope I can make it happen in transfers For sure, definitely really looking forward to competing with you and the rest of the 2017 promotion class, a lot of nice guys in there and also Aquarius who's fun to beat
@whitejersey - I think so <3 It is gonna be interesting, aside from TTs we could go in any direction I guess Haha yes, I'm sure there will b a lot of us searching for that top climber - or as Eden suggested above, maybe I'll just DIY one for myself
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
Xero Racing p/b Octagon 2018 
Africa*
Australia, 
Great Britain (minor), 
United States (very minor)
Geremie Nzeke
Rei Onodera [Loaned In]
Egidijus Juodvalkis
Jonathan Salinas
Daniel Afoa [Stagiaire]
Igor Antón
Aleksandr Efimkin
Ok Cheol Kim [Stagiaire]
Apex Mountain Classic
Clasico Pico Basile
Tour of the Middle East
Viana do Castelo
Volta a Catalunya
Roma Maxima
Jelajah SKL
GP Herning
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy
Tour of Ukraine
GP Liechtenstein
Tour of Cyprus
Veenendaal - Veenendaal
Cheshire Cycling Tour
Scandinavia Open Road Race
Tour of Norway
Malopolski Wyscig
Tour de San Luis
Tour of Beijing
Macskako Kerekparverseny
Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt
Baltic Chain Tour
Barbados Bicycling Bonanza
l
Still excited though, and I think I still have superiority over his team as I have Jordan Schleck, a better African than he has and soon to be a better Schleck than he has 
Thanks a lot, I hope you're right 
and a shame you didn't go through with the full re-name to Kiwibank! Jakstar and I will wait quietly in the corner for next season..
