Ayubowan everyone, from Ayubowan! Sri Lanka's only professional cycling team is returning to the PCT once again for the 2018 season, but hoping to bounce straight back to the PT - as we did following our last relegation. The focus of the team remains on Sri Lankan riders, with a minimum of 10 guaranteed rides, and on developing young talent from across the world on all terrains.
In terms of sponsorship, nothing has changed for this upcoming season. A change of jersey has taken place - fusing our 2014 outfit with the one worn last season - with it an excellent piece of work by the_hoyle, like the Sri Lankan NC jersey which accompanies it below.
As the 2018 season rolls around, a number of questions have been asked about which riders Ayubowan! will be targeting to help them return to the PT at the first time of asking. However, following the renewals period the Sri Lankan team find themselves in a situation they have never been in before - over the salary cap. Therefore, one of their senior riders must leave to finance any incomings, with the word on the grapevine being that either Jonathan Bellis or Adrien Petit will be the first rider to make way.
Rumours suggest that if it is Bellis, then Ayubowan! will look to replace him with an up and coming young puncheur to complement Jay McCarthy and Anthony Turgis. The names most frequently heard mentioned are a mix of contracted riders and free agents, with those under contract most notably Alberto Bettiol and Samuel Ssabagwanya, and Milan Menten considered to be the best realistic option available in free agency.
However, it is equally possible that Petit could be the first cap casualty, in which case different riders would be targeted. Once again the focus is expected to be on youth, but this time the free agency pool is seen to be the more promising option - with Sebastian Lander and Pascal Ackermann the first names mentioned. There is of course a high chance that they will be too expensive however, so the Sri Lankan team are believed to be keeping tabs on Niccolo Bonifazio with a view to a potential move.
And then, once the cap issue is resolved there remains the possibility of a move being made to replace some of the other riders currently under contract - particularly Kashyapa Siriwardena and Tony Gallopin. Siriwardena would not leave in a like for like swap, instead being likely to be a casualty should a talented young cobbler be acquired on minimum wage, while the aim would be to replace Gallopin with a premier TT talent. Ayubowan! expect that the free agency pool will present a challenge with regards to upgrading their lineup due to their limited cap space, but it has been suggested they may enquire about Tom Bohli and Gregory Daniel among others. However if cap space is permitting, then sources suggest the team are infatuated with the potential of Benoit Cosnefroy and Julius van den Berg and are likely to chase after them hard.
Interesting transfer talk. For sure a few notable riders that we have been looking into, both interms of riders on your chopping block and the free agents.
With transfers coming to an end, a number of changes have taken place at Ayubowan! Firstly, a number of stalwarts of the team have departed in Jonathan Bellis, Tony Gallopin and Adrien Petit. The departure of Petit is particularly notable as he was the longest tenured member of the team, a role now filled by Tushantha Rajapakshage. We wish the trio all the best, but our relegation lead to a need to bring in fresh blood and cut costs, sending them through the exit door.
In their place we have seen an influx of fresh talent. Bellis has been replaced by the signings of the talented young puncheurs Alberto Bettiol and Samuel Ssabagwanya, while Josh Atkins replaces Gallopin - with the talented Stefan De Bod waiting in the wings. Petit meanwhile has been replaced by Sebastian Lander, a rider long sought after by the team, and young Julius van den Berg has come on board as a future cobbles leader.
However, Ssabagwanya and De Bod have gone out on loan this season, to SPAR - Shimano - SCG and Grieg - Eftel respectively, as has Kashyapa Siriwardena to Desigual. They will develop as a result, and we hope to see some of our other young talents develop in our colours - though in many cases that will depend on good fortune with gaining wildcards. Additionally, we expect to see some minor improvements to a rider or two after training (currently Pushpakumara to 74HIL and McCarthy to 65SP) but confirmation there depends on how much our wildcards end up costing, though the plans outlined above remain the most likely option. Therefore it is my pleasure to present Ayubowan! 2018 in the first image, followed by the look of our talents when maxed in the second.
Ayubowan! 2018 
Daniel Eliad
Ignacio Sarabia
Ken Sebastian Vassdal
José Serpa
Martin Puusepp
Mohamed Shawal Anuar Aziz [Loan]
Mustafa Carsi
Maksym Averin
Daniel Ricardo Diaz
Carlos Alexandre Manarelli
Charalampas Kastrantas [Loan]
Michael Boroš [Loan] 
Maanie Altanzul
Piotr Mazur
Heinrich Haussler 
Samuel Ssabagwanya, and 
Tom Bohli and 
Gregory Daniel among others. However if cap space is permitting, then sources suggest the team are infatuated with the potential of 
Win Tour of Beijing (HC) 
Top 5 Volta a Portugal (PTHC) 
Top 5 Tour of the Middle East (HC) 
