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[CT19] McCormick Pro Cycling
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 02-09-2019 04:01
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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McCormick and Ulriksen Sports are pleased to announce the formation of McCormick Pro Cycling (MCC). MCC is a long-term project to build a significant American cycling team.
McCormick & Company, based in Baltimore, USA, is a global leader in flavor with $5.3 billion in total sales, across multiple regions and businesses. Ulriksen Sports, also based in Baltimore, is a cycling-focused sports management company.
"Cycling attracted us not only for its international appeal but also as an innovation opportunity. Competitive cyclists face an interesting flavor challenge in making the huge number of calories required to be competitive attractive to eat. With our focus on inspiring healthy choices through great flavors, cycling will be a laboratory to test the ingenuity of our food scientists. We look forward to working with the Ulriksen brothers and their athletes as the project develops."
-- McCormick and Company press release
"We spent a lot of time refining our vision and we all loved where we ended up but for me the most important word is "significant". It means we want a project that matters but it doesn't commit us to a single path or goal. We can take the opportunities that present themselves to have an impact on cycling and for our sponsor."
-- Ulrich Ulriksen, CEO, Ulriksen Sports
"For me the important phrase is "long-term". We can take our time to develop young American riders and the project can grow with them. We will look to international riders for their knowledge and skills but we will also ask whether they will enhance the future development of our American riders. We don't have to make decisions for tomorrow because with McCormick on board, Thyme, is quite literally, on our side.
-- Kenny Ulriksen, Lead Sports Director, Ulriksen Sports
MCC will be releasing a jersey design and posting other updates in the coming weeks.
Edited by Ulrich Ulriksen on 24-09-2019 02:32
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 02-09-2019 04:02
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Jersey, credit to Hillis
Edited by Ulrich Ulriksen on 24-09-2019 03:46
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 02-09-2019 04:02
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Reserve |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 02-09-2019 04:30
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World Champion
Posts: 11406
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Hope not too much spice is provided to the riders lest they suffer a Tom Dumoulin moment  Excited to see this project come to life, especially after how much I enjoyed Cartamundi 
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
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2x  x2
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| knockout |
Posted on 02-09-2019 16:14
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7753
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 400.00
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Never heard of the sponsor but best of luck to you 
It means we want a project that matters but it doesn't commit us to a single path or goal. We can take the opportunities that present themselves to have an impact on cycling and for our sponsor.
Reading these two sentences was great because that is sth that imo is key during transfers. Take the opportunities you get and dont try to force sth that is not possible in that transfer window. Especially in the lower divisions it can lead to surprising success at times
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 02-09-2019 17:55
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
Joined: 16-04-2013
PCM$: 900.00
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Good luck mate in your first season mate, it's so much fun and focus on learning everything you can from everywhere you can 
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 02-09-2019 18:22
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
Joined: 14-09-2013
PCM$: 4500.00
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knockout wrote:
Never heard of the sponsor but best of luck to you
It means we want a project that matters but it doesn't commit us to a single path or goal. We can take the opportunities that present themselves to have an impact on cycling and for our sponsor.
Reading these two sentences was great because that is sth that imo is key during transfers. Take the opportunities you get and dont try to force sth that is not possible in that transfer window. Especially in the lower divisions it can lead to surprising success at times
I concur completely, not just in MG transfers, but throughout life!
“The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.”
― Confucius
The OP seems to have caught onto this pretty quickly. A transfer plan will likely not last past the first skirmish with the 'enemy' . My recommendation to new players is to have in mind more of a framework rather than become myopically obsessed with a plan needing 1 or 2 specific riders. Of course every manager has complete freedom to build his team in whatever shape he desires; those more focussed on RP will obviously have certain elements they want to have on board (f.e. I don't see Iberia - Team Degenkolb parting with their team leader any time soon (!) ).
The outlier of course is any CT team that builds itself around our lord-and-saviour Amadou Bakari, in which case we should all bow down and give them free reign.
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 04-09-2019 01:18
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks for the positive words and good to know that Confucius and the Ulriksen brothers are on the same page.
I guess that means it is a good thing they are sponsoring a cycling team. |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 24-09-2019 03:43
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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McCormick is thrilled to announce our first signings. In honor of these signings we have officially released our team jersey which is posted above (credit to friend of the team Hillis91 for the jersey).
Our primary goal of the transfer season was to identify and sign some young American neo-pros and we very pleased to say that two of the best available have signed on, Connor Brown and Alex Hoehn.
Our scouts were clearly busy in Kansas as 23-year old Kansas born, Connor, is joined on the team by Kansas City native Alex. Alex is from the part of Kansas City that is in Kansas as opposed to most of Kansas City which is not. All we can say is Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Sorry to our international fans for that detour into obscure American things.
Longer term Connor will focus in the hilly terrain while Alex looks to excel in the time trials but short term we expect a big learning curve. The team looks forward to both Connor and Alex leading us to success in the future.
To mentor our younger riders we brought on two veterans, 33-year old Phil Gaimon and 28-year old Jakob Rathe. Ken and Ulrich Ulriksen both loved Phil's books so he was always a likely signing. On the road Phil will be road captain, and support our leaders, should we ever manage to sign any.
Jakob Rathe needs no introduction. Jacob might go out on loan or he might get a chance to lead the team when the terrain doesn't suit anyone else. Whatever it is we are sure he will be a great addition. Luckily for us Jacob happened to be near Baltimore when his signing was arranged and he was happy to don the colors for the first time and go out as a team ambassador.
First he toured Baltimore's inner harbor and got to know some fans. We told him he could wear regular pants but he insisted on the full outfit.
Then he headed over to McCormick headquarters for a meet and greet with the corporate types. There he pulled out the now familiar Jakob wave.
Finally he went to an Orioles game. He must be good luck, because in a rare event, they won. You should have seen him dancing to "Thank God I'm Country Boy" in the seventh inning stretch. He wouldn't let us post those pictures.
All around a great day for McCormick Pro Cycling and we look forward to announcing the signing of some more young guns in the coming days. |
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| redordead |
Posted on 24-09-2019 18:29
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4910
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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This looks like it'll be a very fun team. Gotta love Jacob's enthusiasm
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Azerbaijan |
Posted on 24-09-2019 18:31
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 276
Joined: 08-07-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Can you just forget about the Man Game, and do a thread on "Jakob Rathe goes places?" |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 15:04
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 24-09-2019 23:58
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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I was thinking I might have Jakob pop up a few other places depending on his race calendar. |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 25-09-2019 00:25
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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McCormick Pro Cycling is thrilled to announce the signing of Dan Holloway. To be honest we are still pretty nervous we have made a mistake and he hasn't signed with us.
Said team Technical Directory Ken Ulriksen "From the moment transfers started we had targeted Dan, not only is he the perfect face for our project but he is also a great rider for the races we plan to target, like the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. We were honest with Dan, we weren't able to build him a lead out and he would be carrying most of the point scoring load but I think he appreciated the chance to contribute to our vision of significant US cycling team while also getting to spend more time with his family in the US."
The team looks forward to consulting with Dan as we lay out our race calendar. We are also happy to welcome 7 additional riders on board: Brendan Rhim, Thomas Revard, Noah Granigan, Zeke Mostov, Ethan Weiss, Connor McCutcheon and Taylor Eisenhart. We will introduce them more formally later. |
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| liefwarrior |
Posted on 25-09-2019 03:42
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 864
Joined: 04-07-2019
PCM$: 300.00
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Dan Holloway!?!? That's a huge signing, well done mate. Can't wait to see him tearing up the CT field. |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 25-09-2019 05:16
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8063
Joined: 22-06-2009
PCM$: 650.00
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Congrats on the Holloway signing! Also glad to see former Newton Foundation cyclist Taylor Eisenhart getting a contract.
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| knockout |
Posted on 25-09-2019 21:35
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7753
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 400.00
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Holloway also to CT? Insane signing
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 25-09-2019 22:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2920
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Insane to see Holloway in CT this year when I decided to bolster my sprinting options. Glad to see McCutcheon finding a new home, even tho I was hoping to snatch him up in the draft!
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 25-09-2019 22:28
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Team Leader
Posts: 5902
Joined: 30-11-2006
PCM$: 1500.00
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Crazy signing, making the CT insane!
Congratz Mc
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 26-09-2019 02:01
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3303
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks to all. Hoping the lack of much of a team around Holloway doesn't undermine his success completely.
Glad we could give homes to unwanted American riders, that is one of our missions. Really like Taylor Eisenhart as a rider so that was an easy one.
Key question for me is whether we request the Tour of the America's which is obviously a big one for a US-based team but would waste a lot of Holloway race days in the mountains or do we focus on the various sprint races. My heart says the first, my head the second. |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 26-09-2019 07:15
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World Champion
Posts: 11406
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Holloway is huge, especially in CT, especially for a home team. Congratulations!
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
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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