A second Pro Continental season has gone by for the Lionhearts, and it saw a two-spot improvement on their debut. Xero Racing placed 12th and properly established themselves in the PCT, spearheaded by the new arrival of Hugo Houle and the newly-trained George Bennett, alongside the returning Luke Rowe and Mekseb Debesay. All four signed new contracts, two taking notable cuts and two asking for, and receiving, pay rises instead, as did this year's new fifth man after his development, Joseph Areruya. Whether this quintet stays together into the new season cannot be known until after transfers, but if they do the top 10 has to be the next target for this group, which could be surrounded by a tweaked supporting cast after a not always agreeable renewals elsewhere.
After 2018's typically rollercoaster season it was nice to have some form of consistency for Xero in 2019, putting aside the nightmare first few months which saw them well into the red zone. The riders pulled together, inspired by victories such as Rowe's in Veenendaal and Bennett's in Japan, and eventually entered into the tightly-fought race for the.Top 10, fading in the final few races.
This exciting but pleasingly solid season convinced all sponsors who were up for renewal to continue their partnerships, including Xero as the primary sponsor, who have once again registered their anxiety surrounding the lack of uptick in young New Zealanders making it to the top level, especially with two other teams in the area. The African side of things will also be shaken up, with two CT ventures joining Xero and EA Vesuvio in the ever-growing ecosystem of African cycling. So far there has been very few rumours of what the team are plotting for the upcoming transfers, though we're sure some will break in the next week before the madness begins.
The Primary Sponsors
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: 2020 *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 and are now nearly synonymous with us. They continue as lone title sponsor for another year but have publicly noted their dissapointment in our lack of impact on the young blood of New Zealand cycling - and in a renewal year that's a worry.
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: 2022 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. We have renewed with them for another three seasons!
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: 2021 *new contract Focus Nations: New Zealand, Australia
We've loved the nutrition tips provided by the Kiwi upstart, and we're happy to keep going with this partnership for the next two years!
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: 2021 Focus Nations: South Africa, The World (minor)
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 stepped down from their title sponsor role (2016-18) but maintain a solid presence within the team as our marketers and talent representatives.
About: Castle Lager is South Africa's favourite beer and is now available in over 40 countries worldwide. Contact Until: 2020 Focus Nations: South Africa, The World (minor)
Castle Lager continues their long association with South African sport as they continue in their two-year deal with us.
About: Visit Rwanda is a premier tourism company operating in, you guessed it, Rwanda. Contact Until: 2021 *new contract Focus Nation: Rwanda
The tourism company believe that our team is a great way to advertise Rwanda given our upcoming star Joseph Areruya and our PCT status and so have renewed their contract for another two seasons.
The Minor Sponsors
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: 2021 *new contract 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. They have renewed for another two seasons after being happy with our partnership to date.
About: Telkom Indonesia is a majority state owned telecommunications company, the largest in Indonesia. Contract Until: 2020 Focus Nations: Indonesia
Jamalidin Novardianto is a cult hero now (and after his Giro stage victory has increased profile) and nowhere is this more clear, other than the manager's room, than in his home country of Indonesia. Not investing too much money, this state-owned telecommunications firm 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.
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
A mixed bag during renewals this season as some riders demanded pay rises - in the case of George Bennett and Joseph Areruya, who had not received new wages after last year's developments, we believed it justified, in the cases of our sprint squad, who all demanded more than we'd hoped, we did not. Houle did get a cut due to his inflated FA value from last year but not as much as we'd hoped, whilst Habtom and Kennett had to be cut due to their demands soaring past what we signed them for from free agency. Luke Rowe, however, succeeded in his greed and earned a staggering 140,000 pay rise after testing negotiations.
We sadly bid farewell to a host of young talents as well as long-time squad members Dylan Kennett, Tom Davison, Jaco Venter and Carl Ngamoki-Cameron, the former left after negotiations whilst the latter three unfortunately did not fit into our plans after riders such as Rowe took up more space than we bargained for, victims of their teammate's greed.
Overall the squad has slimmed down a lot from the unwieldy 27 we had on the books in some form last season and now totals 17, meaning at least three new signings must be made. Overall these 17 have given us a gross profit with a net wage cut of over €200,000 - not as great as last year's €500,000, but not bad, especially considering Rowe's increase, and it means we shouldn't have problems with the cap space finding the room for the three new signings required. We look forward to building on this very talented group in the upcoming window and will be releasing our rider availability statement in the near future.
Stop it! If he's ever going to leave Xero, it will be to eat up 40-70% of our humble team's budget jandal I think you got away with a bargain there btw, oh how much more he could have earned with us
In all seriousness, I would expect us to cross paths a few times in the upcoming weeks, but I really hope it's going to be talking loans or other deals and not bidding each other up for free agents, I'm a bit anxious in that regard ^^
@quadsas - Not planning on it straight away but I suppose you never know - doubt it'd be an easy path given his wage and quality would get many interested suitors!
@Croatia - When I started writing about how I had to let people go but then I still kept Schomber I knew you'd love it Unfortunately for you and luckily for us, he's 4.99 and doesn't require a loan
@cunego - Pretty huge if there, and not one I can ever see turning into a when And yeah I'm very happy with his wage, even last year at L3 he was ont he road to making up for it and this year he may even be worth it already without the prospect of another year's development - I do worry what I'll have to fork out next season though
Of course it would be strange if we didn't see each other in transfers, as you said hopefully it's productive for both of us - I look forward to what you are planning
@cunego - And I'm very happy that you have - our dealings will be much easier if we acknowledge that the elephant in the room wouldn't actually fit in the room, and is much happier in the savannah anyway
The first transfer news coming out of the tight-lipped Xero HQ so far as the team have released their press release on Rider Availability going into transfers. With a strong and loyal core clearly not a lot of riders are being openly sold, with the team looking for a couple of big sales to get some more cap and extra budget. Luke Rowe is the main man for Xero on paper but also the main man on their transfer list, this versatile Veenendaal - Veenendaal winner is sure to raise some interest as this potential top 35 PCT scorer (having fallen slightly last year after splitting the RDs with Houle, the main reason for his listing) is a huge asset to any PCT or CT team as well as being incredibly useful as well in the PT. Don't let his wage rise this year fool you, he was on a bargain wage before and is still on a very reasonable one now for his talents. Still training eligible too with multiple years left at his peak - at 81SP he'd be a truly fearsome contender when combined with his FL and COB.
Also on the block are 11th place and KOM winner in the Tour de France Tsgabu Grmay and the multi-talented puncheur Kristian Dyrnes, both with half a decade at their peaks making the team regret their listing already! The former is a very useful climber who could outperform his 77MO (as seen with 6th at the HC Tour of Beijing, no breakaways or freak stages required!) as a CT leader or otherwise a fantastic luxury domestique, whilst the latter with his solid MO and fast finish shouldn't be hurt too badly by PCM18 like sub 70 MO puncheurs - he didn't take off here last season due to having to compete with Houle for stage win priority and Houle AND Bazhkou for GC leadership. A top CT leader in the vein of the 670 point wonder Roux who also could outperform 79-80 guys thanks to his similar stats, or a useful PCT co-leader.
The team also thank Evonik for the format which they have stolen.
Stats
OVL
Wage
Availability
Luke
Rowe
83 EGO, 79SPR
77.92
€ 370,000
●●●●
Hugo
Houle
79 SPR
77.66
€ 340,000
●
Joseph
Areruya
77MO
76.67
€ 160,000
George
Bennett
80MO
76.60
€ 175,000
Mekseb
Debesay
77COB
76.18
€ 190,000
●
Kristian
Dyrnes
78HI
75.32
€ 110,000
●●●●
Stan
Bazhkou
76HI
74.38
€ 70,000
●
Tsgabu
Grmay
77MO
74.14
€ 90,000
●●●●
Hamish
Schreurs
77COB
73.99
€ 50,000
●
Morne
Van Niekerk
78TT
73.86
€ 50,000
●
S. N.
Bester
Low 70s all
73.69
€ 50,000
●
Jordan
Schleck
77MO
73.67
€ 50,000
●●●
Jams
Novardianto
85<3
73.53
€ 65,000
Sergio
Higuita
73MO
72.83
€ 140,000
●●
Daniel
Habtemichael
74MO
71.89
€ 55,000
●
James
Fouche
71MO
69.90
€ 50,000
●
Nils
Schomber
79PRL
69.37
€ 50,000
●●
● strong intention to keep | ●●● open for offers | ●●●●● clear intention to sell
The team are also looking for loan destinations for a few riders, ideally with the receiving team paying full or majority wages in return for a higher than perhaps usual fee.
Xero Racing 2020 
Australia, 
Great Britain (minor), 
United States (very minor)
Hugo Houle
Luke Rowe
Joseph Areruya
Tsgabu Grmay
Kristian Dyrnes
Stanislau Bazhkou
Nils Schomber
Arvid de Kleijn
Mekseb Debesay
Carl Ngamoki-Cameron
Mingrun Chen [Stagiaire]
Sergio Higuita
Than Tung Huynh [Stagiaire]
Akramjon Sunnatov [Stagiaire]
Jordan Schleck [Loaned Out]
Jamalidin Novardianto [Loaned Out]
Abofazl Gilanipoor
Marvain Tognama Kossouhorou
Peter Velits
Anthony Roux
Tosh Van der Sande
Joseph Kimathi [Stagiaire]
Geremie Nzeke
Rei Onodera [Loaned In]
Egidijus Juodvalkis
Jonathan Salinas
Daniel Afoa [Stagiaire]
Igor Antón
Aleksandr Efimkin
Ok Cheol Kim [Stagiaire]
Volta a Portugal
Hong Kong Challenge
GP Herning
Barbados Bicycling Bonanza
Jelajah SKL
Strade Bianche
Baltic Chain Tour
Tour of Pologne
Tour of Cyprus
Tour of Ukraine
Cheshire Cycling Tour
Tour of Romandie
Scandinavia Open Road Race
Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt
Hanko Classic
Riga - Jurmala GP
Franceville Classique
Torshavn GP
Tour of the Middle East
Tour of Slovenie
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy
Tour du Maroc
Areruya would look great in an Isostar kit 
jandal I think you got away with a bargain there btw, oh how much more he could have earned with us 
