It has been 1 year since Team Boss, Luis Leon Sanchez, returned the team to Spain where the team was initially formed, having spent the previous 2 years based out of the Middle East.
All 4 of our sponsors, primary and secondary, are Spanish based companies: ZARA Irizar Telefónica Santander
ZARA is our main naming sponsor and features heavily on our team jersey. The globally known clothing brand has provided us with something truly unique (thanks to designer hillis91) which will stand out in the Peloton and be seen at the front where we belong.
Our second naming sponsor is Irizar who are a local Basque manufacturer of buses and coaches and have provided the team with multiple world class vehicles to support our efforts on and off the race course.
Our two secondary sponsors, each taking a sleeve of the jersey to provide some colour, are telecommunications company, Telefónica, and financial services company, Santander. Both companies have a rich history in cycling and return to support and promote the development of local riders.
Our History
The team is rich in history having been formed in 2014, now having had 10 seasons with 3 in the CT, 6 in the PCT and 1 in the PT.
Division
Points
Rank
2023
ZARA - Irizar
PT
5109
17th
2022
ZARA - Irizar
PCT
3390
2nd
Promoted
2021
Aramco DP
CT
2771
2nd
Promoted
2020
Aramco DP
PCT
1976
22nd
Relegated
2019
Euskaltel - Elior
CT
2114
2nd
Promoted
2018
Euskaltel - Elior
PCT
1738
25th
Relegated
2017
Euskaltel
PCT
1881
19th
2016
Euskaltel
PCT
1932
20th
2015
Euskaltel-Air France
PCT
1410
26th
2014
Euskaltel - Bavaria
CT
1594
4th
Promoted
We promoted in year 1 thanks to some aggressive riding and a good deal of luck. We survived the drop for 3 years in the PCT before relegating from 2nd last in the division in 2018. We bounced straight back up in 2019 with 2nd place in the CT led by an old trio of Nibali, Moser and Costa.
The team then went through a change of sponsorship to Aramco DP and complications with rider development which unfortunately led to relegating in 2020 by less than 100 points.
This disappointment was, however, short lived as 2021 saw a CT Title Fight for much of the year in which we eventually lost out but came away 2nd after outstanding seasons from many of our riders. Specifically Fabio Jakobsen who won the Individual Rankings with strong support from Mas, Cosenfroy, Thomas, and Paez.
Our return to the PCT, and relocation to Spain, in 2022 saw momentum from 2021 being carried into a season which defied expectation with Taarammae, Jakobsen and Conci leading the team to 2nd in the PCT which mean PT promotion!
2023 was our first year in the Pro Tour and we celebrated the end of our first decade with a battle for survival in which we came up trumps! Wellens was our lead man but Consefroy, Conci, Thijssen, and Jakobsen all ensured it wasn't a 1 year stay.
We will go at the Pro Tour again in 2024 with experience to know what it takes to survive and to thrive at the top level of world cycling. Time to go again!
Luis Leon Sanchez
GM & Founder, ZARA - Irizar
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 15-09-2024 07:00
As I stated in the previous season's thread, you're in a very good position to survive already based on the riders you have in your team, and with promotion you should be able to handle the wage hikes somewhat easily.
Love the jersey. A lot of new Spanish additions in the CT, but they'll all be looking up to the 'big boy' in PCT, and with such a rich history of leveling up talents all those other teams will be hoping you'll be going all in on survival/promotion instead of choosing the Spanish talent card during the transfer season. Although I certainly wouldn't put it past you to be able to do well, while also leveling up another future superstar
Very glad to see the team back to it's Spanish and Basque roots Interested to see what you can do in transfers to break the yo-yo, but all the development work you have done will also be a huge help and so cool to see a home grown core competing
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." [PT] Xero Racing
It looks like my decision to shift to the Spanish market was an opportunity many others saw. Your project in the PCT is possibly the one I'm the most excited for: plenty of young, homegrown talent fresh of a successful CT campaign. With any luck your's is a path we will be following next season.
And the jersey? Magnifico! I'm really enjoying the proliferation of strongly textured designs in the MG universe - although perhaps this is something of a reflection of real life. Although I can't quite figure out if the small glyph is an eye or not...
Really looking forward to see you back at PCT level. You have a stellar base. But can you build on-top of it - or will you fall into the talent charge? - I hope you manage to find a great balance, because you have an amazing side and it would be very nice to see you challenge for promotion rather than relegation so you have to do another "great save" where you loan out half the team for a season.
Very, very well done on the season that went past in the CT, and especially managing to keep such talented riders for this season. It will be very interesting to follow your moves in the PCT, and see how you do from here.
Cool jersey as well, will be interesting to see how it looks in game, and how "clear" it is in the peloton. Fingers crossed it will be distinct and easy to spot, if so, this will be a standout jersey, I think!
The end of year Nationals saw our riders disperse across the globe to compete against their countrymen in a course which changes every year.
SPAIN
The most important of the National Championships races for us given our team's relocation and re-focus on Spain going into the 2022 Season.
Former rider Aranburu lit up the Road Race which suited Enric Mas. Our 26yr old future star powered past his rivals and crossed the line first!!
If you think that one was a surprise then you're about to be shocked now. Motivated by his team mate's performance in the Road Race, Jaime Castrillo did the unthinkable in the TT. The performance of the season from the 25yr old saw him win by 18 seconds over Tenorio.
Both riders will wear the same amazing jersey created by The Hillis Design Co. We hope to see this one at the front throughout the season.
ARGENTINA
He may have been on his own in the RR but Andres Paez wasn't about to let that stop him as our fast finishing punchy 26yr old went through the paces up the final hill to be his country's Champion.
He will don the following jersey for the 2022 season, proudly wearing his country's colours.
Manager's Comment: Obviously a great National Championships campaign for the team highlighted by the fact we will have the Spanish Road Race and TT Champions riding for us in 2022. We couldn't ask for better as the team relocates back to Spain and we look to bring the fans back on board the journey.
A great result also in South America for Paez.
Another noteworthy result is Henry Alberto Sam who was the fastest of the 2 Guatemala riders in their TT. We will ensure he has his own jersey in the future too.
Borisavljevic did also manage a win in the Serbia TT.
Others came close in their respective championships too with Jakobsen 3rd in the Netherlands RR and Thomas 3rd in the France TT.
Amazing double in Spain, a very memorable moment for you guys I'm sure
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." [PT] Xero Racing
It was a bit of a rough one for us over Renewals which isn't too much of a surprise given the 2nd place in the Continental Tour and very strong seasons from many of our riders.
2021 Wage
2022 Wage
Change
Fabio
Jakobsen
170,000
320,000
+ 150,000
Enric
Mas
250,000
275,000
+ 25,000
Nicola
Conci
80,000
155,000
+ 75,000
Benoit
Cosnefroy
160,000
150,000
- 10,000
Andres
Paez
140,000
125,000
- 15,000
Milos
Borisavljevic
100,000
100,000
-
Benjamin
Thomas
50,000
85,000
+ 35,000
Ruben
Fernandez
55,000
60,000
+ 5,000
Alexandr
Ovsyannikov
50,000
55,000
+ 5,000
Jaime
Castrillo
50,000
55,000
+ 5,000
Gerben
Thijssen
50,000
50,000
-
Jules
Hesters
50,000
50,000
-
Henry Alberto
Sam
10,000
50,000
+ 40,000
Julian
Cardona
0
50,000
+ 50,000
Departures
Mohamad
Abdul Halil
50,000
0
- 50,000
Miori
Kawasaki
10,000
0
- 10,000
Maher
Hasnaoui
0
0
-
The obvious pain point is, of course, Jakobsen at the top of the list who sees his wage almost double to 320,000... His demands were higher still but we decided that a rider of his calibre is required going into this season in the PCT.
Our key Spanish rider Mas also had a good season but was happy to accept a smaller increase. There was never a thought of having him leave.
The other bigger increase came from young Conci off the back of finishing his development in the Pro Tour. This is fairly standard with riders like himself so there wasn't too much pushback from our side.
Great results for our other key riders with Cosnefroy and Paez accepting decreases while Borisavljevic was happy with being paid the same again.
Some will say that Thomas's wage of 50k during 2021 was far too little but they can rest a bit easier as he jumps up to 85,000.
The rest of the team accepted either the same wage as 2021 or a 5k increase.
Draft rider, Cardona, and stagiare, Sam, were also both offered full time contracts to remain at the team for the foreseeable future.
DEPARTURES
Abdul Halil picked up some strong results for us during last season but he was asking for a bit too much and we didn't see a place for him in the team next season so he was released.
Our other stagiare, Kawasaki, could have a fairly interesting future ahead of him but he's not quite what we need.
Our 2nd draft rider was Hasnaoui who isn't getting any younger and, given the move back to Spain, doesn't fit in the team either. Time will tell whether he goes into retirement.
We have a total wage bill of 1,580,000 for 14 riders. We do therefore have a fairly large salary cap to play with but we also need quite a few riders, especially given the requirement for a few riders to go out on loan to complete their development as well.
It is likely to be a fairly busy transfer period for LLS and the Team Management but it will also be one where we will look to be smart, strategic and specific about the riders we want to bring in.
I'm sure that Jakobsen raise hurts, even though it's not an outrageous salary. Unfortunately that's the consequence of his CT domination last year. He should still be great scorer for you in PCT, and that's what matters.
Down the line, however, I think you did a great job. Mas also had a fantastic season, and you've kept him to a very manageable wage. Conci as well was always going to get a big raise when maxing, and he should have a great wage/points this year. Looking forward to his matchups with Kamna!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
That's definitely a fantastic base for a newly promoted team! Jakobsen is easily PCT-ready, as he's already shown last year. Mas & Conci should at least be great helpers for the mountains, but probably also leaders in smaller races - with the latter a real threat in TT-heavy ones. With only one rider older than 30 and all the others at most 28, your team definitely has a bright future ahead - if you manage to bring in at least one more clear-cut leader besides Jakobsen. But your depth really looks amazing!
ZARA - Irizar 
Irizar
Aramco DP
Euskaltel - Elior
Euskaltel - Bavaria
Interested to see what you can do in transfers to break the yo-yo, but all the development work you have done will also be a huge help and so cool to see a home grown core competing 
