After 4 seasons in the top-tier PT division, a chastening 2023 season culminated in relegation for ISA - Hexacta. Entering the 2024 season, our sponsor cohort is standing by team management, but significant budget cuts have been imposed. Off-season planning of the route forward for the team as it re-aligns for life in the PCT is well underway. The teams race calendar has recently been ratified, and appropriate goals have been identified in conjunction with our sponsors. The rider transfer market will open imminently, as always a crucial waypoint in defining how the new season will evolve. Join us on our continuing MG journey!
* Primary sponsor ISA (Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. E.S.P. - ISA -) is a Colombian based corporate group focussed on various electric energy transmission, road concessions, and Information and Telecommunications Technology businesses active throughout South and Central America.
* 2nd named sponsor, Hexacta is a Latin American company that offers end-to-end digital and data engineering services, delivering nearshore and offshore custom software development services, testing, and user interface design. The company is headquartered in Argentina and has additional innovation hubs in Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and the United States.
* Banque Populaire du Maroc is our final major financial sponsor
* Long-term equipment sponsorship and logistics partnership arrangements with Scott Bicyles, Campagnolo, Skoda and Pearl Izumi continue uninterrupted.
After a disappointing 2023 season, various riders renegotiated on reduced wages, and recent signings Van Niekerk and Andersen have reduced reimbursement packages due to the removal of the Free Agency signing premium. Even so, the need to trim towards the PCT salary cap necessitated the release of a number of riders that have been with the team for multiple years. Given the options available, it is probably not a surprise that the majority of riders released are in decline due to age. If the team had secured a 5th season in the PT division it is likely that the majority of the released cohort would have been re-signed. The reality of the MGUCI renewal fine structure meant that tough decisions were necessary. So we say farewell and thank you for your service to Thibault Pinot, Francesco Bongiorno, Heiner Rodrigo Parra Bustamente, Emerson Santos and Jhonatan Restrepo.
As we enter the 2024 transfer season the ISA - Hexacta roster is comprised of the following riders (with a 20K fine incoming due to being 10K over the wage cap at this stage of the season).
ISA - Hexacta enter the 2024 transfer window in decent shape for the upcoming season in the PCT division. The cull of aging riders from the squad in response to the reduced wage cap imposed by relegation means that the average age of the squad has improved. More balancing of the squad is still expected though. How the transfer window evolves will have a very big impact on plans. For instance there is a noticeable lack of development riders on the roster, so that may be an area of focus this year. Increased focus on key regional areas is also possible. Or perhaps there will be a big push to try and bounce straight back to the PT, only time will tell! Always an exciting time of the year for all of the MG community.
Rider
Level
Age
Pot
OVL
Wage
Available?
Caleb Ewan
4.100
30
6
79.31
600,000
*
Petr Vakoc
4.100
32
7
77.43
285,000
*****
Aidan Van Niekerk
4.100
27
4
77.04
210,000
*
Andres Paez
4.100
29
4
75.88
120,000
*
Diego Agustin Ferreyra
4.100
27
4
75.76
120,000
*
Sam Harrison
4.100
32
6
75.63
120,000
*****
Emiliano Contreras
4.100
30
5
75.35
150,000
*
Jefferson Cepeda Hernandez
4.100
28
5
75.22
100,000
**
Daniel Felipe Martinez
4.100
28
5
74.82
85,000
**
Abou Sanogo
4.100
30
5
74.61
75,000
*
Eduardo Sepulveda
4.100
33
5
74.55
90,000
*
Getachew Sendeku
4.100
29
5
74.43
70,000
**
Juan Osorio
4.100
29
4
74.29
65,000
**
Erik Baska
4.100
30
4
74.14
60,000
***
El Mehdi Chokri
4.100
27
5
73.95
55,000
*
Guy Sagiv
4.100
30
3
73.52
50,000
**
Idar Andersen
4.100
25
4
72.54
50,000
*
Nicholas Dlamini
4.100
29
5
72.48
50,000
*
Dylan Redy
4.09
25
5
72.41
50,000
PT Loan
Salah Eddine Mraouni
4.100
32
3
72.38
50,000
*****
Cristofer Robin Jurado
4.100
29
1
71.60
55,000
**
So at least in the opening phase of the transfer window we will be actively looking to develop trade and/or swap options for:
Petr Vakoc, 32, 4.100XP, Wage 285,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
OVR
71
71
81
69
75
71
67
52
71
74
61
66
69
77.42
Sam Harrison, 32, 4.100XP, Wage 120,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
OVR
72
62
67
72
73
70
76
73
78
81
60
62
72
75.63
Salah Eddine Mraouni, 32, 4.100XP, Wage 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
OVR
77
66
69
72
71
72
71
66
71
74
71
64
75
72.38
And a PT LOAN partner for:
Dylan Redy, 25, 4.09XP, Wage 50,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
OVR
70
69
73
68
71
70
70
65
69
71
69
66
70
72.41
Then depending how the transfer season develops, the riders indicated as 2+3 stars will start to enter the conversation. Stay tuned to our transfer adverts page once the window opens for more in depth information and status updates.
We are pleased to welcome 3 new signings from Free Agency.
First up to bolster our meagre cobbles 'squad' is Logan Owen:
Logan Owen, 29, 4.100XP, Wage: 100,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
OVR
73
65
69
62
73
71
72
78
64
71
68
74
64
75.26
This signing doesn't propel us into the Elite cobbled division, but hopefully working in comination with Sanogo and Chokri we can cut down on the dreaded 0-pointer races. We've not had any cobbled race success since the early days with Sam Harrison in CT and then Robert Bush in the PCT years. Logan's stats are pretty similar to what Bush looked like; if he proves half as useful in terms of points delivered we'll be very happy with his addition to our ranks.
Next up is Clement Russo who has been on our long list going into transfers for multiple seasons now, even back when he was still a developing rider. Sure I have bid for him more than once in the past - this time the stars aligned. I think he has an interesting stat line that can work in various race situations given our roster make-up.
Clement Russo, 29, 4.100 XP, Wage: 60,000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
OVR
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
74.8
Final new arrival is Alexander Salby who has already been farmed out to Cedevita to complete his development alongside Dylan Redy who is also spending the season on loan there. We tried to sign some more 'local' riders at minimum wage, but there always seems to be other interested parties in our home market. We were surprised that there was no interest for Alexander from the crowded central European and Scandinavian market, but we certainly will not complain. He is a little late in his development, but will return to us next year after his loan period in nice shape, with plenty of useful years still ahead of him.
Appreciated red: I'm happy, your happy, riders are happy!
Now if I could just ship out Vakoc, him and AvN would stop fighting over their race programmes and who is designated leader. Aidan's potential training is really starting to look in doubt, so he's already in a strop about that - last frown I've got to try and get turned upside down .
Russo definately has the stats to do well. If he was to be combined with a Demare-like lead sprinter I Think he would be perfect. I have a very similar sprinter in my team, so I obviously hope they work :-)
Logan Owen, 29, 4.100XP, Wage: 100,000
Clement Russo, 29, 4.100 XP, Wage: 60,000 
Alexander Salby, 26, 4.80XP, Wage: 50,000
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