Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of the Fine Brew and the Open Road!
Step lively now, and lend an ear to the tale of Team Zappes Kölsch – a rip-roaring adventure born from the heart of Cologne itself!
Our Humble Beginnings
Why, picture this, good people: It's a bright Sunday morn in Cologne, and there's a jolly crew of brewery lads wheeling through the green countryside, the sun peeking over the hills like a golden promise, with just a whisper of hops dancing on the breeze! What started as a merry jaunt on two wheels has blossomed into a grand sporting quest, brimming with ambition and zest!
Zappes Broi – that plucky young brewery hailing from the fair city of Cologne – ain't content to merely fizz up your glass; oh no, they're stoking the fires in the peloton too! Their newest marvel? The brewery's very first Kölsch, a brew as lively as a sprinter's dash! And where does it make its bow? In the noble theater of cycling, of course! The blueprint? To craft a team with eyes on WorldTour glory – not this instant, not next week, but with true grit, keen vision, and an identity as solid as oak!
This outfit rolls on two trusty pillars: battle-hardened domestiques who've seen every twist and turn the road can throw, and daring young climbers, raised with the tender care of a master brewer! Our gaze is fixed on the attackers – those stout-hearted fellows built for scaling mountains and landing haymakers, not just trailing in the draft!
Our game plan? As plain as the nose on your face: Grab the day by the handlebars! If the path grins wide, we charge ahead with gusto! If it frowns, we toil with honor. No reckless stunts, mind you, but no timid souls neither. 2025? Why, it's our banner year to cut our teeth, flaunt the colors, sip the sweet taste of triumphs, and put our youth brigade through its paces in the heat of the fray!
Team Zappes Kölsch ain't some faceless outfit with a borrowed tag and a badge you'd forget by teatime. No sirree! We're deep-rooted, full of vim and vigor, and proud as punch! Our hues – that majestic purple and stately gold – are more than pretty paints; they're the very soul of the Kölsch we champion, a nectar birthed hand-in-hand with this very squad.
In a town where the taps flow freer than the hills rise high, Zappes ain't peddling "just another suds." We're brewing for acclaim, for standing out in the crowd, and for claiming it all through sheer performance and pluck!
This ain't no fleeting fancy, dear chums – it's a venture with real backbone! We build deliberate and sturdy, like a fine barrel aging to perfection. These opening chapters? Prime for mastering the craft. Our aim? To dig in deep on the Continental circuit or storm the ProSeries gates with thunder!
And someday soon? To rise above the pack, not as a mere whisper in the wind, but as a team that claims "cult" status through deeds alone, not clever ads!
Cologne’s Climbing Crew – from Kölsch to Cols.
Coming Soon:
Post 2 – Roster & Staff
Post 3 – Race Calendar, Jersey & Youth System
Post 4 – Equipment
Post 5 – Merch
Edited by Radio00 on 09-09-2025 15:34
Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of the Open Road and the Fine Brew!
Hark! We are thrilled to present the champions—the valiant lads, all Brewed to Climb and Built to Last—who shall proudly wear the purple and gold this season! We’ve scoured the cycling world not for mere riders, but for gentlemen of grit, gumption, and a thirst for glory, forging a versatile crew as complex and satisfying as our very own Kölsch!
Where the final straight beckons and the air is thick with anticipation, we unleash our thunderous finishers! These fellows—Maximilian Walscheid and Aaron Grosser—are a quick, bubbly rush; a swift and electrifying conclusion, as sharp and refreshing as the very first sip of a cold Zappes Kölsch!
Behold the mighty men of the mountains! Our Generals, including Harold Tejada, Jordi Majoral, and Kevin Rivera, are set to conquer the high Cols where only the finest rise to the top. Supporting these stalwarts are our sturdy Climbing Comrades—Abel Kenyeres, Alessio Martinelli, Corbin Strong, and Georg Steinhauser—the essential base that keeps the ambitious foam from fizzing out!
Fear not the rolling hills and the treacherous pavé! This dedicated contingent is built for the classics, possessing the fiery Punch and resilience of a perfectly aged barrel. Anatoliy Budyak and Simon Carr lead our charge on the inclines, while masters of the cobbles—Yordan Petrov, Chin Pok Kam, and Felix Engelhardt—ensure our campaign on the rough roads is solid and victorious!
Picture a fleet of dependable delivery wagons, built for any road and all weather! These are our tireless All-Rounders, the versatile riders who can slot into any challenge—from the brisk time trial to a cunning breakaway. Cooper Johnson, Niklas Behrens, Joris Reinderink, Tobias Buck-Gramcko, and now the dedicated Tijn Louwerensen represent the unyielding quality of Zappes Bräu, ready to contribute their mettle wherever the road dictates!
Gather 'round, good folks of the cycling world, and feast your eyes on the grand unveiling of the Team Zappes Kölsch jersey – a garment fit for kings and conquerors of the cols alike! Why, this ain't just any old rag to pedal in; it's a masterpiece woven from the very essence of our spirited brewery's pride and joy.
Behold the regal purple that cloaks the rider like a velvet throne – deep, vibrant, and full of that mysterious allure that whispers of adventure on every twisty climb! And ah, the noble gold accents, gleaming like the sun-kissed foam atop our brand-new Kölsch brew, Zappes Broi – the finest elixir to ever grace a Stange in Cologne! These colors ain't chosen by chance, no sirree; they're the heart and soul of our brewery's latest creation, a golden-hued Kölsch that's as refreshing as a downhill sprint and as bold as a mountain attack.
Picture it: our lads charging forth in this purple-and-gold splendor, turning heads from the Rhine to the Rockies! It's more than a jersey – it's a banner of distinction, a toast to tradition, and a promise of glory. This fine kit was crafted in jolly collaboration with the talented Dane Bramage, ensuring every stitch sings of quality and flair. Quench your thirst for victory with Team Zappes Kölsch – where every pedal stroke bubbles with the spirit of the finest brew!
Coming Soon in This Post: Race Calendar & Youth System – Stay Tuned, Pals!
Edited by Radio00 on 25-07-2025 13:26
Ladies and Gentlemen, Connoisseurs of the Road and the Brew!
Step forth, ye hearty souls, and marvel at the splendid unveiling of Team Zappes Kölsch’s finest equipment – a kit as bold as our Kölsch and as sturdy as the cobbled paths of Cologne! In this grand endeavor, we've forged alliances with craftsmen of the highest caliber, blending German grit with a touch of Swiss precision to propel our lads to victory. Why these partners, you ask? Because we're no fly-by-night outfit; we seek roots deep in tradition, innovation born of passion, and a shared zeal for excellence that mirrors our brewery's spirit. No global giants here – just authentic marques that honor our regional heritage and stand against the mainstream tide. Let's raise a Stange to the details!
First off, the heart of our steed: the frame from Rose Bikes, hailing from Bocholt in the heart of Germany since 1907! Founded by Heinrich Rose as a humble bike shop over a century ago, this family-run powerhouse has evolved into a beacon of innovation, crafting high-quality frames that blend timeless engineering with modern flair. They've been motivating folks to cycle for more than 110 years, launching an online store in the 1990s to reach riders far and wide, all while staying true to their roots in employee-driven passion and relentless drive for better bikes. We team up with Rose because they're as German as our Kölsch – local, unpretentious, and built to last. Their frames, painted in our regal purple, aren't just vessels for speed; they're a testament to shared values: regional pride, quality over hype, and a commitment to turning everyday riders into conquerors. Together, we craft bikes that feel like an extension of the Rhine's flow, ensuring our climbers tackle cols with the confidence of a well-aged brew!
Next, the wheels that spin our dreams: DT Swiss, the Swiss maestros who've been perfecting spokes, hubs, rims, and full wheel systems since their official founding in 1994 – though their lineage traces back to cold-forging mastery as far as 1634! Based in Biel, Switzerland, DT Swiss started small, focusing on premium components like spokes and nipples, but grew into a global force by producing everything in-house and pioneering unique manufacturing processes that deliver unmatched durability and performance. Why partner with them? Because their modern gleam complements our vintage soul without stealing the show – think of it as the perfect foam on our golden Kölsch. DT Swiss shares our ethos of innovation through tradition; their wheels roll smooth and strong, reducing drag like a fresh pour minimizes staleness. This collaboration isn't mere business; it's a fusion of Swiss reliability and Cologne's ambition, ensuring our team attacks mountains with wheels that whisper efficiency and shout endurance!
And crowning it all, the guardians of our riders' noggins: helmets from Abus, forged in Wetter, North Rhine-Westfalen, since 1924! This stalwart German firm began as a maker of preventative security tech – locks, alarms, you name it – but soared into cycling in 1994 with the "Ultra-Safe" bike helmet, expanding their line to blend sophisticated engineering with top-tier safety standards. Today, their "Made in Italy" models fuse German ingenuity with Italian flair, offering protection that's as elegant as it's robust, safeguarding homes, businesses, and adventurers alike for a full century. We align with Abus because safety isn't a gimmick; it's the bedrock of our bold pursuits, much like the stable foam that keeps our Kölsch fresh in its Stange. Their helmets, styled in our purple and gold, embody shared principles: unyielding quality, a focus on real-world performance, and a heritage of innovation that protects without pomp. Partnering here strengthens our German identity, turning potential pitfalls into mere bumps in the road – after all, a clear head leads to clearer victories!
This equipment ain't slapped together; it's a deliberate symphony of partnerships that amplify our team's essence – rooted, resilient, and ready to earn cult status through merit alone. With Rose, DT Swiss, and Abus at our side, we're not just riding; we're brewing a legacy on two wheels!
Edited by Radio00 on 04-10-2025 22:51
A bit late to the party, but a big and warm welcome to the game!
Seems like a very interesting approach, and a very well written intro - German climbers are not what we have a lot of, but I'm sure we can have some fun talks regardless. Feel free to ask around to get to know the game
Also the color combination, makes me think of the good old Festina-days. Can't wait to see what the jersey is going to look like.
Another entry in the great tradition of breweries as MG sponsors, welcome to the club Love the color combination as SotD mentioned, and it's a cool introduction as well. I'm looking forward to see what you'll do in transfers!
Welcome! The Man Game gets more beer loving every year
There are certainly many climbers that should be available to make up a competitive team. Maybe you and PolderStrijders end up being kinda a fun duo of opposites, uphill vs flat
Clearly no alcohol advertising regulations in the MG-Universe Welcome to the game, enjoyed the strong style of the opening posts, always cool to have a unique voice in the HQ and looking forward to seeing how it goes. The jersey will stick out, while Germany might be crowded I think purple is an underrepresented niche in the MG peloton and always nice to see.
While some may doubt the German climbers approach I can think of one, and I'll help fundraise in any way I can for you to take him down to the CT
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
Welcome aboard! Hopefully you can take the beer theme and keep the CT division swimming in booze, now that Duvel - Tsingtao is in PCT. I like the jersey (no Spark to worry about in CT so that purple will be easily recognisable) and looking forward to seeing the merch when it comes
Somehow I missed you when welcoming the newcomers, so late (but hopefully not too late): Herzlich willkommen!
The jersey clearly is unique as is your enthusiastic writing style. And though some people in Germany might argue that Kölsch is not really beer (though I'm in no position to judge this as I don't drink any beer), maybe the MGUCI should get pensive with the myriad of alcoholic beverages using cycling to promote their products (though I'm eagerly assured beer is actually 'very isotonic and stuff' by various 'team officials'...
I wish you best of luck for your first transfers and the following season!
Welcome to the division as well! Very excited to see a purple jersey in the peloton this year - and we'll clearly be looking out for you all! Really excited to see what you bring to the game and good luck in your first transfers!
Brilliant start to your ManGame career! A really fun introduction.
Welcome to the game and to the German market.
I'm looking forward to both compete against you for the humble options it offers each year, but also to work together to fast-track any development required for talents on either side.
You'll find that there are a few options for you on the table already over at Puma, we will certainly always have a reason to be in close contact.
