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[PCT] Hunter Valley - Transfers
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 05-12-2025 08:36
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-09-2025 10:45
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Our Sponsors
The team ended the 2024 season looking ahead to 2025 with a fairly dim horizon. A disappointing year resulted in relegation from the Pro Tour, where the team had spent the previous 2 seasons. Team Owner Luis Leon Sanchez took some personal time off and, during his absence, the 4 Spanish-based sponsors all agreed to withdraw their funding from the project.
This left Luis Leon Sanchez with a decision to make but it was an easy one. Following some soul searching, he pushed on with the search for new sponsors closer to his own new home in New South Wales, Australia.
Putting his marketing and negotiation skills to the test, Luis Leon Sanchez was able to lock-in 3 new sponsors all based in the famous wine region, the Hunter Valley. His love for wine and cycling really appealing to business owners and investors alike.
The 3 sponsors being:
 Hunter Valley Tours - winery tours backed by the key local wineries.
Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese - providing the perfect wine pairing.
VisitNSW - state funded sponsorship promoting travel to the region.
In a live Q&A on Instagram, filmed looking out over just one of the many vineyards in the Hunter Valley, Team Owner Luis Leon Sanchez spoke with great excitement for 2025 and beyond.
"I am very eager to work alongside our sponsors to identify targets and goals that will propel both the team and the Hunter Valley region to global success. We have a similar philosophy which you will see play out through the transfer window".
"For our riders, we have a new team home here in the Hunter Valley where they will be able to train in one of the most beautiful places in the world with the rolling hills and long flats providing great natural training facilities, away from the hustle and bustle of Europe".
"To our fans, new and old, we thank you for your continued support and we look forward to bringing a fresh energy to the Cycling World in 2025."
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 06-09-2025 03:44
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-09-2025 10:45
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Team History
| History | Team Name | Division | Points | Rank | | | 2024 |  ZARA - Irizar | PT | 4,681 | 20th | Relegated | | 2023 | ZARA - Irizar | PT | 5,109 | 17th | | | 2022 | ZARA - Irizar | PCT | 3,390 | 2nd | Promoted | | 2021 |   Aramco DP | CT | 2,771 | 2nd | Promoted | | 2020 | Aramco DP | PCT | 1,976 | 22nd | Relegated | | 2019 |  Euskaltel - Elior | CT | 2,114 | 2nd | Promoted | | 2018 | Euskaltel - Elior | PCT | 1,738 | 25th | Relegated | | 2017 | Euskaltel | PCT | 1,881 | 19th | | | 2016 | Euskaltel | PCT | 1,932 | 20th | | | 2015 | Euskaltel-Air France | PCT | 1,410 | 26th | | | 2014 |  Euskaltel - Bavaria | CT | 1,594 | 4th | Promoted |
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 02-09-2025 10:59
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-09-2025 10:46
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Current Squad
| | FLA | MO | MM | HIL | TT | STA | RES | REC | COB | SPR | ACC | FTR | DH | PRO | Age | Wage | Lvl |  | C.Shikai | 71 | 80 | 75 | 70 | 75 | 73 | 75 | 76 | 54 | 56 | 66 | 58 | 68 | 75 | 33 | 300k | 4.100 |  | N.Conci | 71 | 77 | 76 | 74 | 78 | 76 | 75 | 78 | 56 | 63 | 68 | 63 | 71 | 77 | 28 | 220k | 4.100 | | M.Soler | 69 | 76 | 74 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 74 | 76 | 54 | 54 | 66 | 60 | 61 | 77 | 32 | 75k | 4.100 | | L.Hamilton | 69 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 65 | 69 | 73 | 76 | 55 | 64 | 77 | 76 | 70 | 67 | 29 | 95k | 4.100 | | M.Storer | 70 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 69 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 58 | 64 | 74 | 75 | 66 | 72 | 28 | 250k | 4.100 | | P.Miquel | 69 | 70 | 74 | 77 | 59 | 75 | 76 | 71 | 61 | 64 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 59 | 25 | 75k | 4.100 |  | N.B.Pareja | 71 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 63 | 73 | 72 | 75 | 56 | 64 | 74 | 75 | 69 | 68 | 25 | 55k | 4.65 | | B.Cosnefroy | 76 | 68 | 70 | 71 | 78 | 78 | 81 | 72 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 81 | 74 | 78 | 30 | 160k | 4.100 |  | Y.Vandevelde | 75 | 59 | 62 | 65 | 78 | 72 | 74 | 72 | 60 | 62 | 65 | 73 | 66 | 78 | 25 | 65k | 4.100 |  | H.A.Sam | 76 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 72 | 58 | 67 | 70 | 76 | 68 | 77 | 26 | 60k | 4.100 | | J.Castrillo | 77 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 76 | 75 | 72 | 72 | 55 | 70 | 73 | 71 | 67 | 76 | 29 | 55k | 4.100 | | B.Gilmore | 71 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 75 | 73 | 69 | 68 | 58 | 60 | 72 | 75 | 68 | 75 | 24 | 55k | 3.10 |  | F.Jakobsen | 74 | 59 | 63 | 67 | 59 | 75 | 73 | 81 | 73 | 80 | 80 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 29 | 280k | 4.100 | | G.Thijssen | 75 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 60 | 74 | 70 | 78 | 65 | 79 | 81 | 65 | 64 | 60 | 27 | 160k | 4.100 | | J.Hesters | 75 | 61 | 63 | 64 | 60 | 74 | 75 | 79 | 72 | 78 | 78 | 63 | 67 | 60 | 27 | 125k | 4.100 |  | L.M.Gaday | 71 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 65 | 75 | 72 | 71 | 78 | 71 | 73 | 61 | 64 | 68 | 32 | 200k | 4.100 | | C.Monk | 74 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 69 | 76 | 70 | 70 | 76 | 61 | 70 | 72 | 77 | 69 | 29 | 60k | 4.100 |  | P.Crause | 69 | 55 | 57 | 58 | 62 | 69 | 70 | 63 | 70 | 65 | 68 | 69 | 61 | 69 | 22 | 50k | 1.00 | | Z.Marriage | 68 | 66 | 68 | 69 | 53 | 68 | 70 | 66 | 54 | 62 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 57 | 22 | 100k | 1.00 | | F.Browning | 68 | 61 | 65 | 69 | 64 | 69 | 66 | 64 | 58 | 68 | 68 | 62 | 66 | 62 | 22 | 50k | 1.00 | | D.Trezise | 74 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 62 | 68 | 73 | 64 | 66 | 73 | 73 | 61 | 67 | 64 | 23 | Loan | 3.29 |
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 06-09-2025 02:57
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-09-2025 10:47
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Goals
| Olympia TTT | C1 | Win | | Vuelta al Pais Vasco | C1 | Win | | Post Danmark Rundt | HC | Top 5 | | Tour of Slovenia | PTHC | Top 5 | | Team Standings | PCT | Top 5 |
2025 Calendar
| January | | | | Tour Down Under | C1 |  | Circulo de Juarez | HC | | Great Ocean Road Classic | C1 | | February | | | | Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | HC | | Roma Maxima | PTHC | | Le Samyn | HC | | Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne | HC | | Gent - Wevelgem | C2 | | March | | | | Strade Bianche | HC | | Vuelta a Colombia | PTHC |  | Macskako Kerekparverseny | HC |  | Tour of Norway | HC |  | Cheshire Cycling Tour | PTHC | | 1 Jour de Dunkerque | C1 | | Geraardsbergen-Bosberg | C2 | | April | | |  | GP Herning | C2 | | Badaling International | HC |  | Tour de Pologne | C1 |  | Tour of Slovenia | PTHC |  | Tour du Faso | C2 | | Lincoln GP | C2 | | GP Wallonie | HC |  | Lisbon Classic | HC | | Veenendaal - Veenendaal | PTHC | | Dwars door Vlaanderen | C2 | | May | | |  | La Tropicale Amissa Bongo | C1 | | Paris Tours | HC |  | Tour of the Battenkill | PTHC | | June | | | | Tour of California | C1 |  | Hanko Classic | PTHC |  | Tour of East Java | PTHC | | Criterium de Dauphine Libere | PTHC |  | Berlin ProRace | C1 | | July | | |  | Tour d'Andorra | HC | | August | | |  | Ras Tailteann | PTHC |  | Gisborne GP | C1 | | Post Danmark Rundt | HC | | Deutschland Tour | PTHC |  | GP Lugano | HC | | September | | |  | Pro Hallstatt Classic | HC | | Tour de Romandie | HC | | Olympia TTT | C1 | | Baltic Chain Tour | C1 | | Vuelta al Pais Vasco | C1 | | October | | |  | Tour de Maroc | HC | | Tour of South Africa | C1 | | Philadelphia International Championship | PTHC | | Giro dell'Emilia | HC |
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 12-10-2025 00:38
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-09-2025 10:48
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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2025 Results
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 02-09-2025 10:56
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 02-09-2025 10:48
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Our Team Jersey
Courtesy of the brilliant, Hillis, we have a fantastic new jersey which will feature in the 2025 peloton. He has also done work for us on National Champions jerseys which we will reveal in due course.
Edited by Luis Leon Sanchez on 02-09-2025 11:05
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 03-09-2025 01:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4615
Joined: 05-10-2010
PCM$: 1000.00
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Love the new direction! A massive departure from your previous team identity of course, but love the concept. The jersey is also lovely as well 
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 03-09-2025 01:45
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7541
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Good to have another Oceanic team! Excited to see what your team looks like with this new concept!
Lovely jersey!
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 03-09-2025 18:56
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3800
Joined: 03-07-2012
PCM$: 300.00
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An interesting Pivot, wonder how that will impact the roster the next couple of seasons.
And I love the Jersey, yet another Hillis masterpiece.
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 04-09-2025 11:18
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Sprinter
Posts: 1521
Joined: 26-04-2020
PCM$: 900.00
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With Tresize, Gilmore, Marriage and Browning I see you already brought in some young prospects The team is looking good to bounce straight up again.
Good luck!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 06-09-2025 02:49
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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Going into the window, we knew we were likely to depart with one of Finkler or El Chapu but the opportunity was presented for both to go and so they went.
Choi had a strong 2024 but, with decline, wasn't open to a heavy pay-cut. Rodriguez spent some time with us but he also wasn't willing to take a cut to help the team. The other 3 were released, seen as surplus to requirements.
Lucas Hamilton joined us through the swap for Chapulin where we acquired a strong rider across both Mountains & Hills on a very reasonable wage. He became the first rider acquired through our new sponsor-driven transfer strategy.
Pedri Crause was identified after the initial rush of bids as we saw he was available at the lowest wage. We secured his services and are excited to bring a cobblestone talent to the team.
Zac Marriage was one of the top Australian talents available this season and we managed to pick him up for a very reasonable wage of 100k. We see him as a similar rider to Hamilton with a bit more of a liking for the short, sharp hills.
Fergus Browning wasn't 100% to join but we made some cap space free and brought him in. He doesn't like the big mountains but we think he'll be a solid domestique in the future.
Trezise joins us on loan where we don't pay his wage but we're happy to have another young local on the team.
Hunter Valley Cycling - 2025 Squad
In Shikai and Conci, we believe we have a very strong duo at PCT level. Shikai to focus on the more mountain-dominated races while Conci will lead in the more TT-heavy races. They will have strong support from Soler and the newly acquired Hamilton.
Our new sponsors invested in additional off-season training (78HIL -> 79HIL) for Michael Storer who is our only Australian leader this season. We look forward to seeing how he will go now, with support from Miquel and the aforementioned Hamilton. The aggressive Blanca Pareja has one more year of development to go but is already an eager breakaway rider.
We go from strength to strength in Time Trials with Cosnefroy now sharing leadership with the exciting Belgian, Vandevelde. Sam is also now fully developed and ready to provide support. Castrillo has been a mainstay in the team, extending his tenure with us. Young Brady Gilmore is still 2 years from his peak but will already contribute to our TTT set-up this season.
We go into 2025 with the same trio as 2024. It's hard to believe Jakobsen is only 29 as it feels like he's been around forever. Last time out in the PCT, he was brilliant so we hope he can replicate that. Thijssen will co-lead and ride for himself more often than not. Hesters will be the very capable lead-out man in all of his races.
Cobblestones
| | FLA | MO | MM | HIL | TT | STA | RES | REC | COB | SPR | ACC | FTR | DH | PRO | Age | | Lucas Manuel Gaday | 71 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 65 | 75 | 72 | 71 | 78 | 71 | 73 | 61 | 64 | 68 | 32 | | Cyrus Monk | 74 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 69 | 76 | 70 | 70 | 76 | 61 | 70 | 72 | 77 | 69 | 29 |
Gaday has another year at his prime and we are looking forward to seeing how he will go with his ability to get over a hill as well as finish fast. Monk is his only lieutenant, the Aussie will also lead us in our C2 efforts. |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 06-09-2025 04:29
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7541
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Quite a decent squad. With the 3 leaders it should make it doable to stay in the PCT. I'm keen to see where you go in the future with the riders being an Aussie team now!
Nice transfer window!
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| seancoll |
Posted on 06-09-2025 05:02
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 763
Joined: 20-12-2022
PCM$: 500.00
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That's one heck of a TTT in support of your mountain leaders! Quality leaders on absolutely every terrain and a should be able to just accumulate points everywhere with no wasted race days.
Excited to see you in your new jersey!
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 06-09-2025 05:19
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16552
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 13638.70
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Very strong team! Curious what your rationale was for training Storer over Conci. Don't really have an opinion either way, but interested to hear your thought process.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 08-09-2025 08:09
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12680
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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Think the return to PT should happen right away. That's a very strong team, and I already have a very interesting swap offer for next season 
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| Caspi |
Posted on 08-09-2025 15:16
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Domestique
Posts: 705
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 15500.00
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You have already re-focused the team quite a bit during transfers. Will be fun to follow your commitment to the new sponsors during the next couple of seasons
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| redordead |
Posted on 18-09-2025 09:04
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Team Leader
Posts: 5510
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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I agree that this looks like a team that can compete for promotion again
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 19-09-2025 01:34
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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@Jakstar: Thank you! I'm hoping to do more than that but indeed also excited as to the future of the team down under.
@seancoll: We love our TT riders here given their reasonable wages and high outputs! We wanted to ensure strong scoring potential everywhere so hopefully we've done just that.
@bbl: Thanks mate! It primarily came down to a mix of role-playing with Storer being our only Australian leader + the need this season to have a stronger puncheur being greater than our need to have a stronger Stage Racer.
@Abhi: Fingers crossed! I look forward to that offer 
@Caspi: Important to find the balance between remaining competitive and achieving newly set sponsor targets but I think we've taken a step in the right direction!
@redordead: Thanks! Our first time being highly touted for PT promotion as it was a bit of an underdog story last time around. Let's hope we live up to expectation.
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