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[PT] Xero Racing '26 | Training
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 24-07-2026 10:35
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Gustavovskiy wrote:
Pidcock's stats are a bit too specific but I'm sure that won't deter eventual investors.
Still the coolest squad on the block. Might give you the obligatory call about Fouche.
Thanks a lot  And sure, always enjoy talking with you even when it doesn't come to anything  |
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| Heine |
Posted on 24-07-2026 11:10
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5059
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Didn't see how you put Pidcocks stats before now, love that!
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 24-07-2026 12:38
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 9168
Joined: 13-03-2013
PCM$: 2200.00
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Heine wrote:
Didn't see how you put Pidcocks stats before now, love that!
I don't, so much wasted potential.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 27-07-2026 10:47
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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@Heine - I think it sums him up better than "76HI 74SP" or something 
@Croatia -
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 30-07-2026 12:01
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Transfers Vol. 1: He's ba-aaaaaaack!
A slow start to transfers for Xero, with nearly none of their attempted business in the first weekend coming to fruition. All except one free agent bid, their first port of call in this window, in the first minute of transfers. A free agent bid we'd planned and hoped to be able to make for exactly two years. Mr Xero, welcome home.
 George Bennett
35 | Maxed | 50,000 | Previously Xero 2017-23
| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FT | DH | PL | | 63 | 77 | 75 | 72 | 61 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 54 | 61 | 67 | 51 | 59 | 61 |
| - 2x GC Tour of Japan ('19, '20) | - Stage Win Tour de Romandie ('23) | | - GC Tour of America ('22) | - Stage Win Giro del Trentino ('17) | | - Apex Mountain Classic ('22) | - 3x National RR Champs ('17, '19) | | - Gisborne GP ('17) | - 2nd GC Tour de Romandie ('20) | | - 3x Stage Win Tour of Japan ('19, '20) | - 3rd GC Volta a Portugal ('19) | | - 2x Stage Win Tour de Pologne ('20) | - 3rd GC Tour of Romandie ('19) | | - Stage Win Tour de France ('21) | - 3rd GC Tour of Cyprus ('19) | | - Stage Win Criterium du Dauphine ('22) | - 4th GC Giro d'Italia ('23) | | - Stage Win Tour of the Middle East ('18) | - 2x Points Tour of Japan ('19, '20) | | - Stage Win Tour of America ('22) | - 2x KoM Tour of Japan ('19, '20) | | - Stage Win Tour du Maroc ('23) | - Points Tour de Pologne ('20) |
| Year | Points | Division Rank | Team Rank | Division | | 2017 | 197 | 25th | 2nd | CT | | 2018 | 366 | 63rd | 3rd | PCT | | 2019 | 670 | 23rd | 1st | PCT | | 2020 | 716 | 21st | 1st | PCT | | 2021 | 473 | 79th | 4th | PT | | 2022 | 584 | 20th | 3rd | PCT | | 2023 | 401 | 40th | 3rd | PCT |
| | Rank | Best | | | Rank | Best | | Seasons | 7 | =3rd | | €/point | €520 | 9th | €201 ('19) | | Points | 3407 | 2nd | 716 ('20) | Breaks | 2 | =44th | 1 ('21, '23) | | Wins | 17 | 2nd | 5 ('20) | RDs | 326 | 6th | 55 ('18) | | Wage | €1,770,000 | 2nd | €420,000 ('21) | RotM | 12 | 2nd | 3 ('19) | | Jerseys | 5 | 3rd | 3 ('20) |
George Bennett needs little introduction at Xero HQ, but he is, next to Joseph Areruya, one of Xero's two greatest riders ever. Leader of all three of Xero's promotions, George joined our team in our second season in 2017, and lead us from the Continental Tour to the Tour de France, from the bottom tier of cycling to winning a stage for us at Le Tour de France. As suggested by his nickname, bestowed on him by a fellow manager in our HQ, George Bennett was Xero - each year one of our highest scorers, the first rider we put training camp development into, as we sought to bring him from a CT leader to a PCT and eventually PT one. He went with us every step of the way, and is responsible for many of our greatest moments. Promotion to the PCT, then the PT, and then leading us to the PT a second time in his final peak season. His first victory for the team at our home race, the Gisborne GP (above). Our first PCT victory, a stage at the Tour of the Middle East. Our first PCT GC victory. Our first Tour de France stage win - an epic in the snow at La Toussuire (below). His iconic nail-biting victory at the Tour of America. Fourth at the Giro d'Italia. The list goes on and on. And now, so does his career with Xero.
Bennett returns to us from a spell at another New Zealand team, Spark, where he brought a fourth promotion to a Kiwi team, finishing 2nd in the CT Individual Standings in 2024. Last year, he began a seamless transition into a veteran domestique role, helping Spark maintain their Pro Continental status for the first time. Maybe the only team in the world where it wouldn't have felt painful seeing him ride. While his palmarés may not beat Sam Bewley's, it's hard to argue anybody else has done more for New Zealand cycling.
That role of veteran road captain is the capacity in which he returns to Xero, for one last ride for the team he loves, with which he was synonymous for so many years. We couldn't be more happy to welcome him back to Xero HQ, and are looking forward to having his mentorship and still-quality climbing legs on the team bus and on the road. Few are more excited to welcome him back than Joseph Areruya - Bennett's original mentee, they didn't ride together during their last three seasons of shared leadership after Areruya was one of Bennett's key lieutenants during his younger years. Now the roles are reversed and Bennett can pay it back, and we can't wait to see Xero's greatest ever on the road side-by-side one last time. |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 30-07-2026 12:07
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3477
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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That's why he's the goat!
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 30-07-2026 12:29
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7749
Joined: 11-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Glad he’s back where he belongs to finish his career! He was everything to us and for 2 seasons pushed the team to new heights! We hope to see him succeed in his new role at Xero. Great signing!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 30-07-2026 20:02
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2532
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 400.00
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Cool to see Bennett back where he belongs for a last hooray! And as you stated he's still actually useful, especially given his wage.
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 31-07-2026 08:52
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4171
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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Nice to see a legend make a comeback for a season! As a former rider of ours (yes, I had to mention his +-24hrs in our colours) I think he couldn't have imagined a better ending of his career.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 31-07-2026 13:27
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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@whitejersey - That's what I'm talking about!
@Jakstar - Loved his performances for you, cementing his legend for New Zealand cycling. A fourth promotion as a top leader for a home team is a special thing.
@kandesbunzler - Thanks! Yeah while I'm a total sentimental softie who maybe might have brought him in when he was useless anyway just to have him retire in our colours, he has some gas left in the tank which I'm sure he'll make full use of this year!
@Nemo - Don't worry, we haven't forgotten! Thanks |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-08-2026 07:38
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 13336
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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Please let him rest after this season  There's barely any more fruit to juice!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 14-08-2026 23:01
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 03-08-2026 11:59
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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AbhishekLFC wrote:
Please let him rest after this season There's barely any more fruit to juice!
Think he's still got something to give - but next season we'll have to wait and see if he's on the road in the peloton or in the DS car |
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| knockout |
Posted on 04-08-2026 11:39
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8690
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Always cool to see a team legend end his career at home!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| redordead |
Posted on 05-08-2026 07:38
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Team Leader
Posts: 5888
Joined: 18-10-2017
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It would be awesome if he finds a way to win a stage somewhere this year
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 06-08-2026 08:33
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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@knockout - Definitely With Houle last year and Bennett this year, I guess I'm just a big softie - though if Bennett is as useful as Houle was they'll have both been good 50k investments really.
@redordead - I'll be happy with solid domestique work and maybe a breakaway or two - but a stage win would be incredible |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 06-08-2026 09:20
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World Champion
Posts: 11901
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Transfers Vol. 2: They do what now?
In free agency, the team struggled for a while outside of the signing of George Bennett. An effort to sign star sprinter Max Kanter, a natural fit into the team profile and age range of the leaders, was abandoned when his wage got to the point the team didn't think he'd get down to a valuable wage in as few seasons as they'd like. Instead, the team pivoted in a direction they didn't plan much for before transfers - a direction the team had never gone in before in ten seasons. Please welcome... the Xero Racing TTT train?
 Byron Munton
28 | Maxed | 130,000| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FT | DH | PL | | 67 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 75 | 70 | 71 | 76 | 60 | 60 | 64 | 70 | 65 | 74 |
Well, it's hard to call it a full train - but also hard to say most of them are purely time triallists. Byron Munton, a long-coveted rider for the team, exemplifies that. A rare actual South African signing, Byron is equally at home with the road going upwards as on the flat, and in a road race as a time trial. He will be a valuable rider for us across the calendar, and at 28 years old will be so for a number of years. He cost a pretty penny after a difficult bidding process, but we hope his potential five or six years of service will make it a worthy investment. His time in the EA Vesuvio TTT unit should be valuable experience to bring to our fledgling squad.
 Miguel Heidemann
28 | Maxed | 80,000| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FT | DH | PL | | 72 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 77 | 68 | 74 | 71 | 58 | 60 | 60 | 63 | 64 | 75 |
A slightly more specialist time triallist, Miguel Heidemann is the first of two riders coming to us from another fallen PT giant, Puma - SAP. He is still comfortable enough climbing which means he should be useful throughout races rather than just on the TT bike, though it's no secret what he's here for. Another 28-year-old, we hope he can also be a staple of the team for seasons to come.
 Kelland O'Brien
28 | Maxed | 70,000| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FT | DH | PL | | 75 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 74 | 70 | 61 | 64 | 69 | 67 | 66 | 72 |
Kelland O'Brien is our third 28-year-old and our second former Puma rider signed. A former Aussie track cycling star, he's transitioned very well and slightly uniquely to the road, given his skills up hills as well as on the flats. He will be an awesome rider to have on the team and useful in our flat and hills squads as well as our TTT train. Always nice to have an Aussie around, and hope he can stay for a while!
 Michael O'Loughlin
29 | Maxed | 80,000| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FT | DH | PL | | 73 | 67 | 68 | 68 | 78 | 69 | 74 | 69 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 69 | 65 | 75 |
Another rider with experience in a top TTT set-up, albeit not in the Pro Tour, is Irishman Michael O'Loughlin, formerly of Glanbia. He is a very good time triallist who matches the age profile of the others and is our first Irish rider in team history! He will be a key part of the TTT set-up as well as a solid roleur for road stages.
 Diego Augustin Ferreyra
29 | Maxed | 296,000| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FT | DH | PL | | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 78 | 72 | 74 | 74 | 54 | 68 | 69 | 73 | 68 | 77 |
A long and arduous bidding war waged throughout the majority of the transfer season, concerning the signature of Diego Augustin Ferreyra. That could be the story of both this and last transfer season (in which we were also briefly involved, and in which he signed for even more), but this time it ended with him in Xero Racing colours. Diego's USP is in fact not so unique on our team - he combines high-level TT skill with solid climbing abilities which should make him a versatile scorer and domestique, much like Rune Herregodts. While he will deputise the Belgian, we see no reason why they both can't score together. His wage is super inflated this season, but we hope to bring it down to a point where he's a more valuable scorer in the coming seasons, and are glad to finally have our man - after probably thinking we already had him a couple of times! |
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| knockout |
Posted on 06-08-2026 09:25
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8690
Joined: 21-12-2010
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Noooo, i liked your team 
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 06-08-2026 10:46
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Team Leader
Posts: 5735
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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I was also in the market for the TTT specialists but not as early so you picked up some good ones. Munton a solid pick-up at a good age. Ferreyra I don't apologise for pushing you and I think you'd had a later bid than I had A very solid rider nonetheless!
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| SotD |
Posted on 06-08-2026 13:05
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World Champion
Posts: 13054
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Yeah, we don’t approve one bit! 
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 06-08-2026 13:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17005
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 16438.70
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Bennett back where he belongs!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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