A small update of our biggest successes in the last months, which we can pin down to four races. To be fair, the fact that we're still somewhat in the fight to avoid relegation succeeds our expectations, so we are definitely not complaining. In fact, since we already calculated relegation in the team's future planning, we would have a problem if we actually stayed in PT
First of all, two great highlights in the first GT of the year, the Giro d'Italia. Kristoffer Halvorsen sprinted to an early victory in stage three, making it his second stage win in two GT's in a row, with his win in the Vuelta last year.
And later in the race Orluis Aular went on to win the penultimate stage in great fashion, also leading to a top-10 in the final GC and fourth place in the KoM-ranking.
A bit unexpected perhaps, but a big highlight came in the Tour of East Java. Three flat stages and one mountainous queen stage, and it is on that stage where the chickens rose up. Philipinian national champion Jonel Carcueva finished fourth, just ahead of Orluis Aular, leading to two great GC results for us there.
Next GT then, with the Tour de France. Although he came close several times on both hilly and mountainous terrain, Sergio Higuita was unable to snatch a stage win in France. A good GC also wasn't an option after a terrible team time trial for him, but he did make us proud with the win in the KoM-rankings, stepping in the footsteps of another legendary Colombian hybrid, Edward Beltrán.
Also a great result very recently in the Deutschland Tour for our homegrown and trained Victor Alejandro Ocampo. Fourth in the individual time trial and final GC, definitely couldn't hope for anything better than that.
Only a handful of races remaining now, including of course another GT and a monument. A stage win in the Vuelta would be fantastic, but it remains to be seen if Aular likes the profile of the race.
Will either be an awesome survival season and go down as a massive memorable heist given the talent signings and fantastic young leaders, or a very memorable relegation one and the plan continues. Seems like a win of a year either way, but survival would be amazing and truly establish you as one of the top potential teams of the future. Really scary prospect to be honest
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
No stage win in all GT's in a season, but Lopez Nolasco definitely came close with a second and third place in two stages in the Vuelta a España. A great GC result from Aular, who finished fifth in Spain.
But today, let's talk about our talents. We'll have a quick overview of the guys who gained their stats recently, and how they will look like next season. We will do them alphabetically, to make things complicated to follow. We'll be highlighting some key stats (for us).
Nikiforos Arvanitou
1 > 3
2003
Spr, Spr
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
70
60
65
70
60
68
72
65
60
69
71
64
61
65
…
73
60
66
71
60
71
73
68
62
73
75
64
61
65
We are not sure what path to follow with Arvanitou going from 3 to 4, but the good thing is that we didn't have to decide on that yet.
Juan Ayuso
3 > 4
2002
Stage race
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
68
75
73
71
73
75
72
73
62
62
70
67
68
71
…
69
79
76
73
75
77
74
76
62
62
71
68
69
73
Solid stage racer next season already, who'll be sure to score some points as well. But of course he'll really start performing well the season after (I hope).
Finn Fisher-Black
3 > 4
2001
TT
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
65
65
66
66
66
68
73
65
60
60
72
70
67
76
…
67
66
67
67
70
70
75
67
60
60
72
72
68
80
One day he'll be the best prologue rider in the game!
Alex Malacarne
3 > 4
2002
Cobble
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
70
56
62
67
59
72
69
61
72
71
65
70
60
60
…
72
56
62
68
59
74
71
62
74
73
66
71
60
60
Will turn out to be a solid domestique if we would find ourselves a good cobbler!
Matteo Milan
1 > 3
2003
Spr, Spr
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
67
55
59
63
61
69
68
65
63
73
73
62
59
63
…
70
55
59
63
61
69
70
74
63
76
76
62
59
66
Our shot at a stage win in the 2026 Avenir. And hopefully more (stage) wins once he's maxed.
Hector Exequiel Quintana
2 > 3
2002
TT
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
71
60
64
68
72
69
72
68
60
66
64
66
69
72
…
72
60
64
68
74
70
74
69
60
66
64
67
69
74
Part of our future TTT unit with an okay flat skill and decent enough to get some individual points as well when maxed.
Jakob Soderqvist
1 > 3
2003
TTT, TTT
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
72
57
59
61
70
68
68
66
66
67
68
68
68
72
…
75
57
59
61
74
71
72
69
66
69
69
68
68
76
Good flat, good time trial and a good prologue. He'll be important for us.
Mathias Vacek
3 > 4
2002
Stage race
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
68
68
69
69
75
70
68
69
60
64
69
64
69
74
…
69
70
71
71
77
72
70
71
60
64
70
65
69
76
Versatile time trialist. Hopefully in the future a good bet in races like Ukraine.
What an awesome batch of talents, didn't even realize you got so many of those! Now it would be great to see you pull off a miraculous last-minute save, so I don't meet them again next year
. Kristoffer Halvorsen sprinted to an early victory in stage three, making it his second stage win in two GT's in a row, with his win in the Vuelta last year.
. Three flat stages and one mountainous queen stage, and it is on that stage where the chickens rose up. Philipinian national champion Jonel Carcueva finished fourth, just ahead of Orluis Aular, leading to two great GC results for us there.
. Although he came close several times on both hilly and mountainous terrain, Sergio Higuita was unable to snatch a stage win in France. A good GC also wasn't an option after a terrible team time trial for him, but he did make us proud with the win in the KoM-rankings, stepping in the footsteps of another legendary Colombian hybrid, Edward Beltrán.
for our homegrown and trained Victor Alejandro Ocampo. Fourth in the individual time trial and final GC, definitely couldn't hope for anything better than that.
Lopez Nolasco definitely came close with a second and third place in two stages in the 
Vuelta a España. A great GC result from 
Aular, who finished fifth in Spain.
