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[PT] Evonik - ELKO | 2026
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| Caspi |
Posted on 30-07-2026 17:36
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1044
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 18800.00
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Choi is a great signing on 50k!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 01-08-2026 21:52
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| SotD |
Posted on 30-07-2026 18:20
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World Champion
Posts: 13024
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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Indeed you are the best 50K FA manager in the game 
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| knockout |
Posted on 30-07-2026 19:44
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8603
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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caspi - absolutely, wasnt expecting him to stay this cheap!
jandal - Thanks but im just a good one-trick-pony in FA :D
sotd - Thank you! I have back-to-back fantastic 50k classes but i wouldnt make such general statements about it. I just had the luxury situation that i didnt need to make big FA signings in either of these two season so i could afford to take more shots at possible bargains than basically anybody else and happened to be lucky a fair few times.
and now for something completely different:
Transfer Signing #1: Tibor Del Grosso
 Tibor Del Grosso (23) | Lvl. 1.0| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | | 69 | 59 | 64 | 68 | 61 | 71 | 72 | 64 | 71 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 65 | 67 | | 77 | 59 | 67 | 71 | 61 | 80 | 79 | 75 | 81 | 76 | 77 | 75 | 66 | 67 | | 76 | 59 | 69 | 76 | 61 | 80 | 77 | 68 | 80 | 74 | 77 | 81 | 69 | 67 |
Our first transfer deal of the season decided our strategy for the transfer window: Instead of trying to run it back for another title attempt with the same core of stage racing leaders, we wanted to set ourself up for the future by getting younger and bringing in the next generation:
Tibor Del Grosso joins us on a rider swap from Grieg. Once their destinated heir for Mads Pedersen, Tibor failed to develop in his debut season which created an opening for us.
Tibor is one of the strongest young cobblers. He has incredible endurance and can sprint as well as climb up the flemish hills. His complete skill for a classic specialist will make him a top contender for future monument victories and we are excited to have him as a cornerstone for years to come. This season, he will ride on loan with Ethiopian Airlines.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 30-07-2026 19:57
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2476
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 400.00
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Don't have to mention all those good 50k signings anymore, but bringing in Del Grosso is clearly a big move! He'll be a nuisance for all the other cobblers (including Isidore) once he's maxed  It will also be interesting which path you'll go with him as I'll have the same choice to make 
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 30-07-2026 20:02
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3701
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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The 2nd path is frankly absurd an absolute monster signing congrats |
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 31-07-2026 08:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4168
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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From mr 50K signer to mr. future winner of Roubaix and the Ronde  Big signing obviously, setting you up nicely for the future
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| knockout |
Posted on 31-07-2026 16:00
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8603
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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kandes - I was hoping that such a big move would be available for us and i'm very excited about getting it. All those 50k signings help with fitting him under our salary cap 
jt - I'm not yet sure which path im taking but that 2nd path is really cool. There are also a few mixed paths in between these.
Nemo - Thats the hope!
Thanks guys!
Loan Signing #1: Florian Vermeersch
 Florian Vermeersch (27)| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | | 78 | 62 | 66 | 69 | 70 | 76 | 77 | 74 | 78 | 78 | 77 | 68 | 76 | 72 |
After presenting our future Roubaix leader, it is time to present our Roubaix leader for this year: We have cooperated once again with our "rivals" at Xero for a loan deal. This year, Florian Vermeersch is joining us for the season.
Florian Vermeersch is a brilliant cobbler who combines the raw power on the cobblestones with an excellent sprint finish. He showed his quality last year when he won the Tour of the Battenkill and we hope that he can repeat that performance across lots of classics throughout the season.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-08-2026 07:48
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 13274
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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Cobbles sorted for the present and the future! Del Grosso is an amazing signing
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 01-08-2026 14:02
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World Champion
Posts: 11880
Joined: 17-12-2014
PCM$: 1120.00
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Quite the signing duo Hope Vermeersch can enjoy being the better of the two while that lasts Very excited for his gap year and to see how he can build off of that Battenkill ride.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
1x  x1
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| knockout |
Posted on 01-08-2026 16:06
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8603
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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abhi - thank you! im very happy to have the position sorted for most of the next decade now - just have to find a bridge solution for next season
jandal - Really hope he can make the next step with us and start with some consistent results
Free Agent Signing #7: Lilian Calmejane
 Lilian Calmejane (34)| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | | 72 | 69 | 72 | 75 | 65 | 70 | 73 | 69 | 58 | 70 | 73 | 76 | 68 | 68 |
And we are back to doing what you all like best: Signing free agency riders to minimum wage contracts. This one is not really a new face because he already was under contract with us last season: Lilian "Legend" Calmejane rejoins our team after demanding almost triple that contract in renewals.
Lilian was a domestique for Lopez last season and it's the same role we expect him to fill this year. But he can deliver strong results himself: Last year, Lilian won the Tour of Lithuania out of a solo attack which marked the point where we started to feel like we would win the PT title. As a puncheur with a good sprint and some attacking spirit, we hope he can deliver for us again outside of domestique duties.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| ember |
Posted on 01-08-2026 16:51
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Team Leader
Posts: 7338
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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Tibor is definitely a world class cobbler immediately when done developing, which is beautiful to see Looking a lot forward to see how a new Evonik will look in the seasons building towards that, as I suspect you might do a thing or two to give him the best possible chance to score for you Congratulations on the signing!
That Vermeersch loan deal is also cool, and what a beast leader he's for the PT with his 80 cb. Combined with his sprint, that should mean damage done in many, many classics. |
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| knockout |
Posted on 01-08-2026 19:13
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8603
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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ember - As you've said, he is a world class cobbler when maxed already so i'm unsure how much more training i have to put into him if thats what you are looking for? That's things to worry about in the future, for now i'm just excited to have him for the longterm future.
Free Agent Signing #8: Marcin Budzinski
 Marcin Budzinski (28) | Lvl 4.90| FL | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | | 72 | 68 | 71 | 74 | 63 | 72 | 68 | 66 | 64 | 70 | 72 | 71 | 69 | 67 | | 73 | 69 | 73 | 76 | 63 | 74 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 71 | 74 | 72 | 70 | 67 |
Marcin is the eight and possibly final minimum wage signing of the year for us. His skillset resembles quite closely that of Lilian Calmejane: A puncheur with good rouleur abilities who can also sprint a bit.
First and foremost, he will be a domestique for Miguel Angel Lopez but we also hope to see him shine in a few breakaways. We expect him to improve further for the future - although possibly with more of a focus on his climbing or sprint abilities than the hills focus you might expect!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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