Great depth all through as trek mentions. You have as many as five of my former riders, who have spent at least one day (only one of the latter ) on our team, so hoping they can all fire for you!
@trek
Not sure my planning skills are doing me any favors. Happy to have signed Kamau and looking forward to battling it out on the cobbles. Hopefully, the support cast will enable Owen to outscore Neilands.
@Laurens
Depth is in our DNA. I think a top 5 is unlikely, but with 4 loaned out riders in CT we can settle for less.
@sean
Just 1 higher in prologue and Kamau would have been amazing despite being one-dimensional.
While Schomber will struggle in Uppsala, he actually finished 6th in Tropicale 2 seasons ago so a top 5 finish isn't impossible - even though he'll probably be closer to 10th.
@Abhi
Please send them some motivation! We'll need all the luck we can get this season.
The goals will be rated in terms of our chances of success and the importance for the sponsors. Both ratings will go from 0-5. For the chance of success, zero (0) means that we expect less than 10 % chance of success and five (5) asterisks means we assess that there's more than a 90 % chance of success.
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Top 5
Chances of success: **
Importance for sponsors: *****
While a top 5 seems unlikely, Schomber actually finished 6th two seasons ago. We've also brought Sureda to contest the sprints and Medvedev to chase the luck, but achieving the goal will most likely fall on Schomber - and some bad luck for the sprinters who are expected to perform well in the time trials.
Uppsala Classic
Win
Chances of success:
Importance for sponsors: ****
While some might think this is a goal for Schomber, I'm quite certain the race will be won by a sprinter. With the quality present in the division - especially Boudat and Kennett - a win here will be almost impossible for Sureda.
Gent - Wevelgem
Top 5
Chances of success: ****
Importance for sponsors: ***
Aviv Yechezkel was 4th last year. He's returning but demoted to domestique for Logan Owen. While the competition has improved, we feel pretty confident that Owen can succeed with the assistance of three more domestiques with 67+ cobbles: Rubenis, Medvedev, Malale, and Baterdene.
Monterrey TTT
Top 5
Chances of success: ***
Importance for sponsors: ***
We won't win in Monterrey, but as showcased on the SEE Turtles HQ we should have the 3rd or 4th best TTT squad in the division. However, with Riders of Rohan probably attending and a bit of raceday uncertainty, we keep our optimism capped around 60 %.
Team Standings
Top 5
Chances of success: *
Importance for sponsors: *****
While a top 5 is highly unlikely, promotion could be in the cards with a few disbands and a bit of luck. While that may not improve our budget next season, it would mean the world to both the sponsors and team management to feature in the PCT.
As team manager, Caspi, will be without PC for a month starting in about a week, we better get ahead with the team presentations.
[HC] Down Under Classic
Name
FL
HI
RS
SP
AC
FG
Baterdene
74
61
70
76
77
59
Yechezkel
74
64
72
64
73
70
Vanderpool
68
64
65
60
63
62
Paillot
66
67
68
59
58
52
Rubenis
73
62
73
72
71
67
Schomber
73
58
76
69
69
65
Medvedev
77
64
77
71
70
78
Kamau
69
56
73
67
71
60
Sureda will prioritize other races, which leave us without a true leader in our first race of the season. Baterdene isn't expected to contest the sprint, so instead we hope to be present in the breakaway of the day.
[C2] Clasico San Jose
Name
FL
MM
HI
ST
AC
FG
Azman
69
77
77
69
75
76
McKenna
70
75
76
69
77
73
Turgis
73
72
76
73
77
83
Rachid
70
74
70
73
68
69
Jung
66
72
77
72
71
69
Kulindwa
68
74
73
71
73
71
Jungels
70
64
66
71
60
70
Malale
69
66
67
69
73
76
While Azman will struggle with the length of the race, we hope that the depth of the team can provide some points. Turgis could be dangerous if he makes it over the hills without spending all his energy on attacks.
[C1] Tour Down Under
Name
FL
MM
HI
RS
SP
AC
Azman
69
77
77
72
65
75
McKenna
70
75
76
72
65
77
Turgis
73
72
76
75
70
77
Sureda
73
68
71
69
77
79
Jung
66
72
77
72
63
71
Paillot
66
67
67
68
59
58
Malale
69
66
67
71
65
73
Kamau
69
53
56
73
67
71
Another chance for the hill squad in this hilly stage race. This time with Sureda, who could do well if he gets priority. However, with the 5th stage being very challenging, we expect to prioritize differently in the GC.
[C1] Great Ocean Road Classic
Name
FL
HI
RS
SP
AC
FG
Sureda
73
71
69
77
79
72
Baterdene
74
61
70
76
77
59
Yechezkel
74
64
72
64
73
70
Paillot
66
67
68
59
58
52
Rubenis
73
62
73
72
71
67
Schomber
73
58
76
69
69
65
Medvedev
77
64
77
71
70
78
Kamau
69
56
73
67
71
60
Looks like it'll be a sprint for Sureda but could also be a late attack for Medvedev.
[C2] Hong Kong Challenge
Name
FL
MM
HI
RS
AC
DH
Azman
69
77
77
72
75
69
McKenna
70
75
76
72
77
70
Turgis
73
72
76
75
77
67
Rachid
70
74
70
73
68
66
Jung
66
72
77
72
71
64
Kulindwa
68
74
73
72
73
72
Jungels
70
64
66
72
60
68
Malale
69
66
67
71
73
66
A race that could fit Azman quite well, but unsure how the downhill finish will affect the outcome.
I hope we can get away with something in GORC, but Down Under Classic should be a zero pointer. Looking forward to the start of the season and especially Hong Kong where I think we have the best chances in the opening month.
With team manager Caspi back from vacation, the team hope to improve results in February. A positive effect has already been observed in the first three races, but time will tell if this is a new baseline for the team or if we will fall below 5 PpRD again.
[PCT GTM] Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Name
FL
HI
ST
CB
SP
FG
Owen
73
69
73
78
64
68
Yechezkel
74
64
71
76
64
70
Vanderpool
68
64
63
60
60
62
Rubenis
73
62
70
73
72
67
Schomber
73
58
66
50
69
65
Medvedev
77
64
77
68
71
78
Malale
69
67
69
68
65
76
Kamau
69
56
66
57
67
60
Malale in the early breakaway and Owen in the top 10. Great result in the first PCT GTM race.
[C2] Coppa Placci
Name
FL
MM
HI
RS
AC
FG
Azman
69
77
77
72
75
76
McKenna
70
75
76
72
77
73
Turgis
73
72
76
75
77
83
Jung
66
72
77
72
71
69
Kulindwa
68
74
73
72
73
71
Jungels
70
64
66
72
60
70
Paillot
66
67
67
68
58
52
After Hong Kong we weren't looking forward to Coppa Placci. However, Azman had his first good race in more than a year and secured a satisfactory top 5.
[C1] Viana do Castelo
Name
MM
HI
ST
CB
FG
DH
McKenna
75
76
69
61
73
70
Turgis
72
76
73
65
83
67
Owen
67
69
73
78
68
74
Rachid
74
70
73
58
69
66
Yechezkel
60
64
71
76
70
69
Jung
72
77
72
64
69
64
Rubenis
61
62
70
73
67
69
Medvedev
63
64
77
68
78
66
Just not the right race for our guys. With the right leader, we could have had plenty of domestiques, but instead we were forced to ride aggressively. Medvedev secured a single point for us to ensure it wasn't a complete waste.
[CT GTM] Vuelta al Tachira
Name
FL
MO
TT
RC
SP
AC
Rachid
70
77
74
76
63
68
Azman
69
76
63
73
65
75
Kulindwa
68
74
65
73
58
73
Sureda
73
64
61
75
77
79
Baterdene
74
58
59
83
76
77
Vanderpool
68
64
77
61
60
63
Paillot
66
66
76
59
59
58
Jungels
70
62
76
64
61
60
Rachid will be our GC leader, but we're expecting tough competition, which means the top 10 is probably the realistic outcome. He's supported by Azman and Kulindwa who are also welcome to join breakaways.
For the sprints we have Sureda accompanied by Baterdene, which could be a strong duo.
Lastly Vanderpool, Paillot, and Jungels are here as support and perhaps score some minor points in the last TT if the parcours isn't too undulating.
) on our team, so hoping they can all fire for you!
