January
Tour de San Luis
Our first race of the 2013 season is the Tour de San Luis, a very popular race in Argentina. It is a good opportunity for many riders to stretch their legs, and for us to score some early points. The tour features a mixture of flat and mountainous stages, with one transition stage which could create a surprise.
February
Tour of Qatar
This will be our second race of the calendar, starting at the same time as the Vuelta a Mallorca, another race that we will be attending. This tour features 6 flat stages, one of which is a short, 10.3 km team time trial. Expect the fast men of the peloton to battle it out for overall honours in this race.
Vuelta a Mallorca
Run at the same time as the Tour of Qatar, this Spanish race features 2 flat and 2 hilly stages. Many riders who are looking for results in some of the large but early races may start their season here. It provides a good place to start building up for the Giro.
Tour of Oman
Next stop for the Mobitel – Optima squad is the Tour of Oman. This also proves itself a great place to start to gear up towards the likes of the Giro, and also see how competitive we really are against some of the world’s best teams. A mixture of flat, hilly and mountainous stages awaits us in this highly competitive tour.
Volta ao Algarve
This little tour in Portugal should provide 5 stages of pain for the riders. It features 3 hilly stages, 1 flat time trial and 1 stage that is written for the sprinters.
La Drome Classic
Our first of many excursions into France brings us this small 1 day classic that has some rather large lumps. A break away could surprise the favourites in this race, but a small groups are more than likely going to be coming across the line as opposed to 1 large one.
Clasica de Almeria
Back to Spain again for this 1 day race that has traditionally been a sprinters dream. Many big names have featured in this race in the past; can Mobitel add one of their riders to the list?
March
Strade Bianche
March is kicked off with the Italian Strade Bianche, a race that could end in a bunch sprint, but maybe not between riders traditionally thought of as sprinters thanks to a few lumps on the way. A break could also steal the show, and has a relatively high chance of survival.
Vuelta a la Region de Murcia
Spain is proving to be a popular place to race, with the Vuelta a la Region de Murcia taking us back there. This hilly classic features some tough climbs and 176 km of hell.
Classic Loire Atlanticque
We are then back to France for another flat classic. It should provide another opportunity to hone in our lead out ahead of some of the larger races, and provide an opportunity for some of our riders to have a solid crack that otherwise wouldn’t.
Cholet - Pays de Loire
We Stay in France for another pancake flat race that should provide the same experience as Atlanticque.
Criterium International
France is nearly as popular as Spain for us at this time of year. This race should provide some of our guys that have hopes of performing in races like the Giro and the Vuelta a chance to gel together and have a bit of a crack at a good result. The race features 1 flat, 1 time trial and 1 mountainous stage; a perfect mix in preparation of some of the larger stage races.
VDK – Driedaagse de Panne - Koksijde
Off to Belgium we go for this 4 stage race, featuring 2 hilly and 2 flat stages. This race could provide the opportunity for some of our more punchy sprinters to take an overall win.
Route Adelie de Vitre
France once again plays host to us, and another flat classic. Some people might even be getting bored of this style of racing…
Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
March, and the first quarter, is finished off with the Spanish Gran Premio Miguel Indurain. This hilly classic should provide a nice change from those French flat races.
April
Scheldeprijs
April is kicked off with the flat Belgium classic, Scheldeprijs. We will face some stiff competition here from many great sprinters, and it is a much sought after win. Hopefully that win will be ours!
Rund um Koln
Germany brings us another flat race for our fast men. It should provide us a good opportunity to score some important points.
Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
This 3 stage race in Spain has a flat stage, a hilly stage and a mountainous stage. Our climbers will love us when we send them over here, and plenty of points are up for grabs.
GP de Denain Porte du Hainaut and Finistere
France just can’t get enough of us, with 2 more flat races for our fast men.
Tro – Bro Leon
Yet another flat stage in France… This is going to be an interesting season…
Giro del Trentino
Finally we escape France and into Italy with this mostly mountainous stage race. Another great one to help out guys build up for the Giro, and score some heavily sought after points.
Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey
This 8 stage race features a variety of terrain and a shit load of points. We will be sending an A grade squad to this race, that’s for sure. It will also be our last race before we hopefully go into the Giro.
GP Industria
An Italian flat classic that gives some of our lead out men a chance to get their own race victory.
May
Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn – Frankfort
Flat races are a common practice this time of year, with Germany playing host to a great little flat race for us to compete in.
Giro de Italia
We have applied for, but not yet received a response on, a position in the Giro. Our sponsors are hoping for a top 5 position, but between you and me we would settle for a top 10. This really is the flagship race for Italy, and we hope to get a good result.
Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid
A 2 day stage race for the real stage racers. It features an opening time trial and a hilly finale. A short, sharp and shiny tour!
Neuseen Classics – Rund um die Braunkohle
The sprinters get yet another crack at some results, with this German 1 day race. Yet another boring day in the saddle!
Grand Prix de Plumelec – Morbihan
France, flat, classic… You get the picture.
Boucles de l’Aulne – Chateaulin
Another French race, but a little hillier this time. Should provide a nice change to the flat once we normally get.
June
Criterium du Dauphine
Another race we have applied for, but have yet to receive a response on is the Criterium du Dauphine. This French race is normally used as a warm up race for the Tour, but we will be using it as a race to nab some points, assuming we get a wild card in.
GP du Canton d’Argrovie
The Swiss give us a flat race that has a couple of little lumps that might upset the sprinters near the end. Maybe a late break away?
Slovenian National ITT Championships
This very important race is run during the Dauphine, but it is of a huge importance for us, as is the RR. We will be sending our best time trialists to this event.
ProRace Berlin
Another flat race for the sprinters, and some good points available too. We hope some of our speedy riders can get a good result here.
Tour de Slovenie
This is another very important race for us. Hilly, flat and a time trial provide something for all the riders that we plan on sending, all Slovenian of course!
Slovenian National RR
Who will have the national jersey on their back for the next 12 months?
GP Kranj
Who will get to show off the national jersey first, in their home country? We’ll find out at this flat, Slovenian race.
July
Int. Osterreich – Rundfahrt
Nearby Austria holds claim to this wonderful, 8 stage race. It’s no walk in the park, either, with only one stage suited for the sprinters in the peloton.
Tour of Qinghai Lake
China holds this 9 stage race that is a mix of hilly and flat stages. It holds plenty of points and plenty of competition, so a good result would be useful.
GP Nobili Rubinetterie Coppa Citta di Stresa
Off to Italy we go for a race that is mostly flat. Some climbs near the finish could upset the sprinters though, but we will have to wait and see.
August
GP Camaiore
An Italian classic that could go either way, a bunch sprint or a small group. We shall find out when it’s raced!
Tour de Limousin
A flat, French stage race that is likely to end with a sprinter taking the show. There are some small hills near some of the finishes that could end up upsetting the sprinters.
Vuelta a Espana
We have applied for this race too. It is important that we get a strong result here, and we are looking forward to seeing the challenges that it may bring. The team sees this as a mark that the season is nearly over, and they’re not wrong. It is important to make the most out of this race in an attempt to get ourselves into the world tour. We have yet to hear a response about the wild card into this race also. If you have read this far, someone should give you a medal.
Post Danmark Rundt
A Danish road race, that is predominately flat. A good one for our sprinters not at the Vuelta.
Ljubljana – Zagreb
More races at home, this time it’s a one day race. A few hills might cause problems for the sprinters, but it could go either way with this race.
World’s Ports Classic
This 2 stage pancake flat Netherlands race will be one for the sprinters.
September
Tour of China
A mostly flat 9 stage tour with a plethora of points on offer. A good one for the sprinters and those that are good up the short, sharp and shiny hills.
Giro del Piemonte
This Italian race starts of flat, but ends in 2 short climbs that would really disrupt the sprinters. A good race for those who aren’t afraid of taking a little risk.
Giro del Lazio
Yet another hilly Italian race, much like the Piemonte. This one ends in a spectacular hilltop finish however, and really favours the strong.
October
Sparkassen Munsterland Giro
Germany is here to fix the cravings of the sprinters, with a 200 km flat classic. It will be a great opportunity for the sprinters to have one final stretch of the legs.
Giro dell’Emilia
Italy has us back once more for a hilly race that ends on a spectacular course that is all up or down.
Paris – Tours
France, flat classic… This is the second to last one however, and should be a good race for the likes of Bozic.
Tour of Beijing
This is another that we are waiting for a response on, and hopefully we get the answer we want! The last World Tour race of the season is in China, and is predominantly hilly. A good one for the puncheurs.
Chrono des Nations
A race that is just a time trial, and that’s it. This is yet another that we are waiting to hear a response on; Brajkovic hopes we get a ride!
Tour de Vendee
France, flat classic… This is the second to last race of the season however, and should be a good race for the likes of Bozic.
Japan Cup
The final race of the season is the Japan Cup, a very undulating course with an uphill finish. It should be a spectacular finale to the season, with a last ditch effort to score some points!
