Two new riders have joined the team, and will contribute as leaders straight away. They are both strong cobblers, but come with different proficiencies to support the teams aspiration for survival at the highest level. Both also come with solid engines and a fast kick and can be used as part of the leadout train for Farantakis, or as breakaway riders in their own right.
Marcos Altur
4.100
32yo
Cobbler
€320.000
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
75
63
67
70
63
75
70
70
82
72
68
70
63
63
Key Results:
#2 Roma Maxima (2020)
#2 Tour of the Battenkill (2020)
#4 Paris-Roubaix (2024)
#4 Strada Appia Antica (2024)
#5 Rheden GP (2024)
Remi Cavagna
4.100
30yo
Cobbler
€80.000
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
77
64
69
74
76
75
74
71
73
73
71
60
63
76
Key Results:
#2 Tour of Northern Europe (2021)
#3 Chrono d'Arenberg (2020)
#3 Tour of Northern Europe (2020)
#4 Tour of Northern Europe (2022)
We will also bid farewell to a number of riders, and thank them for their efforts in our colors! The riders in mention are: Alexandros Matsangos Kees Duyvesteyn Alexander Edmondson Yikui Niu
Seems like Altur had some nice results last season, I hope he can repeat that or do even better, then ELCO should stand a very good chance of comfortably staying in!
Guess who's back. Back again. Viney's back. Tell a friend! Having had his development roots at Festina/ELCO, we are happy to see Jay Vine back in the Greek colors after being fully maxed, and ready to have some fun. Jay is a strong climber, that can keep on repeating his attacking efforts for numerous days, which makes him a perfect Grand Tour rider. Whether he will succeed in getting a stage win is yet to be seen, but with his 64RD's available, he could in theory ride all three.
Jay Vine
4.100
30yo
Climber
€118.000
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
69
77
76
75
66
69
77
77
61
67
75
76
63
70
It has become a somewhat firm tradition to see our team sign Australian and New Zealandian riders in each transfer season, so despite the departure of Edmondson and Duyvesteyn we are now back in business!
A few movements have been made over the past couple of days, most notably on the departure side.
We have decided to say goodbay to Michail Mavrikakis in order to secure further development within the team. We are sad to see him go, but wish him all the best for the future!
More so we have been busy on the loan market, with one rider in, and 6 riders out. We are of course ready to welcome them back with one year of additional experience before kicking their way into the first team.
Loan In: Samuel Welsford
Loan Out: Alex Mengoulas Ioannis Varotsos Alexander Hajek Marco Schrettl Mats Wenzel Edgar Andres Pinzon
With these movements we also expect our transfer season to be done, unless a spectacular situation occurs.
@Nemolito
I hope so too. It's definately needed for him to get close to the 1000 points margin - A comfortable season is more than I dare to hope for tbh.
@redordead
I doubt it to be honest. I gotta put my faith in the experience with planning and micromanaging points, which is always more difficult with a new game. Altur is hopefully the piece of the puzzle that can tip things in our favour. I don't have a lot of belief that Kinoshita can do much, but I guess 300 points or so is realistic.
@sammy93 and @Eden95
The reveal is short that's for sure. Not a bunch of trainings this time around unfortunately. But then again, it wasn't the ambition this season, as our future training plans are yet to be training eligeble
Hope Welsford can do well for you! Great looking team so far. Although as mentioned above, transfers aren't quite done for you until the final big announcement of the team
A couple of late changes to the team, as we finalized our 25 + 6 loanouts big roster for the 2025 season. We had to say goodbye to Ioannis Spanopoulos on a permanent deal (or is it?) and Andreas Miltiadis on a loan out deal.
Instead we can welkome 3 new faces!
Axel Zingle
4.100
27yo
Sprinter
€115.000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
75
62
68
60
70
75
77
63
78
78
64
66
65
We have searched the market for a leadout sprinter for the past week, and finally we found him. Axel Zingle is the perfect match up (on paper) for Stylianos Farantakis. We also get a sprinter in Zingle that can take his own chances and hopefully snatch a decent result here and there.
Kaspars Sergis
4.100
33yo
Climber
€50.000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
67
74
75
57
67
71
71
57
57
68
75
65
57
After loaning out Andreas Miltiadis, we searched the market for a short term replacement, and found Kaspars Sergis. He's not quite as strong, but will still take a solid position in the team helping in both hilly and mountainous races as a key domestique.
Kamiel Bonneu
3.50
26yo
Puncheur
€50.000
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CO
SP
AC
FI
DH
PR
69
65
72
58
74
71
64
62
60
67
65
62
58
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
↓↓↓
71
67
77
59
78
73
66
62
61
70
68
63
59
The final piece of the puzzle is a young puncheur, Kamiel Bonneu. He's yet to develop into the future solid rider that he can be - but we aim to help him move a bit closer during this season.
We are happy to present to you our final setup for the 2025 season! We have a grand total of 25 riders on contract and riding for us this season, with an additional 6 riders currently loaned out to other teams, gaining valuable experience to come back home for further support next season!
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
63
66
72
75
72
79
66
82
80
61
63
79
30
Marcos Altur
75
63
67
70
63
75
70
70
82
72
68
70
63
63
32
Tomohiro Kinoshita
71
70
76
81
64
77
74
70
57
66
74
71
69
64
34
Miltiadis Giannoutsos
68
80
77
72
72
76
78
75
57
64
68
75
67
77
28
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
70
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
29
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
66
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
31
Jay Vine
69
77
76
75
66
69
77
77
61
67
75
76
63
70
30
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
74
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
32
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
29
Axel Zingle
75
62
65
68
60
70
75
77
63
78
78
64
66
65
27
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
28
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
74
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
28
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
65
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
27
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
70
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
30
Remi Cavagna
77
64
69
74
76
75
74
71
73
73
71
60
63
76
30
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
68
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
30
Dimitrios Christakos
69
77
75
72
70
69
74
72
58
61
70
74
70
73
26
Panagiotis Karatsivis
70
76
74
72
70
72
74
73
60
64
74
74
67
69
24
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
73
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
27
Kaspars Sergis
67
74
75
75
57
67
71
71
57
57
68
75
65
57
33
Scott Davies
65
73
72
70
74
71
72
73
55
61
69
64
65
74
30
Martinos Moutsios
73
61
62
63
76
73
71
67
65
68
73
70
67
76
24
Samuel Welsford
73
59
62
64
64
68
69
72
65
75
75
64
65
66
29
Panagiotis Vlatos
68
50
56
62
77
67
65
58
64
63
60
64
50
77
35
Kamiel Bonneu
69
65
69
72
58
74
71
64
62
60
67
65
62
58
26
A bunch of new names have been added to the team - most notably riders such as Marcos Altur, Tomohiro Kinoshita, Jay Vine, Axel Zingle and Remi Cavagna, all of whom will be important assets in our aspirations for survival. Let's break down our team in categories!
Climbers
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Miltiadis Giannoutsos
68
80
77
72
72
76
78
75
57
64
68
75
67
77
28
Jay Vine
69
77
76
75
66
69
77
77
61
67
75
76
63
70
30
Dimitrios Christakos
69
77
75
72
70
69
74
72
58
61
70
74
70
73
26
Panagiotis Karatsivis
70
76
74
72
70
72
74
73
60
64
74
74
67
69
24
Alexandros Agrotis
72
75
73
71
74
76
72
75
63
65
68
71
70
75
27
Kaspars Sergis
67
74
75
75
57
67
71
71
57
57
68
75
65
57
33
The climbing department continues to be led by Miltiadis Giannoutsos. He will ride the majority of our GC races as the clear and undisputed leader, with an ambition of fighting for the top 10's. Jay Vine add some quality lost after the sale of Ioannis Spanopoulos, and we hope to see him fight for stagewins and KOM jerseys here and there. Same can be said about Dimitrios Christakos who will be moving slightly up the ranks after the sale of Michail Mavrikakis. Panagiotis Karatsivis adds another layer, as he will be fighting to get as solid U25 positions as possible. We hope to see him actually fighting to win those next season. Alexandros Agrotis adds another layer as a more well rounded GC rider, but mainly for depth scoring and domestique duties. Finally Kaspars Sergis will aim to support the aforementioned riders. Not our strongest department, but still a solid depth for hopefully some interesting rides.
Puncheurs
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Tomohiro Kinoshita
71
70
76
81
64
77
74
70
57
66
74
71
69
64
34
Aimiliano Vila
70
71
74
77
64
70
73
74
54
67
74
76
69
64
28
Zisis Soulious
69
74
75
75
66
76
75
69
51
71
78
63
76
66
29
Kamiel Bonneu
69
65
69
72
58
74
71
64
62
60
67
65
62
58
26
The hilly department is small, but significantly stronger than the past couple of seasons with Kinoshita added as a rider who may (or may not) fancy his chances for succes in one day races. He will be supported by Aimiliano Vila and Zisis Soulious, and the aformention riders like Jay Vine and Kaspars Sergis. Kamiel Bonneu is here to learn.
Timetriallists
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Nikolaos Ioannidis
67
75
74
73
78
76
74
73
57
58
70
72
67
76
32
Ioannidis Kiriakidis
68
74
74
73
78
72
73
74
62
63
71
70
73
76
28
Pangiotis Christapopoulos
73
62
68
73
78
72
72
66
62
62
69
75
66
77
30
Panagiotis Vlatos
68
50
56
62
77
67
65
58
64
63
60
64
50
77
35
Martinos Moutsios
73
61
62
63
76
73
71
67
65
68
73
70
67
76
24
Scott Davies
65
73
72
70
74
71
72
73
55
61
69
64
65
74
30
Similar to last season we have a very solid TT department. The difference, however is that the PT is just much stronger in comparison, which will show on our results. Ioannidis, Kiriakidis and Christapopoulos are all subtop TT leaders, but have very solid backup stats that will hopefully help them survive medium hard mountain/puncheur stages better than most traditional TT riders. We can also add Scott Davies and Alexandros Agrotis to this category while unmentioned riders like Remi Cavagna and Georgios Stavrakakis also add a lot of quality in numbers. Finally we can add Moutsios who are targeting U25 aswell as the legendary Panagiotis Vlatos who will ride his final season within the team!
Sprinters
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Stylianos Farantakis
74
59
63
66
72
75
72
79
66
82
80
61
63
79
30
Axel Zingle
75
62
65
68
60
70
75
77
63
78
78
64
66
65
27
Anastasios Koumpetsos
74
67
70
73
56
76
73
82
58
76
76
74
71
56
30
Samuel Welsford
73
59
62
64
64
68
69
72
65
75
75
64
65
66
29
The sprinting department have grown stronger once more with Farantakis now being led out by Axel Zingle, aswell as having riders like Koumpetsos and Welsford support him, or try their own chances here and there. Besides those we can also add riders like Georgios Boutopoulos, Remi Cavagna, Marcos Altur and Michail Kortsidakis. We hope to see Farantakis shine this season, as a lot will rely on his success.
Cobblers
Nat.
Name
FL
MO
MM
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Age
Marcos Altur
75
63
67
70
63
75
70
70
82
72
68
70
63
63
32
Michail Kortsidakis
77
63
66
69
54
75
75
73
77
68
72
76
70
73
31
Georgios Stavrakakis
76
61
65
68
75
74
70
66
77
64
68
70
62
77
27
Georgios Boutopoulos
78
68
70
72
66
73
75
69
74
73
78
80
74
68
29
Remi Cavagna
77
64
69
74
76
75
74
71
73
73
71
60
63
76
30
The most improved department is the cobbles, where our solid domestiques now have an actual leader to ride for with Marcos Altur! He is supported very well by riders like Kortsidakis, Stavrakakis, Boutopoulos and Cavagna. Some of which will hopefully receive their own chances for succes in some races during the season aswell.
The way you talked down your team, I never would have suspected it looked anything like this.
The depth is even more incredible than its been the last couple of years, and now have a trained Farantakis leading you and a genuine cobbles leader with him. I don't see how relegation could be in the cards.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
As the yearly tradition we will see Greek Cycling further develop, as money keeps getting invested into the best possible training facilities and equipment. This season only one rider have showed some new and remarkable progress, however it is amongst our leaders! We are happy that a new technique seems to have increased the top end speed of our lead sprinter, Stylianos Farantakis!
Stylianos Farantakis
4.100
30yo
Sprinter
€1.525.000
Fl
Mo
Hi
TT
St
Rs
Rc
Co
Sp
Ac
Fi
Dh
Pr
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
81
80
61
63
79
↓↓↓
74
59
66
72
75
72
79
66
82
80
61
63
79
He is now, on paper, among the 10 fastest sprinters in the world across all divisions, with only 3 riders having measured a notably faster top speed.
@Jackstar22
Thanks a lot mate Now all we can do is cross our fingers that we did enough.
baseballlover312
I'm not overly confident in our survival chances. I think we had a team of similar strength last time we were in the PT, witout getting really close to survival. We had Coquard, Vlatos (1st year decrease), Koretzky (1st year decrease), Carapaz, Mavrikakis and Spanopoulos back then. They have been replaced by Altur, Kinoshita, Vine, Cavagna and a trained Farantakis, Giannoutsos and Kiriakidis, as well as a maxed Boutopoulos and some more usefull stats for Christakos and Karatsivis. Overall we have changed a bit...
You have good (though not great) riders for all terrains and mostly not only one and this should be enough to stay in the division as depth has proven to be more important than having top riders for this. But I'm not so sure I like those French riders in your team much, not because of their skillsets but because it probably will be costly to get them out of your hands
I liked the training! Greek cycling continues to grow under your guidance!
I still think you will do quite well but even if it is not direct promotion I think you will be close and able to build to most likely go up next season
I guess Farantakis will be the main swing factor for how well you do this season. SP training is always more of a gamble, but given how bad most of the 81 sprinters were last season, maybe this works out quite well.
@kandesbunzler26
I hope you are right. My depth isn't quite what it was a couple of years ago though, so I'm a bit doubtful tbh. I hope the depth from cobbles will increase drastically with Altur now needing our domestiques to stay towards the front. Often my leaders have attacked early and killed themselves. Last season at PCT seemed more "my type of rider"-friendly
I'm sure we will figure something out.
@Jakstar22
I hope I don't need a promotion, but can avoid relegation this season
Thanks mate! I hope the investment pays off. We could really use Farantakis around the 1000 points mark this season and not around the 400-500 points mark. Could that be achieved, a lot is more "at ease" I think.
@redordead
I guess Farantakis will be the main swing factor for how well you do this season. SP training is always more of a gamble, but given how bad most of the 81 sprinters were last season, maybe this works out quite well.[/quote]
It is very much a gamble yes. Farantakis have never really worked that well, but there seemed to be a gap in the top end of PT sprinters this season with Coquard, Ewan, Grosu, Dainese etc. all out of the division, and with riders like Coquard, Grosu, Enger, Zabel, van Poppel, Samolenkov, Demare, Vesely, Bonifazio, Manninen and Kragh either already in decline or starting next year - I thought that keeping Farantakis in the top tier for 3 seasons seemed like a reasonable gamle.
The alternative would have been to give Giannoutsos 81MO, which would have changed his planning drastically - to a degree where I think the gained would be lost in altering the planning. Training Kiriakidis to 76MO or 79TT didn't really feel like something that would really change a lot in terms of points, and Koumpetsos 78SPR or Boutopoulos 75COB also seemed a bit irrelevant.
We'll have to see if it makes any sense or if it's wasted
Ah, there's the expected training, nice to see Farantakis get the love this season, hopefully the budget allows it to be spread around more next season when you've established yourselves back in PT
Roma Maxima (2020)
Tour of the Battenkill (2020)
Paris-Roubaix (2024)
Rheden GP (2024)
Tour of Northern Europe (2021)
Alexandros Matsangos
Kees Duyvesteyn
Alexander Edmondson
Yikui Niu
Michail Mavrikakis in order to secure further development within the team. We are sad to see him go, but wish him all the best for the future!
Alexander Hajek
Mats Wenzel
Edgar Andres Pinzon
