FroomeDog99 wrote:
SN - MTN didn't get accepted at the Giro which was a shame would be great if Samwel could replicate that 15th but I think I'd be more content with him going stage hunting or going for the King of the Mountains jersey, but that's probably unlikely.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenSam_zps7eb8fab2.png[/img-l]

					Role	Team Leader
					Age	30
					Wage	240.000
					Rider type	Climber
					Main Stats	Mo 79, Sta 81, Rec 80
					XP	4.100

A pure climber, Mwangi Samwel is one of the most one-dimensional riders in cycling. Excellent on the long, steep mountains he will lead the team wherever he rides this year being one of the stars of African cycling. We hope his strong backup stats can help him to great results on the PCT and PT circuit. Targets include the Giro d'Italia and the Kenya Mountain Classic.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenBnr_zpsdf16ae38.png[/img-l]

					Role	Team Leader
					Age	28
					Wage	620.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 79, Acc 77, Sta 76
					XP	4.100

The most expensive rider on the team, Hassen Ben Nasser is one of the division's strongest riders on the hills and should hopefully bring us some nice results in the classics and stage races that he races this year. If he can use his strengths this year he should be one of the stars of the team. His biggest targets are the Tropicale Amissa Bongo and Tirreno - Adriatico.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenGas_zps8217fdfb.png[/img-l]

					Role	Co-Leader
					Age	32
					Wage	240.000
					Rider type	Sprinter
					Main Stats	Sp 76, Acc 78, Hi 71
					XP	4.100

One of just three non-Africans riding for the team next year, Enrico Gasparotto arrives from Team Puma - SAP and should be a good rider for us. Good in the sprints and able to hang on when the smaller hills are hit, we hope he can grab a win or two if the right type of race is found to suit his abilities.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenWeg_zps3765f8db.png[/img-l]

					Role	Co-Leader
					Age	34
					Wage	185.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 75, Sp 73, Acc 73
					XP	4.100

Another non-African riding for the team this year, Fabian Wegmann is an interesting rider with a good ability on the hills and a good kick in the sprint at the end of a race. Another rider that cold pick up results given the correct terrain. Not the youngest, but someone that should be a good rider for this year at least.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenNdb_zpsd678ca72.png[/img-l]

					Role	Co-Leader
					Age	32
					Wage	90.000
					Rider type	Climber
					Main Stats	Mo 77, Sta 76, Ftr 76
					XP	4.100

The only leader to remain from last year's continental effort, Zakayo Ndbri will spend a lot of his time being Samwel's luxury domestique. However, in some places he will be allowed to lead where his superior isn't present. Another pure climber that can do well on the long climbs but isn't any use anywhere else

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenCha_zps430e10c6.png[/img-l]

					Role	Luxury Domestique
					Age	28
					Wage	60.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 75, Sta 76, Ftr 74
					XP	4.100

One of the six riders that also rode for the team last year, Tarik Chaoufi had a horrible year where he struggled to collect any type of result. This year he won't be a team leader any more because of this, and will hopefully do well in his new role as Ben Nasser's lieutenant.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenPet_zpsb3cfb9cb.png[/img-l]

					Role	Luxury Domestique
					Age	27
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Time-Trialist
					Main Stats	TT 74, Prl 74, Hi 69
					XP	4.100

Good against the clock, Lotto Petrus is someone that should be a solid rider this year when help is needed in team time trials. His decent hill stat also means that he can also lead the team at C2 level with the Windhoek ITT being somewhere he could pick up a result. Other wise though a rider who will do a lot of his work on the flatter stages.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenNoI_zpsa8ffbbed.png[/img-l]

					Role	Luxury Domestique
					Age	27
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Climber
					Main Stats	Mo 74, Hi 71, Rec 72
					XP	4.100

Another Kenyan mountain goat, Simon Kimeli will follow Samwel around this year and hope to help out wherever he can with his decent abilities uphill. A strong domestique for minimum wage, someone that should be a solid rider and nothing more.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenCha_zps1af44ca7.png[/img-l]

					Role	Luxury Domestique
					Age	28
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 73, Mo 70, Sta 71
					XP	4.100

Adding to our African core is Redouane Chaabane who was also secured for minimum wage. The Algerian rider should increase our hilly depth and be a good domestique for the riders stronger uphill than him this season.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenBik_zps62f700d3.png[/img-l]

					Role	Luxury Domestique
					Age	25
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Cobbler
					Main Stats	Cob 73, Ftr 74, Sta 72
					XP	4.100

Our best rider on the cobbles, Burkina Faso national champion Salfo Bikienga will lead our team in the very few cobbled races we encounter. When not on the cobbled roads though, he will spend his time aiding our leaders on the flatter stages, with maybe the odd breakaway.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenKud_zpsc42dcd40.png[/img-l]

					Role	Super-Talent
					Age	20
					Wage	370.000
					Rider type	Stage Racer
					Main Stats	Mo 71, Hi 69, Sta 72
					XP	1.00

One of the best African talents around, we were extremely pleased when we managed to secure Merhawi Kudus' signature in transfers with him having the potential we think to become the best African rider ever. He will have an intensive schedule this year to ensure he progresses as fast as possible. Tests we have conducted show that he could turn out something like this:

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenVnZ_zpsfa278eb8.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent
					Age	23
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 70, TT 69, Cob 69
					XP	2.00

Another talent we have on board this year is Johann van Zyl, a rider who could end up being a puncheur, cobbler or timetrialist as well as a mix, making it hard to predict his potential. He will spend the year improving, to what we think will be a good standard of rider:

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenNoI_zpsa8ffbbed.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent
					Age	26
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Time-Trialist
					Main Stats	TT 72, Prl 72, Rec 67
					XP	3.02

Not the youngest for a talent, Mujtaba Hussein got into cycling a bit later than the other pros but still has the talent to become a good rider against the clock within a couple of years. We're glad to have him permanently after loaning him in last year, where he should improve to a good level:

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenNoI_zpsa8ffbbed.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent
					Age	26
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 70, Sta 70, Acc 69
					XP	3.06

Another latecomer to cycling, Hillary Kiprotich will hope to blossom into a decent puncheur in future. For now he will spend his time as a domestique as he progresses. His talent evaluation from our tests:

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenJan_zpsa44398d3.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent [Loanee]
					Age	23
					Wage	0
					Rider type	Climber
					Main Stats	Mo 71, Hi 71, Acc 70
					XP	3.08

Coming in on loan for a year to gain experience is Gyung Gu Jang, who should one day become a very decent climber. For now though he will spend his year here doing the dirty work, in order to improve to the next level as a rider.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenAng_zps74b9fc17.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent [Loanee]
					Age	25
					Wage	20.000
					Rider type	Climber
					Main Stats	Mo 71, Hi 69, Rec 69
					XP	3.00

Another loanee, this time coming from Jaguar - Eritel, Charles is another who will one day become a good climber. He will spend the year fetching bottles and protecting our leaders as he progresses, maybe also being allowed the opportunity to attack once in a while.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenNoI_zpsa8ffbbed.png[/img-l]

					Role	Domestique
					Age	27
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Time-Trialist
					Main Stats	TT 73, Ftr 75, Fl 70
					XP	4.100

A rider that rode for us last year, Riadh Ghdamsi is a good domestique on the flat and in time-trials. His work last year helped him to earn a new contract, where he'll hope to keep up his work and attacking style we saw in some races last year.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenKan_zpsbedd0cd2.png[/img-l]

					Role	Domestique
					Age	26
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Puncheur
					Main Stats	Hi 70, Sta 71, Ftr 72
					XP	4.100

Suleiman Kangangi pulled off one of the team's best wins last year, when he took stage 3 of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo from a break. We hope he can repeat these attacking exploits as well as helping when our leaders hit the hills.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenNoI_zpsa8ffbbed.png[/img-l]

					Role	Domestique
					Age	30
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	climber
					Main Stats	Mo 72, Hi 68, Acc 69
					XP	4.100

Another Kenyan and another rider who stays on from last year's squad, Daniel Njoroge will have a colourful Kenyan Champion's jersey to wear this year. We hope he can aid our better climbers in the mountains with his useful climbing abilities.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenMba_zpsf75500e5.png[/img-l]

					Role	Domestique
					Age	30
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Sprinter-Puncheur
					Main Stats	Sp 72, Hi 70, Sta 70
					XP	4.100

A newcomer to the team, Hervé Raoul Mba is one of only a couple of Cameroonian cyclists. His abilities in the hills and sprints mean he can help out on two fronts this year, on the hills and in the flatter races.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenEkr_zps9863dd3f.png[/img-l]

					Role	Domestique
					Age	31
					Wage	50.000
					Rider type	Sprinter
					Main Stats	Sp 73, Acc 74, Sta 70
					XP	4.100

After scouting him this year, Kenyan Samwel Ekiru has been given his first professional contact at the ripe age of 31. He isn't the strongest on most terrains but has a decent sprint and should be able to assist in any buunch sprints we contest this year.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenGrm_zpsde9452ed.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent [Out On Loan]
					Age	23
					Wage	N/A
					Rider type	Climber
					Main Stats	Mo 72, Hi 69, Rec 72
					XP	3.88

Tsgabu Grmay could become one of the top African climbers within a couple of years, but for now the Ethiopian champion will spend his year at fellow African squad Jaguar - Eritel, gaining experience.

[img-l]https://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/w605/FroomeDog99/KenUwi_zpsd1791a49.png[/img-l]

					Role	Talent [Out On Loan]
					Age	21
					Wage	N/A
					Rider type	Stage-Racer
					Main Stats	Mo 67, Hi 67, TT 67
					XP	1.00

Bonaventure Uzizeyimana will also spend his year away from the team despite being a new addition. He joins Continental squad Siam Cement - Lenovo to gain experienceso he can return a better rider next season. Hopefully one day he will develop into a very competent all-round stage racer.

roturn wrote:
Great to see you got the two best Kenian climbers and some other nice African riders.

But I think your best point scorer will be an European Gasparotto and eventually Wegmann. Ben Nasser as African also could deliver well.

Not sure if your Kenian leaders are going to shine a lot.

jph27 wrote:
Our calendars are worryingly similar, as are our leaders. Hopefully we'll both enjoy success, and with you being from Yorkshire I won't be too annoyed when you beat me.

Looking forward to some good battles, good luck!

Kami wrote:
We've got a very similar calendar. 1 HC band and 4 other races differ, the rest are the same.

Good luck!

fintas wrote:
We will eventually find ourselves in 27 races during the season ... I hope it's a good fight in each of them

Alakagom wrote:
I can already see that you'll meet a lot of Marquez and Froome

Good luck though, I really like your team. Should be a fairly nice first season in PCT!

FroomeDog99 wrote:

Seems we will cross paths regularly, Gautier could become a good rival of Ben Nasser's. I hope we won't get in each other's ways too often though, as I think we will come off second best Good luck!