Nice draft picks but was suprising to see you missed on so many great french riders
Best Luck for the season and dont bring your chinese rider to races where I am also please
Wow! Just barely making the 15 rider minimum, but your 13 full time and 4 stagiaires are all intimidating riders. I'll say you look like a powerhouse in CT this year!
As the transfer season is finally over and this seasons squad is complete, we’re ready to take a look ahead and show you our plans for our talents – those who were with us last season already as well as those we just signed including our stagiaires.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
2024 3>4
65
74
72
58
67
72
74
62
60
69
71
72
58
2025 4>max
65
76
74
58
67
73
75
62
60
71
73
72
58
Delbove is going to be a decent mountain domestique who’ll just have to avoid any TTs.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Arman Garibian
68
71
68
69
70
71
73
55
60
69
65
69
69
2024 3>4
69
74
70
71
72
73
76
55
60
70
66
70
71
2025 4>max
70
76
71
73
74
75
78
55
60
71
66
70
73
Garibian will be a nice stage racing domestique with some really nice backup stats.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Matis Louvel
73
64
70
69
70
74
68
71
67
66
66
65
69
2024 3>4
75
64
71
71
73
76
69
74
67
67
67
66
71
2025 4>max
77
64
72
73
75
78
70
76
67
67
67
66
73
Louvel is our biggest (and still only) talent for the classics. He’ll be a good cobbler at least and a nice TTT asset as well. Given his backup stats he’s also a promising target for training.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Alan Boileau
66
72
72
64
66
69
71
62
66
72
64
66
63
2024 3>4
67
73
75
65
68
70
72
62
67
74
66
67
64
2025 4>max
67
75
77
65
68
71
73
62
67
76
68
67
64
Boileau will develop into a Teuns kind of rider and probably take over from him once maxed out – though with some weaker backup stats.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Alex Baudin
65
66
66
66
68
66
67
63
63
66
67
65
63
Stage Race max
66
73
71
73
73
71
74
63
63
67
68
65
70
Alex Baudin can be developed into a stage racing domestique though he’ll never be a race winner in his own right.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Hugo Toumire
68
67
66
63
65
65
63
60
62
64
67
64
62
Stage Race max
69
74
71
70
70
70
70
60
62
65
68
64
69
All in all Hugo Toumires development path is comparable to Baudins, but with slightly better mountain and worse TT stats.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Valentin Paret-Peintre
64
66
66
56
66
64
62
50
60
60
68
57
56
Climber1 max
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
He’s not the kind of talent his brother is, but VPP can be a mountain domestique or even stage hunter one day.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Evan Russell
66
64
66
63
67
69
64
63
66
69
68
65
64
Stage Race max
67
71
71
70
72
74
71
63
66
70
69
65
71
Hills max
69
67
74
64
74
73
67
63
67
74
73
66
65
Sprint max
73
64
67
63
72
70
69
68
73
76
68
66
64
Track-Sprint max
73
64
67
64
68
74
68
66
73
76
68
66
71
Russell doesn’t have an obvious development path, he could be developed to a domestique for stage races, the hills or a sprint leadout. We’re curious if someone will take the time and effort to do so though as he won’t be an overwhelming domestique in any case.
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
2024 1>3
68
73
67
72
68
72
70
58
68
68
71
70
71
2025 3>4
69
77
69
74
70
74
73
58
68
69
72
71
73
2026 4>max
70
79
71
76
72
76
75
58
68
70
73
71
75
And finally our biggest (and most expensive) talent: Kevin Vauquelin. The natural way to go here is developing him into a stage racer, though he’ll always fear the hilly stages.
And just to show his versatility here are some other possible paths for his development:
The new season starts with a busy month for our riders, accumulating 21 race days in 5 races which also means all of our full time riders have an early start into the season. And if that’s not enough already, our first race of the season is also our first goal race.
Start
End
Race
Cat
09.01
09.01
Gisborne GP
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Clement Chevrier
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
Felix Gall
67
77
76
63
70
71
72
58
61
72
70
64
62
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
The hilly one day race is our first goal race. We’re aiming for a Top 5 result. And to achieve this we brought everyone who is punchy: APP and Dylan Teuns are probably our best bets for a good result, especially with Gall, Paulus, Le Gac and Lammertink working for them – though we wouldn’t mind one of the latter to get a result himself.
Start
End
Race
Cat
13.01
18.01
Tour Down Under
C1
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
Arman Garibian
68
71
68
69
70
71
73
55
60
69
65
69
69
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Dylan Hopkins
68
68
68
67
69
70
63
61
57
65
66
70
64
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
Staying in Down Under, we’re heading for the TDU to compete on C1 level. Russo will hopefully be able to compete in the sprints given that those stages have some bumps before the finish. Teuns and Le Gac are our captains for the hilltop finishes and maybe even the GC.
Start
End
Race
Cat
21.01
30.01
Vuelta al Tachira
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Clement Chevrier
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
Reuben Thompson
71
68
66
63
67
71
66
57
67
68
62
73
62
We hope for APP to shine in Venezuela and get a good GC result as well as maybe a stage win. His support cast is led by Chevrier and further consists of Delbove, Vauquelin, Karatsivis and Thompson. Not the biggest names nor the best riders (yet), but hopefully their sheer number will help. Oh - and maybe Jiang can show himself in one of the sprints.
Start
End
Race
Cat
25.07
27.01
Hong Kong Challenge
C1
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Arman Garibian
68
71
68
69
70
71
73
55
60
69
65
69
69
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Dylan Hopkins
68
68
68
67
69
70
63
61
57
65
66
70
64
We have a pretty similar set up like in TDU here – just Lammertink replacing Russo. Teuns, Paulus and Le Gac are our riders for the two hilly stages and maybe the GC if they don’t lose too much time in the medium TT. And we wouldn’t mind seeing Lammertink in a break or two.
Start
End
Race
Cat
30.01
30.01
Clasico San Jose
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Arman Garibian
68
71
68
69
70
71
73
55
60
69
65
69
69
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Dylan Hopkins
68
68
68
67
69
70
63
61
57
65
66
70
64
The exactly same squad as in Hong Kong, but with better chances given the lower category of this classic and the (obvious) lack of a TT. We have high hopes here as Teuns, Paulus, Le Gac and maybe even Lammertink should be able to score some nice points.
Staying in Down Under, we’re heading for the TDU to compete on C1 level. Russo will hopefully be able to compete in the sprints given that those stages have some bumps before the finish. Teuns and Le Gac are our captains for the hilltop finishes, though both are probably not competing for the GC given their lack of TT skill.
I'm not sure if TDU is C2, otherwise I'd have to pretty much redo my planning for this race
And I'm also not sure where you can spot a TT in TDU, so my guess would rather be that Teuns should be a pretty serious GC contender
Fab
You're absolutely right, I probably mixed it up with Hong Kong (damn this busy start of the season ). But now my expectations for this month are even higher, so thanks a lot
After missing all our season goals last year we are optimistic to get a better outcome this season – not the least because there’s not much room to finish any worse in this regard. We chose three hilly classics and one short hilly / mountainous stage race, which shouldn’t be a surprise as we did the goal selection with Teuns and Alaphilippe as designated and confirmed team leaders pre-transfers. Given the qualities of our new signings, those goals are still fitting and we’re more than confident we’ll finally do better than last year in achieving our season goals. At least we will know how well we did early in the season, with our last goal race held in April.
Race
Cat
goal
Gisborne GP
C2
Top 5
The hilly one day race is also our first race of the season. We’re aiming for a Top 5 result. And though we don’t know the competition yet, we think our goal is realistically achievable, especially as we bring everyone who is punchy in our squad: APP and Dylan Teuns are probably our best bets for a good result, especially with Gall, Paulus, Le Gac and Lammertink working for them.
Spoiler
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Clement Chevrier
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
Felix Gall
67
77
76
63
70
71
72
58
61
72
70
64
62
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
Race
Cat
goal
Tour of the Middle East
C2
Top 10
We’ve done well here last season with Teuns finishing 4th in the GC, so we assume he (or APP or Gall) could do equally well in this year’s edition and at least finish in the Top 10. To ensure this, we bring our entire mountain squad to this race.
Spoiler
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Clement Chevrier
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
Felix Gall
67
77
76
63
70
71
72
58
61
72
70
64
62
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Dylan Hopkins
68
68
68
67
69
70
63
61
57
65
66
70
64
Reuben Thompson
71
68
66
63
67
71
66
57
67
68
62
73
62
Race
Cat
goal
GP Izola
C2
Top 5
Another race we did well in last year (Alaphilippe finished second last year), so we target another good result this season. And though we chose the goal with Alaphilippe in mind, we are still optimistic to still finish in the Top 5 with options like APP, Teuns, Le Gac, Lammertink or Paulus – and not the least with Alaphilippes replacement Russo, who incidentally is the winner of the last edition.
Spoiler
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
Race
Cat
goal
Badaling International
C1
Win
We combine our two mandatory goals (C1 and Win) in another hilly classic, though with less optimism as we’ll probably face some top PCT riders here. And while we won’t compete for the win, we nonetheless hope to see our riders fighting for a good result here, bringing the same squad as in GP Izola.
Spoiler
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
Race
goal
Team Standings
Top 10
A Top 10 finish in the Team Standings isn’t very ambitious as it’s the lowest possible bar we could set. But we think we could actually finish in the Top 10 this year and as we’re not actively seeking for promotion this season we aim for achievable goals to set us up well for next year.
All in all we should be able to achieve up to 4 of our goals and thus giving us some great base for the next transfer season. We’ll need it if we really want to compete for promotion in 2024.
Given your strength on the hills even before transfers I'm a bit surprised San Luis isn't one of your goals. Hopefully Teuns doesn't block APP and Russo in Izola.
I think quite a few of us have targeted Izola, although as you hint those were picked more around an Alaphilippe type than a APP type. Still, enough quality you'll be in contention in those events. (Teuns and APP in the CT... still baffles me how that came together and i'm scared!)
Your strength on the hills is definitely impressive - it already was before, and with APP you added another level. Great rider to have, and he'll surely be a good option in all of these four goal races! Teuns should still be the strongest in Gisborne, though, whereas APP could shine in Middle East, being a better climber than Teuns. Izola should be one for Russo, but APP is the perfect backup if Russo gets dropped.
Badaling will clearly be challenging against PCT competition, and it will require some luck to not be at the wrong side of a split, but once again APP could get a decent result. Probably not the win, but at least that goal got you some cash
Top 10 in the division should really be doable with this squad - although with only two terrains covered (the same pretty much every other CT team covers well, too), you might lack versatility to enter the promotion race. I'd definitely not exlucde it, though, as your uphill riders are really solid ones, with just Le Gac being pretty one-dimensional.
January is done and we have already as many wins (and half as many podiums) as in the entire last season. And though that mainly shows how bad our last season was, it’s still a pretty nice achievement and gives us lots of hope for the months and races to come. And additionally our riders maintain an active racing style, showing our colours whenever possible.
Start
End
Race
team goal
results
09-Jan
Gisborne GP
Top 5
Top 10
We went here with a Top 5 goal and nearly got it as APP finished in 7th after multiple attacks from him and Teuns. Though we missed our goal we only did by a small margin, already improving our last season performances (goal-wise) by miles.
Start
End
Race
team goal
results
13-Jan
18-Jan
Tour Down Under
-
stage win
The first stages were quite qualm for us with Teuns managing to finish in the main group at all stages. Stage 4 was our highlight of the race with Karatsivis pulling up a surprise win from the break of the day. Garibian tried the same the next day, but failed due to some bad tactical choices from the break In the final. Russo got a Top 10 finish in the sprint of the final stage. Meanwhile Teuns lost time on the last stages, finishing 26th overall.
The longest stage race in C2 was our highlight of the month. After some decent sprint finishes by Jiang in the first half of the race (15th, 2x 11th and 9th) our race really began when the peloton went uphill. A 3rd place from APP in stage 4 was just the start, he added a 2nd place in stage 8. But the big surprise rider was Chevrier. Signed as domestique he showed himself in the breaks in stage 7 and 9. And while he finished 3rd in the latter stage, he and our youngsters Vauquelin and Karatsivis put up a show in stage 7, resulting in Chevrier winning and our Greek loanee taking the final podium spot. The TTs weren’t a success in itself, but as APP didn’t lose too much time there (he actually gained some positions there) he finished 5th in the GC, while Karatsivis got 3rd in the U25 and Chevrier 3rd in the KoM.
Start
End
Race
team goal
results
25-Jan
27-Jan
Hong Kong Challenge
-
stage podium; GC Top 25
The race started great with a 2nd place from Teuns but got progressively worse from there. The TT wasn’t a success (as expected), but Teuns not showing up in the final stage and even losing some time for 21st in GC was kind of a disappointment.
Start
End
Race
team goal
results
30-Jan
Clasico San Jose
-
Top 10
The race profile was quite similar to Gisborne and the result was as well. With APP busy in Venezuela, it was all on Teuns’ shoulders and he finished 8th after another aggressive race from him.
Following our busy (and quite successful) January with 21 RDs in 5 races, February is less busy for us. We only participate in 7 RDs and two races, all in C2.
Start
End
Race
Cat
15.02
20.02
() Volta a Catalunya
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Clement Chevrier
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
Dylan Hopkins
68
68
68
67
69
70
63
61
57
65
66
70
64
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
Reuben Thompson
71
68
66
63
67
71
66
57
67
68
62
73
62
Our first race of the month is in Catalunya and while we’ve got no real chance in the GC regarding the long TTT, we have quite a good squad to contest all the other stages. Russo should be a contestant in the flat stage and maybe in the hilly stages too as they finish flat. APP should be a threat for the hilly stages as well, but we also expect him to attack in the mountain stages (as he’s done all season). Vauquelin, Karatsivis and Chevrier have all been in a couple of breaks this season with the latter two already accumulating a win and another podium from breaks each.
Start
End
Race
Cat
28.02
28.02
Coppa Placci
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
Arman Garibian
68
71
68
69
70
71
73
55
60
69
65
69
69
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
In our second (and last) race of the month we head to San Marino to a race we should be well equipped for, as it’s a hilly C2 classic. Teuns will be our leader here, though Russo could be a threat if the uphill finish won’t be ridden to hard. They are mostly supported by youth riders.
Congrats on a good Tachira! I've the pleasure to be ahead of you in the other races we've been together.
No surprise that we have the same program in February. I do hope we'll be able to make the Coppa Placi hard enough to tire your two punchers, and especially to drop Russo.
Good luck nonetheless, always happy to see our fights. And your team's attacking spirit should again be marvelous in Catalunya!
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
February is over and it’s time to recap the two races of the month.
Start
End
Race
team goal
results
15-Feb
20-Feb
() Volta a Catalunya
-
GC Top 5; stage podium; 3rd in points
The profile of this race was nearly perfect for our riders - if it wasn’t for the long TTT it included. APP had a great start regarding the GC as he gained about half a minute on all other GC captains in the hilly finale, though finishing 4th from a small group was a bit disappointing to be honest. The flat second stage could have been better as Russo wasn’t a factor in the only sprint stage of the race. It was followed by the TTT, which wasn’t a success (as expected) but we were able to reduce our losses to the other GC contenders so APP was still less than 2 minutes down afterwards. Then it came to the mountains where Chevrier showed his skills again in the break and gathered some KoM points (though he wasn’t able to compete for the jersey later on) and though without a chance against the likes of Berhane or Chiarello APP still finished 7th. The next stage was another hilly stage with a flat finish and APP got 3rd there. The final mountain stage surprisingly had no impact to the GC, so APP got another 5th place in a GC (we have finished higher just once in the team history) and a 3rd place in the points classification (the first time we got a podium in this classification), making the race a quite good one in total.
Start
End
Race
team goal
results
28-Feb
Coppa Placci
-
Top 5
Another of the hilly C2 classics where we should do fine, Teuns was our only real threat here and he delivered with a 4th place. This is just a bit tarnished by the fact that a rider with a pretty similar skill set won the race with Bordeaux’ Lafay.
Some rock solid results for you in February, although it's quite some near misses as well. APP could've gotten a stage win in Catalunya, and 4th in GC would have been possible with a more selective final stage, too.
Teuns a bit unlucky to finish behind both Lafay and Grossschartner - on the other hand, beating Eiking couldn't be expected, either. Top 5 in a hilly race is good I'd say
As I said, rock solid so far - but I'm sure you'll also have those races where everything falls into place and you actually get a win! Keep rolling
February was a bit quieter with 7 Rds, but our schedule for March is busier - and it includes two of our goal races with the Tour of the Middle East and GP Izola.
Start
End
Race
Cat
05-Mar
10-Mar
() Vuelta al Pais Vasco
C1
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
Arman Garibian
68
71
68
69
70
71
73
55
60
69
65
69
69
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
Reuben Thompson
71
68
66
63
67
71
66
57
67
68
62
73
62
We start our month in the Basque Country, where - apart from the PCT competition - a TT and a TTT will provide any of our riders from getting a good GC result. So we expect our squad to be ever present in the break and maybe go for the KoM jersey (we’re looking at you, Olivier and Maurits). Depending on how selective stage 2 and 3 are ridden, Russo could get in the mix for a good stage result there as not many sprinters will be at the start.
Start
End
Race
Cat
12-Mar
15-Mar
Tour of the Middle East
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Clement Chevrier
65
75
74
57
69
69
69
50
60
67
77
60
57
Felix Gall
67
77
76
63
70
71
72
58
61
72
70
64
62
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Dylan Hopkins
68
68
68
67
69
70
63
61
57
65
66
70
64
Reuben Thompson
71
68
66
63
67
71
66
57
67
68
62
73
62
Our second race of the month also is our second goal race of the season. We finished 4th in the GC last year with Teuns (still our best GC result to date), so we aim for a GC top 10 and expect this to be our first ever achieved goal as we not only send Teuns but everyone in the team who can climb. The first two flat stages will only be about not losing time, but stage 3 and 4 should see Gall, APP and Teuns going for the stage and GC (and some depth scoring too). It’s probably the race we start with the highest expectations in the entire team history.
Start
End
Race
Cat
17-Mar
20-Mar
Tour of Guadeloupe
C1
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Joris Delbove
64
72
70
58
66
71
72
62
60
67
69
71
58
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Kevin Vauquelin
67
69
64
68
65
69
66
58
68
67
70
70
67
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
We confess: we’re just here because Guadeloupe is officially a part of France and we had no better (i. e. hillier) races left in the planning process. We have no expectations whatsoever for stage results or the GC, but we hope for our riders to be in the breaks and go for the KoM points.
Start
End
Race
Cat
30-Mar
GP Izola
C2
FL
MO
HI
TT
ST
RS
RC
CB
SP
AC
FG
DH
PR
Olivier Le Gac
70
69
77
60
73
74
71
52
64
69
74
73
60
Aurelien Paret-Peintre
72
76
77
72
73
75
73
63
72
74
72
70
72
Zhihui Jiang
72
61
66
65
69
73
72
62
75
75
65
73
79
Maurits Lammertink
73
67
75
65
73
71
72
59
67
67
80
72
67
Daniel Paulus
69
74
77
64
71
68
73
56
62
71
73
67
64
Clement Russo
73
65
73
65
73
73
76
68
76
78
66
64
65
Dylan Teuns
68
75
78
64
73
73
76
50
66
72
70
65
60
Panagiotis Karatsivis
69
72
68
68
70
71
70
60
64
71
71
67
67
We end the month in Slovenia with our next goal race. We told our sponsors we could get into the top 5 here and that should be well possible. We bring last years winner Russo as well as our hills squad with APP, Teuns, Le Gac, Paulus and Lammertink, so a top 5 should not only be possible but the least we’re content with - weren’t it for the fact that about half of the CT has chosen this race as a goal, probably resulting in every puncheur of the division being here.
Good luck for your goal races! Middle East should definitely be a great race for you - at least if the AI behaves more or less like last year, when the puncheurs actually made a difference on stage 3! With APP, Gall and Theuns, you should have three really strong riders for such mid-length climbs - and then it's all about hanging on on the final day, where there will probably be some stronger pure climbers.
Russo indeed is one of the best suited CT riders for Izola, although he should be getting some competition from Lagane & Mayer this time, and maybe Kreder or Grosser. Will be an interesting one, and I really hope that the punchers still have the upside against the pure sprinters with the new engine!
I guess for the C1 races, breakaways are indeed your best bets. KoM hunting should be possible in Pais Vasco (although your puncheurs might lack some skills on the longer climbs), and in Guadeloupe you'd have to hope to get some bonus seconds from breakaways (if possible from U25 riders).
Good luck for the next month!
We'll meet in every race, with more or less the same goals (though my team goal is in Pais Vasco, and not in TOME nor Izola). And for the same reason in Guadeloupe!
Good luck, especially for your strong team in TOME.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
Tour of the Middle East
GP Izola
(
) Volta a Catalunya
Coppa Placci
(
Tour of Guadeloupe
