In the WorldTour, the end of the season meant relegation for two teams. Both Vacansoleil, which will next year be sponsored by ING, and Euskaltel relegated. Since only Europcar was interested in promotion, the WorldTour will consist of 18 teams again next season. The ProContinental division will consist of 20 teams, including newly promoted teams Ceramica Flaminia, La Pomme and Nippo, but excluding the relegated CCC, Bretagne, Champion System and Novo Nordisk. These 4 will ride in the continental division next season.
Finally, some teams saw new sponsors and names appearing. BMC has been replaced by Exxonmobil-Geberit, and should have one of the largest budgets now. Vacansoleil changed to ING in the ProContinental division, and Caja Rural turned into La Caixa. In the Continental division, Projob-Odfjell lost Projob as main sponsor, which was replaced by Ecover. An Post changed its main sponsor into GUNK, Øster Hus into Norheim, 4-72 Colombia into Coldeportes, and Synergy Baku turned into Dukla. Leopard broke its ties with Radioshack and turned into the independent Jost Group team.
Projob-Odfjell rider of the year
That's up to you. Each person can send me 2 nominations, just two, no more, in PM. PM. It can be any rider except your own, who rides or has ridden for the team. The deadline will be announced tomorrow. The eventual winner will be presented at the 2014 team presentation.
@The Rider: Indeed, especially with all our leaders gone. Even half as good next season would be satisfying @sutty: Indeed! @the_hoyle: Thanks a lot!
Activity Check
Maybe the easiest job for the managers of riders to do. All you have to do is send me a name of your rider through PM. This only goes for riders currently on the team. For these reasons, Ian Butler, Shonak and TheManxMissile are exempt. For being active enough throughout the season I've decided to exempt Ollfardh, The Rider, nacho63 and mvhoogdalem as well.
Your deadline is exactly one week from now, and the same goes for the nominations of rider of the year.
I'm the same as Luigi. I have confirmed Pieter via PM, but it is your decision on whether I am active enough. I am not going to vote on RoY either as I joined late in the season
Since I didn't get any new PMs, I've opened up applications again. The team will consist of 16 riders next season, and currently consists of just 12. That leads to 4 new applications. These 4 new riders must consist of two Belgians and a Dutchman, and one free choice. Year of birth can vary from 1994 to 1995. Anyone who does currently not have a rider in the team can join. To join, all steps have to be fulfilled. Failing to do so in time will result in someone else taking your position. Otherwise applications will be first-come, first-serve.
The first step is quite simple. Take the application form below, fill it in and post it in this thread. Obviously your highest stat needs to match your specialty. I don't want cobblers with MO has highest stat. Your highest stat will be 67 if from '94 or 65 if from '95 as max. You may request lower than that though. Feel free to be detailed in your specialty, as this may result in the rider ending up more as you wish.
First Name: Last Name: Length: Weight: Nationality + Region (if applicable): Date of Birth: Specialty: Highest Stat : Short Biography:
The second step should not be too hard either. As soon as I notice your application, I will send you a PM with two other stats. One of these will be one lower than your highest, the other will be two lower. If you have requested a lower highest stat, one of the other stats can be equal to your highest. You respond me, in one PM, with the following: the stat you wish to be second-highest and third-highest (from the list I sent!), and you also send me three numbers. The first number may vary from 1 to 26, while the other two will vary from 1 to 5. For fulfilling this step you have 48 hours after my PM or the spot will open up again. Until then it's reserved for you.
After applications are closed again, every rider may send me two peak races. This is not mandatory, but otherwise I will make my own choices based on my own ideas, and maybe you won't like them then. The team presentation, which includes the new jersey, will follow, probably a few days, after all spots have been taken.
Also, please note that any invalid application made here will be completely ignored, as will applications sent through PM.
Edited by Selwink on 14-02-2015 11:10
I'm pretty stupid, sending it through pm. but I was trying to get it done as fast as possible.
First Name: Sylvain
Last Name: Lipawsky
Length: 165 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Nationality + Region (if applicable): Switzerland - French Speaking
Date of Birth: 17/ 06 / 1994
Specialty: Punchy Climber
Highest Stat : Mountain
Short Biography: Sylvain is a young rider, who comes from a family with a huge cycling background, with his father being an amateur cyclist and his younger brother a strong cyclist, Sylvain always trained in the Swiss Alps with his friends and has an attacking punch.
Dammit trek stole the free choice!
First Name: Milan
Last Name: Listerijn
Length: 163
Weight: 62
Nationality + Region (if applicable): Belgium (Flanders)
Date of Birth: 24/11/1995
Specialty: Hilly Sprinter
Highest Stat : Acceleration
Short Biography: Milan grew up on CX, CX and a little bit of road. But once he realised he didn't have the extra special something, he turned his attention to its mainstream partner, road racing. A punchy sprinter who can turn a decent wheel on cobbles, never count him out.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
but I was trying to get it done as fast as possible.
