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[CT] Simba Cement – Tanga Fresh
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| Caspi |
Posted on 21-03-2025 10:58
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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The division might already be settled in September, or we could be in dire need of some points. Luckily, there are still a few options left.
Another prologue for Schomber, but the final stage should be too hard for him. Instead, we should probably ride for Carpenter or Dennis in the GC, but it really depends on how the race unfolds.
We also got Page here, in what will be his last race of the season without Zariff, so high expectations in the sprints/points classification.
Well, we have previously announced that Zariff and Nikiema would only ride together twice this season, but we've found two more options where they might supplement each other - one of them here in Plouay.
With the ToA overlap there might be decent opportunities for scoring, so we're excited to see the competition.
The epilogue might be a tad too long for Schomber, but we still have high expectations for him. We've also bought our sprinters, and Mundle to wreck some havoc. |
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| Caspi |
Posted on 24-03-2025 17:14
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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| Race | Goal | Result | | Coppa Placci | Top 5 | 9th | | Tour of the Middle East | Win | 14th | | Tour of Eritrea | top 10 | 98th | | Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt | Win | 11th | | Team Standings | Top 5 | ? |
What a disaster so far. It's probably a good idea to publish the (lack of) progress with our goals, while the sponsors are enjoying some nice results in Uppsala.
Coppa Placci wasn't a complete disaster with Laas at least securing a top 10. In TOME we were close to winning the team classification, but in the end we didn't get much from the race.
Then it got worse... Eritrea was a true shitshow, where the entire team decide to take the last day off and lose more than 15 minutes collectively. Let's try to move on as quickly as possible.
Finally, we have Austria, where Kozhatayev unfortunately didn't have his best race (compared to Vuelta al Tachira & Tour of Vancouver), and finished just outside top 10.
Therefore, we must hesitantly conclude that we have completed zero goals, and three of them were even big misses. However, as stated in the beginning of the season, the sponsors will be satisfied, if we can complete just one goal. And the last goal "top 5 in the team standings" is still possible to accomplish. |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 08-04-2025 15:25
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12193
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1861.50
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Results have improved for the team recently and the promotion push looks on. Too bad the goal races turned out so poorly but maybe you can still get that last one!
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| Caspi |
Posted on 09-04-2025 07:10
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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One can only hope. With recent performances top 5 looks doable.
I guess we should also make an appreciation post for Uppsala, as it's been the best team effort so far in our short history.
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 09-04-2025 08:51
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1368
Joined: 26-04-2020
PCM$: 900.00
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Crazy performances from your team in Uppsala indeed 
Hopefully Zariff can carry his momentum in races like Maroc, Plouay and Amissa Bongo for you. Also Schomber and Dennis is a great combo for these prologues or short TT's.
Best of luck!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| Caspi |
Posted on 13-04-2025 20:07
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Thanks Laurens 
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| Caspi |
Posted on 13-04-2025 20:20
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Uppsala Classic - appreciation post
Rohan Dennis wins the prologue
- Schomber and Kiflay in top 10 as well
Dylan Page wins stage 2
- Zariff makes it a 1-2 and takes the leaders jersey
We defend the lead
- Minali wins the 3rd stage but both Zariff and Page on the podium once again
We celebrate a bit too early
- No one in top 10 on the last stage, but luckily Zariff still won the GC and we bring home the team classification as well
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| Caspi |
Posted on 14-04-2025 21:23
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Last couple of previews for the season 
All-in on Zariff. Barbari and Granigan are available as leadout but might not be strong enough to be valuable. Nikiema and Mundle are welcome to attack towards the end, but they will most likely stay in supporting roles along the three young guns.
Pretty much the same story as Paris Tours honestly. Of course, more points at stake as it's a stage race, but neither Dennis nor Kiflay should be strong enough to challenge the GC, so we will focus on Zariff in the points classification. This time the leadout is even stronger though, with Page replacing Barbari.
This should be a decent race for Nikiema and Smit. Top 5 is the goal, but we can't expect more with the limited support for our leaders. On the other hand, it isn't unlikely that we need some kind of result to secure a promotion spot, so we really need everyone to do their part in October. |
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| Caspi |
Posted on 15-05-2025 13:11
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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August/points review
Better late than never, right? I actually made a draft a couple of weeks ago, but never finished the post, and there has been lots of racing in the meantime. Nevertheless, here's the last adjustment to our expectations for the season (perhaps we can have a look at how well the team has met the expectations after the season, but no more adjustments).
| Name | Expected points (June) | Points scored so far | Adjusted expectations | | Kozhatayev | 250 | 228 | 228 | | Zariff | 100 | 219 | 240 | | Nikiema | 120 | 118 | 140 | | Dennis | 30 | 88 | 100 | | Kiflay | 60 | 60 | 60 | | Page | 70 | 57 | 80 | | Smit | 75 | 52 | 65 | | Carpenter | 80 | 51 | 90 | | Schomber | 150 | 50 | 100 | | Seboka | 20 | 32 | 32 | | Mundle | 50 | 29 | 40 | | Barbari | 40 | 29 | 33 | | Laas | 40 | 25 | 27 | | Manfredi | 30 | 22 | 22 | | Moutsios | 20 | 21 | 21 | | Liphongyu | 5 | 12 | 12 | | Aru | 15 | 7 | 7 | | Granigan | 5 | 3 | 3 | | De Comarmond | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Iradukunda | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | Total | 1160 | 1103 | 1300 |
With more than 1100 points scored with two months left of racing, we need to raise our expectations. We're now aiming for ~1300 points.
One of our top-performers of the season is Kozhatayev who has secured 228 points. He's out of race days now, but overall we're very happy with his results.
We're also pleased with Zariff securing more than 200 points, but he has disappointed the team so many times. Yet, that doesn't matter when you pull your own weight in critical moments (Uppsala).
Nikiema and Dennis are the last important pieces of the puzzle (so far), with Dennis also scoring a lot in Uppsala, whereas Nikiema has scored consistently throughout the season.
Among the mid-tier riders of the team we have Page and Carpenter, who might be able to score a bit higher, but has worked in the shadow of "bigger" riders. On the contrary we also have someone like Kiflay and Smit, who have managed to overperform despite limited freedom.
Lastly, we need to mention Schomber who could use a few more chances to prove himself, and will receive such an opportunity in La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, which is ongoing right now.
The rest of the guys are the glue that holds it all together. Some minor points here and there but mainly working tirelessly as domestiques. If we need to highlight the MVP among the domestiques, we must choose Mundle even though the TTT setup also played a major role in our success this season.
Now it’s time to lock in and secure promotion, as there are still many teams fighting for a spot in the top 5. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 17-06-2025 18:25
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 15-05-2025 14:05
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1368
Joined: 26-04-2020
PCM$: 900.00
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Awesome to see your team in promotion contention. With already some results from Amissa Bongo and the future disbands in mind, I think things are looking very good for you
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| Caspi |
Posted on 19-05-2025 14:59
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Laurens147 wrote:
Awesome to see your team in promotion contention. With already some results from Amissa Bongo and the future disbands in mind, I think things are looking very good for you
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| redordead |
Posted on 20-05-2025 07:26
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5152
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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Awesome to see Zariff deliver when given a proper chance
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Caspi |
Posted on 20-05-2025 09:27
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Indeed! He also has one of the strongest supporting setups in the division - if not the best supporting cast. So I guess it was kind of expected of him
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 20-05-2025 14:38
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3679
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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Great to see you very close to promotion and make African cycling yet even greater! Although we shall never forget one of the main reasons and biggest legends of the MG, Schomber! May he reign in terror in PCT as well.
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| Caspi |
Posted on 22-05-2025 10:56
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Nemolito wrote:
Great to see you very close to promotion and make African cycling yet even greater! Although we shall never forget one of the main reasons and biggest legends of the MG, Schomber! May he reign in terror in PCT as well.
I really hope we can afford to renew him! Last year the riders were very greedy, and we only managed to renew with three of them 
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| Caspi |
Posted on 25-05-2025 15:55
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Talent Development
Inspired by many other great headquarters, we'd also like to showcase the improvement of our youngstars.
| Nat. | Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | Age |  | LM Kulindwa | 67 | 67 | 68 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 68 | 56 | 58 | 68 | 65 | 70 | 59 | 23 | | LM Kulindwa | 67 | 71 | 70 | 64 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 56 | 58 | 71 | 68 | 71 | 59 | 24 |
Big thank you to Bralirwa - Cegeka for taking Kulindwa under their wings for the season. He has improved greatly in the mountains and will likely evolve into a decent domestique.
| Nat. | Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | Age |  | A. De Comarmond | 68 | 62 | 68 | 63 | 67 | 70 | 67 | 58 | 68 | 69 | 62 | 63 | 66 | 22 | | A. De Comarmond | 71 | 62 | 68 | 63 | 68 | 73 | 68 | 58 | 72 | 72 | 62 | 63 | 69 | 23 |
De Comarmond hasn't improved much this season, but we'll send him to the track in the off-season and expect him to develop into a great leadout rider who might get to ride his own chance once in blue moon. Kaden Groves Light if you like. Okay, okay, maybe more like El Sabbahi Light, but he should still be useful soon enough.
| Nat. | Name | FL | MO | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | CB | SP | AC | FG | DH | PR | Age |  | E. Iradukunda | 67 | 64 | 65 | 63 | 67 | 68 | 62 | 63 | 66 | 67 | 69 | 66 | 65 | 23 | | E. Iradukunda | 68 | 64 | 65 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 63 | 63 | 66 | 68 | 70 | 67 | 66 | 24 |
Iradukunda has mainly worked on his fighting abilities this season, but unfortunately it looks like we'll part ways soon. Hopefully another (African) team can pick him up - and who knows, maybe he'll ride in our colors again someday.
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| Caspi |
Posted on 06-06-2025 12:50
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Season Review
We've been reviewing and adjusting our expectations throughout the season, and now it's time to conduct the final evaluation. Before we get into it, we also want to mention that all wins from this season have been added to our results page (post #5).
| Name | Expected points | Points scored | | Zariff | 200 | 280 | | Kozhatayev | 100 | 228 | | Schomber | 150 | 156 | | Page | 100 | 110 | | Carpenter | 100 | 105 | | Dennis | 55 | 141 | | Nikiema | 65 | 126 | | Barbari | 50 | 30 | | Kiflay | 30 | 67 | | Manfredi | 50 | 22 | | Laas | 50 | 30 | | Seboka | 25 | 32 | | Smit | 50 | 65 | | Liphongyu | 15 | 12 | | Granigan | 30 | 3 | | Moutsios | 5 | 21 | | De Comarmond | 5 | 0 | | Iradukunda | 0 | 0 | | Aru | 10 | 7 | | Mundle | 50 | 31 | | | | | Total | 1140 | 1466 |
You'd normally applaud the top scorer, but in fact we're not happy with Zariff's season. Some of his poor performances comes down to his manager and team planning, but overall, his season is saved by some crazy strong teammates and a bit of luck. Still, 280 points is more than we had expected and must be considered very satisfactory.
Kozhatayev, on the other hand, has been performing greatly both with the help of the team but also on his own, as we witnessed in Vuelta al Tachira in the beginning of the season. Stellar season from our GC captain.
Schomber, Page, and Carpenter all pretty much rode as expected, however, Page could probably score even higher if given more freedom. If he extends with the team, we can hopefully give him some more chances to prove himself.
Then we have Dennis and Nikiema who both outscored the managers prediction greatly. 65 points for Nikiema was probably lowballing it, but he does lack some top power and consequently has a hard time reaching the podium even in CT races. Dennis was also lacking the top power from former glory in most races, but a few top performances in Uppsala and Amissa Bongo means he was the biggest positive surprise this season.
Lastly, I want to highlight Kiflay and Smit who managed to score 50+ points even though they were mostly riding as domestiques. I hope we can find a spot for them in the roster next season, but it will be difficult for Kiflay as he isn’t getting younger.
Overall, the team has outscored the expectations with more than 300 points which is a huge accomplishment. This also means that the African Lions will promote to PCT after just 2 seasons. The sponsors are thrilled with the promotion and has promised a large budget next season despite only completing 1 out of 5 objectives this season  |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 06-06-2025 23:05
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3626
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Congrats on promotion. The team was really balanced which helps keep the points flowing. Thanks for looking after Granigan, sorry he didn't find the opportunity to meet his points target.
Got some upgrades needed in transfers for PCT survival.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| Caspi |
Posted on 07-06-2025 09:21
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Domestique
Posts: 562
Joined: 22-09-2022
PCM$: 13300.00
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Thanks for loaning Granigan to us! He didn't score as many points as we had hoped, nor did he play a big role in the sprint trains, but he joined the team at a critical moment in the transfer season and played a small part in tons of races
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 07-06-2025 09:29
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1368
Joined: 26-04-2020
PCM$: 900.00
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Congrats with the promotion, very well done!
Impressive depth in your CT squad. I hope you can get the right pieces in to have a good season in PCT. All the best!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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