Today hills specialist Kluivert and sprinter Lebrun were sold, what is a big quality-loss, also and already in this Tour Down Under.
These transfers caused at 1am that my team moved up from place 50 to place 27 in 1A, so I have no longer the poorest 1A team.
Also I needed the space (in my always too full team), although I bought 2 other cyclists at the same moment ;
Valotti (30, gold tour) for just 2,1 M. High ranked ( and i.mo. overrated ) as nr 93 due to his good TT skill.
Because although he can climb and ride hills, both skills are not strong. And he has just a little cobbleskill aside and no sprint skill.
He can ride the TDU to get in topform, but his future in my team is uncertain. Maybe he will be just a helper, or maybe he will be sold soon.
After testing Valotti in Paris Nice, his future will be more clear.
Walker (35, silver hills + little sprint) ; an "investment" of 21k to give this 14x Australian international a joyfull, dignified end of his career.
He is very delighted to ride for my team, because it is the first time ever that he is riding in division 1A.
A great way for him to say goodbye to cycling after this highest level TDU in his own country.
No pressure, because I have no expectations that he can score points. But he is extra motivated now, so maybe he surprises me.
selection
SPORTLIFEThe goals for this not good, poor selection are :
Rubiera for good results in hills stages 1 and 2.
And Millan should score a few points in stage 4, the time trial.
71
Rubiera ( 25 ), hills
72
Millan ( 33 ), TT
73
Raymond ( 31 ), hills
74
Walker ( 35 ), hills + little sprint
75
Valotti ( 30 ), xp / form
stage 1 TDU ; 28º
Rubiera A very bad start of the season. Unexpectedly Rubiera dropped in s2, what messed up the tactics.
In previous season he finished as 7º in this same stage 1 TDU ( with the same not-topform and the same tactic ).
The much less good helper was not the reason of the s2 drop, because helper Raymond stayed in the front groups of s1, s2 and s3.