It was somber viewing last year seeing the headlines that the heartwarming African team would probably be going under after a third or fourth title sponsor pulled out in the past handful of years. We had seen many teams search for lifeboat sponsors in the past with mixed results: some have survived, some have limped on, some have gone under, and very few have thrived the next year. But could this team perhaps thrive? At the 11th hour, their team principal Doug Ryder secured title sponsorship with the faithful Qhubeka charity who provide bicycles for African children, and Assos the Swiss cycling clothing company. By the time the announcements were made of the team’s future stability last year’s roster had already been severely gutted—to even try to name all who left would be too much and concerns us no longer. The African identity has alas been dissipated and now it is surely an international crew of riders, but all under and love the mission of the team. Perhaps they can forge a new identity together. That classic identity all the smaller teams long for: a winning culture made up of men that punch above their weight because their whole becomes greater than all their parts put together.
One man they luckily kept from last year is the Italian Giacomo Nizzolo, the current Champion of all Europe. The blue stripes and gold stars surely give his jersey more color than the only black and white jerseys of hands the others are wearing. Nizzolo is already off the mark as well, he won the Almeria one-day race. Every win, especially early, will surely help this team build confidence and momentum. Surely the one that shall need the most confidence and momentum rebuilt shall be their new headline GC import: Fabio Aru. All the way back in 2015 he won the Vuelta a Espana and we thought he would surely be Italy’s next perennial Grand Tour star. But alas! His years at UAE were disastrous, and there is no way to sugarcoat that reality. It does not seem Fabio and the team departed on good terms either, but now that era is over. Now he can start on rebuilding his career and love for cycling again with this new team. Over the winter he went back his old Italian Cyclocross stomping grounds, hopping in many races for the fun and training it provides. Shall Fabio be able to resurrect his career with this team? I will be honest, I was never much of a fan, but who does not love a good story of redemption? And I must say, after sure horrible pressure and hype at UAE and having nothing to show for it, truly I would be happy to see Fabio succeed…especially on this team.
To aid Aru and Nizzolo, or on their own best days win themselves, the team has quite an eclectic crew of talent. Hour Recorder Holder Victor Campenaerts is one of the few men to remain from last year, along with the beloved small in stature Italian Domenico Pozzovivo. Australian Simon Clarke has been recruited, and he is a rider I particularly love: surely he the ideal model of a Road Captain, O! very few are wiser bike racers than he! Though I have heard little of Sergio Henao for a few years, since his departure from Team Sky, I’ve always thought him a quality talent. Max Walscheid, Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg, Sander Armee, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Rob Power, Lasse Norman Hansen, Michael Gogl, Harry Tanfield, and Lukasz Wisniowski all seem quality signings in my eyes too. Yes, the charity background and perpetual underdog feel to this team makes me excited about them once again: O! Surely they will make it work! Surely, they will have success. We can only hope, but surely all of us, every one, shall hope.
Cycling Odysseys 