September 2024
17,400 points resulted in the next Division 1 victory for A&D. In September, the team participated in 28 races, winning 9 races (6x Krausz, Rella, Obst, Oppenheimer). The month was dominated points wise by the end of the vuelta a espana, where Krausz won 5 stages, the GC and the points classification. Rella could win the GP de Quebec, where our team went for the 3 way strategy (Escape, early Rella, final Oppenheimer). While this sucky strategy was successfully, our tempo in peloton for Drinfeld strategy at Montreal was not. He could only finish 5th after a hard race. In the end tour of Luxembourg saved us the division win without a stage win but a white jersey for Baltuska, 3rd place in GC for Baltuska and the team classement. We also started on top of division 1 in the beginning of October.
Rider of the month
Rella with his first big win is our rider of the month. Usually the stats would speak for Krausz, but the Vuelta group this year just was not competitive and Rella die score good points at both Canadian Classics winning a cat 5 race. Krausz equalized the wins at one GT record from Velasco was not good enough this time.
Transfers
Early in the month, Yann LeCun retired. He was a very good helper for Krausz during his Giro and Vuelta win. He could rarely ride for his own success. In 156 races he earned 1,161 eternal points and no palmares entry. He came closest to it during an escape at December Tour 2023 (second place).
Yann LeCun, 35y, 156r, 1,161 points
Bought: 48-67-76-47-53 50reg
Peak: 68-72-76
Another rider, James Watt, retired late in the month. He had the Watts, he was a good flat rider with good sprint skills. He was used as blocker and first one in our spritn trains, as a late escaper in flat races and as a leader in medium hard pave races. He was more important as a helper and just could win 1 race himself, the offseason classic Dolisie - Point Nore. At Tour of Namibia, he could get on the GC podium with a third place. In 251 races he collected 2,248 points.
James Watt, 39y, 251r, 1 win, 2,248 points
Bought: 47-74-76-55-64 67,1 41reg
Peak: 49-89 with 66 sprint and 77,6 pave
With Younès Banane and Bartholomäus Most, the team will be strenghtened in hilly pave and hilly races. Banane is our hope for the hilly pave classics in 2025, Most will be our hilly money sprinter for 2025 and should diversify our hilly sprint squad around Fanta.
Younès Banane, 21y
Bought: 56-72-52-48-43 75 50 reg
Goal: 65-85 with high pave
Bartholomäus Most, 21y
Bought: 55-75-56-46-66-69,5 41 reg
Goal: 70-80 with 70 sprint