The colorful EF-EasyPost has been a permanent presence in the group for years and has no intention of falling asleep. The pink team is building the future with a new roster of young riders. After his stormy entrance, Ben Healy is considered the prototype of the driver who should embody the EF identity.
With a bit of chauvinism, the Flemish cyclist says that the cycling year only really begins with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Jonathan Vaughters will not have defended that position in 2023. His post on EF Education-Easy helped the team get into the winning position on the eve of the Omloop.
So? What is especially striking is the fact that EF was already in double figures (10 wins) at the start of the Belgian debut weekend because already at that stage of the season the pink brigade had done better than in the whole of 2022.
Then Vaughters’ team was stuck with only 9 wins, by the end of 2023 there were 26 pink lines.
A big leap forward, although you don’t have to be a math whiz to realize that the engine started to sputter noticeably after the early risers in January and February.
Figurehead Rigoberto Uran says goodbye after the Games.
With its T-shirts and other frills, EF-EasyPost would like to profile itself as an outsider and this is also noticeable among the cyclist base. How many nationalities can you keep on board? Almost all continents are represented.
But gradually a change is visible. EF has long lived on furniture like Alberto Bettiol and Rigoberto Uran.
They certainly still have their (advertising) value, but they are not the place for victories. After the Games, Uran also looks the other way (as he did in London) and says goodbye to Paris.
A rejuvenation treatment was needed and the ideal locomotive was found in Ben Healy. The Irish Urbanus was the revelation of the climbing classics.
Healy is extremely generous with his strength and doesn’t shy away from marathon efforts. At the Giro that approach was rewarded, but in the autumn the ammunition was less effective.
You would think that Healy, still only 23, could make better use of his talent with a little more tactical ingenuity, but internally the Irishman is considered a benchmark for emerging youngsters and is practically the personification of the discussion squad at EF Freedom and impetuosity as a basis.
It’s not that the international mix is outlawed, but EF doesn’t like the tight straitjacket that dominates other teams at all. This approach sometimes pays off, but sometimes it also ends up destroying you.
The big names have to fix something
The Irish enclave will certainly triple in size and the new names create many expectations.
Connoisseurs of the promising circuit know that Archie Ryan (22) and Darren Rafferty (20) are expected to have very bright futures.
With Markel Beloki (yes, Joseba’s son) and Lukas Nerurkar the youth card is also being played, even if Rui Costa is the one excluded at 37 years old.
The former Portuguese world champion will have to shape young people, a role that from now on Magnus Cort will take on in a Scandinavian context at Uno-X.
The Dane is the most notable departure, along with the retired Jens Keukeleire, another custodian of culture.
Another guardian of EF culture disappears with Magnus Cort.
Richard Carapaz could not make any progress in 2023.
“We have a good mix,” says sporting director Charly Wegelius. “Some riders are getting close to their peak, some are at their peak and there is a new wave.”
“It’s been a long time since we had such a young team. We are optimistic because we believe in them.”
“I see a group that can surprise from the beginning to the end of the season,” says CEO Vaughters. “This is a dynamic group with an offensive mentality.”
“We have a lot of young people and that motivates us. It also gives a lot of responsibility to the staff and the experienced riders.”
- Biggest loss: Of all the fresh blooded youngsters, Magnus Cort would have been an ideal pacer, but the Dane will take over that role at Uno-X. An older man was called in to replace Rui Costa.
- Striking: no fewer than 16 nationalities are represented in this team. This should lead to interesting conversations at the table.
- revelation: is Irish cycling thriving? After Ben Healy there is now Darren Rafferty, also only 20 years old. The golden boy of Axel Merckx’s training team prevails in one-day work and stage races. Our follow spot is ready.
Newcomers Rui Costa (of) Intermarket-Circus-Wanty Michael Valgren (then) EF-EasyPost Devo Harry Sweeny (Aus) Lotto-Dstny Archie Ryan (Year) Jumbo-Visma Devo Darren Rafferty (Year) Hagens Berman Axeon Jack Rootkin -Gray ( GBr) Saint Piran Lukas Nerurkar (GBr) Trinity Garden Christiaan der Lee (Down) Willebrord Yuhi Todome (Jap) EC-EasyPost Devo Markel Beloki (Spa) MMR Transporter Magnus Cort (The) Uno-X Mark Padoen (Oak) Corratec Julius from the mountain (Down) DSM-Company PostNL Diego Camargo (Col) Oil Jonathan Caicedo (Ecu) Oil Jens Keukeleire stops Merhawi Kudus (Eri) ? Strange Christian Eiking (Noo)? James Shaw (GBr) ? Tom Scully (NZl) ? Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) ?
2024-01-01 09:10:38
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