Written by Canard Solutions B at 23:18 30/5-2024
*Good season*
Team value: 2.216 plus 70 cash
21 riders and 13 staff
Rank is 588th a drop from last year
1 national champs jersey and missed another by 20points
Ranked number one team in Colombia
15 results, 3 wins and a WT result
This season again has seen Canard prove further that they are a dominant contender in rolling sprint parcours. A first time a top the Colombian standings is no mean feat and a total of 15 podiums, 3 wins, a WT podium and the Senegal National Champs jersey is an enviable haul.
But the story of the season was “what could have been”. 10 points off a sprint jersey in Norway, 12 off the Cuban National Champs jersey and 5 second places show how close Canard came to another record breaking season. And shows their increasing ambition with their newly balanced squad.
The results were shared amongst all 3 squads from Fofana 6 results, to the cobbled classics captains of Aguero and Periate who took 7 results including Top 10 results at Coupe Le Soof, Volta Brazil and Turnai-Turnai. This demonstrates the strength and depth have in the points jersey and cobbles classic captains.
However the really breakthrough has been the Cuban Timoteo Jara who has finished his tutelage and emerged as real GC co tender. Season 68 was the youngster’s stagiaire year. His win in South Africa and a third place was not only enough to secure a longer contract but Canard have also begun to build their climbing foundations in support. The additions of Faubion, Opstrup and Sahagun showed Canards commitment to Jara in future seasons, especially given the ages of 26,23,21 respectively.
But this rebalance did not come without sacrifice. But this was another area that Juan has proved himself to be a shrewd coach. To make space for the new GC talent he had to let go of his homegrown TT specialist Mancho Verne. After a win in Season 66, Vermes return had been a sparse 4 top 10s in two season. Verne was a given a final warning and following a spate of poor performances the decision was made to auction him off. The decision was extra difficult as it came in the same season that Hernandez Velasquez retired. This saw the team dip under its self imposed quota of five homegrown riders (half the team Spanish speaking) and will see Canard make moves to address the imbalance in season 69.
Looking ahead to season 69, Juan has made his targets clear. “Fofana and Nez left for a training camp at the beginning of the season and will both enter the season with Top Form. We are hoping this, additional sprint training and the addition of Hernandez in our coaching team will help us bring home those illustrious jerseys.”
He went on to outline three goals:
(1) Fofana will challenge for the sprint classification at the Norway Tour, last season he took a stage win and 3 podiums, narrowly missing the points competition win by 10 points.
(2) Selmo, on the back of his WT wins will go to the Perm Tour, a race he too has had success taking 3rd in the sprint jersey and 5th overall in Season 67.
(3) Finally, as Nez’s retirement looms ever closer, a final attack at the Ukrainian Tour with Top Form will be the final opportunity for him to take home a coveted 3rd jersey. The 33 year old will have his work cut out though, finishing a disappointing 4th last year.
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