Synergy Baku Cycling Project ready for 2015
By Amina Nazarli
The Synergy Baku Cycling Project is ready to tackle the 2015 season – the biggest season of its young life.
The team’s biggest goal this year is to qualify Azerbaijan for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
To achieve this, the team has been structured in such a way as to help its young riders to improve on their personal development and ready themselves for the first-ever European Games held in Baku this June.
Azerbaijan‘s only professional cycling team - which held a Continental license from the International Cycling Federation UCI - officially presented the 2015 roster in the Lujbljana Castle, (Slovenia) on February 24. The Slovenian capital has been Azerbaijan's cycling team's home training base since January 1, 2015.
“We are looking forward to a big year and I am sure that the riders are as highly motivated as the staff is,” said team manager David McQuaid. “Our goals in 2015 are to bring in more wins, help our young riders to develop and to qualify Azerbaijan for the 2016 Rio Olympics.”
There are 14 riders on the team this year. Sprinter Maksym Averin leads the
Azerbaijani contingent, supported by Samir Jabrayilov, Tural Isgandarov, and national road and time trial champion Elchin Asadov. They have been joined by Enver Asanov and Ismail Iliasov, who signed up with the team last summer, and newcomer Elgun Alizada. Although Aqshin Ismayilov will concentrate on mountain biking the athlete will also do some road racing.
These eight riders are joined by six international teammates. Markus Eibegger, who brought in two wins for the team last year, returns for another year as does Alex Surutkovych.
The four newcomers were especially sought out for their experience and ability to bring success to the team. Dennis van Winden joins the team to help prepare sprints for Averin, and veterans Matej Mugerli and Ioannis Tamouridis will share their experience with young riders. Alex Pliuschin, who won the Sharjah Cycling Tour at the end of 2014 season, will look to improve on his successes with the team.
The team has already opened its season at the GP Laguna Porec (UCI 1.2.9) in Croatia on February 15, with a series of races in Croatia and then Slovenia.
Another contingent of the team will head to Asia, starting with the Hors Class Tour de Langkawi on March 8-15 and the Tour de Taiwan on March 22-26. The team will look to consolidate on its successes there.
Tamouridis was second overall in last year’s Tour de Taiwan.
Those are only the first races the team will compete in as the season kicks off.
The first highlight will be the homeland Tour d’Azerbaijan which will be held on May 6-10, with many riders also hoping to take part in the first-ever European Games, to be held in Baku in June. These games feature road, track and mountain biking events.
The team has said to be grateful to its full range of commercial sponsors and suppliers, which provided the team with everything from bikes and all other necessary equipment such as helmets and sunglasses.
A special thanks goes to the Synergy Group, an Azerbaijan’s investment company with the motto “For a better future”, as well as the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation for their strong support.
Synergy Baku Cycling Project for 2015: Elgun Alizada, Elchin Asadov, Enver Asanov, Maksym Averin, Markus Eibegger, Ismail Ilyasov, Tural Isgandarov, Aqshin Ismayilov, Samir Jabrayilov, Matej Mugerli, Alexandr Pliuschin, Oleksandr Surutkovych, Ioannis Tamouridis and Dennis van Winden.
Tomaz Poljanec, Sport Director
“I know that we can reach our goals if we work together as a team -- one for all and all for one. For me the team spirit is very important. It is only as friends and colleagues who help each others that we will reach the best results.”
Matej Mugerli
“I am very happy to be with this team. This an opportunity for me to teach the young Azeri riders and pass along my experience. I hope to help them develop into successful professional riders. I am proud to be a part of the Synergy Baku Cycling Project! Of course, I am also proud – as the Slovenian national road champion -- to be, within this team, representing my homeland.”
Markus Eibegger
“It is good that the season has started. So far the whole team has done two training camps and everybody is prepared perfectly for this important year. We all know that it is all about the Olympic qualification. Everybody will do their best to succeed. The young guys still have a lot to learn but during the year they will surely develop into accomplished cyclists. Samir has already shown how fast you can improve and compete with the best u23 riders in Europe!”
Alexandr Pliuschin
“This is going to be a great year! I am sure that I can bring in some wins! I am also sure that I can help the team with its goals. We will qualify Azerbaijan for the Rio Olympics! I am impressed with the young riders and I will do all I can to help them keep on developing.”
Elchin Asadov
“This year we are faced with some important goals! First of all, the Tour d’Azerbaidjan, and then the Baku EuroGames 2015. And the most important thing is to earn the qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics. I am confident that we will do everything we can to achieve all needed results.”
Dennis van Winden
“Lets make 2015 a successful year starting with qualifying for the Olympics in Rio.”
David McQuaid, Team Manager
“We are looking forward to a big year and I am sure that all the riders are as highly motivated as the staff is. Our goals in 2015 are to bring in more wins, help the young riders to develop and to qualify Azerbaijan for the 2016 Rio Olympics.”
Andrej Hauptman, Sport Director
“Our main goal is to qualify Azerbaijan for the Olympics. My main job is to support the young riders here in Slovenia. For me, it is a great pleasure to be part of this big project, and I’m sure that the riders and staff will pay back with results.”
Maksym Averin
“I am looking forward to the coming season because we have a strong team which can compete well and help Azerbaijan cycling achieve its goals. For me this season is all about qualifying Azerbaijan for the Olympics and obviously winning some races o the way. With Andrej, Jeremy and Tomaz, we know the young Azerbaijanis will be well looked after.”