Every single day we have surprises in OCM. That’s why it’s such an interesting World. If you were hearing the broadcast from OCM Chat yesterday you would catch one of those moments from OCM! During the day 22 from the 19th Season, Avery Nijholt, Greenride and Equipe Hollandia were on everyone's lips. A super transfer had been made! Avery moved from Greenride to Equipe Hollandia for an astonishing price of 1.200k! Many said that the multimillionaire transfer from Matthias Drejbo from Telek@m to Gradient Levellers (900k) would never be beaten. In fact back then it was considered almost as an offence to the riders itself as they were seen almost as objects instead of people.
Some started to say Nijholt would underperform and be considered the most underachieving rider of the season (Bywater CT). “Insane figure. I would be very surprised if this ever gets broken.” – said the team director from NECFTW. But Michieltje on the other hand pointed the finger to the rules book: “"Actions that are too beneficial for other teams are considered as cheating and such actions are to be used with caution.”. Well we know that some Managers must have overreacted and we were even informed that one manager from an unknown team in the 8th division even had a heart attack. Thank God he’s ok now. Some Managers like Justin Boonstra were sure that the transfer will never be profitable for Equipe Hollandia. But hey, Equipo Hollandia has now one of the best riders we have ever seen! Some managers like johny tried to look to the more positive side of the transfer for Equipe Hollandia. “On the other hand you (Equipo Hollandia) can win Cymru (dragon shirt) and Essex. Winning 2 jerseys is 2 more than Greenride.”
There are important moments in OCM. And in all of them we can see an OCM Magazine pundit taking notes. This pundit decided to make some questions to the more famous (from the moment) Managers in OCM. Here we go:
Interview to Team Manager Raimundas from Greenride
PUNDIT - Why did you sell Avery Nijholt?
Raimundas - Avery had achieved a lot in our team, he has won a lot. He shot us into top ranks of OCM. He even made it to being nr. 1 in OCM ranks! That resulted in a lot of interest of other teams. Bids were getting higher and higher and reached the level that both us as a team and Avery himself could no longer refuse to accept.
P - How was A.N. live in Portugal?
R - He was pretty happy. He started out with some homesickness. We fixed that with bringing in some fellow British riders over the past seasons. E.g. Clive Steadman and Avery's granny's dog Huskie were contracted to comfort him. He loved the sunny weather as well, although it turned his pale skin red as a lobster.
P - Was A.N. happy on your team?
R - He was very happy. He was our absolute captain. He could race the program he wanted to race, he had some of the best lead outs in the OCM tour. Many sprinters would dream of having David Pires and Óscar Balsemão as their lead outs. And it paid off, he got the results we were hoping for.
P - Was there some type of conflict between any member inside your team and A.N.?
R - What are you insinuating here? There's nothing to report on.
P - What about now? Can you tell me some of your future plans? Who will be the replacement from A.N.?
R - We've decided to set up a climbers department within the team. With our now very broad budget we figured out we can set up a complete team of which we hope it can compete on top division level.
Our most remarkable signing is Godo Figueirodo of WalrusPT. He's a young incredible climber with aspirations to flame in the toughest climbing races and in tours. Above that we signed Theofilus Harding. He's a very experienced and more allround rider. In some races he might be chosen captain above Godo. The third rider we signed sis Garth Duncan, a very good climber with good sprinting abilities. The next arrival is Luan Zhanpeng, an experienced team mate. We fancied him for his good downhill and hill skills. The fifth rider we brought in is Aldridge Flater. Yes, our Yankee is back. | | He was about to get on a side track at Lastplace1414 because of the team's changing focus. When we heard about that we did not hesitate to inform about it and it was done deal very quickly. The last but not least rider to complete the climbing outfit is Augusto Lousã, a very young home country rider. He's an allround teammate, with even good skills on the flat roads.
Altogether we are very happy with all of these new signings. We think they are great riders with all complementary skills to each other.
The plan with the team is to ride the famous climbing races, the classics and the tours. The first stop will be Vuelta with a pure climbing team. Godo will be our captain. Essex is on the agenda and of course Germany Tour if we make it. The line for these tours is not decided yet, but probably will be a full climbing outfit as well. The sprinters will go to Nederlandse Tour, with the goal to finally grab that GC.
P - Losing the Red Lobster must have been real terrible to you? How do you see your team's future?
R - Losing the Red Lobster is a loss, absolutely. But things come as they come, and we have to look ahead. And looking at the plans we just unfolded and our latest signings, you have to agree our future is looking bright.
Interview to Team Manager gwk from Equipe Hollandia
PUNDIT - Biggest ever transfer in OCM. How do you feel about it?
GWK - I'm happy with that. Seen your name in the big history of OCM is a great honor.
P - A.N. costed you all the money you ever had. How do you think you'll survive in the near future?
G -I will take another sabbatical season at the lower divisions (7-9). Maybe for one or two seasons, I will earn money and build up a new sprint(hill)eam.
P - You made a real big pressure to bring A.N. to your team. Is there any personal reason for that?
G - Of course, Avery is an awesome guy. I met him at the Dutch tour last year, we talked about everything. In real life the hill-races (Goldrace, LBL, La Flèche Wallonne) are fantastic.
P - All the team received A.N. in the airport today. How do you feel he will adapt inside your team?
G - Yeah last wednesday, at 11 past 9, in the evening anyone (riders, staff, fans etc.) was at the airport. Everyone was cheering when Avery passed the custom officials. Later on there was a big party and anyone was happy.
P - The past team from A.N was in the Top Division. Right now you're in the Zyte Division. Do you think A.N. will try as hard and will have the same passion as before?
G - Avery will be the captain each race. He said: "I will flame in each race. I will kick anyone's ass (especially Anghel) and win some jerseys.
P - This transfer was so expensive to you 1.200k don't you think you could have some more riders as interesting as A.N with that amount of money?
G - Nope, Avery is awesome, huge, big, fantastic, great etc.. In mine opinion he's one of the best riders of OCM.
P - Future plans?
G - I will build up a new (hill)sprintteam.
Future goals: Tour-win Cymru, Essex & Dutch tour.
We also allowed some interested managers to ask these 2 managers some questions. Here we go:
To Raimundas:
johny2 - With this huge cash injection do you think you can challenge EEO top spot?
RAIMUNDAS - I doubt it. The gap is big. Teams like EEO, Whalers etc have more than double value and double OCM points. It's more the race tactics and planning in which I could bridge some difference, and that's the challenge.
nonnies - Greenride , what numbers did you pick to win the OCM lotto?
R - I picked a 1, a 2 and a double zero.
Bywater CT - Raimundas, do you think this transfer doesn't break OCM
| | Rule #3 (the one about actions too beneficial for one side of the deal)? Did Nijholt really increase his value by over 500k despite aging nearly two years?
R - First of all defining his price was a matter of market value, what are buyers prepared to pay. Aside from that I made some calculations to validate. Nijholt made a total cost me 765K. 680K transfer price, 25K in training him and 60K for TT centering him. He's been racing 1,5 season for me, winning around 225K in price money, an average of 150K per season. He's made 25 results in the past 2 seasons, which increases his RV with 50K, an average of 25K per season. Perspectively in total he would make me 175K in value per season, for 6-7 seasons ahead. His RV would be over 400K in the end.
Did Nijholt really increase his value by over 500k despite aging nearly two years?
If others are prepared to pay for it: yes. When I bought Nijholt for 700K I got comments that was far too expensive. The teams I by then outbid have told me afterwards they regretted not having gone deeper to get him.
An addition on a side note: this is my declaration why I decided to sell Nijholt for 1,2 mio. The question could also be asked to Equipe Hollandia why he is prepared to pay that amount. And who of us would have refused that bid?
NightmareChaos - Will it happen again?
R - Will what happen again? Oh well, yes it will. History always repeats itself.
To gwk:
Anonymous - Why have you ruined Nijholt's life, he's scared of Dutchmen?
G - This is a question for Avery. Avery: "Scared of Dutchmen? Shut the fuck off. I like them, anyone. The Dutch people are awesome. Take a look on the airport last wednesday, anyone was cheering. For me! In England nobody will cheer for me..."
Anonymous - Is Nijholt religious?
G - Yes, he is a member of the Anglican church. Avery: "The religion is very important for me, I get extra strength and wisdom for the races."
Team Revolutie:
- Has you lost his mind?
G -No, for me it's a cycling game, not an economical/financial game. I like the game as it is; racing. buying and selling guys etc. At the moment I've fun with the big deal, also I didn't lost my mind :).
- How does Nijholt feel about being transferred to a weaker team?
G - Avery: "Ofcourse Equipe Hollandia is a weaker team at this moment. But (more important) this team has a great manager, take a look at Spiridon Apetri. For me is the manager more important than the support. Take a look at Spiridon Apetri, GWK made from a 'normal rider' a great division 1 captain. Also I'm very happy with my team and manager.
- Will the Red Lobster be the new sponsor of Equipe Hollandia?
G - Nope, the Red Lobster won't be the new sponsor of Equipe Hollandia.
Drapeau Noir:
- gwk, don't you think you're giving an unfair advantage to Greenride?
G - Nope, for me 1.2 million is a normal price for this incredible guy. Anyone knows Avery is a collector's item, and he's worth more than a million.
- gwk, do you realize how many seasons a good team needs to earn so much money?
G - Of course, but that isn't important in this case. I like Avery so much, the big price isn't important for me. Fun that's important, I've more fun with Avery and a little cash.
scuppernong:
- Do you think Nijholt will stay at Equipe Hollandia for the rest of his career?
G - Ofcourse, Nijholt will stay at Equipe Hollandia until his retirement. Release Nijholt isn't an option.
- Do you think Nijholt can follow in the footsteps of Chris Dell, by being an Englishman winning the most prestigious sprinting race-Norwich-London?
G - Yeah, I'm sure he will. But Norwich-London isn't the biggest goal for Avery.
NightmareChaos -Will it happen again?
G - No.
Written by pundit Yuri from Yuri SuperTeam to OCM Magazine
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