Olympic TT

Van Garderen and Kwiatkowski don't appear on the start list up on cyclingfever. I'd suggest you missed Menchov and Brajkovic from Tier 3?

The confusing thing is that the Cycling Fever list is different from some other lists. Anybody have a definitive list?

I predict there will be a lot of identical teams for the TT, so I wouldn't be surprised if the highest score is shared by more than one person - which concerns me a bit because I've already made quite a lot of transfers (I just can't help myself ).

The key to winning may very well be picking the rider who finishes last. I'm completely serious. That's 10 points for a (probably) super cheap rider. It's just... which obscure rider to pick...

I very much doubt Canc will be riding and I've got for something different in my team, I'm not going for all the normal riders

The obvious tactics seem to be either pick three of the top 4 (Wiggins, Froome, Cancellara, Martin) and see who else you can afford (Rogers, Bauer etc) or pick a more balanced team with some quality DSs and only one or two top stars.

Assuming you get the balance right and pick the right cheaper Stars/DSs then I reckon the second option will score more but option 1 is potentially less risky.

Don't discount Vinokourov or Boom for top 10 places at least and it looks like only 38-40 starters so half of the riders will score.

Ignore what I said, I just worked out that if you pick 1, 2, 3 you get a total of 120 points. If you pick 4 - 10 you get 116. Clearly, picking the first three then a a few others in the top 10 is the way to go so I think I'll be loading up on expensive stars.

Id like to think all but one of my riders have the potential to top 10 and should come inside the top 20. All my stars should top 10 when you look at recent form/the size of the field.

Cancellara confirmed he will be on the startline

Between Cancellara's crash and Martin's recent injuries is there anyone who can take on Wiggins? What's your in theory top 5?

Wiggins, Cancellara, Froome, Martin, Sanchez?

I think the top 5 would be, Wiggo, Froome, Cancellara, Sanchez, Brajkovic

BUT, I'd like to see, Froome, Wiggo, Sanchez, Larsson, Albasini

Froome or Tejay, Froome or Tejay, Froome or Tejay...

Is Tejay even racing? I thought it was just Phinney?

He is or he isn't, depending on where you look. for now i've left him in.

Velonews just posted this 2 hours ago: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/london-olympics-time-trial-p...

It has Tejay on the startlist, as well as Kwiatkowski (who was another one left off the cyclingfever list.

As for top 5, I'll go:

Wiggins
Froome
Sanchez
Phinney (almost hurts to write this... if he finishes 4th twice the kid may never recover with how he looked after the road race)
Martin

As far as i know Tejay and Kwiatowski are not riding, based on what was said when the teams were announced...

If Tejay rides then he's in my team. If he doesn't ride then that'll probably help my team as he's not cheap

He's not listed here, but then again either is Wiggo, seems to be around 5-8 riders missing

Random fact, Did you know that LL Sanchez's brother plays for Real Madrid? I didn't

RIGHT, conclusive evidence that TVG will NOT be doing the TT

http://www.usacycling.org/usa-cycling-announces-2012-olympic-team.htm

What about EBH, damn good tt'er.

EBH is to expensive and not good enough to make top 5/6

So value for points he isn't worth it, He'll be one of the most unpicked riders this season I think

Correct, As I posted up a bit, Phinney is USA's only rider and Maciej Bodnar is Poland's in the TT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics#Cycling

Quickstep list their riders here aswell

http://omegapharma-quickstep.com/en/news/show/opqs-ready-for-the-2012-lo...

Anyone you want me to check out.....lol

HI al has anyone got any spare tickets for the TT pburgoine@gmail.com
Thanks Paul

He's worth it in stage races that start with a TT/Prologue then have a few hilly sprints to follow AND when he's not used as a super-domestique as in the TDF.

In fairness EBH was worth picking for the first 4 days of the TdF, decent prologue result, hilly finish, flat lead-out (5 points bonus) then another uphill finish meant he was up there with Sagan score wise after the first few stages.

In a single time trial though he's not nearly cheap enough to be worth a punt.

Am I down to do the itt? I can represent Greece. If bodnar is down for poland is he abit sharp as kwia looked ok for a pick.

Well, apart from martin, who will defo come third I have eight of the top nine in my squad plus gil, who will score ten for last place.

Barring any last minute news breakers I have my team set.

My stars are all European (but only 2/5 of my DS are);
I have two sets of riders from two countries;
One rider from the western hemisphere who I think has a chance to medal;
Two riders from east of Europe--one of which I am banking to finish last;
I only have multiple riders from one pro team;
At the last minute I went from three OPQ riders to one;
I have two riders over 30 points, two over 20 points, one over 10 points, one over 5 points, and three under 5 points.

Good luck figuring out my *winning* team

I have 9 riders, 4 stars and 5 DS

You must have the same team as me then

Your team seems like it could be pretty similar to mine too except at least one of you riders must be different

For those in the know, I have riders 1,2,3,17,25,27,30,33,37 MAYBE or Maybe I have NONE of them

Seems a slightly lob sided team as i dont think 1,2,3 will come 1,2,3....

Just to stir up a hornets nest i have 4 star riders and none of my ds are cycling as i picked my team early

you know its unlimited transfers right? so you can still change it stumps

I have 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 19, 23, 25

and just so you know
14:15:00 37 LAHSAINI Mouhcine MAR19850823
14:16:30 36 GIL MARTINEZ Tomas Aurelio VEN19770523
14:18:00 35 HAGHI Alireza IRI19790208
14:19:30 34 AKDILEK Ahmet TUR19880310
14:21:00 33 NAZARET Magno Prado BRA19860117
14:22:30 32 BEPPU Fumiyuki JPN19830410
14:24:00 31 BAZAYEV Assan KAZ19810222
14:25:30 30 McCANN David IRL19730317
14:27:00 29 BAK Lars Ytting DEN19800116
14:28:30 28 ALBASINI Michael SUI19801220
14:30:00 27 DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres COL19860611
14:31:30 26 BOOM Lars NED19851230
14:33:00 25 BAUER Jack NZL19850407
14:34:30 24 BRAJKOVIC Janez SLO19831218
14:36:00 23 BODNAR Maciej POL19850307
14:37:30 22 GILBERT Philippe BEL19820705
14:39:00 21 VINOKUROV Alexandr KAZ19730916
14:40:30 20 HESJEDAL Ryder CAN19801209
14:42:00 19 CASTROVIEJO NICOLAS Jonathan ESP19870427
14:43:30 18 FUGLSANG Jakob DEN19850322
14:45:00 17 OLIVEIRA Nelson Filipe S. Simoes POR19890306
14:46:30 16 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald NOR19870517
14:48:00 15 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas LTU19880130
14:49:30 14 MENCHOV Denis RUS19780125
14:51:00 13 WESTRA Lieuwe NED19820911
14:52:30 12 KIRYIENKA Vasil BLR19810628
14:54:00 11 LARSSON Gustav SWE19800920
14:55:30 10 ROGERS Michael AUS19791220
14:57:00 9 GRABSCH Bert GER19750619
14:58:30 8 CHAVANEL Sylvain FRA19790630
15:00:00 7 FROOME Christopher GBR19850520
15:01:30 6 PINOTTI Marco ITA19760225
15:03:00 5 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon ESP19831124
15:04:30 4 PHINNEY Taylor USA19900627
15:06:00 3 MARTIN Tony GER19850423
15:07:30 2 WIGGINS Bradley GBR19800428
15:09:00 1 CANCELLARA Fabian SUI19810318
Entries

you have 7 the same as me Alan, I have 8 rather than 6 meaning I had to go for 31 rather than 19

I was 50/50 between 6 and 8 but didn't fancy trying to pick last place. Reckon a lot of teams will be very similar. Originally had 10 and 12 for 6 and 9.

Wiggins
Froome
Sanchez
Chavanel
Phinney
Castroviejo
Bodnar
Bauer
Akdylek

Frankiejay - sub out Sanchez for Pinotti and Akdylek for Haghi and you have my team. Fingers crossed on last place!

I actually think Sanchez seems in really good form and will probably be ahead of Pinotti, but Sanchez always seems really popular in this game so I thought less people would have Pinotti. Reading that it sounds like very flawed logic, but I'm sticking with it now!

I hope I have 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 38. Thats finish # not bib #

1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 10, 23, 25, 36

So as expected most teams are gonna be similar, give or take the odd rider

WIGGINS
ROGERS
SANCHEZ
PINOTTI

PHINNEY
LARSSON
NAVARDAUSKAS
GRABSCH
OLIVEIRA

At least i'm gonna score today, unlike my BIG FAT 0 in the road race!

ALLEZ WIGGO!!!!!

Gone for the following. Slightly different to some people.

Bradley Wiggins
Christopher Froome
Michael Rogers
Sylvain Chavanel
David McCann
Gustav Erik Larsson
Ahmet Akdylek
Jack Bauer
Michael Albasini

Wiggins
Martin
Pinotti
Sanchez
Westra
Oliveira
Grabsch
Lahsaini
Bauer

Had considered upgrading Pinotti for Cancellara/Froome and really skimping on my DSs but I see both of them as risky. Froome will be popular but I think won't medal and Cancellara may or may not still be feeling the effects of his crash.

If wiggo wins does froome get plus five?..

Yup because he's British

Right, the window is now closed, my riders are NOT as I said above

Bradley Wiggins
Christopher Froome
Janez Brajkovic
Luis Leon Sanchez
Ramunas Navardauskas
Lieuwe Westra
Taylor Phinney
Jack Bauer
Alireza Haghi

Wiggins
Froome
Rogers
Sanchez
Larsson
Westra
Phinney
Akdilek
McCann

The first 7 all have a chance of finishing in the top 10, Akdilek is my pick for last man home, and McCann is a bit of a wildcard.

Wiggins, Froome, Martin, Sanchez, Bauer, Bodnar, Bazayev, Aurelio, Akdylek.....

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck

Sanchez just snapped his chain off the ramp

Game over for Sanchez.....

Castroviejo looks crazy fast.

Yeah but his national mate is storming it

Through 2 riders we know Gil won't be last

Wow, Akdylek last by a mile... almost literally.

Sanchez stopped again......guess who might be last he's sat up and just cruising

well my team is done already, terrible,

he might need to puncture twice more before he slips past Akdylek's time... but yeah, horrible luck.

What was Akdylek's time? Sanchez is just rolling along and Martin has just caught him

Good news - I dropped LL Sanchez!
Bad news - I picked Kwiatowski and he's not racing!!

Akdylek was 59 min and something. It could be a battle

Well he's just been spat out by Martin who was 3/4 minutes behind to start.....so could be over 50 minutes at that rate

Argh, why didn't I listen and keep Castroviejo in

Looks like it will be, Wiggo, Martin, Froome

Sanchez WILL be last, He's just been past by Wiggo

Sanchez may be the last rider on the course haha

Looking ok for my team, most will score, Sanchez will be last but where in my Iranian?

I'd be feeling much better about Sanchez finishing last if I didn't have Akdylek too... hehe

Is there a cut-off time in the TT?

ARGH, Rogers and Castroviejo were guys I was going to have, but though, nah Sanchez and Brajkovic are better bet than Rogers and Westra or Phinney would have Castroviejo

Tomorrow morning when they open the roads again

I don't think there is a time out though

Martin has almost caught Phinney

ROAD CYCLING
Strange scenes at the finish line. Michael Rogers is sitting in one of those ridiculous golden thrones, while Chris Froome rides off with a bag on his back, looking like he is about to start his commute home.

Still out on the road, Tony Martin is about to catch Taylor Phinney as they approach the line. All eyes on his time now...

Sanchez comes home before Canc

But Sanchez was still over 2 minutes faster than Akdylek haha

Phinney with two 4th place rides. Ugh.

Poor Phinney, fourth in the road race, fourth in the TT. You've got to feel for him.

3 riders not scoring for me Sanchez, Navardauskas and Haghi

I only had 4 scorers, wiggins, froome, phinney and grabsch

Only two non-scorers but I suspect the winner will probably have Wiggins, Martin, Froome and Rogers plus a few others.

And Phinney if you sorted out the team properly

What happened to Chavanel? Thought he was up there at the time-check or did I make that up?

I did OK, shame I missed last place by one guy.

Awesome result though!

I didnt do badly, got

1st
3rd
4th
6th
8th
9th
11th
19th
32nd....damn you chainring. Better than the 11 I scored in the road race.

Bad luck. Did you have Sanchez as well! Bad luck for him, although I don't think he would have got a medal.

My team choice was very good apart from not having Martin, but Froome still scored well. Had 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 19. LLSanchez and Bodnar didn't score. 158 I think. With Sanchez maybe 5th/6th, would have had a shot at winning the stage I reckon.

I got 166 I think with sanchez the only one not scoring so you would have been behind me, good scoring all the same.

had
1,3,4,6,8,11,19 with navardauskas and sanchez not scoring

1,3,4,6,8,9,19 but made a mistake... my the other two riders were in last night when I updated my team but they didn't ride.

Shame to see Cancellara in what looked like a lot of pain at the end... hope he recovers fully soon.

Who were your other two as the list of riders hasn't changed in quite a few days since Evans dropped out.

The roster on here might have changed, but if you looked around you would have seen who was rider

Had chavanel and sanchez as my two stars, if only i had gone with either rogers or pinotti, i flirted with all combo's except pinotti with rogers, so at best i lost out 5th place, but would have potentially had other scoring DS's had i gone a different route. my not wanting two spanish riders cost me as thats why i went with bazayev and chavanel over pinotti and Castravejo

Anyway roll on the next race and hopefully I can do better. Just seem to have got worse as the season has gone on.

Unlucky TER, yes I remember you having some tough breaks in the TdF as well. Glad you mentioned about roll on next race - I'd completely forgotten about the Eneco Tour - best get looking at the startlist!

PS - Today was OK for me - 1,3,4,5,9,19. Rogers instead of Chavanel would've been the way to go.

anyone know when the scores are going up?

Thanks Gkam for pointing out for those who had missed it just how stupid my mistake was

When Dave lets go of the pint or bar

Dave's probably watching the Olympics like everyone else.

Reckon I'll hold my position in the overall which is my only concern until the Vuelta. Eneco tour looks like a bunch of sprint finishes. Not very interesting. Roll on the Spanish mountains, although I'm away for a week in a Normandy Gite with no Internet in the middle of that so not sure how I'm going to handle it.

Sorry guys, was in Cardiff watching team gb take down Suarez and co. Scores soon

3 teams at the top with 191, seems the team to pick was without Froome as all the 191 scorers had this team below, I only scored 133

Bradley Wiggins
Tony Martin
Marco Pinotti
Michael Rogers
Taylor Phinney
Bert Grabsch
Jack Bauer
Jonathan Castroviejo
Lieuwe Westra

I think you could sub froome in for Martin and still score same, but seems about right as apart from 1,2,3 the expensive stars didnt score well

Awwww yeah, 5th in the last stage, 8th in the Olympics.