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Fantasy Directeur Sportif Challenge
Not sure if you've seen it but in case you lot haven't, I've challenged TERatcliffe this year to pick a squad of riders and try and run a 'proper' fantasy team through the season.
We'll both be blogging about it through the year and the first posts are up (/blog). Anyway, you lot are free to pick your own squads too and keep us all informed of how you're doing either on here or in the blog comments. I've set up a league and if you've got any questions, let me know.
EDIT
If you want to take part the list of rider values you'll need is here http://db.tt/1rO7IFhq and check out my post here /content/blog/74271-big-unveil for rules etc.
RUNNING UPDATE:
World Tour Points - 1037 total / 851 based on top 5 riders
Fantasy points total: 2583
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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115 comments
Sky specifically set out last year to win races with Wiggins to get him used to being the leader and all the post race stuff that a leader has to do (press conferences, drug tests, podiums etc). As a tour winner Wiggins doesn't need that this year but I guess Sky are doing the same trick with Froome, getting him used to leading races. That was to be expected and I think Froome will be looking to win more races like the Tour de Romandie or Dauphine ahead of the Tour de France. But I expect him to do absolutely nothing after that whereas Wiggins may have a crack at the Worlds TT or the team TT.
I expect Wiggins to try and hit some form before the Giro, possibly at the Catalunya/Pais Vasco/Romandie but we'll see. It really may come down to how well he does in the Tour to see how many points he brings in and whether he was worth it over a Contador/Rodriguez.
What I'm most curious about is which big hitters will be going to the Vuelta? Most of the proper out and out GC contenders are down for the Giro or TdF and I'm not sure how many, other than perhaps Nibali, will look to ride the Vuelta.
So after TA, 5 WT from Cav, 1 from Cancellara, which I drop, taking the 5 highest scorers leaving me 197 as a team, keeping me in second, but well behind Sky now, but still ahead of Bianco.
Milan San Remo:
Cav, Canc, Gorka, Maxim Iglinsky, Thor, Roux, Rasch, Schar and Appollonio.
Should hopefully get a podium, but Sagan is going to have to puncture to lose methinks.
Too dangerous with the big season goal of the Giro round the corner?
One of the reasons G missed the Classics altogether last year was the risk of getting injured and screwing up the team pursuit - yes it can happen in any race, but the risk is perceived as greater in the Classics.
Last year was a little different since by this time we knew Contador was out of Giro and TDF and would be back for Vuelta.
Otherwise, yeah, it's difficult... some riders who will pick up injuries in months ahead will ride it (eg Wiggins in 2011), other riders who blow in the Giro say and are looking to rescue season, then it's also an opportunity for some teams to give a younger rider a chance to lead them in a Grand Tour (as should have been the caae with Froome in 2011).
I didn't figure the Vuelta at all in my team selection. I've probably got riders who will be there in Astarloza, Gutierrez and Izaguirre. I didn't even really bother about the Giro specifically, though I'm guessing half my GC roster will do the Giro, the other half the Tour. Particularly with the reversal of the race formats with the Giro being more TT friendly, and the Tour toughening up.
The Vuelta will also attract climbers looking for WT points from stage wins like Martin and Roche maybe. And perhaps a GT sprinter looking to avoid Cav, Degenkolb, Greipel and Sagan, so it might suit Kittel to go there.
UPDATE: http://road.cc/content/blog/78612-season-proper
Blog update is up and my MSR team pretty much picks itself:
Cancellara
Boonen
Gilbert
Cavendish
Demare
Nordhaug
that's it, only 6 of my guys are racing, but they cover a few scenarios so fingers crossed I can do something.
My team for Catalunya isn't finalised as the start lists are being particularly flaky but it looks something like this:
Wiggins (hurrah!)
Quintana
Roche
Betancurt
Not the strongest squad but the potential for three top 10 finishers. Hopefully it'll be low on fantasy points, high on World Tour points.
Im gonna do my blog today whilst the race is on, just haven't had the time this week to get it done
Sagan
Voeckler
Gilbert
Degenkolb
Gerrans
Greipel
Iglinsky
Gatto
Ullisi
Thats me for today and for Catalunya I have just 2 at the moment
Bewley and Gerrans
I also have Kreder down for you Drheaton
With Sagan in your team you may as well wait until MSR is done for your blog. I just wanted to get mine out before Catalunya starts and I was up early anyway.
Hoping Catalunya helps me pick up some ground on you as Contador's points have left me well behind after TA. Westra and Roche haven't performed as I'd hoped either so I'm struggling a little.
Righto ok.
Also we need to do teams for E3 Prijs as its WT, I have 7 riders for you and 6 for me, so they should pick themselves anyway
E3 Prijs:
Hushovd, Schar, Cancellara, Rasch, Appollonio, M Iglinsky, Cattaneo, Dowsett,
Depends on the weather, but I have no great hopes despite a long list of good riders.
I know we're not doing the Criterium International, but I've high hopes for that with TJ, Roy, Roux, JTL, Voigt, Schleck, Xandio, Riblon and Talansky riding which to me looks like a really strong line up. Should also see how TJ and Cadel are getting on, which is a major influencer on my TdF team leader decision. Let's see some fireworks
Can't comment on Westra but Roche is Mr Consistently just outside the WT points... He's turning in top 20 rides daily but seems to be riding within himself. The fact he and Sorenson are getting to the line together implies to me that maybe he's just riding to see how everyone else's form compares. Doesn't seem to be pushing himself too hard. At least I'm hoping it's tactical, and not just lacking an extra gear. I was hoping he'd be riding more like Dan Martin is this year, and it was a toss up for me which one of the two I picked. I'm not unhappy with him though.
I hope Tejay wins as he is in my squad on a different fantasy game where the teams have budgets and contracts and he is my highest paid rider
I cant remember, are we doing E3-Harelbeke? I'm kinda hoping so as Cancellara is smashing it
Yes we are
Hurray!
You got 94 WT, 66 fantasy
Rob got 80 WT, 64 fantasy
I got 60 WT, 49 fantasy
At least I will get 6 WT points from this race, as its been terrible so far, thankyou Gerrans
I've been sat waiting for Fuglsang to do something. . . . but it looks like he's been talking to Roche about how to stay just high enough in the GC to not get fired without actually earning any points. Still always tomorrow, on several fronts.
For Gent Wevelgem I make mine:
Cav, Rasch, Appollonio, M Iglinsky, Hushovd, Schar, Cattaneo, Dowsett, Cancellara
though opinions vary over whether Rasch or Puccio are riding for sky. The fantasy game is the only place I can find listing Puccio instead. Can;t see Rasch winning though, so it's moot.
Meanwhile TJ 3rd today in the Crit, with Cadel 45 seconds back in 74th, just ahead of Bouhanni. That looks good for TJ as (joint) leader.
I need your team for Gent Drheaton as you have a choice of at least 10 riders I think
I have 7, Sagan, Gilbert, Degenkolb, Demare, Iglinsky, Nizzolo and Greipel
Hmmm,
Cavendish
Boonen
Cancellara
Gilbert
Vanmarcke
Demare
Devolder
Cattaneo
Van Rensburg
With Westra as my none rider.
which presumably fits in the 150 points, hence dropping Westra rather than say van Rensburg?
Speaking of which are we using the 150 points limit? I've only been taking it into account on the non premium races where I'm setting up on the girlfriend's account, I haven't bothered adding up otherwise. It did affect PN since that was why I dropped Iglinsky.
And are we doing the Classics purist? I.e. whoever we pick today limits who we have in Tour of Flanders and Roubaix?
No the 150 points doesn't apply as we already picked the squad on a tight budget, and many races we haven't had full teams or only just full teams
No not purist, its easier just doing it separate, and it makes it better for WT points anyway, as real teams pick individually for each classic.
Fine. The 150 would have meant you dropping 1 or 2 riders today, which is not exactly fair, given you only have 7 anyway. Albeit possibly 7 of the top 10.
I dropped Westra as I don't see him doing much today and Van Rensburg might sprint if Degenkolb isn't there (or get 5 pts for a Degenkolb win).
Maybe we should have made it clearer at the start. Also Ive left your Iglinsky points in, both WT and fantasy, so I presume they were not in your 1234 (so you had 1275 before I started scoring). As a presume you would have picked him else. I had to do your overall total slightly differently as I didnt have the rider breakdown scores (for your riders that were not in either mine or Dans team) pre Catalunya.
(removed my email address now Ive just got yours) I will be able to send the spreadsheet to you, as I do Dan, with all the scores on, after every couple of events
I've just watched the Crit highlights from ITV4 last night, and at the end they announced are going to do highlights programmes of Roubaix and LBL on the race day. LBL of course, according to Mr Boulting being one of Wiggo's targets for this season.
I nearly fell off my chair...
Right guys two races this weekend, Flanders Sunday followed by Pais Vasco Monday.
No Gilbert makes it easy for me with exactly 9 riders for Flanders, I have you with 8 Dan and an exact 9 for you too Rob.
Just about to look at Pais Vasco teams now
Also will send you out the spreadsheet after Roubaix/Pais Vasco have finished next weekend
For Pais Vasco I have exactly 9, Dan has 8 and Rob you have 12 to choose from so just let me know your final lineup when you decide
In order of preference:
VAN GARDEREN Tejay
TALANSKY Andrew
DE GENDT Thomas
IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI Gorka
FUGLSANG Jakob
ROCHE Nicholas
ROY Jérémy
VOIGT Jens
RIBLON Christophe
with
TIERNAN-LOCKE Jonathan
ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier
SCHLECK Andy
as reserves in case anyone drops out before Monday.
I have a feeling Sky will be pushing Porte's cause at the expense of JTL and Xandio again, and stone dead last doesn't earn WT points...
thanks
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