[11waterloo]

Are we allowed to start getting a bit excited yet? Looks to be a more varied route than usual with less of the endless nailed on sprint stages that normally dominate the first week or so (though a run of sprint stages does save on the transfers!) I don’t know about the practicality of it, but is there any way of opening the game up using the long lists that most teams already have or just using the full list of riders? It is quite good fun playing about with potential line-ups, especially for the purist game, even knowing that the final roster will probably change. Obviously, if it creates difficulties, I wouldn’t want to add to the burden of running the game but, if it doesn’t, let’s get the TdF party started!   Here are a couple of links to the current state of the start list. https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2022/startlist.                                https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=17&y=2022&k=8  

Topic

[Dr Winston]

Vingegaard would be my dark

Vingegaard would be my dark horse for this TDF. As a rider Roglic is fantastic at grabbing seconds here and there but commits a lot of energy to it that sometimes bites him back. Vingegaard seems a little more traditional race craft about him. I was writing elsewhere about how Pozzovivo has had some great results this year whilst remaining almost invisible… Vingegaard is similar but a better climber than Pozzo. He’ll just stick his neck out on one or two big moments.

[Dr Winston]

The wind will be a major

The wind will be a major factor. I think the weather forecast for stage two will determine the opening strategy of the early race. It’s entirely possible some GC hopes could be ended right there if the wind blows well.

I agree that the first week is the right time to attack Pogacar. It’s hard to envisage who could bury him in the mountains… but echelons is a whole other ball game.

[Condor Andy]

We’ll probably go live with

We’ll probably go live with this tomorrow. I had hoped for more confirmed rosters, but it seems the teams have nationals on their minds. Whatever we have tomorrow afternoon is what we’ll go with.

[Daniel Norton]

Another thing that might be

Another thing that might be helpful regarding the scenario above, would be if Adam Yates is not fit after COVID and doesn’t ride.  Thomas being free from the shackles of looking after Yates.

Never underestimate a fully motivated Geraint Thomas.

[Daniel Norton]

Potentially transfer hungry

Potentially transfer hungry first week if there are a lot of “race incidents”.  Crosswinds and cobbles could turn the race into a real lottery…

The parcour could really favour a rider like Thomas.  Good TT, good in cross winds (team also), solid on the cobbles…  Expect Jumbo and Ineos to go for the UAE/Pogacar jugular in the first week.  If I was Pogacer, I’d try to go on the front foot as riding defensively will be so stressful.

For an exciting race, Thomas or Roglic gaining substantial time on the other GC riders would be great.  Imagine GC riders (esp. Pogacer) having minutes to make up by the time the real climbing starts.

[11waterloo]

Thanks Andy. Will add link to

Thanks Andy. Will add link to PCS & First Cycling lists. I tend to agree that First Cycling has overtaken PCS as the better resource.

[11waterloo]

It’s easy to pick a purist

It’s easy to pick a purist team…… assuming they give us a £500 million budget! 

[Dr Winston]

Agreed. The course looks

Agreed. The course looks quite tricky for us fantasy players to navigate, especially in the purist game… a few riders will pick themselves i suspect but they’ll be expensive so we may have a problem or two.  

[Condor Andy]

Yes! I’ll get the stages in

Yes! I’ll get the stages in the game tomorrow. We’ll probably go live at the weekend.

Quick request. Can you link to the PCS start list in your original post so folk can find it? If I link it here it will be buried under the rest of the comments. Link First Cycling if you want too, I actually prefer that one.

[Author]

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