[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]

I seldom go past three

I seldom go past three breakaway riders. By seasons end it usually works out, unless it’s a day like today with a big break… then it’s a rubbish strategy.

5:3 for GC jersey/break/save and 5:3 for sprinters/jersey/save…unless it’s three sprint stages in a row.

[Daniel Norton]

I did my usual aggressive

I did my usual aggressive strategy (4 breakaway riders) in the mountains, but only had Geschka and Martinez in the break.

I’m so used to having a high hit rate at picking breakaway riders, I forgot how costly it is when there are so many odd results.  I really don’t think it is just the pace, the heat has changed who is strong dramatically.

[Dr Winston]

Bonkers. 

Bonkers. 

Shocking day for me…went for jersey pts instead of the break… which included Bardet and Yates. Rubbish. Unlucky with Martinez… i fancied him for today but he looked cooked on the final climb,  but, even so,  i never expected him to wait at the top of that last climb. Good move by Ineos because his descendng looked a lot better than his climbing… i wonder if it was the plan or just something they decided when he couldn’t win the stage?

[Daniel Norton]

Blimey, what is Gougeard

Blimey, what is Gougeard doing?  On his own after making a decent sized break?  It seems like the French riders try to find a way to make the race as difficult as possible for themselves.

[Daniel Norton]

Daniel Norton wrote:

Daniel Norton wrote:

Ving will sit on pog until the last big climb of the tour and pogs team could well be roasted by then. If pog isnt superhuman this race is over…. (bar sickness crashes)

Did say bar sickness and crashes!

[Daniel Norton]

Yeah, the scores need

Yeah, the scores need changing.

[Anonymous]

Simon Geschke scored zero???

Simon Geschke scored zero??? Still KOM

[Daniel Norton]

Good call on the sprint btw

Good call on the sprint btw

[Daniel Norton]

I ducked out of WVA. Another

I ducked out of WVA. Another mistake.

Throw out all the rules about how teams ride GTs.  Assumed with Roglic leaving, they might hold WVA back a bit.  Jumbo might regret the decision, but they made good on their promise to give WVA freedom.

[Dr Winston]

Gone a bit mad with sprinters

Gone a bit mad with sprinters for today… but may not even get a sprint. WVA, Philipsen, Pedersen and Groenewegen. 

We could even see an accord today that allows an early break to go due to the temp and the distance. 

[Daniel Norton]

Kung’s form looked to be

Kung’s form looked to be waning yesterday (could be the heat), but Simmons and Jungels seem to handle heat OK, so I rate their chances as higher.

The break usually get better support in the heat than the peloton.  That said, if the temps are as predicted, anything could happen today.

[Daniel Norton]

Nightmare continues.  Cort

Nightmare continues.  Cort (kept in team for today) out!  Oh dear.

[Dr Winston]

Dunno..same for Schachmann,

Dunno..same for Schachmann, Lampaert and co. 

There are two lots of riders that have had to haul themselves over the mountains for no other reason than getting in the break or having another sprint. Today could go either way. BOH will definitely like the look of today for either Politt or Schachmann. I can see both of Cosnefroy and Jungels trying for a similar short and long attemp at a win from the break.

[11waterloo]

It looks as if it’s 50/50

It looks as if it’s 50/50 between a sprint or a breakaway today so the sprinters are always going to be the bookies favourites as they are easier to rank if it ends up a sprint.  Picking a winner from a breakaway on a lumpy stage is more of a lottery. I don’t think there is anything wrong with Jungels but it’s just there are plenty of other candidates with similar attributes. Looking at the odds, Kung and Simmons are priced the same as Jungels and a good case could be made for them as well.

[Daniel Norton]

Yeah, Pinot has the heart and
Yeah, Pinot has the heart and ability, but twice the best climber in the break and no cigar? Needs to have a chat with himself. Totally agree about rog/ving. Ving will sit on pog until the last big climb of the tour and pogs team could well be roasted by then. If pog isnt superhuman this race is over…. (bar sickness crashes)

[Author]

Replies