2024-25 Cyclocross Game

[RedheadDane]

I made a dozen or more permutations in 30 minutes or so using the selector tool. The removal of U23 points is semi-automated for the riders outside the top 100, and already done for those in it.
Not sure what the difficulty is.

Having to...

1. Decide on which riders I want to use for my "preliminary picks".
2. Do all the calculations (whatever it is you're saying we can do in the spreadsheet doesn't work for me... I can hightlight the text, but I can't actually do anything with it; nothing happens when I right-click.)

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

CTRL C in cell L1
CRTL V in cell F13 for Iserbyt, F14 for Alvarado, etc

You may need to download the spreadsheet.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, just to be clear. Stuff like, say, the Toi Toi Cup is also included?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

If PCS give points for it, it is included, so yes

 

[RedheadDane]

Eurrrm... VDP is undecided about whether he'll ride.
Guess we all have a big decision to make...

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

So in the lack of other opinions, I shall allow Samu's proposal, and so decree that all points scored from the start of the cyclocross season (1st July, nominally, according to PCS) to 23rd February, shall be included, and will amend the opening post accordingly.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

My first attempt at selecting a team has not gone well. I have 5000 points left to use and around the same amount of riders I want to include, but I've already picked 18.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

My first attempt at selecting a team has not gone well. I have 5000 points left to use and around the same amount of riders I want to include, but I've already picked 18.

You have 5000 riders that you want to include???

 

[Samu Cuenca]

You have 5000 riders that you want to include???

A slight exaggeration, of course, but I will have to think it over a many times before I reach a decision. I am, however, pretty sure I could chose a team quite quickly that would do a lot better than the one I eventually go with.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

A slight exaggeration, of course, but I will have to think it over a many times before I reach a decision. I am, however, pretty sure I could chose a team quite quickly that would do a lot better than the one I eventually go with.

Has anyone ever submitted a CQ gane team without thinking that? (Or is that just me, and the reason I usually do so poorly)

But I got into a feeling of being so pleased with my inexpensive picks in this one that I wasn't really happy to forgo any of them for the expensive ones that will, presumably, get the points.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Similar issues with actually using up the budget here, almost 1400 points per rider to spend was perhaps a bit much. Also means the less well-known picks largely just aren't viable.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Not compulsory to use the whole budget here: when I work out best possible team in other games it is often well below the allowed spend.

Remember that the budget was based on last years rules, an expectation that you would be picked half of the top 6 from the previous year, and half of the next 6 (although the budget was reduced about 15% from what the median values there would have given you)

Unlike in the main game (your selection techniques may differ, and given my level of scoring it is probably good if they do) the assumption here is that you will take several pricey riders, and fill your team out with the cheaper ones.
Maybe that makes it a higher risk game than others.

 

[Cordi333]

Maybe is too late to give you this suggestion, but imo PCS is not the best website for a cx game.

I would take directly the UCI ranking as stated in the web of reference for every cx fan, which is cyclocross24.com
Also, in order to simplify the game, I wouldn't make a distinction between elite & u23 results, taking simply all the UCI points earned by any rider (as the UCI already measures it, giving much more weight to elite results vs u23 results).

UCI Ranking 2023-2024 - Men Elite - Cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking cyclocross in the 2023-2024 season for Men Elite.

cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking 2023-2024 - Women Elite - Cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking cyclocross in the 2023-2024 season for Women Elite.

cyclocross24.com

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Maybe is too late to give you this suggestion, but imo PCS is not the best website for a cx game.

I would take directly the UCI ranking as stated in the web of reference for every cx fan, which is cyclocross24.com
Also, in order to simplify the game, I wouldn't make a distinction between elite & u23 results, taking simply all the UCI points earned by any rider (as the UCI already measures it, giving much more weight to elite results vs u23 results).

UCI Ranking 2023-2024 - Men Elite - Cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking cyclocross in the 2023-2024 season for Men Elite.

cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking 2023-2024 - Women Elite - Cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking cyclocross in the 2023-2024 season for Women Elite.

cyclocross24.com

Thanks: I had asked for inputs and ideas (I just found "a" ranking, in all honesty) and if there is enough interest this year to make this feel worth doing again next year, I'll bear that in mind. But at this stage, I'd better stick with where we are for now, and if it turns out that this year is also prototype rather than settled version, so be it.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Maybe is too late to give you this suggestion, but imo PCS is not the best website for a cx game.

I would take directly the UCI ranking as stated in the web of reference for every cx fan, which is cyclocross24.com
Also, in order to simplify the game, I wouldn't make a distinction between elite & u23 results, taking simply all the UCI points earned by any rider (as the UCI already measures it, giving much more weight to elite results vs u23 results).

UCI Ranking 2023-2024 - Men Elite - Cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking cyclocross in the 2023-2024 season for Men Elite.

cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking 2023-2024 - Women Elite - Cyclocross24.com

UCI Ranking cyclocross in the 2023-2024 season for Women Elite.

cyclocross24.com

I remember now: I couldn't see a 'current season' version of UCI points allocation anywhere: Cyclocros24, First Cycling, and UCI site all show only a rolling 12 month ranking, so there are no incremental results for each race. Unless I had missed a link somewhere.

(@LosBrolin: I'd be happy to switch to UCI points and credit FC as the source if you were to have a season's points total, esp a season's elite points, table for the next iteration)

 

[Cordi333]

I remember now: I couldn't see a 'current season' version of UCI points allocation anywhere: Cyclocros24, First Cycling, and UCI site all show only a rolling 12 month ranking, so there are no incremental results for each race. Unless I had missed a link somewhere.

This is true! In the profile of every rider are shown the points earned in each race (and you can order them chronologically), but you would still have to add them up manually.

Example: https://cyclocross24.com/rider/andrew-strohmeyer/uciranking/

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I thought I would have time to look at my team again this afternoon, but I ended up getting occupied with something else and missed both the deadline and Lombardia. I will send in my first draft now.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Be very quick

 

[RedheadDane]

Eli Iserbyt... explain yourself!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Team breakdown!

I didn't really like most of the options above 2500 points. Van Empel has zero space for improvement unless she races more this year, Nieuwenhuis is starting the season with illness + had a career year last season, Alvarado I also wouldn't back to break even, Van der Haar and Brand are ageing, and Iserbyt is really expensive.

In the end, I needed to sink the points somewhere, so Iserbyt went right in as a head-over-heart pick (already regretting that, if he gets the suspension he deserves he won't be worth it), then I also went with Brand on the basis that she's starting her season earlier this year + doesn't really look like slowing down. That was initially it, until I couldn't figure out the right combination of second-tier picks for my final slots and wound up going with Van der Haar too in the hopes that we have less mud this year.

One price range lower, the options were more plentiful. Vanthourenhout was a shoe-in for me, then I was initially planning to take one of Vandeputte, Pieterse and Bakker as one of my two final riders but none of them paired well with rider 18. So we move down a little bit further to the extremely obvious Sweeck, and - based on an impressive win in Kleeberg - Van der Heijden.

In the 1300-1400 zone, there were lots of riders with room to grow. I'm really excited to see what Casasola can do on a big team and racing a full schedule, Nys and Backstedt were obvious as the biggest talents in that age bracket, and Bentveld is more committed to CX than either of those + should also be able to take a step up this year. Finally, I also went for Betsema, who is probably past her best but was also just unlucky with injuries last year.

Moving into the triple-digits, there were lots of exciting picks on paper, but I couldn't fit many given the budget. Van Aert is my 18th rider, for defensive purposes + because he's hinted (and Iserbyt expects) he will take to the fields a bit earlier this winter. Clauzel and Strohmeyer pretty much had to go in after the decision was made to include the pre-deadline points, Vas is supposedly already starting in Woerden + was held back by some fitness issues last year (notably missing out on the Worlds with sickness when she had finally hit form), Kuypers missed the final two months last year + is at an age where he should still be improving, and Verstrynge is the most exciting U23 alumnus which usually translates to big points improvements. Finally, Aerts should be on every team whose manager has realised you can pick riders outside the top 100 too.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Only 7 teams again. 61 different riders selected: none of them on every team.

	Armchair	Devil's Elbow	DJW	Josedn	Laurens	RhD	Samu
Nys Thibau	*	*	*	*	*		*	6​
van Empel Fem	*		*	*	*	*	*	6​
Iserbyt Eli		*	*	*	*	*		5​
Pieterse Puck	*		*	*	*		*	5​
Aerts Toon	*	*		*	*			4​
Backstedt Zoe	*	*				*	*	4​
Kuypers Gerben	*	*		*		*		4​
Ronhaar Pim	*		*		*		*	4​
Sweeck Laurens	*	*		*		*		4​
Vandeputte Niels	*		*		*	*		4​
Brand Lucinda		*	*		*			3​
Casasola Sara		*				*	*	3​
Chladoňová Viktória	*		*				*	3​
Ferguson Cat	*		*				*	3​
Orts Felipe				*	*	*		3​
Verdonschot Laura	*		*				*	3​
Verstrynge Emiel		*			*	*		3​
Worst Annemarie				*	*	*		3​
Alvarado Ceylin del Carmen			*	*				2​
Clauzel Hélène		*					*	2​
Gery Célia			*				*	2​
Holmgren Isabella			*			*		2​
Kuhn Kevin				*		*		2​
Loockx Lander					*	*		2​
Mason Cameron	*		*					2​
Pidcock Tom			*		*			2​
Strohmeyer Andrew		*					*	2​
van Aert Wout		*					*	2​
van der Heijden Inge		*			*			2​
Vas Kata Blanka		*				*		2​
Zemanová Kristýna						*	*	2​
Adams Jens				*				1​
Askey Ben			*					1​
Bakker Manon	*							1​
Bentveld Leonie		*						1​
Betsema Denise		*						1​
Bisiaux Léo			*					1​
Boroš Michael				*				1​
Cant Sanne				*				1​
Franck Alicia					*			1​
Hezinova Daniela					*			1​
Jeřábková Barbora				*				1​
Kay Anna						*		1​
Konwa Marek						*		1​
Meeussen Witse				*				1​
Mein Thomas					*			1​
Michels Jente	*							1​
Norbert Riberolle Marion				*				1​
Persico Silvia							*	1​
Schreiber Marie						*		1​
van Alphen Aniek	*							1​
van Anrooij Shirin			*					1​
Van de Putte Victor					*			1​
van der Haar Lars		*						1​
van der Poel Mathieu							*	1​
van Kessel Corné				*				1​
Vandebosch Toon	*							1​
Vanthourenhout Michael		*						1​
Vos Marianne							*	1​
Withen Philipsen Albert							*	1​
Wyseure Joran	*							1​

I've still got some stuff to do to the spreadsheet because of the changes from last year, but a couple of bits ready to share

Popularity rankings:
Never been closer, and Redhead Dane is not bottom by a long way.

ArmchairCyclist	57​
Laurens147	56​
DJW	55​
RedheadDane	52​
Josedin	51​
SamuCuenca	51​
DevilsElbow	50​

Highest team similarity is me and DJW, with 9: the lowest is 3 (Devil's Elbow-DJW and Josedin-Samu Cuenca)

Amount spent
Josedin was originally over budget, but made a substitution to correct it; my underspend is because I included the wrong Aerts when I submitted my team, so I corrected that but without using te extra spending power; Samu, as stated in the thread, was having trouble spending it all the budget, but noticed that neither Persico nor Vos raced in the field at all last winter.

Laurens147	24995​
DJW	24993​
Josedin	24990​
DevilsElbow	24947​
RedheadDane	24932​
ArmchairCyclist	24231​
SamuCuenca	19092​

 

[RedheadDane]

For once I don't have some whacky theme - the closest thing I have to a "theme" is Gender Equality, and I wouldn't call that whacky - and try to actually build a (somewhat) competitive team, based on my limited knowledge of CX.
And then Eli Iserbyt just has to go stomp on someone's bike like an angry little potato!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

You'll upset Toms Skujins if you go around bad-mouthing potatoes like that.

 

[RedheadDane]

You'll upset Toms Skujins if you go around bad-mouthing potatoes like that.

What he doesn't know won't upset him.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Points earned before the game really started (so does not include yesterday's results)
Excuse all the dots: without them spreadsheet tables don't always paste accurately when the contents width of the first column varies a lot. Let me know if you are aware of a more elegant solution.

	Armchair	Devil's Elbow	DJW	Josedin	Laurens	RhD	Samu
Clauzel Hélène	.	600​	.	.	.	.	600​
Strohmeyer Andrew	.	570​	.	.	.	.	570​
Bakker Manon	428​	.	.	.	.	.	.
Verdonschot Laura	250​	.	250​	.	.	.	250​
Jeřábková Barbora	.	.	.	228​	.	.	.
Mein Thomas	.	.	.	.	200​	.	.
KONWA Marek	.	.	.	.	.	184​	.
KAY Anna	.	.	.	.	.	156​	.
Franck Alicia	.	.	.	.	150​	.	.
Van de Putte Victor	.	.	.	.	150​	.	.
van Alphen Aniek	140​	.	.	.	.	.	.
Bentveld Leonie	.	136​	.	.	.	.	.
Vandeputte Niels	100​	.	100​	.	100​	100​	.
ASKEY Ben	.	.	96​	.	.	.	.
Adams Jens	.	.	.	90​	.	.	.
Norbert Riberolle Marion	.	.	.	80​	.	.	.
van Kessel Corné	.	.	.	80​	.	.	.
Kuhn Kevin	.	.	.	50​	.	50​	.
van der Heijden Inge	.	50​	.	.	50​	.	.
Vandebosch Toon	42​	.	.	.	.	.	.
Meeussen Witse	.	.	.	38​	.	.	.
Loockx Lander	.	.	.	.	32​	32​	.
Betsema Denise	.	32​	.	.	.	.	.
	960​	1388​	446​	566​	682​	522​	1420​

I'm hoping these pre-launch points are not decisive by February. Last year the order of teams was the same whether the start point was taken as the season's start, the point at which each player entered, or the closing of entries, which gives me grounds to hope these 'head starts' won't make that much difference.

1​	Samu	1420​
2​	Devil's Elbow	1388​
3​	Armchair	960​
4​	Laurens	682​
5​	Josedin	566​
6​	RhD	522​
7​	DJW	446​