I'm liking the concept of this game more and more as it goes on. Now we have a year of hindsight, but with 2 years still to go. Let's pick apart my team going into year 2:
ALAPHILIPPE Julian - has certainly shown his potential, carving out a niche at a difficult-to-crack QuickStep team. I almost picked him in the main game this year too, so I'm confident he'll grow to the 6-700 point level this year, and barring injury, remain a great pick. Verdict: SUCCESS so far.
EWAN Caleb - despite an unexpectedly slow first year, he's still the gold standard. I'd be surprised if he wasn't in the top 3 scoring riders in this game by the end of next year. Verdict: DISAPPOINTMENT so far (less so if you consider Aussie nats, but I'm thinking about 2014 only), but is likely to turn things around.
FORMOLO Davide - seems a solid pick as well; dunno how much he can move up in CQ points, he'll probably start doing higher level races and GTs and be less of a GC guy on the Can-Garm team, but I expect him to feature in all races like he did last year. Verdict: BIG SUCCESS so far.
HANSEN Lasse Norman - whoops, picked the wrong Dane between him and Valgren Andersen. Pretty anonymous so far, and didn't show much last year. Plus he's now like the 20th best guy on Can-Garm. I'm regretting it a bit, but he still has 2 years. Verdict: DISAPPOINTMENT so far.
HENAO MARIN Sebastian - He's still a bit young and buried at Sky so I don't expect a ton of points, but he's really good. I expect top 20 Giro and a bit more consistency this year. By the end of next year, he could be winning things. Verdict: JURY IS OUT so far.
HEPBURN Michael - I saw him win the Aussie TT last year and was worried he'd go to the road and score a ton of points so I picked him, but he really hasn't. He's a good sprinter and TTer, so I know he has the potential. But he's just not pulling it together yet. Second guessing a bit. Verdict: JURY IS OUT so far.
HERKLOTZ Silvio - I don't get why he hasn't turned pro yet; he seems to be moving sideways at Stolting. I thought when I picked him he'd have a year of 200 points on a continental team and then move up to the bigs, but that second part hasn't happened. If he steps up next year and gets 6-800 points (which he should if he's that good, and with that extra year of U23 he'll be damn ready), he'll be worth it, but I'm second guessing that pick too. Verdict: DISAPPOINTMENT so far.
HOWSON Damien - Didn't really live up to his promise last year as an elite TT talent, and is a bit buried at TT-rich Greenedge. If he doesn't do much better this year, I'll be regretting it. Verdict: DISAPPOINTMENT so far.
KUDUS GHEBREMEDHIN Merhawi - solid year, good performer - his 2014 was actually better than I expected. This year I expect a few more points from slightly lower placings in slightly bigger races. Then next year I think he'll take off. Verdict: SUCCESS so far.
LAMPAERT Yves - he developed as I hoped, scoring consistently while finishing highly. It will be interesting to see how he works on the bigger QuickStep squad, whether he even makes the big classic lineups (I hope not - I think he can score bigger in the 1.1 races than being an early-attack foil in the Ronde or something). That's always a gamble, that you get a TSV guy that shows something and gets picked up by a team where he'll be buried - can't all be Sep Vanmarcke and go to Garmin or something. We shall see. Verdict: SUCCESS so far.
MOHORIC Matej - I knew he was too young last year, but his kind of talent doesn't stagnate (unless your last name is 'Sicard'), so I expect increasing returns in both this year and next. Verdict: JURY IS OUT so far.
OLIVIER Daan - showed some solid progress in his neo-pro year; now I just need those 8th-15th place finishes in stage races to turn into top 6 results. Verdict: MILD SUCCESS so far.
SENECHAL Florian - was quietly solid... if he'd just get a bit louder in his results, increase by 150 points this year and then next, I'll be happy. Verdict: MILD SUCCESS so far.
SEPULVEDA Eduardo - had a great year last year, is off to a great start this year, can climb and TT. Let's see if he takes a step up, maybe top 20 in Le Tour? SUCCESS so far.
STUYVEN Jasper - had a promising neo-pro year, but this is the year he steps it up, if he's going to. Four 4th places in La Vuelta (albeit against a depleted sprinting field) suggests quickness and consistency that, if played as a foil against Cancellara, can serve him well in the shorter 1.1 and 1.HC classics. JURY IS OUT so far.
YATES Adam - did you see him last year? If he grows from there he's the best pick of the game. BIG SUCCESS so far.
YATES Simon - badly timed broken collarbone led to a comeback and trial-by-fire in Le Tour, which is a great learning experience but not a big points-getter. I expect him to explode this year. MILD SUCCESS so far.
ZABEL Rick - anonymous last year, I'm looking for some improvement and his father's trademark consistency. If he can get better in the sprints and pick up some placings all the time like his dad did, he'll be gold by the end of next year. JURY IS OUT so far.
For those of you keeping score at home:
Big Successes - Adam Yates, Formolo
Successes - Alaphillipe, Kudus, Lampaert, Sepulveda
Mild Successes - Olivier, Seneschal, Simon Yates
Jury is Out - Henao, Hepburn, Mohoric, Stuyven, Zabel
Disappointments - Ewan, Hansen, Herklotz, Howson