The 2013 CQ Ranking Manager Game

[Tigerion]

Hoping that somebody out there might be able to help a first timer with a few questions to see if I understand this properly

The points for 2012 make no difference to the final score of next years rankings, they are only used to set the current price.

So selecting the person with the highest current CQ ranking is probably a bad move, I less I think that they are going to have an even better season this year (unlikely)

The ideally you want your team to be full of low cost people who you think will win this year. So a two digit Luxembourger who has a chance to do well at TDF is a good choice as it is the increase in the value that matters.

Because it is just the change in value, if you choose badly your final score can be less than what you started with

You get a minimum amount of points just for finishing a race. The lower the quality of the race the less points it is worth and the lower down the order they are awarded

Does that all sound right?
How much of an impact do pro-conti teams have?

 

[greenedge]

Pro Conti teams can be good if you feel you can identify young talent/ all that can go well in GT's (trouble is picking which ones go there) or you can pick one where the rider can win at other races throughout the year... Betancur was a good example this year.

What you said above all seems right, except for the minimum score- sometimes it does not even happen on really small races and it is only on the GC or one day- not each stage (just pointing out in case you did not know).

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Hoping that somebody out there might be able to help a first timer with a few questions to see if I understand this properly

The points for 2012 make no difference to the final score of next years rankings, they are only used to set the current price.

So selecting the person with the highest current CQ ranking is probably a bad move, I less I think that they are going to have an even better season this year (unlikely)

The ideally you want your team to be full of low cost people who you think will win this year. So a two digit Luxembourger who has a chance to do well at TDF is a good choice as it is the increase in the value that matters.

Because it is just the change in value, if you choose badly your final score can be less than what you started with

You get a minimum amount of points just for finishing a race. The lower the quality of the race the less points it is worth and the lower down the order they are awarded

Does that all sound right?
How much of an impact do pro-conti teams have?

Yeah, you're basically right. If you're not familiar with cqranking.com's system, I suggest you take a look at it. You'll probably learn a lot about the game and which riders to go for.

Pro Conti riders (and Conti riders for that matter) can be good as well. For instance, Julian Kern, riding for Leopard Trek - CT, was the best unique pick last year based on percentage wise return. He cost 1 point but gave 130 in return. Of course it will be hard to create a team only consisting of Pro Conti riders because they do have a limited scoring potential compared with the riders on he ProTeams. There will definitely be some bargains, though.

Last year's winner, skidmark, had 6 Pro Conti riders on his team as far as I can tell by quickly looking at his team. You might want to take a look at last year's thread as well - you can probably learn a bit by looking at some teams.

Good luck, and feel free to send me a PM if you have some more specific questions or you can even ask in the "name dropping thread"

 

[auscyclefan94]

Having troubles filling my CQ team this year. I don't think there are many good bargains.

 

[greenedge]

Go to the name dropping thread to get a response that can help.

I am assuming that the game starts on the 3rd of Jan (when JHST starts)???

 

[mc_mountain]

Go to the name dropping thread to get a response that can help.

I am assuming that the game starts on the 3rd of Jan (when JHST starts)???

Sun tour is a 'national event' and wont be paying CQ points. Aussie/NZ nationals first up I think.

 

[Afrank]

First time playing the game this year, so I was wondering, what are people's opinions on picking riders in the 600-1000 point range? Good idea? Bad idea? I looked through the teams of the guys that made top 10 last year and there weren't a lot of riders in that point range.

There's one 700 point rider that is currently on my team, but I'm not sure if I should keep him or not.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

First time playing the game this year, so I was wondering, what are people's opinions on picking riders in the 600-1000 point range? Good idea? Bad idea? I looked through the teams of the guys that made top 10 last year and there weren't a lot of riders in that point range.

There's one 700 point rider that is currently on my team, but I'm not sure if I should keep him or not.

Hi Afrank and welcome to the game!

If I remember correctly, The Hitch was among the first who "theorized" the game in season one, 2011. His idea was to pick riders who were close to the average cost, 227 (7500/33). I'm sorry if I'm wrong about this Hitch

However, when you look at the last two year's "best possible team" both teams have one very expensive rider - Gilbert the first year and Wiggins this year (I don't remember if there actually were two expensive picks in the best possible team for 2011, but one at a minimum). The reason should be quite clear: they make big points, perhaps doubling their score, while making room for cheaper riders, like Cobo in season one, Moser in season two and so on who return a huge amount of points and doesn't cost much.

If you inlude mainly riders costing around the 227 mark, you won't be able to include many low costing riders which have the best return in percentage because you obviously want to get as close to 7500 as possible.

However, and this was one of the original arguments for picking riders around the 227 mark, picking an expensive rider comes with a big risk. If he gets injuried you've lost a lot of points. By picking a lot of 227-ish riders you reduce the variance.

When all this is said, I'm pretty sure that the best possible team will always contain one very expensive rider, but that by no means mean that you should include one expensive rider. It might be higher expected value to not do so, because you have to find that one magic, expensive rider that's gonna score a lot of points. If you don't you might not do very well.

I don't think there's a definite answer to your question and when all comes down to it, it depends on the riders and their values and how you think they'll do next year.

 

[greenedge]

Sun tour is a 'national event' and wont be paying CQ points. Aussie/NZ nationals first up I think.

Ah thanks.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Herald Sun Tour is not on the national series and international teams are competing so I am not so sure if it will be discounted from CQ points or not.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am still a bit confused about the sending of the teams. Do we send you the riders names on a private message or do we send you a private message with our team filled out in the excel file?

 

[mc_mountain]

Herald Sun Tour is not on the national series and international teams are competing so I am not so sure if it will be discounted from CQ points or not.

To clarify - Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2013 is classified by the UCI as NE (National Event), ie the same as for example Cancer Council Classic. CQ Ranking does not attribute points for NE classified events.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I am still a bit confused about the sending of the teams. Do we send you the riders names on a private message or do we send you a private message with our team filled out in the excel file?

Just send me a list of the riders. The Excel file is just to make it easier to create your team and avoid spelling mistakes etc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Thanks Hugo for clearing that up. I was pretty sure that was the case but just wanted to confirm. I will send it to you within the next 24 hours.

 

[al_pacino]

Very nearly there and just a few points to spend and it's looking like my team could include riders from all four corners.

 

[Afrank]

Hmm, 476 points and 2 spots left. Spend it on a 400 pointer and a cheap guy to fill out the roster, or divide the points equally between two 200 pointer riders, hmm. It's getting harder to pick the more complete my team gets.

Hi Afrank and welcome to the game!

If I remember correctly, The Hitch was among the first who "theorized" the game in season one, 2011. His idea was to pick riders who were close to the average cost, 227 (7500/33). I'm sorry if I'm wrong about this Hitch

However, when you look at the last two year's "best possible team" both teams have one very expensive rider - Gilbert the first year and Wiggins this year (I don't remember if there actually were two expensive picks in the best possible team for 2011, but one at a minimum). The reason should be quite clear: they make big points, perhaps doubling their score, while making room for cheaper riders, like Cobo in season one, Moser in season two and so on who return a huge amount of points and doesn't cost much.

If you inlude mainly riders costing around the 227 mark, you won't be able to include many low costing riders which have the best return in percentage because you obviously want to get as close to 7500 as possible.

However, and this was one of the original arguments for picking riders around the 227 mark, picking an expensive rider comes with a big risk. If he gets injuried you've lost a lot of points. By picking a lot of 227-ish riders you reduce the variance.

When all this is said, I'm pretty sure that the best possible team will always contain one very expensive rider, but that by no means mean that you should include one expensive rider. It might be higher expected value to not do so, because you have to find that one magic, expensive rider that's gonna score a lot of points. If you don't you might not do very well.

I don't think there's a definite answer to your question and when all comes down to it, it depends on the riders and their values and how you think they'll do next year.

Thanks, I will definitely have at least one expensive rider, decided to take out the other expensive rider though.

By the way, this is a stupid question , but what is the exact date we need to have out team in by? Is it Jan 9th (when Aussie nationals start)?

 

[Tigerion]

First time playing the game this year, so I was wondering, what are people's opinions on picking riders in the 600-1000 point range? Good idea? Bad idea? I looked through the teams of the guys that made top 10 last year and there weren't a lot of riders in that point range.

There's one 700 point rider that is currently on my team, but I'm not sure if I should keep him or not.

Welcome to the game, it's my first year as well so will be good to have somebody else who has no prior experience to measure against.
It is rather intimidating isn't it.

My team is far from finalised but I only have one rifer above 700 and another a little below. But as I said this is my first year so I might not be the best person to take advice from

 

[greenedge]

At the moment i think i will have one rider on 1000, one on 700 and one in the 600's.

I do however have cheap picks to help fill the remaining spots (hopefully).

I have not been able to post as of late as i recently travelled to the US and will be here for 4 1/2 more weeks but i shall try and send my team in sometime soon.

 

[Eric8-A]

I have no rider over 1000. And I have a rider who I have had since the first time this game was played.

 

[Netserk]

I have no rider over 1000. And I have a rider who I have had since the first time this game was played.

I am quite sure who the last one is. One who I for some while thought would do better the next year, but always ending up with fewer points

 

[adamski101]

Team submitted. One rider over 1,000. one rider just a touch over 700. Bulk of the team (66%) are under 250, so hoping for a few stellar seasons. kept with a few riders from last year in the hope that they come good this time around.

 

[Eric8-A]

I am quite sure who the last one is. One who I for some while thought would do better the next year, but always ending up with fewer points

You'll see if you're right when the teams are sent and put out for others to see.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Submitted my team. I am quite happy. I have 7 Belgians and 5 Aussies. On the other end of the scale, I surprisingly only have two Frenchmen. Most popular team in my squad is Movistar with 5 riders. Median value of squad is 150.

 

[vladimir]

Almost there...

Almost there, but as the current value is 7450 I still need a day or two to see if the team can get stronger by getting closer to the 7500 limit. Currently 5 Spanish and 5 Italian riders. 7 riders have kept their place from my lousy 2012 team. One rider 1000+, two more 700+, apart from those three; no one over 500.
My first considiration now (and maybe the last): Is there any rider with 117 points or less that will score more CQ points next year than Ni**** A**** (to keep away from name dropping).

 

[Nyssinator]

Almost there, but as the current value is 7450 I still need a day or two to see if the team can get stronger by getting closer to the 7500 limit. Currently 5 Spanish and 5 Italian riders. 7 riders have kept their place from my lousy 2012 team. One rider 1000+, two more 700+, apart from those three; no one over 500.
My first considiration now (and maybe the last): Is there any rider with 117 points or less that will score more CQ points next year than Ni**** A**** (to keep away from name dropping).

I see you come from Norway. I am namedropping one rider each day on my twitter