The 2013 CQ Ranking Manager Game

[skidmark]

No runaway winner this year! Going down to the wire

I'm as happy to watch that happen this year as I was to be in the boring position last year

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

A number 2 spot! Makes a whole year filled with disappointment worthwhile.

 

[will10]

I'm as happy to watch that happen this year as I was to be in the boring position last year

Who's your money on?

 

[martyfulu]

Gonna frame this and put it on my wall! Maybe.

 

[vladimir]

Very happy to be sixth after struggling around 100th place last year. Probably too far behind the leader to have any realistic chance of winning, but I expect to be doing well in the worlds with the likes of Quintana, Gilbert, Majka, Kreuziger, Pinot, Ponzi, Hushovd, Taaramae, Sarmiento, Thomas and Devenyns to name a few (or all)

 

[asdfgh101]

Very happy to be sixth after struggling around 100th place last year. Probably too far behind the leader to have any realistic chance of winning, but I expect to be doing well in the worlds with the likes of Quintana, Gilbert, Majka, Kreuziger, Pinot, Ponzi, Hushovd, Taaramae, Sarmiento, Thomas and Devenyns to name a few (or all)

Strong squad.

Like most i'm hoping a few of my dark horse picks for next year don't rack up too many end of season points.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Unexpected points from the worlds TTT, 101

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Weeks like this are the reason I love this game. None of my team scored a spectacular amount of points, but lots of riders did something. Cav and Bennett got 100 points between them in Britain, Baugnies finally got a good result in a .1 race, Hepburn's into profit, Aldegheri got his first points since Race Horizon Park 1 , and there were some half decent contributions from Gilbert, Hushovd, Coquard, Finetto, Cancellara, Thomas, Farrar and Dennis.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

108th, absolute nomansland

But at least turning profit.

 

[TeoSheva]

if I'm right, I should finally be in the top10 for the first time this year

 

[search]

if I'm right, I should finally be in the top10 for the first time this year

yep, you are, up into 10th, will10 back in the lead. But wait for the official update

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Update #34: Fierce battle in the top 3

A pretty quiet week saw our former leader Geraint Too Fast sharing honor with GP Blanco as this week's top scorer with 404 points. All three of Geraint Too Fast's expensive picks, Cavendish, Cancellara and Gilbert, scored points this week while GP Blanco got his points from Gilbert, Vanmarcke and Stannard among others.

This week's top scorers:

1. Geraint Too Fast - 404
1. GP Blanco - 404
3. asdfgh101 - 391
4. The Amateur - 388
5. Skibby the bush kangaroo - 379

Despite of a good week, GP Blanco didn't quite manage to take the prize for this week's high jumper but he did manage to get his name into the top 5. Instead, asdfgh101, 3rd on this week's top scorers list, gets the honor of being the high jumper this week as he moves up 13 places.

This week's high jumpers:

1. asdfgh101 +13
2. King Of The Worlds +11
3. GP Blanco +6
3. Blackbandit222 +6
3. Fowsto Cope-E +6

In the top 10 SteelyDan once again overtakes will10 and at the moment it looks like a three-way battle between SteelyDan, will10 and Geraint Too Fast for this year's title. TeoSheva moves into the top 10 while tomazo drops out.

Top 10:

1. (+1) will10 - 12234
2. (-1) SteelyDan - 12202
3. (-) Geraint Too Fast - 12055
4. (-) adamski101 - 11783
5. (-) chinaboy - 11598
6. (-) vladimir - 11357
7. (-) freddybobs - 11332
8. (-) Ferminal - 11154
9. (-) Nyssinator - 11095
10. (+1) TeoSheva - 11085

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/download/qy7l9qsq15vhgmi/CQ2013+Update+34.xls

 

[jsem94]

This is rather exciting actually.

 

[will10]

32 points....this one might be decided by 5 pointers in the Worlds, Lombardy, Beijing etc

 

[skidmark]

Who's your money on?

I know you asked this last week, but I haven't had a chance to look. It's pretty exciting to look at the possibilities, for sure. Here's my take - anyone else wanna chime in?

- I think GTF has the advantage over you in the coming couple of weeks. SteelyDan's boat rises and falls with the Sagan tide; if Sagan is as good as he was earlier this season, he'll keep pace and has a chance. My gut is that Sagan doesn't quite have it - Montreal was typically impressive, sure, but Quebec was more problematic. My feeling is that if he's conking out in the sprint of a 200km race with some little hills after a few attacks, he'll be dead after 280k of the worlds and Lombardia, much more intense.

- of course, the flipside is for both you and GTF, Cancellara can (and, I think, will) make this a two-horse race. He's got that 'scary Cancellara good' form going on right now, and his interview after the TTT was telling. As he was walking away, Sporza asked 'Fabian, have you ever been this skinny?' to which he gave a pseudo-joking, but clearly dead serious 'don't ask me that'. If he can do what he thinks he can do in the worlds, he can do it in Lombardia. I think this is his big litmus test to see if the 'Fabian for 5 Monuments' career quest is possible. The 3rd-4th place he'll get tomorrow in the ITT will be some nice bonus points.

Anyway, the upshot:

- Between you and GTF: you both have Canc, but he has possible stronger support in the worlds. With your team, you've got a tired Quintana (he is amazing and could surprise, but I don't have him down as a fave) and a 'possibly could get over the hills for a respectable placing' Pippo and Breschel, and that's about it (I agree with Canc's assessment of Pippo - 'he should just stay at home'). GTF has Mollema and Pinot, both coming off the Vuelta (although Mollema at the end of a long season), and I think Dennis can score some top 10 points in the TT. I'd rank the combo of Mollema and Pinot over Quintana plus some maybes, but who knows.

- Between both of you and SteelyDan: Sagan's the big chance to keep them afloat by keeping up to Canc, but beyond that he's got Pinot, Evans (doubt it but wouldn't be the craziest thing) and Dennis. I think the best he can do is keep up this week, but if Sagan is no good, he could be out of the running.

- Really, I think it is most likely that it'll all be a wash after this week and Lombardia, at least between you and GTF, leaving the end of season races. And who the hell knows who's even doing that? Like, who 'targets' Beijing? So yeah, ultimate assessment, it'll come down to the little points at the end of the season, but I think the chances after this week are GTF>Will10>>SteelyDan.

 

[greenedge]

Good analysis.

Hoping for Porte to win the ITT and RR double and move me up

 

[TeoSheva]

Good analysis.

Hoping for Porte to win the ITT and RR double and move me up

nah, that guy will be Kwiat

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Update #35: King Of The Worlds is king of the Worlds!

Could it be more appropriate? King Of The Worlds is king of the Worlds as he scores points from Gilbert, Cancellara and Phinney among others. Second on the list is a name will10 and SteelyDan didn't want to see: Geraint Too Fast with points from Gilbert, Cancellara, Mollema and Dennis.

This week's top scorers:

1. King Of The Worlds - 516
2. Geraint Too Fast - 504
3. Jpettersen - 476
4. Team Riis - 456
5. sykkelerbest - 449

King Of The Worlds must leave the throne to FF'Wilco and Total Package when it comes to the high jumpers list though. They both jump 12 places while King Of The Worlds is 3rd, moving up 10 spots.

This week's high jumpers:

1. FF'Wilco +12
1. Total Package +12
3. King Of The Worlds +10
4. ingsve +9
4. mc_mountain +9
4. Blues in the bottle +9
4. Dim +9
4. Lortnoc +9

Geraint Too Fast's great week moves him up a single position and he's now eyeing 1st place, only trailing by 35 points, while SteelyDan loses 13 points relative to will10 and 157 points relative to Geraint Too Fast.

The top 3 is now incredibly close as only 45 points separate 1st from 3rd! Who do you think will take the honor?

Top 10:

1. (-) will10 - 12594
2. (+1) Geraint Too Fast - 12559
3. (-1) SteelyDan - 12549
4. (-) adamski101 - 12125
5. (-) chinaboy - 11833
6. (+1) freddybobs - 11576
7. (-1) vladimir - 11497
8. (+4) squire - 11324
9. (+1) TeoSheva - 11297
10. (-1) Nyssinator - 11285

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/download/d9uay7v36mg7s1o/CQ2013+Update+35.xls

 

[TeoSheva]

Another position up, but it is still hard to keep the top10...

The top 3 is now incredibly close as only 45 points separate 1st from 3rd! Who do you think will take the honor?

Top 10:

1. (-) will10 - 12594
2. (+1) Geraint Too Fast - 12559
3. (-1) SteelyDan - 12549
...

IMO SteelyDan is the favourite now, since it has Sagan instead of Cancellara and more climbers (like Rebellin) than the other 2...

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

I'm not making any predictions, but I am the only one who has Farrar...

 

[will10]

That is crazy close! Not gonna try and call this one, but I'm pinning my hopes on Pozzato

It'll come down to Beijing as there's a lot of points to be gained there (compared to what else is left).

 

[Netserk]

Since the final is so close, I'll post the teams for the three contenders (without those riders that are present in all three teams like Andy):

UPDATE: Now the unique picks are bolded (like Sagan).

CANCELLARA Fabian, QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander, POZZATO Filippo, ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin, MATTHEWS Michael, VANMARCKE Sep, BRESCHEL Matti, CHAVES RUBIO Johan Esteban, STYBAR Zdenek, RUJANO GUILLEN Jose Humberto, LANGEVELD Sebastian, STANNARD Ian, GENIEZ Alexandre, ARU Fabio, BARGUIL Warren, VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume, APPOLLONIO Davide, COBO ACEBO Juan Jose, ARNDT Nikias, KERN Christophe, RAVARD Anthony, FINETTO Mauro

CAVENDISH Mark, CANCELLARA Fabian, EVANS Cadel, MOLLEMA Bauke, FARRAR Tyler, PINOT Thibaut, TAARAM&#196], DENNIS Rohan, LÖFKVIST Thomas, ARROYO DURAN David, ROVNY Ivan, BENNETT Sam, JOEÄÄR Gert, BAUGNIES Jérôme, HEPBURN Michael, EDMONDSON Joshua, MEINTJES Louis, ALDEGHERI Daniele, VAN LEIJEN Joost, CORNU Dominique, OSPINA HERNANDEZ Argiro Alonso, FINETTO Mauro

SAGAN Peter, EVANS Cadel, QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander, BASSO Ivan, PINOT Thibaut, REBELLIN Davide, DENNIS Rohan, CIOLEK Gerald, MILLAR David, COBO ACEBO Juan Jose, ARROYO DURAN David, WACKERMANN Luca, VOROBYEV Anton, ROSSELER S&#233], VAN EMDEN Jos, HEPBURN Michael, MORTON Lachlan, VAN LEIJEN Joost, CORNU Dominique, DAVISON Luke, OSPINA HERNANDEZ Argiro Alonso, EWAN Caleb

I think it's going to be between will10 and SteelyDan, but it certainly isn't easy to call

 

[skidmark]

Thanks Netserk, that's great! So the first question is, how will Rebellin do tomorrow? Then on the weekend, how much have Pinot, Quintana, Sagan, Evans, Mollema got left? Looking back at my writeup last week, I overestimated Cancellara's hilly qualities and underestimated Sagan. Advantage SteelyDan.

Gotta say it's good to see someone do well who takes a big risk, and all 3 of our guys, especially SteelyDan with Sagan, have done so. Just shows that this game can work for all types of pick, depending on the year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nice, 84 points for Majka's 2nd place in Milano-Torino

 

[Netserk]

So SteelyDan loses 42 points due to Finetto. Didn't expect that