The 2013 CQ Ranking Manager Game

[Hugo Koblet]

Update #12: The king is dead

No, it's not an april's fool. Skibby has in fact been pushed away from the 1st place. But let's start with this week's top scorers. Here HelgeBlendet takes a narrow win with points from Cancellara, Roelandts, Langeveld, Oss, Anton and Coquard while Ruudz0r is close with points from Cancellara, Roelandts, Langeveld and Coquard as well alongside Van Keirsbulck.

This week's top scorers:

1. HelgeBlendet - 673
2. Ruudz0r - 637
3. Bellsax - 580
4. AussieGoddess - 577
5. King Of The Worlds - 562
5. Jraama - 562

Bellsax, also on the list of this week's top scorers, is this week's high jumper, moving from 87th to 41st. Both Ruudz0r and AussieGoddess are among this week's high jumpers for the second week in a row.

This week's high jumpers:

1. Bellsax +46
2. Jraama +42
3. Ruudz0r +32
4. AussieGoddess +29
5. sykkelerbest +28

And now for the big news. Because of a horrible week in which he only scored 174 points - less than the average of 233 - Skibby the bush kangaroo drops from 1st till 5th! Our new leader is last week's 2nd place, ironted, while The Hitch and Dim both moves up 5 places and into the top 3. The high scorer this week, HelgeBlendet, jumps into 10th place.

Top 10:

1. (+1) ironted - 3612
2. (+5) The Hitch - 3577
3. (+5) Dim - 3535
4. (-1) bicing - 3519
5. (-4) Skibby the bush kangaroo - 3515
6. (-) Geraint Too Fast - 3495
7. (+4) will10 - 3469
8. (+5) King Of The Worlds - 3451
9. (-5) SteelyDan - 3433
10. (+11) HelgeBlendet - 3413

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?6xaawjjjwgv4wdi

 

[jsem94]

This season is beginning to suck big time. With Cadel racing the Giro too, he's going to be a goldmine for whomever has him. Uggghh. I was in the top 10 a few weeks back, now I'm 75th. Horrendous.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

I gained 5 places meaning I'm almost on par with skidmark for the first time since last year's TDF. Of course, considering that we are now slugging it out in the low 80s instead of 1-2 it is a slightly less impressive accomplishment. The good news is that my team is rather stage races oriented (Rolland, Pinot, Evans, Anton,...) and did not contain that many cobbles specialist so there might be hope to salvage this season yet.
My French climbers (Barguil, Bardet and Pinot) need to step up in Pais Vaisco to continue my progression through the ranks.

 

[vladimir]

Up 16 places to 35th which I think is my highest ranking ever
Bit surprised by this considering that Oss was my best plaved rider in RVV, but I guess most teams sucked yesterday
This week should have a great potential with no less than 14 riders in Pais Vasco
GILBERT Philippe
KREUZIGER Roman
QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander
PINOT Thibaut
ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor
TAARAMÄE Rein
MATTHEWS Michael
DEVENYNS Dries
RATTO Daniele
GENIEZ Alexandre
SILIN Egor
VALLS FERRI Rafael
SCHLECK Andy
NOVIKOV Nikita

 

[ingsve]

I just noticed that the game has gotten really close after this week. The top 5 within 100 points and only 309 points down to the tied 15th place.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Oh well, didn't move up or down, despite several picks of me failing bad this week.

If TGBM had done a good performance on Pais Vasco, certainly I'd finally have gone up again next week, but now he's gone. Hope it doesn't hinder his Ardennes campeign too much.

My Pais Vasco team would've looked much better with TGBM :

Pais Vasco
LANDA MEANA Mikel
SLAGTER Tom Jelte
SCHLECK Andy
COBO ACEBO Juan Jose
MATTHEWS Michael
ELISSONDE Kenny
PINOT Thibaut
RUJANO GUILLEN José
TAARAMAE Rein

 

[will10]

ironted has a pretty interesting team with Sagan, Cavendish and Gilbert and then a ruck of good 100-200 pointers. Sagan will be a great pick even at 100% return, Cav looks to be on for a good year; if Gilbert starts firing then I think we can get used to seeing ironted up near the top.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

As had previously been pointed out, the 33 most frequently picked riders:

SCHLECK Andy 118
HUSHOVD Thor 118
THOMAS Geraint 104
BOBRIDGE Jack 102
GILBERT Philippe 94
NUYENS Nick 90
COBO ACEBO Juan Jose 80
KENNAUGH Peter 77
PINOT Thibaut 76
DOMBROWSKI Joseph Lloyd 74
ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin 68
TAARAMÄE Rein 59
ROUX Anthony 55
RUJANO GUILLEN Jose Humberto 54
BRESCHEL Matti 54
HEPBURN Michael 52
MATTHEWS Michael 49
APPOLLONIO Davide 48
OSPINA HERNANDEZ Argiro Alonso 47
COQUARD Bryan 47
ARU Fabio 46
SUTTON Christopher 44
LÖFKVIST Thomas 43
BOLE Grega 42
DENNIS Rohan 38
BATTAGLIN Enrico 37
VAN LEIJEN Joost 36
BARGUIL Warren 36
LUTSENKO Alexey 34
PONZI Simone 32
POZZATO Filippo 32
GUARDINI Andrea 32
EVANS Cadel 32

could have all been picked as one team within budget.

This "collective wisdom" team, however, has not been a great success so far: with 2564, it would be joint 67th overall.

THOMAS Geraint 479
ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin 220
COQUARD Bryan 207
ROUX Anthony 181
POZZATO Filippo 153
MATTHEWS Michael 138
EVANS Cadel 130
LÖFKVIST Thomas 123
PONZI Simone 116
HUSHOVD Thor 105
GUARDINI Andrea 85
PINOT Thibaut 85
BOLE Grega 80
GILBERT Philippe 79
BRESCHEL Matti 78
SUTTON Christopher 61
TAARAMÄE Rein 54
COBO ACEBO Juan Jose 45
DENNIS Rohan 35
BARGUIL Warren 33
APPOLLONIO Davide 30
BOBRIDGE Jack 27
ARU Fabio 10
RUJANO GUILLEN Jose Humberto 5
BATTAGLIN Enrico 5
SCHLECK Andy 0
VAN LEIJEN Joost 0
NUYENS Nick 0
KENNAUGH Peter 0
DOMBROWSKI Joseph Lloyd 0
HEPBURN Michael 0
LUTSENKO Alexey 0
OSPINA HERNANDEZ Argiro Alonso 0

 

[GP Blanco]

Thank god that I had three riders in the top-10 of driedaagse De Panne Koksijde to compensate a bad Ronde.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
SCHLECK Andy
MALORI Adriano
GILBERT Philippe
BARGUIL Warren
RUJANO GUILLEN José

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire
DURBRIDGE Luke
HEPBURN Michael
DUMOULIN Tom
KONIG Leopold

Scheldeprijs
VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume
VANMARCKE Sep
OFFREDO Yohan
STANNARD Ian
TABORRE Fabio

Grand Prix Pino Cerami
O'SHEA Glenn

Circuit de la Sarthe seems to be my most promising race this week.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I really moved up a lot since last time I checked. Last time I checked I was within the last 3. Now i'm up to 61th

Hurrah

 

[HelgeBlendet]

Top Scorer of the week and up into 10th place \o/
More than happy with the season so far. Nevertheless, I know that it's mostly downhill after P-R for me. Might have been too focused on cobbles this season.

Pais Vasco
Anton
Sicard
Slagter
Schleck
Lutsenko
Bardet
Gilbert
Rujano

Really hope that Anton will show something. Slagter, Bardet and Gilbert might be good enough for minor points. Gilbert really should start scoring big. I'm getting slightly nervous about him. Not sure what to expect from Sicard, Lutsenko and Rujano.

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe
Hepburn
Teklehaymanot
Ahlstrand
Coquard

I fear Hepburn and Tekle will have to work for Durbo. Ahlstrand and Coquard should score some points in the sprints.

Scheldeprijs
Appollonio
Chainel
Van Der Sande
Rojas Gil
Cancellara
Breschel

Disappointed with Chainel so far. I guess it won't change here. Maybe Appollonio and Rojas Gil somewhere or Cancellara motoring away

 

[The Hitch]

ironted has a pretty interesting team with Sagan, Cavendish and Gilbert and then a ruck of good 100-200 pointers. Sagan will be a great pick even at 100% return, Cav looks to be on for a good year; if Gilbert starts firing then I think we can get used to seeing ironted up near the top.

Gilbert doesnt matter that much unless he bombs, because so many people have him.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Okay, so at Pais Vasco today, I had someone in the break. A Sprinter who could maybe make it over the hill, a puncheur for if it were more difficult, and a bunch of climbers, for if it were really difficult. Here I was thinking I had all scenario's covered, but somehow (crash) nobody ended in the top 25 of the stage

 

[taiwan]

Me: dropping like a stone now we're into the classics.

 

[will10]

Gilbert doesnt matter that much unless he bombs, because so many people have him.

I see your point but for a team like ironted where he relies heavily on several big point riders, Gilbert needs to fire for him to be competitive.

 

[mc_mountain]

I see your point but for a team like ironted where he relies heavily on several big point riders, Gilbert needs to fire for him to be competitive.

regardless of the make up of ironted's team any points scored by Gilbert will also be scored by 93 other teams.

ironted's ability to complete over the course of the season will depend on how his cheaper riders will do and whether or not he has enough of this year's equivalents of Durbridge, Rogers, Moser, Porte, Quintana etc

(also re Rebellin, only 5 of the current top 50 have hiim on their team, so I'm not sure you need to worry about him too much, regret not picking him by all means though)

 

[Netserk]

I regret picking Gesink. Worst pick ever. (perhaps even worse than Offredo last year.. )

 

[Tigerion]

This "collective wisdom" team, however, has not been a great success so far: with 2564, it would be joint 67th overall.

Thanks for doing this AC, I've been wondering how this 'team' was going. I'm still beating it so happy with that.

Another 2 position drop this week, not great but better than I thought. Was hoping for more points from Langveld, seemed to have the legs to go top 5 except for the bunch sprint

 

[skidmark]

The good news is that my team is rather stage races oriented (Rolland, Pinot, Evans, Anton,...) and did not contain that many cobbles specialist so there might be hope to salvage this season yet.

Hmm, given that I have Nuyens, Pozzato, Breschel, Hushovd, Van Keirsbulck, I should probably be worried. Luckily, I am.

Two things, though - I like that I'm seeing a) teams that took a chance on a big rider up top (ie. ironted with Sagan) and b) teams at the top being really close. I'll get my enjoyment from the season watching from the sidelines with the popcorn, and tracking what I can only hope will be my gradual climb through the ranks, just like the first year. Somebody has to score some points SOMEtime, right?

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Hmm, given that I have Nuyens, Pozzato, Breschel, Hushovd, Van Keirsbulck, I should probably be worried. Luckily, I am.

Two things, though - I like that I'm seeing a) teams that took a chance on a big rider up top (ie. ironted with Sagan) and b) teams at the top being really close. I'll get my enjoyment from the season watching from the sidelines with the popcorn, and tracking what I can only hope will be my gradual climb through the ranks, just like the first year. Somebody has to score some points SOMEtime, right?

I considered Sagan is it was his last year were he was going to be affordable and I exoected to improve his score which for that price is pretty unique but didn't dare take him in the end. Congrats to ironted for his gamble, it's deservedly paying rich dividends.

I think that something that keeps the scores rather close, is that the scores are much lower than last year (Mellow Velo had more points after MSR last year than ironted has now, and MW had 6300+ points after P-R). Last year had some pretty tense moments too especially around the TDF with the podium in less 50 points at one point but of course after that you just run away by being the best-scoring team in like 34534 weeks in a row.

Amazed at how badly the collective wisdom is failing, I think it would have finished around 3rd last year (probably one of the reasons why the scores are lower this time around).

 

[The Hitch]

I think someone on the OGE staff is playing this game and didn't pick Matthews. Mother****ers wont give him a chance

 

[Jancouver]

Out of the TOP 100. Ouch!

At least my only unique pick and future 2013 Tour of California winner Lawson Craddock scored his first 24 points. Hopefully he will get to ride some other bigger races this year or at least Colorado and Utah.

 

[skidmark]

I considered Sagan is it was his last year were he was going to be affordable and I exoected to improve his score which for that price is pretty unique but didn't dare take him in the end. Congrats to ironted for his gamble, it's deservedly paying rich dividends.

I think that something that keeps the scores rather close, is that the scores are much lower than last year (Mellow Velo had more points after MSR last year than ironted has now, and MW had 6300+ points after P-R). Last year had some pretty tense moments too especially around the TDF with the podium in less 50 points at one point but of course after that you just run away by being the best-scoring team in like 34534 weeks in a row.

Amazed at how badly the collective wisdom is failing, I think it would have finished around 3rd last year (probably one of the reasons why the scores are lower this time around).

Well, it's a long season. I'd bet by the end that the 'collective wisdom' team picks it up.

In other news, 4th, 6th and 11th at Scheldeprijs for me is not exactly overwhelming, but it's a lifeline. But then, the first selective stage in Pais Vasco and my highest finisher is Pinot in like 40th. And Jungels looks to be doing well in Sarthe, but then Dennis DNS. One step forward, one step back...

edit: which, of course, it better than only taking steps back, which has been my season from February until now.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I was looking forward to Pais Vasco so long.....

TGBM, Pinot two sure candidates for decent position GC I thought, Elissonde, Slagter might do a top 20 or get a stage or something, Taaramae might get a decent GC position, Matthews sure contender for a few stages......

TGBM, GE sprints for Impey and the rest just sucks. Oh, and off course Taaramae crashed again......

On the bright side of things, the racing in the Basque country is awesome, and Meyer is finally in action again, earning me some points in Sarthe along with Coquard

Ah well, I'll have to postpone my rise to power until TGBM wins LBL

 

[jaylew]

272 at Scheldeprijs. If Nairo can defeat the skyborg, I'm looking at a decent week even if my team fails at Roubaix, which they probably will.