Update #40: karaev closes the gap, Green Jersey race tightens up
The final monument is done, the European season is effectively done, all we have left is the tacked-on WT stage race in China, the Japan Cup, and a few minor wind-down races. The season is done for the vast majority of participants in the game, but of course the game is not over. So how will the endgame shape up?
This Week's Top Scorers
A big week for karaev, scoring 747 points! The big scorer, as 25 other owners likely know, is Bernal, who adds 333 points to an already sterling season. But karaev also had big weeks from Van Asbroeck (128 points, 19 teams), Gaudu (108, 57 teams) and another decent week from unique pick Vendrame (62 points). Hakkie2 gets second on the week with the same big 3 as karaev, but smaller contributions from the rest of the roster. DJW slots into third with Bernal and Gaudu, but also points from rare picks Sosa (122, 3 teams) and Enric Mas (68, 5 teams).
This Week's High Movers
oliveira wins this competition this week, with a huge (for the end of the season) 17-spot climb up the standings. Their team had the same 'big 3' as the top 2 in the previous ranking; they were just placed in the standings such that a 17-point jump was possible (3 of the top 5 in the previous ranking were already in the top 10 overall, hence not far to move). zlev11 moves up a not-too-shabby 12 spots despite finishing 14th in the Top Scorers ranking, and DJW jumps double digit places as well.
G
reen Jersey Competition
An unprecedented 13 teams are within a weekly win (45 points) of the top spot in this competition as it heads into it's final big week! tobydawq still sits atop the standings, but leadbelly (20 points this week), karaev (45 for the win), Joelsim (14) and fauniera (8) all scored some this week to pull within striking distance. This one is coming down to the wire!
Top 10 Overall
Quite the shakeup in the overall standings for this late in the season - apart from leader fauniera, every team in the top 10 moved around somewhat. You may note that #1 and #2 on the week are now #2 and #3 overall, with Tigerion falling out of the podium places. It is looking very probable that fauniera will become a two-time winner of this competition, as their lead is 241 points; even with an incredible week, karaev only closed by 214 this week. Unless something wild happens in Guangxi and Japan, it seems likely that the top spot is going to stay the same. Third and fourth are only 36 points apart, so the final podium spot is up for grabs. Below that, there's a bit of stratification, although 6th-10th are only separated by less than 200 points. A very competitive top 10, with several former winners and high placers, as well as a good number of teams who have participated in many editions. Game founder Hugo Koblet moves into the top 10 (and has a 70 point lead on 11th), while another previous high finisher - TheArt -drops out. After next week it's not technically over, but for all intents and purposes the final standings will be set. I hope everyone has had a fun year, let's see how the rest of it goes!
spreadsheet at dropbox