Update #6: When your CQ score's high from that cheap QuickStep guy, that's a Mauri
Another week, another top score approaching 4 digits. While last year's week-to-week updates were unique for combining a grab bag of races that normally are not close in the calendar to each other, this year's updates are whiplash-inspiring by the number of points teams are getting even in relatively 'down' weeks. Strade Bianche is bigger in our hearts than it is in CQ points, and "two 1.PS races in Italy, two 1.1 races in Belgium, and 1 stage of Paris-Nice" is hardly an exceptional backing cast. But the big suspicion going into the year - that the sheer affordability of top riders would mean lots of riders on teams would be snagging top spots every week - is already showing us what that actually looks like. And it looks like some monster weeks.
This Week's Top Scorers
With two top placings in the non-Strade Bianche Italian races this week, Bauke Mollema scores 222 points for 386 on the season and somehow first place in the year's CQ rankings! Props for a guy who's always there or thereabouts to get his moment in the sun. And with 33 teams owning him, a lot of owners have to be pleased. But similarly highly placing in the Italian races and getting a much higher return on investment is young Belgian Mauri Vansevenant, getting 196 points on the week to get to 246 on the season, for a cost of
fifteen points! His 28 owners must be quite pleased, and we are just getting started on the season. Unsurprisingly, the winner of the week has them both. Otoxiep87 rides the success of these two, good points from near unanimous picks Bernal (170 points) and Pidcock (70), and 108 from Julian Alaphilippe (27 teams), to end up at almost 1000 points. CQ included Bol's 45 points from Monday's Paris-Nice stage, but Otoxiep87 would have had the week regardless. Bicycle Boy gets a great haul for second place, and being the owner of the rare combination of Van der Poel, Van Aert, and Alaphilippe (now THAT is a big CQ game swing! Props for that), their team is primed to have some giant weeks, despite being one of the few teams without Bernal. BB also has Mollema, Sam Bennett (61 points), and the other QuickStep guy that cost 15 points, Mark Cavendish (48 points). I just want to take a moment here to recognize the ridiculous of QuickStep, winning two of the races on Sunday and getting 2nd in the other race. SafeBet lands in third place, rounding out the podium.
This Week's High Movers
A bit of a different list on this ranking. EITB takes the top spot here, moving up 25 spots with a big 3 of Mollema/Vansevenant/Bernal. Josedin lands in second, as one of only 3 teams to benefit from Tim Merlier's two wins this week (160 points), and Bicycle Boy manages both podiums this week.
Green Jersey Competition
Otoxiep87 narrows Hugo's lead here with the 45 points for the win, although Hugo did pick up 4 points for a top 15 placing. Jon Ezeitza picks up 18 points this week and Northerner picks up 6, tightening things slightly at the top.
Top 10 Overall
Hugo Koblet and Northerner were very close at the top last week, and in fact this week they were very close as well, with Northerner edging out Hugo 713-711 for the week. But Otoxiep87's monster week leapfrogs them both, putting their team handily in the lead by over 100 points. Some big shakeup lower down, with teams moving around the top 10, and SafeBet, trackstand and Fivezzz jumping in, and Squire, Total Package, shalgo and skidmark tumbling out (last week had a tie for 10th so we lose 4 and gain 3).
This week is always a treat for cycling fans to watch with overlapping stages of Paris-Nice and Tirenno-Adriatico (and an extra treat for some this year I'm sure, as it's comforting to get back to that annual rhythm after it was interrupted last year). But in fact it's quite a simple week for CQ points, as these are the only points on offer, and T-A doesn't give GC points until next week. I used to feel like Paris-Nice was the start of the cycling season, back before I really understood the significance of Opening Weekend and before the CQ game made me obsessed with every single point and therefore all the smaller opening season races. But however you measure it, by the time Paris-Nice rolls around, the season is truly started.
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