The 2025 CQ Ranking Manager Thread

[vladimir]

Ok, so I am one of six managers who scored 200 points today with the Van Aert, Torres, Rondel combination. But the thing that really put a smile on my face was the 10 points my unique pick Iker Mintegi scored for his 11th place in Doubs . Could be that this mindset prevents me from doing better in this game, but I will not change...

 

[tobydawq]

I don't really understand what's going on in this game. I have Vingegaard, Pithie and Van Eetvelt so far uselessly eating up almost half my budget, yet in the past three weeks I have climbed from around 70th place to number 17!

And Brennan and Ganna are the only remotely semi-rare riders I have who have scored more than 200 points apart from anyone mentioned above.

Very odd.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I don't really understand what's going on in this game. I have Vingegaard, Pithie and Van Eetvelt so far uselessly eating up almost half my budget, yet in the past three weeks I have climbed from around 70th place to number 17!

And Brennan and Ganna are the only remotely semi-rare riders I have who have scored more than 200 points apart from anyone mentioned above.

Very odd.

It's because Ganna is far and away the best semi-popular pick north of 450 points so far.

 

[search]

Two victories today, for a total of 19 points

 

[hayneplane]

Ok, so I am one of six managers who scored 200 points today with the Van Aert, Torres, Rondel combination. But the thing that really put a smile on my face was the 10 points my unique pick Iker Mintegi scored for his 11th place in Doubs . Could be that this mindset prevents me from doing better in this game, but I will not change...

Seeing your unique or rare picks grab some points is weirdly more satisfying even than one of your common picks winning a race.

 

[RedheadDane]

In the "Epic Battle to Avoid Last Place" both LetsTalkCycling, and I had some advantage in both having Skjelmose.

Alps

Valgren
Wandahl

Fleche

Charmig
Cort
Foldager
Gregaard
Honoré
Kamp
Skjelmose (continue the good work, Mattias, and don't be an icicle!)

 

[postmanhat]

1-2-3 on the first stage of the Trentino with Ciccone, Gall, Sexias, and Riccitello looking ok for now. Need a few hundred points from this race as the potential line-up for Romandie is looking fairly weak.

 

[hayneplane]

1-2-3 on the first stage of the Trentino with Ciccone, Gall, Sexias, and Riccitello looking ok for now. Need a few hundred points from this race as the potential line-up for Romandie is looking fairly weak.

You might also snag a Giro podium from Ciccone if all the stars align although durability is always a concern with him.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

This post probably belongs in a Mental or random CQ statistics thread, but if I had picked all the Astana riders, minus Bettiol, I would have been in 31st place after yesterday's races with 3961 points, which is exactly 420 points more than I actually had (I would probably also have had to smoke something to ever think that would be a great team to have).

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Ok, so I am one of six managers who scored 200 points today with the Van Aert, Torres, Rondel combination. But the thing that really put a smile on my face was the 10 points my unique pick Iker Mintegi scored for his 11th place in Doubs . Could be that this mindset prevents me from doing better in this game, but I will not change...

Well the goal of the game is to have fun and following rare picks is definitely the most fun part. So what if your team isn't optimized ? Besides I have a feeling you'll enjoy this update.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Update #13: V for victory and vladimir

Just like Remco I'm making a triumphant return this week (to handle the updates which is rather less impressive than what he did over the week-end to be fair). The classics are in full swing and as we turn from the cobbles to more hilly one day races we see new teams rise to the top. But who exactly took advantage ?

This Week's Top Scorers

Rank​	Team​	Points this week​
1​	vladimir​	478​
2​	skidmark​	476​
3​	Qazaqstan​	446​
4​	ingsve​	433​
5​	Nyssinator​	430​

Vladimir took the weekly honors with 478 points. Their team got big contributions from Van Aert, Healy, Buchmann, Rondel, Torres and J. Kulset (who was suspiciously not nearly as productive last year when he was on my team). But in this game every point big or small matters and the 15 points from unique pick Iker Mintegi (now into profit !) were the difference to push them over skidmark.

The two time former winner comes so close to winning the week falling two points shy with a fairly similar contingent of big scorers (Grégoire and Nys instead of Healy, Buchmann and Kulset). Qazaqstan completes the podium to continue a multi-week surge up the rankings.

This Week's High Movers

Rank​	Team​	Up/down​
1​	ingsve​	(+12)​
2​	skidmark​	(+11)​
3​	Nyssinator​	(+9)​
3​	Object​	(+9)​
3​	Hugo Koblet​	(+9)​

This week is dominated by former winners as they take 3 of the top 5 spots. Fittingly, ingsve the winner of the original edition of the game is tops with a 12 place jump while the creator of the game Hugo Koblet bookends the top 5.

Green Jersey Competition

Rank​	Team​	Total​
1​	Pantani4ever​	176​
2​	Rufs​	147​
3​	Salvarani​	144​
4​	Qazaqstan​	131​
4​	search​	131​

Vladimir scored their first points this week so they aren't a threat yet. Skidmark cracks the top 10 but the most interesting movement is Qazaqstan tying search for fourth.

Top 10 Overall

Rank​	Up/down​	Team​	Points​
1​	(-)​	search​	5244​
2​	(-)​	postmanhat​	4960​
3​	(+5)​	Qazaqstan​	4809​
4​	(-1)​	Rufs​	4783​
5​	(+2)​	MADRAZO​	4765​
6​	(-2)​	Pantani4ever​	4713​
7​	(+2)​	will10​	4707​
8​	(-3)​	slow_climber​	4705​
9​	(+1)​	manafana​	4688​
10​	(-4)​	Salvarani​	4584​

There's some shuffling within the top 10 but remarkably nobody moving in or out. Search maintains a stable lead over postmanhat. The most significant push is once again made by Qazaqstan who surges onto the podium.

The ramp up to the Giro as well as the hilly classics in Belgium are sure to provide more excitement and opportunities to move up next week.

Spreadsheet link

 

[search]

Another week in the lead, but I'm afraid that'll be it - or next week at the latest. All my decent points scorers are on vacation now.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Looking forward to seeing how Gall will manage to blow his GC placing this week.

 

[Earns1985]

Looking forward to seeing how Gall will manage to blow his GC placing this week.

He will surely find a way...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I, for one, would quite like to see Felix Gall completely fulfil his meme potential. I promise this has nothing to do with him not being on my team.

 

[will-10]

Another week in the lead, but I'm afraid that'll be it - or next week at the latest. All my decent points scorers are on vacation now.

I reckon Ayuso and Van Aert might pick you up a point or two in May

 

[Squire]

Update #13: V for victory and vladimir

Just like Remco I'm making a triumphant return this week (to handle the updates which is rather less impressive than what he did over the week-end to be fair). The classics are in full swing and as we turn from the cobbles to more hilly one day races we see new teams rise to the top. But who exactly took advantage ?

This Week's Top Scorers

Rank​	Team​	Points this week​
1​	vladimir​	478​
2​	skidmark​	476​
3​	Qazaqstan​	446​
4​	ingsve​	433​
5​	Nyssinator​	430​

Vladimir took the weekly honors with 478 points. Their team got big contributions from Van Aert, Healy, Buchmann, Rondel, Torres and J. Kulset (who was suspiciously not nearly as productive last year when he was on my team). But in this game every point big or small matters and the 15 points from unique pick Iker Mintegi (now into profit !) were the difference to push them over skidmark.

The two time former winner comes so close to winning the week falling two points shy with a fairly similar contingent of big scorers (Grégoire and Nys instead of Healy, Buchmann and Kulset). Qazaqstan completes the podium to continue a multi-week surge up the rankings.

This Week's High Movers

Rank​	Team​	Up/down​
1​	ingsve​	(+12)​
2​	skidmark​	(+11)​
3​	Nyssinator​	(+9)​
3​	Object​	(+9)​
3​	Hugo Koblet​	(+9)​

This week is dominated by former winners as they take 3 of the top 5 spots. Fittingly, ingsve the winner of the original edition of the game is tops with a 12 place jump while the creator of the game Hugo Koblet bookends the top 5.

Green Jersey Competition

Rank​	Team​	Total​
1​	Pantani4ever​	176​
2​	Rufs​	147​
3​	Salvarani​	144​
4​	Qazaqstan​	131​
4​	search​	131​

Vladimir scored their first points this week so they aren't a threat yet. Skidmark cracks the top 10 but the most interesting movement is Qazaqstan tying search for fourth.

Top 10 Overall

Rank​	Up/down​	Team​	Points​
1​	(-)​	search​	5244​
2​	(-)​	postmanhat​	4960​
3​	(+5)​	Qazaqstan​	4809​
4​	(-1)​	Rufs​	4783​
5​	(+2)​	MADRAZO​	4765​
6​	(-2)​	Pantani4ever​	4713​
7​	(+2)​	will10​	4707​
8​	(-3)​	slow_climber​	4705​
9​	(+1)​	manafana​	4688​
10​	(-4)​	Salvarani​	4584​

There's some shuffling within the top 10 but remarkably nobody moving in or out. Search maintains a stable lead over postmanhat. The most significant push is once again made by Qazaqstan who surges onto the podium.

The ramp up to the Giro as well as the hilly classics in Belgium are sure to provide more excitement and opportunities to move up next week.

Spreadsheet link

Getting an error when trying to open the spreadsheet.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Getting an error when trying to open the spreadsheet.

Ok, weird. I'll take a look after work tonight.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Ok, weird. I'll take a look after work tonight.

Bit harsh, calling him weird just because he can't open a file.

 

[manafana]

Awaiting to see If Kron shows any signs of life after an early season DNF at Camino

The Dinham comeback pushed back to May at the earliest

 

[Earns1985]

Vingegaard not in the provisinal startlist for Romandie...

Interesting fact is, that 3 out of the current top 4 overall missed out on Paul Seixas..

 

[Kazistuta]

Vingegaard not adding anything to his original schedule makes me a bit angry.... the "easy" stage race points were meant to be his bread and butter, as he won't defeat the new cannibal at Le Tour.

 

[Netserk]

Yeah, he would have needed not to crash out of PN and Catalunya to be a solid pick. Best case now is that he is top-2 in Dauphiné and the Tour and then wins the Vuelta.

 

[hayneplane]

Vingegaard not adding anything to his original schedule makes me a bit angry.... the "easy" stage race points were meant to be his bread and butter, as he won't defeat the new cannibal at Le Tour.

To be fair it has made the game a lot more interesting with the two super obvious big ticket riders not having the big bounce back season that could have reasonably been expected.

 

[Qazaqstan]

Very nice week! With Gall and Gee in the Alps and Gregoire and Healy in LBL, this week should be good too.

May I ask what the green and polka dot jersey mean? I have 121 green jersey points on this platform and 131 points in the spreadsheet, but I'm not sure how I got those.