OK, now I've used the last hour and a half doing a write-up of my team, so I better post it before I go to bed - after all it is reveal time, baby!
VINGEGAARD HANSEN Jonas: So this was my last reshuffle. My priciest rider ever by far, but my countryman will with a injury-free year get around 3000 points even with finishing 2nd after Tadej in every race they take part in. That’s a pretty good point return for an expensive rider. Will probably be picked by a lot of teams, regardless of his high price tag.
LIPOWITZ Florian: I know he’s at a loaded BORA team, but I really thought he looked great at several times during the season, where he should’ve taken more points, so there’s plenty of room for improvement. Maybe only a 2-300 point return ceiling, but I have a feeling he won’t be picked by many and thus will be fun to root for.
HEALY Ben: The Irish powerhouse really didn’t get the point haul he deserved last year. Should easily get 1000 points during the season, although the “threat” of doing a Grand Tour bid worries me a bit. I think he will be a top10 consensus pick.
JOHANNESSEN Tobias Halland: Was unlucky more than once last year and should have learned his celebrations lesson by now. Also quite versatile, clear leader at Uno-X and should be able to get 1000 points as well.
CICCONE Giulio: His top level is amazing, and even though he seems to always find a way to get sick, injured or something else when at peak level, I have hopes of him hitting a 1000 points season too.
PLAPP Lucas: Still has a lot to learn racing wise, but the guy has talent in several areas and had some bad luck last year. Should be an easy 500 points with potential for 500 more.
HIGUITA GARCIA Sergio Andres: Actually this is a very boring pick, but Higuita seems to be hit-or-miss, and last season was definitely a miss. A switch to Astana could also mean more easy racing, and the team believes he can help them get loads of points - so I do as well. 100-1000 points.
MIHKELS Madis: The young Estonian showed glimpses of his knack for hard racing last year, and it seems EF will support him for the sprints, so even though I’ve often been burned by picking sprinters, I had to include some. At least there’s a chance Mihkels will feature in some of my favorite spring races. 400-800 points.
HAYTER Ethan: What a bad pick he was last year! But I’m doubling down after his switch to the Wolf Pack, which have proven like a miracle medicine plenty of times. Without Lefevre to yell “don’t stay in the back, Ethan!”, he might continue to suck, but the guy clearly has talent. 0-500 points
JAKOBSEN Fabio: Another returnee on my team. Fabio disappointed majorly last year, and even though it’s not a Picnic (pun intended), hopefully he returns to his old self again. Had no self-confidence last year. 500+ points.
LAFAY Victor: Half a year after following Tadej and Jonas in the Tour, Lafay was one of the only guys Decathlon didn’t deliver wonders with last season. Is bound for a bounce-back year and 500+ points.
UIJTDEBROEKS Cian: WTH happened with young Key-Ann? Let’s hope it was just a year of adjusting to the Visma program and he’ll unleash his potential this year. Should be a 500+ candidate under normal circumstances. A top 10 consensus pick I think.
NORDHAGEN Jørgen: I’ve missed young super talents like Remco, Morgado and Del Toro due to thinking it was “to soon”, but no more. This young man is going to have a great career, and I’m on board from the beginning. 100-500 points.
STAUNE-MITTET Johannes: My third rider I welcome back to my team, only due to his switch to a new environment to get more chances. Didn’t exactly lit the World on fire last season, but there should be an safe points increase awaiting just by team switch default. 100-500 points .
GEOGHEGAN HART Tao: Another rider I was let down by last year. His serious injury from ’23 carried over in 2024, but Lidl-Trek still believe they have a GT top rider on their hand, so it would be stupid not to take a chance again. Probably will be a top3 consensus pick. 100-1400 points.
KÄMNA Lennard: A guy that resurfaced on my draft board in the final days. I love his racing instinct, and poor Lennard also seems a bit up-and-down, and with last year being a down year, this season will be a definite up on his new team. 200-800 points.
LOUVEL Matîs: Part of the last-minute reshuffle. I wanted a Frenchman for the many French races, but realized he switched to Israel, where he will be part of their classics campaign, and he’s very ambitious himself. His name wasn’t high on my draft board, but his points fitted and actually his profile fits the rider type I like to pick. My expectations are mixed. 100-500 points.
HERZOG Emil: A highly touted talent for several years, and he seemed to have trouble adjusting to the pro scene. Late last year I saw potential in several races, where he showed improved strength and stamina, so I’m hoping he’s ready for some more in a granted loaded Bora team. I saw what Jan Christen did on a loaded UAE team last year. 100-400 points.
BAX Sjoerd: Back to basics, Sjoerd. I thought he was ready to take the next step last year, but really stagnated at UAE. I think the change of scenery will do him good, and it’s great to have some riders for the smaller races in the team. I think he could end up being a really good pick. 200-600 points.
CAVAGNA Rémi: So Movistar wasn’t really a fit - at all. Now Cavagna is on home soil and should be able to get back to his monster watt ways. Should be a definite top10 consensus pick. 300-700 points.
KRON Andreas Lorentz: One of the first riders on my team. Was very unlucky last year and has the potential to multiply his score with 10+. A real no-brainer, which should be a top5 consensus candiate.
VADER Milan: OK, when I look at this pick now, I’m actually pondering if I rate Vader to high. I like that he switched Visma for a team with clear leadership opportunities, but I actually don’t know enough about Q36’s race calendar, as they need to give Vader chances in easier, smaller races to inflate his points total. 200-600 points.
VERMEERSCH Florian: I’ve been a shadow fan of his for a couple of years, and since the Spring classics are my favorites, I’m very happy to include him after joining an elite team where he will get joined leadership for most of these races. 300-500 points.
GLOAG Thomas: My fifth call-back. Never knew anything about his conditions until March or April, but now he should be training normally and shall take his spot in the Visma order. Usually the young guys at Visma get their chances in smaller races, and I’m hoping young Thomas gets some easy points that way. 200-400 points.
CALZONI Walter: I really don’t know what happened to him last year, which could be worrisome, but I liked the signs he showed in 2023, and at this price he’s a bargain. 100-400 points.
SCHELLING Ide: One of the guys that won in the reshuffle lottery. He should really have shown himself at Astana last year, and it puzzles me he rode so poorly in “easier” races tailor-made for his rider type. I hope it was a one-off, but even though Schelling should break even easily, I’m not counting on a massive haul of points. 100-200 points.
SENECHAL Florian: Got injured just before his big Spring goals last year, clear leader at Cofidis. Without bad luck an easy point increase early on. 200-500 points.
VAN BAARLE Dylan: Even more bad luck for him. No-brainer. Actually he is my bet for the most picked rider. 400-800 points.
TULETT Ben: Another Visma rider (yeah, teams will be floating with those this year - including mine) with a bad 2024. Another no-brainer and possible top5 consensus pick. 200-500 points.
GESBERT Elie: Yes, there he was! The French rider for the French scene! Gesbert has earlier shown promise in plenty of races, and after a serious illness hopefully is back to speed now. 200-400 points.
DINHAM Matthew: Don’t know what to expect after his long absence, but was indeed a talent worth “wasting” zero points on.
PHILIPSEN Albert Within: Like with Nordhagen I wasn’t going to let this talent with major point potential slip away, if they decide to show their World Class talent sooner than expected.
BRUNEL Alexys: The last guy in the reshuffle. Returns to road cycling after doing triathlon and gravel racing. Don’t know what to expect, but felt good about taking a flyer on rider on another French team. That IS the best types of flyers
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Looking forward to seing peoples teams, but especially hearing the thoughts behind both picks and dismissals - og yeah, and the rider popularity table is always a nice read too.
Good luck to all! It's a great way to keep interest during the year, also in the smaller races - and I love it
Thx Skidmark!
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