The 2025 CQ Ranking Manager Thread

[Earns1985]

Seixas and Philipsen aren't U23 graduates but junior graduates, I deliberately didn't say neopros here. Was mainly talking about Nordhagen, Torres and (if he belongs in the same tier of obviousness) Behrens, and then Widar has also done very little in his pro races. 352 points between the four of them as of right now is almost shockingly poor, IMO.

Especially Behrens is extremely awful this year. Widar, Torres and Nordhagen are at least on their way to come into profit during the next couple of weeks. But of course, one would have hoped also for more from these three.

Other U23 riders, who don´t perform yet this year are last years l'Avenir winner Blackmore and third placed Graat.

It´s really rare, that the two riders who are coming directly from the juniors, perform better in their first Pro Season, than the riders, who have already proven themselves in the U23 races.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I would guess Simon Yates sets a new record for accumulating the least number of CQ points while winning a GT ? Best stage result of 3rd, no CQ points for the points or KOM jersey and just 1 day in pink. Apologies for being churlish and congrats to all Simon Yates owners. Another Visma rider to make a mockery of my choice of 3 Visma riders.

 

[del1962]

With Blackmore his points from last year were already inflated due to wins in 2.1 races and top tens in pro tour races.

 

[del1962]

I would guess Simon Yates sets a new record for accumulating the least number of CQ points while winning a GT ? Best stage result of 3rd, no CQ points for the points or KOM jersey and just 1 day in pink. Apologies for being churlish and congrats to all Simon Yates owners. Another Visma rider to make a mockery of my choice of 3 Visma riders.

I haven’t crunched the numbers but even for this week Del Toro might have outscored Simon

 

[Earns1985]

With Blackmore his points from last year were already inflated due to wins in 2.1 races and top tens in pro tour races.

Yes, it´s true and this is also the reason, why he is so unpopular for a Tour de l'Avenir winner in this game this year.

But the fact, that the best U23 riders of last season, doesn´t deliver this year until now, is also transferable to him. Regardless of the previous year's score, 168 points for a Tour de L'Avenir winner until june is not a good score.

 

[SafeBet]

Ia this discussion on u23 graduates based on numbers or just general feeling?
What is the average CQ score for the top5 u23 graduate in the post COVID era?

 

[Earns1985]

Ia this discussion on u23 graduates based on numbers or just general feeling?
What is the average CQ score for the top5 u23 graduate in the post COVID era?

I didn´t analysed the complete last years, but if you compare the score of the top5 of the previous Tour de l'Avenir, there is quite a difference between last season and this season:

Top 5 L'Avenir 2023	2024 Score	Top 5 L'Avenir 2024	2025 score until June
del Toro	890​	Blackmore	168​
Pellizzari	484​	Torres	107​
Piganzoli	523​	Graat	28​
Riccitello	333​	Bisiaux	51​
LeCerf	286​	Kajamini	30​

 

[del1962]

Matt Brennan is probably the best cyclist from l’avenir but not a gc rider and he didn’t start stage 6

 

[postmanhat]

Arensman, Plapp, Ciccone, Vine, Hindley...

I dont think anyone has been more unlucky actually.

But Simon Yates. Nice.

Sorry, should have specified that was referring to your most expensive riders, including Simon Yates now !

The ones you mention surely fall into the category of risky picks due to their tendency to crash, get sick, or just be inconsistent? Despite that, Ciccone and Vine are massively ahead of their 2024 points tally, Arensman is going well, and maybe only Hindey could be described as unlucky.

Plapp (who I have as well as Ciccone), immediately became a bad choice when he got injured before the season even started and missed out on a load of Aussie and Middle Eastern points. He's got a poor record in Europe, and not surprising that he's been withdrawn from Slovenia at the last moment.

 

[Salvarani]

Sorry, should have specified that was referring to your most expensive riders, including Simon Yates now !

The ones you mention surely fall into the category of risky picks due to their tendency to crash, get sick, or just be inconsistent? Despite that, Ciccone and Vine are massively ahead of their 2024 points tally, Arensman is going well, and maybe only Hindey could be described as unlucky.

Plapp (who I have as well as Ciccone), immediately became a bad choice when he got injured before the season even started and missed out on a load of Aussie and Middle Eastern points. He's got a poor record in Europe, and not surprising that he's been withdrawn from Slovenia at the last moment.

Yeah, I thought you were only referring to the Giro since you quoted your post with your riders there.