The 2026 CQ Ranking Manager Thread

[Samu Cuenca]

Anyone want to bet on how many unique picks they'll have?

I honestly can't see any of my picks being unique this year. Some might be close, but I don't consider any of them hidden enough.

I think I may end up having 6 to 10 unique picks.

 

[vladimir]

I had 5 unique picks in 2025. Two of them are in my 2026 as well. And I think one of them will be my only qnigue pick this year.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think I may end up having 6 to 10 unique picks.

How many are Basque?

6 of my riders share their last name. Not necessarily the name they're primarily known by, but their last name.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

How many are Basque?

6 of my riders share their last name. Not necessarily the name they're primarily known by, but their last name.

One of them is a native Spanish speaker, but none of them are Basque.

 

[Squire]

One of them is a native Spanish speaker, but none of them are Basque.

Great to see that someone is anticipating the big Rujano comeback!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Great to see that someone is anticipating the big Rujano comeback!

I sadly created my team before I knew Visma was in dire need of some hot climbing talent.

 

[skidmark]

I had thought (and it's been speculated on the thread) that this year might see some varied team building strategies, and as I've started trying to chip away at entering teams into the popularity tab I've seen this borne out.

- After entering the first two teams, there were only 6 riders chosen by both teams
- After entering the first three teams, there were only 2 riders chosen unanimously, and 3 others by 2 of the 3 teams
- After entering the first 4 teams, there was only 1 unanimous rider, and 3 more by 3/4 teams
- After entering the first 5 teams, there were no unanimous riders, and only 2 riders on 4/5 teams

So yeah, should be interesting!

Six more hours until publication deadline - I have a few DMs out for people to correct an ineligible rider that I just noticed, and of course I'll take any last minute entries up until publication. I believe we're at 91 teams right now, so if there's anyone who woke up today realizing they forgot about the CQ game and wanted to enter, we might be able to match last year's 95 entries still.

 

[Salvarani]

My tab for the year includes...

7 Calvados
4 Kriek Lambic
4 Bourbon
3 Sangria
3 Carlsberg
3 Gin
2 Campari
2 Heineken

+ 5 shots from all around the world

 

[ingsve]

I guess I'll do my breakdown as well:

500+ 4 riders
300-500 3 riders
200-300 12 riders
100-200 6 riders
1-100 6 riders
0 2 riders

Teams:
Visma 5
Red Bull 5
UAE 3
Uno-X 2
NSN 2
Movistar 2
Picnic 2
Soudal 2
Lidl 2

Countries:

Spain 5
Great Britain 5
France 4
Denmark 4
Belgium 3
USA 2
Norway 2
Germany 2

 

[ingsve]

Seems like no one so far has leaned quiet as heavy into the 200-300 point bracket as me. I see 5s and 7s a couple of 9s and one 11 but I have the most of the revealed at 12.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

My tab for the year includes...

7 Calvados
4 Kriek Lambic
4 Bourbon
3 Sangria
3 Carlsberg
3 Gin
2 Campari
2 Heineken

+ 5 shots from all around the world

Ten Damn, I wish I had known the secret to success in this game was to drink while selecting the riders.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Breakdown before the reveal:

500+: 3
400-499: 2
300-399: 3
200-299: 10
100-199: 7
0-99: 8

Alpecin: 2
Bahrain: 3
Bora: 4
Decathlon: 2
EF: 1
FDJ: 2
Ineos: 1
Jayco: 1
Lotto: 3
Movistar: 2
NSN: 1
Trek: 2
Tudor: 2
UAE: 2
Visma: 5

 

[Nevs]

My tab for the year includes...

7 Calvados
4 Kriek Lambic
4 Bourbon
3 Sangria
3 Carlsberg
3 Gin
2 Campari
2 Heineken

+ 5 shots from all around the world

What a gloriously inventive way to make your pre-announce
I would much prefer a Trappist to a Kriek Lambic - (Trippel or Dubbel (or better... both)
Maybe a Sauterne as opposed to a Calvados - but that's just quibbling.

 

[Panda Claws]

500+: 3
400-499: 1
300-399: 3
200-299: 9
100-199: 8
0-99: 9

 

[armchairclimber]

None over 700
500-700 5
300-500 3
100-300 13
1-100 12
0 1

I have been bitten before, dropping riders that I have followed prematurely, and it may happen again with a couple,
But, as usual, I have gone with fun (for me) and youth.

5 French
5 Brits (surprised myself)
4 Aussies (even more surprised)
4 Belgians
3 Spanish
2 German
2 Italian
2 Dutch
2 American
2 Danish
1 Colombia
1 Norway

 

[escartin]

whilst doing my breakdown, I saw 2 riders I had definitely noted as potential picks but then totally missed when doing my analysis . I normally only realise this after the reveal!

1000+ = 0
501-1000 = 5
301-500 = 4
201-300 = 6
101-200 = 6
11-100 =10
1-10 = 1
0 = 1

ESP = 3
FRA = 7
BEL = 4
GBR = 4
RUS = 1
CZE =2
ITA = 4
SUI = 1
AUS = 1
NED = 3
GER = 2
SLO = 1

WTT = 28
PROT = 3
CON = 2

 

[postmanhat]

Looking at the nationality breakdowns posted so far has confirmed I've probably made a mistake with a couple of Bora riders who I had doubts about.

Bel - 7
Fra - 6
GBR - 4
Aus - 2
Ger - 2
Ned - 2
Spa - 2
Slv - 2
Col -1
Rus -1
Nor- 1
Den -1
Can - 1

Two riders account for 2100 points, which has resulted in an inordinate amount of low cost picks! The +1000 pick is mostly emotion-based, otherwise I would have had a more sensible strategy.

+1000 - 1
+ 800 - 1
500-800 - 2
200-500 - 11
100-200 - 5
<100 - 13, including one zero pointer.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Anyone want to bet on how many unique picks they'll have?

I honestly can't see any of my picks being unique this year. Some might be close, but I don't consider any of them hidden enough.

I'm not expecting any to be unique, but there are 3 that wouldn't totally shock me if they are. Probably more because they may not have been very wise rather than because they are evidence of rare genius.

 

[Shakes]

I am very unlikely to have unique picks. I've mostly picked riders that had issues (e.g. injuries) and hoping they all return to previous form. So my rider list won't be unique.

 

[MADRAZO]

Seems like no one so far has leaned quiet as heavy into the 200-300 point bracket as me. I see 5s and 7s a couple of 9s and one 11 but I have the most of the revealed at 12.

Without revealing the rest I also have 11 riders between 200-300, but could easily have had a few more

 

[ingsve]

Without revealing the rest I also have 11 riders between 200-300, but could easily have had a few more

Ya, there's one more I would have wanted to add but couldn't find a good way to get him in.

 

[R_O_Shipman]

Looking forward to the game. My team make up is…

500+ - 5
200-499 - 12
100-199 - 2
1-99 - 12
0 - 1

4 French
4 Spanish
3 Aussies
7 Belgians
4 Brits
3 Italians
2 Danes
1 Kiwi
1 Dutch
1 Hungarian
1 Colombian
1 Irish
1 Swiss

Make of that what you will

 

[bminchow]

Anyone want to bet on how many unique picks they'll have?

I honestly can't see any of my picks being unique this year. Some might be close, but I don't consider any of them hidden enough.

My over under on my team is 1.5.

 

[bminchow]

Breakdown before the reveal:

500+: 3
400-499: 2
300-399: 3
200-299: 10
100-199: 7
0-99: 8

Alpecin: 2
Bahrain: 3
Bora: 4
Decathlon: 2
EF: 1
FDJ: 2
Ineos: 1
Jayco: 1
Lotto: 3
Movistar: 2
NSN: 1
Trek: 2
Tudor: 2
UAE: 2
Visma: 5

Nice distribution of teams

 

[YellowSocks]

Probably more because they may not have been very wise rather than because they are evidence of rare genius.

Well, you might find me on this field.