The 2026 CQ Ranking Manager Thread

[ingsve]

Although Martinez looked horrible on the last km and it´s not sure, that he can stay at 2nd in GC, this was together with Steinhauser a totally unexpected really good day for me.

Depends on how much of that was his level and how much was just the weather. He's a colombian in freezing cold rain after all.

 

[slow_climber]

Don't think he'll lose three minutes. He was among the strongest overall today, after all.

Combo search on the website gives me seven (!) teams with all of DFM, Steinhauser and Gaudu. A lot more than I thought considering that Steinhauser is only picked 13 times. @slow_climber looking incredibly good with Tiberi and Kron supplementing from Tirreno too.

I have Gaudu, but not DFM or Steinhauser. So P-N is going to be a bit of a disaster in terms of losing out to other teams. DFM needs to stop this leader nonsense! Of course the other Red Bull leader for this race, who I do have, is among the worst bad weather riders in the peloton.

Steinhauser the biggest surprise if he can hold on in GC. I assumed he would only be good for breakaway stage wins and some one day points. But GC points would be gratefully received.

 

[Squire]

I have Gaudu, but not DFM or Steinhauser.

You've got to be joking ...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Without wanting to jinx myself, that should be second place on GC for DFM and somewhere in the top-7 for Gaudu locked in at Paris-Nice barring further crashes and echelons. Things might be looking up.

NARRATOR: He did, in fact, jinx himself.

 

[armchairclimber]

Pellizzari continues to be my bright spot this week. I think someone described him as a glorified Piganzoli upthread.

 

[Earns1985]

So good to see, that for us not owners Tiberi also doesn't seem to become at least an absolutely game changing pick.. Seems, that he peaked esrly

 

[Squire]

So good to see, that for us not owners Tiberi also doesn't seem to become at least an absolutely game changing pick.. Seems, that he peaked esrly

The Tirreno climbs this year are also very anti-Tiberi, to be fair to him.

This is quite a strange week. With the exception of DFM and Steinhauser in P-N, there are barely any game-relevant picks doing anything notable despite the startlists indicating more of the opposite. If this weirdness continues, this really won't be a very high-scoring edition of the game, I think.

 

[ingsve]

The Tirreno climbs this year are also very anti-Tiberi, to be fair to him.

Ya, not all climbers are made alike. Tiberi is more of a pure high mountains climber and not a steep 2 km climb type of one day racer which requires a lot more explosiveness.

It's the same argument I make when people start comparing Nordhagen to the likes of Widar or Del Toro etc.

 

[Squire]

Ya, not all climbers are made alike. Tiberi is more of a pure high mountains climber and not a steep 2 km climb type of one day racer which requires a lot more explosiveness.

It's the same argument I make when people start comparing Nordhagen to the likes of Widar or Del Toro etc.

I guess some people would take exception with the word 'pure climber' in the same sentence as Tiberi. But you're of course correct in that he is more suited to the long and steady climbs. I'd categorize him more in the unexplosive-time-trialist-turned-climber group, like a Leipheimer or Bruseghin or Kelderman. With a bit of a flat sprint on him due to his outright power, a bit like Pinot or Ullrich, but hardly any punch.

 

[SafeBet]

Pellizzari continues to be my bright spot this week. I think someone described him as a glorified Piganzoli upthread.

I had a long look at Pellizzari and the only reason why I didn't pick him is because he's Italian and I've been let down by Italian prospects so many times...
But yeah he's good and all signs pointed to Red Bull giving him some (co)leadership status this year. He still has room for improvement.

Btw Piganzoli will also make a relevant jump in performance now that he's with Visma. Shame he crashed out of PN.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is quite a strange week. With the exception of DFM and Steinhauser in P-N, there are barely any game-relevant picks doing anything notable despite the startlists indicating more of the opposite. If this weirdness continues, this really won't be a very high-scoring edition of the game, I think.

Pellizzari has been picked 10 times, just 3 times fewer than Steinhauser, and therefore also belongs on this list.

Other than that, I am feeling a similar way. I feel like my team isn't doing much better than in 2024, when I finished in the bottom half, I have had shedloads of injury and illness already with Küng, Van Gils, Withen Philipsen, Van Eetvelt, Gaudu, Poole, Foldager, Bjerg, De Kleijn, Taminiaux and Sanchez (off the top of my head), and yet somehow I'm in 13th. So either my placement, my bad luck or the overall scoring is going to have to give, and so far it's the latter.

 

[ingsve]

I guess some people would take exception with the word 'pure climber' in the same sentence as Tiberi. But you're of course correct in that he is more suited to the long and steady climbs. I'd categorize him more in the unexplosive-time-trialist-turned-climber group, like a Leipheimer or Bruseghin or Kelderman. With a bit of a flat sprint on him due to his outright power, a bit like Pinot or Ullrich, but hardly any punch.

Ya, it depends what one puts into the word climber. He's not a Pantani, not that type of pure climber. ITT turned climber I normally think of heavy guys like Indurain, Olano, Ullrich, Wiggins, Honchar etc. pushing really high gears. Tiberi is still fairly light compared to that category. Leipheimer is perhaps a good comparison.

 

[Earns1985]

Pellizzari has been picked 10 times, just 3 times fewer than Steinhauser, and therefore also belongs on this list.

Quite interesting fact about Pellizzari owners. The best one is right now at place 18 overall @adamski101. The second best is already at place 43 overall (@Senderos), so it´s quite the opposite to Tiberi owners, who basically fill the whole top overall places right now..

 

[Shakes]

@RedheadDane Hello fellow Valgren holder. Good sign for rest of the year.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Pellizzari has been picked 10 times, just 3 times fewer than Steinhauser, and therefore also belongs on this list.

Other than that, I am feeling a similar way. I feel like my team isn't doing much better than in 2024, when I finished in the bottom half, I have had shedloads of injury and illness already with Küng, Van Gils, Withen Philipsen, Van Eetvelt, Gaudu, Poole, Foldager, Bjerg, De Kleijn, Taminiaux and Sanchez (off the top of my head), and yet somehow I'm in 13th. So either my placement, my bad luck or the overall scoring is going to have to give, and so far it's the latter.

And add a major injury to Nys to that...

 

[RedheadDane]

So, this T-A is shaping up pretty well, for my standards.

Though, I am also sort of on Søjberg watch, because he has been a naughty boy, getting two yellow cards already this month; one in KBK, and one on stage 3 of T-A... another one this month, and he'll miss the classics.
Rasmus, behave yourself!

 

[Kazistuta]

And add a major injury to Nys to that...

Omg....f that.

 

[Earns1985]

Omg....f that.

And the extra annoying thing about Nys is, that he is not like every other rider, who will therefore ride more races in the end of the season. Nys normally ends his season always early because of the upcoming cyclocross season. If he is doing this also this year, it´s already hard to see him going into profit at all..

 

[postmanhat]

I had a long look at Pellizzari and the only reason why I didn't pick him is because he's Italian and I've been let down by Italian prospects so many times...
But yeah he's good and all signs pointed to Red Bull giving him some (co)leadership status this year. He still has room for improvement.

Btw Piganzoli will also make a relevant jump in performance now that he's with Visma. Shame he crashed out of PN.

Very similar thought process regarding Italian climbers generally in this game, but specifically his progression in the new Red Bull hierarchy. Seems we were both wrong and has staked his claim early in terms of GC, while also being given some one-day opportunities.

Same sort of thinking meant I went for Vansevant over Zanna at Soudal, which isn't looking good atm.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Now down to 84th, almost bottom. Thankfully I have the entire giro podium as well as the winners of Flanders and roubaxi on my team. We will come good