Shouldn't (B)DSM be at 0?New gaps
Intermarche 0
Cofidis -1726
PicNic -2379
Astana -3385
UnoX -4058
Intermarché: +2379
Cofidis: +653
(B)DSM: 0
Vino: -1006
Uno-X: -1679
Shouldn't (B)DSM be at 0?New gaps
Intermarche 0
Cofidis -1726
PicNic -2379
Astana -3385
UnoX -4058
It was a lucky day for Astana today because they were never really in the race. Swings and roundabouts.
As they would likely deny another Italian team the top-30, it should also give them great odds of riding the Giro.with the team they have, Vini Fantini is actually doing better than expected so far, I think. If they can keep on scoring in Asia, there's a chance.
Would say that Bardet at Picnic puncturing at the wrong time cost them lots of points. At the end of day, Astana were underwhelming at LBL, yet at the same time were brilliant at PR but suffered misfortune.Neither were the teams they are fighting against.
There is a flaw in the system. Surely if relegation is done on a three year cycle, then at the end of the cycle, access to following year wildcards must also be on a three year cycle. It seems silly that you could be the 19th best team in the cycle, but yet ( because of circumstances ) you have no WT wildcards for the next year.unless some miracle happens, Astana will pass Picnic PostNl, even before the TDF, and Picnic will be relegated, and most likely will not earn any wildcard for the next season, which will be a huge blow for the team.
i currently can't see Uno-x either passing Astana nor capable of passing other team like Picnic.
So my prediction is:
13 Lotto
15 Ipt
16 Wanty
17 Cofidis
18 Astana
-------------
19 Picnic
20 Uno-x
21 Arkea
Wildcards:
Uno-x
Tudor
Q36.5
The fight for top-30 and GT eligibility will also be fierce:
I think Vini Fantini and Euskaltel will be the losers there at the end of the season.
Would say that Bardet at Picnic puncturing at the wrong time cost them lots of points. At the end of day, Astana were underwhelming at LBL, yet at the same time were brilliant at PR but suffered misfortune.
last time ipt were in a similar position. then adams made some threats, and the team got a one day wildcard (the excuse was the covid outbreak)There is a flaw in the system. Surely if relegation is done on a three year cycle, then at the end of the cycle, access to following year wildcards must also be on a three year cycle. It seems silly that you could be the 19th best team in the cycle, but yet ( because of circumstances ) you have no WT wildcards for the next year.
last time ipt were in a similar position. then adams made some threats, and the team got a one day wildcard (the excuse was the covid outbreak)
and also since Picnic are Dutch team, then they most likely are not going to get any invitation from any GT.Yes. But this does not overcome a flaw in the system. For example, if Picnic finished 19th in the three year ranking, then if a team suddenly withdrew from the WT, Picnic would take the spot. Yet, as it stands today, they will struggle to get a WT wildcard. It makes no sense at all.
Has Uno-X already decided that they have no chance anyway? Or is that not their goal at all? Otherwise I can't explain how they drove in Frankfurt today. They were very strong as a team. They had a strong say in the race. In the end they countered every attack but only relied on the sprint - which I don't understand when Matthews is there. But even more incomprehensible: they could definitely have gotten 2, maybe 3 riders into the (bigger) points. They didn't even try. Sure, you actually ride bike races to win. That's what they tried to do. But shouldn't they also be going for points?
Has Uno-X already decided that they have no chance anyway? Or is that not their goal at all? Otherwise I can't explain how they drove in Frankfurt today. They were very strong as a team. They had a strong say in the race. In the end they countered every attack but only relied on the sprint - which I don't understand when Matthews is there. But even more incomprehensible: they could definitely have gotten 2, maybe 3 riders into the (bigger) points. They didn't even try. Sure, you actually ride bike races to win. That's what they tried to do. But shouldn't they also be going for points?
After today:Points today:
Astana: 50
PicNic: 30
Intermarche: 25
Looked as Champoussin got boxed in during that sprint, but with bittner and aniolkowski in that race it had to be expected a significantly worse result today
It will also help if the rules get changed to 3 mandatory wildcards.Last few weeks weren't good enough. It's going to be hard for them. But like Yavor says, Pro Team with guaranteed WCs is a way better position for them right now. They will be good enough to fight off other Pro Teams and choose their schedule. They will be WT in 2029 (if it still exists by then).