I've put in a lot of time on threads about UCI points before, so I'll say two things and leave this to the rest of you.
#1 The races, and the points available for performances at each, are known to the teams before they plan their schedules. There's nothing mystical about it. If UCI Points are your goal, you send your best available squads to those races, if you can get an invitation. If you choose your race priorities and rider allocations based on other considerations, you don't gripe about not earning points. And I haven't heard a team or rider do so. Granted, the ASO announcement put a bit more importance on it for some teams. There are all of the grand tours and monuments, other one day races and stage races of around a week, so it's pretty balanced - hardly biased for or against anyone.
#2 Contador, the guy who won last year, obviously isn't putting a lot of emphasis on it. I think it's safe to say he had a shot at finishing top five in a stage at Pais Vasco, or top ten in the GC, but he's riding Castilla y Leon instead. I imgine he and the Astana management were aware of the sacrifice when they decided on the change of schedule, and were obviously cool with it. He could earn some points at La Fleche Wallone and Liege Bastogne Liege, but otherwise he's down to the Dauphine Libere and the Tour. There's an outside chance he'll ride the Vuelta. But my main point is, Rider of the Year is up for grabs even if he wins the Tour de France. Cheers.
#1 The races, and the points available for performances at each, are known to the teams before they plan their schedules. There's nothing mystical about it. If UCI Points are your goal, you send your best available squads to those races, if you can get an invitation. If you choose your race priorities and rider allocations based on other considerations, you don't gripe about not earning points. And I haven't heard a team or rider do so. Granted, the ASO announcement put a bit more importance on it for some teams. There are all of the grand tours and monuments, other one day races and stage races of around a week, so it's pretty balanced - hardly biased for or against anyone.
#2 Contador, the guy who won last year, obviously isn't putting a lot of emphasis on it. I think it's safe to say he had a shot at finishing top five in a stage at Pais Vasco, or top ten in the GC, but he's riding Castilla y Leon instead. I imgine he and the Astana management were aware of the sacrifice when they decided on the change of schedule, and were obviously cool with it. He could earn some points at La Fleche Wallone and Liege Bastogne Liege, but otherwise he's down to the Dauphine Libere and the Tour. There's an outside chance he'll ride the Vuelta. But my main point is, Rider of the Year is up for grabs even if he wins the Tour de France. Cheers.
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