Leopard won the TTT last night. Anyone with Bennati as their sprinter could be reaping in the rewards soon. All he needs is a podium finish and the time bonuses will put him in Red for Stage 3 + 4.
Which sprinter did you take Port? Freire for me. I only picked up 2 second places last night, but was never going to score big in the TTT. Wish the site would update when they said it would!
I got Cavendish in the end. I had Bennati in most of my teams though. Took a risk with him finishing the Vuelta but that's a risk for all the sprinters.
I picked Cavendish also @port Is this just a 3 week thing? Do we need to log in for regular changes to our side or do we just sit back, relax and watch the scores roll out? Should've asked this earlier I know, but just wondering...
Nah that's it, you have to do no more than to log in and check how you're doing now. There's another game (2 actually but I missed one because it hadn't updated and forgot about it) which enables you 2 trades before each stage. That one is a bit more cycling :nerdy: so I didn't link to it. Velogames is easier and simpler, so more enjoyment
wow Port, only three riders in common in our teams. Nibali, Sagan and KRUIJSWIJK (had to cut and paste, lool). Who would have thunk. regards chels
na UA, i figured port was trying to play with my head! Our rivalry from the TdeF mean we are keen to get bragging rights until the Giro 2012. Would be poetic justice if Kittel was in fact skittled during the Vuelta. regards chels
Nope, he was a tip given to all, not to mess with Chels. I had thought briefly to withhold knowledge of him because he was such a find and I didn't want to give chels anymore help but the greater good of the community won out Bennati already bagging a bunch of points for his owners with his high position and now in the Roja. Tomorrow's stage doesn't suit Cavendish either, gah. If Moncoutie goes for the polka dots (blue this time ) then Team Pharmacy has this. Strong team. Also strong is Fuentes Favourites, managed to get in the 3 big favourites and a bunch of stage hunters who should all get some points at some stage. Would almost have overall tied up if the other 6 point sprinter was chosen. As for my picks: Anton/Nibali (24/20) - two of the favourites who should finish high on GC and in mountain stages. Roche (6) - cheap AR who I have hoped will do something this Grand Tour Kessiakoff (8) - under the radar but a decent climber and given leadership at Astana. Cheap too although at 8 points Taaramae may have been the safer bet, we'll see Cavendish (18) - Originally had Bennati but changed him when I realised I had enough points and I couldn't squeeze in JRod without sacrificing Sagan (may regret that) Sagan (8) - He could be the next Gilbert, can climb the minor mountains well, can descend as good as Nibali and can sprint! If he's not buggered should get plenty of points. Kittel (2) - a top, emerging sprinter (has proven he can be amongst it now if st2 is a guide) and at 2 points? Steal Degenkolb (4) - another emerging top class sprinter (and going to be on the same team as Kittel next year, formidable! ), who can contest on the hilly sprints, as we saw last night he is their 2nd choice if the finish doesn't suit Cav. Kruijswijk (10) - changed to him from Brajkovic at the last minute, more of a case of who was best from the 10 point range. Jani is unknown after injury and Steven had a strong debut in the Giro but might play 2nd fiddle to Mollema if he's got the legs. Hope that explains some of the thought process that goes behind it. Tbh I usually do average on this game, chels was winning for awhile in the Tour. Doing alright in the other fantasy league, 15th there, hope it holds unlike in the SBS competition
Although not in Port's class at this game perhaps the thinking behind my team may be useful. Nibali [24] and Rodriguez [22}. Cash restrictions suggested I could not also have Igor Anton. I think Nibali will win the Vuelta - bonuses for that - and Rodriguez has aimed his season at this event. Brajkovic [10] unlucky in the TdeF my pick to salvage Raidioshack's year. Cheap for his pedigree. Sagan [8], Kruijswijk [10] and D. Martin [6] are all part of cyclings' future. Sagan could be anything, for him and Kruijswijk see Port's comments. D Martin is ready to break out in his first grand tour. Like Roche he is Irish but a far better, albeit less experienced, rider and with a unified team. I am picking Sagan to be the leader of the Vuelta after stage 3 as he will build on his amazing Tour de Suisse performances. JJ Haedo [6] reasonable sprinter and lowest priced from that category. I do not expect much from him or any of the better known sprinters this Vuelta. Taaramae [8] and Weert [6] both strong climbers who I expect to do well in the mountains though maybe not in the HC climbs. Good luck everyone (especially with pronounciation) and let's see how it pans out. regards chels
I just had a look, and happy to see that im currently 3rd! ... Surprised actually. Now for my thought processes ... Coming from a fella that doesn't know much at all about this sport! Vincenzo NIBALI [24] - had to pick the favorite. Price didn't bother me at all. Tony MARTIN [10] - everywhere I read, there were big things being written about this guy! Obviously not experienced but could do really well... Especially for his price Igor ANTON [20] - happy to find one of the favorites in the climbing category so figured the price was probably worth it. Steven KRUIJSWIJK [10] - can't remember exactly ... Think I read somewhere that he was an outside chance at overall victory, and I also saw that he had won some stages/races recently I think. Mark CAVENDISH [18] - I know that he is a quality sprinter, and thought that he may be a class above the other sprinters in this race. Stuart O'GRADY [4] - Aussie! Wanted an Aussie in there, and he was cheap. Also know that he was capable of winning stages in his prime... But also realise he's probably past that. Francesco GAVAZZI [4] - cheappie that I noticed had won something really recently! Snapped him up quick smart. But he hasn't scored a point yet. Marcel KITTEL [2] - thought I recognized his name, but didn't trust myself on that, and still not sure if I made the memory up or not, but anyway, it was enough to put him in my thoughts. Then I saw on a forum somewhere that someone was saying he was meant to be withdrawn from a fantasy comp for vuelta... Did not understand why, and still dont, but it prompted me to research him further and I saw that he had won a heap of things. I didn't know what sort of quality the races were, but I figured at only 2 points, he was worth a risk. Peter SAGAN [8] - had 8 points left over. And there were only a few riders, 5 or so, that were worth this much. I had seen the name Sagan, while researching other positions so I looked him up again and found that he would be supporting the fave this race, but was equally capable of winning if it was the other way around, so I figured he could get some good points! And was surprised he was so cheap. But what would I know!!! I got know idea. lol But it's been a lot of fun so far. Thanks for setting up the league PL! And let's hope I can hold my top 3 possie. And I would be interested to know what you, someone that knows about the sport, thinks of my picks. Cheers
for us who feel passionate about the AFL have a look at this from Cycling News on how Basque separatists view the Vuelta a Espana visiting the basque Country. The Vuelta a España, which will start on Saturday in Benidorm, is facing protests from separatist Basque movements. For the first time in 33 years, the race is going to visit that region of Spain on stages 19 (Noja-Bilbao) and 20 (Bilbao-Vitoria). Thursday, Basque militants from ESAIT did a press conference to blame the cities hosting the race. That local lobby has fought since 1995 for recognition of Basque sport and the creation of official Basque teams in international competitions. They said the two Vuelta's stages are "the consequence of a political decision from the PSE [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, left wing] and the PP [People's Party, right wing] to show a political normalization". They also claimed that the race is not welcome "because Euskal Herria [the Basque Country] is not a community of Spain, but is a nation". ESAIT added, however, they "totally respected" the Vuelta's riders and denied that they had claimed a race "boycott". For two months, some Basque organisations have presented a hostile position toward the race. On June 24, separatist coalition Bidu castigated local involvement as "a waste of money". They pointed out that the organisers wouldn't give the authorities a return on their invested money by having the race entourage sleep in the area after stage 19, as a transfer was planned to the final stage in Madrid. Bidu suggested that the cost of €109,700 to host one stage could be invested in local amateur sport. On July 20, the same separatist coalition protested the Vuelta using two former cyclists as spokesmen. Unai Extebarria, a Venezuelian-born but Basque assimilated, a professional with Euskaltel-Euskadi from 1997 to 2007, supported the campaign against the race in which he won a stage in 2004. Bidu's other spokesperson was Josune Artolazabal, the 1992 Olympic Champion in the women's race. Both former riders accused the local authorities of "making symbols confusing and denying [Basque Country] is a nation". Around the same time, hostile posters appeared in Basque towns and cities, with no political organization's signature. The posters read: "Que se den la Vuelta" (which roughly translates into "They have to go home", using a play on words with "Vuelta" interpretable as "U-turn"). The poster is a photo montage including the logo of the race's organiser, Unipublic, the map of the 2011 Vuelta, and presumed symbols of "Spanish domination": policemen from the Guardia Civile, and Albert Contador exhibiting a Spanish flag and wearing Tour de France's yellow jersey. A Facebook group has been launched with the same slogan. It counts 120 members. It's hard to say whether the race will be seriously affected. Officially ESAIT and Bidu don't want to disturb the Vuelta and preferred to launch a popular bike ride, on September 3, between Gasteiz and Bilbao. The most dangerous threat has cooled since the ETA, the armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization, announced a "permanent, general and verifiable" ceasefire on January 10. In any case, the context is very different from the last time when the Vuelta explored the Basque Country in 1978. That year, the first two Basque stages happened normally. Spaniard José Enrique Cima won in Bilbao and Bernard Hinault won in Amurrio. The following day was a nightmare for the riders. In the morning, they stopped during a morning stage to San Sebastian because protesters had thrown logs to the road, and they had to go to the final velodrome by car. The illusion of sprint was captured by Basque Domingo Perurena. In the afternoon stage that day, local supporters blocked Jean-Rene Bernaudeau's passage in the time trial, and the stage was cancelled. That was the final day of the race. The year after, organisers sold their event to Unipublic and the Vuelta decided that for the next 33 years, it would neither start nor finish in the Basque Country. And we are upset about injuries and suspensions regards chels
Martin is a better climber than Roche but GC in a GT, probably Roche atm. Martin hasn't really done anything GC wise except for Pologne, which has 1 stage that's hilly. Anthak, O'Grady not the best because he's purely a domestique now, unless LEO wins a lot of stages can't see him scoring. Gavazzi is the same, may score with Nibali but unless he gets into breaks (which he could) no idea how he will score. Yeah the Basque thing is really huge chels, its also why they've dodge any major mountain climbs because its all in the heartland of ETA. It will be very precarious. Bit disheartening to see Extebarria speak against it though. You don't want to hear an ex-pro slam it. He's probably pocketing $$$ though for saying it. As for the stage, Pable Lastras makes it 2/2 for former riders in my team leading the GC. I thought he might go for GC (and doubted his chances so he got the flick) but a stage win and holding the jersey would more than make up for that. With his climbing ability he may hold the jersey too. Generally the first mountain stage in a GC is a cautious one so there may not be a big selection happening. As for the league for those not in it, I'll post a leaderboard: Stage 3/21 1 Team Pharmacy 496 2 GreenHEDGE Fund 453 3 Wanted to pick Gerrans 400 4 Fuentes Favourites 327 5 Los Campones 312 6 Rioters 285 7 Media Car Driver 250 8 CadelsClowns 245 9 Sainter 187 10 celery 150
As for users and their team names, I only know 6/10. BJWNFI - CadelsClowns chels - celery Sainter - Sainter anthak - Wanted to pick Gerrans UA - Media Car Driver Port - GreenHEDGE Fund Anymore want to link themselves I'll add to the list, might be easier then giving a leaderboard with usernames on here rather than team names.
that guy who was 10th after stage 3? How did he get to fourth after stage 4? Was surprised at Igor Anton - a bad day or worse? You Cav holders must be gutted - oh well, you know what they say about putting your faith or trust in a pom. I suspect sprinter's points will be low anyway. More hilly bits tonight - cool regards chels
@ Ant did y0ou go Tony Martin (HTC - Highroad) or Dan Matin (Garmin). Your comments fit Dan (the Irishman) but you seem to have picked Tony (the German). Bit like picking S Thompson (NMFC)instead of S Thompson (Ade) regards chels
<blockquote>Quote from chels on August 24, 2011, 09:09 @ Ant did y0ou go Tony Martin (HTC - Highroad) or Dan Matin (Garmin). Your comments fit Dan (the Irishman) but you seem to have picked Tony (the German). Bit like picking S Thompson (NMFC)instead of S Thompson (Ade) regards chels</blockquote> Haha I really dont know chels! Absolutely no idea who I meant to select or who I did select - before this comp, I hadn't heard of either of them. Lol What a stuff up I obviously intended for the bloke I wrote comments about, but got mixed up...
Dan Martin looking like a good pick early on, although I think he will crack if he tries to stay in contention with the main climbers. A lot of stages will suit him though, so he may even be a long shot at Green should a small peloton like that finish together often. Moreno won the stage after a brilliant tactical move. He's Rodriguez lieutenant which means for him to go up the road was an indication that Purito was feeling good and it made the other teams chase. They didn't so all Moreno had to do was sit on CAS' wheel and then win the stage. Clever tactics and a good pick up if anyone got him. What a day though. Terrible for my team, shows that its not all about what you know. Anton failing on the first major climb, might come good in the 3rd week - but there's only 1 main mountain stage then! So his GC aspirations must be shot and he's clearly struggling. Cavendish gone too. Ouch. 18 points down the gurgler. Oh well, after all that hype from chels I could only fall Leaderboard has changed a lot: Stage 4/21 1 Fuentes Favourites 602 2 Team Pharmacy 533 3 GreenHEDGE Fund 505 4 celery 448 5 Los Campones 447 6 Wanted to pick Gerrans 439 7 CadelsClowns 358 8 Rioters 328 9 Media Car Driver 310 10 Sainter 237