Ignore the individual ranking for now as the team rankings are correct. Will post the updated individual ranking in the next couple minutes. Should make it understandable.
tastasol wrote:
Thanks for the update, roturn, still not last
The Tour de France will probably be a disaster, but the fall could bring some joy. A little shame that our Vuelta was so poor, could have been in a safe spot if not.
Also, unless I've forgot something, I don't understand how Truls Engen Korsaeth have managed to get top 100 in the ranking.
Well, this time last year we had 4585 points and we were also leading. This year we have 4774 points with one extra 4-day race on the menu. The situation is however a little bit different this year. Vesuvio is much worse in the rankings this year, have no Swift and Schleck likely won't dominate this year's TdF as he dominated last year's Giro. They are clearly not going to be a podium contender this year, even with an amazing TdF.
However Festina are a clear contender once again. They are behind us in rankings by around 1000 points. However
a massive points haul is coming for them. The last year Metinvest were able to get around 1700 points from TdF and Becherovka 1068. I really can't expect to get so many points this year even through Bewley and Velits are both riding this year again, the competition between sprinters is better and I can't really expect Bewley to wear yellow jersey once again. So I belive the situation after TdF could be really, really close between my team and Festina as I expect them to receive at least similar amount of points as Metinvest least year. It is clearly going to be a nice duel between us once again, SotD.
Clear contenders for the podium are going to be Aker. They have a similar gap like the last year at this point, but in my opinion they have a better team this year. With a great TdF they may even have a chance to win it all this year. Tinkoff should be the a big challenger as well as Kritskiy and Trofimov should still have quite a lot of opportunities to score. Puma and Pendelton's should be consistent enough for the whole season and definetely have a chance to move to top 5 in the end, Vesuvio should make a huge jump, maybe even to a podium battle too. Evonik, eBuddy and Metinvest are unlikely to keep their high position imo, nobody ever knows for definite though.
On the other end Kenya, Grieg and Red Bull are definetely in some sort of troubles. Orange, Bouygues, Pokerstars and RBC need a strong TdF. Bpost are having a nice advantage currently and likely should be in safe for this year, similarly as Gazelle, Jayco and Aegon. Movistar are quite a surprise for me at this point, but TVG's Vuelta likely means a relegation battle should not be a worry for them this year.
However still a lot of things is going to change, especially TdF will make a way more definite picture about all the battles in the table and HC races are going to change things a little bit as well. It is definetely looking quite good for my team though. At this point I feel like we have at least a good chance to repeat our 3rd place from the last season. A strong TdF may move me closer to something better. We will see. Good luck everyone for the remainder of the season!
Roman wrote:
Clear contenders for the podium are going to be Aker. They have a similar gap like the last year at this point, but in my opinion they have a better team this year. With a great TdF they may even have a chance to win it all this year.
I'd love that to turn out true, but the that's when reality kicks in I've only got Kristoff in the Tour. With the sprinters present there, I'm expecting a minimal amount of points for my team.
Well, this time last year we had 4585 points and we were also leading. This year we have 4774 points with one extra 4-day race on the menu. The situation is however a little bit different this year. Vesuvio is much worse in the rankings this year, have no Swift and Schleck likely won't dominate this year's TdF as he dominated last year's Giro. They are clearly not going to be a podium contender this year, even with an amazing TdF.
However Festina are a clear contender once again. They are behind us in rankings by around 1000 points. However
a massive points haul is coming for them. The last year Metinvest were able to get around 1700 points from TdF and Becherovka 1068. I really can't expect to get so many points this year even through Bewley and Velits are both riding this year again, the competition between sprinters is better and I can't really expect Bewley to wear yellow jersey once again. So I belive the situation after TdF could be really, really close between my team and Festina as I expect them to receive at least similar amount of points as Metinvest least year. It is clearly going to be a nice duel between us once again, SotD.
Clear contenders for the podium are going to be Aker. They have a similar gap like the last year at this point, but in my opinion they have a better team this year. With a great TdF they may even have a chance to win it all this year. Tinkoff should be the a big challenger as well as Kritskiy and Trofimov should still have quite a lot of opportunities to score. Puma and Pendelton's should be consistent enough for the whole season and definetely have a chance to move to top 5 in the end, Vesuvio should make a huge jump, maybe even to a podium battle too. Evonik, eBuddy and Metinvest are unlikely to keep their high position imo, nobody ever knows for definite though.
On the other end Kenya, Grieg and Red Bull are definetely in some sort of troubles. Orange, Bouygues, Pokerstars and RBC need a strong TdF. Bpost are having a nice advantage currently and likely should be in safe for this year, similarly as Gazelle, Jayco and Aegon. Movistar are quite a surprise for me at this point, but TVG's Vuelta likely means a relegation battle should not be a worry for them this year.
However still a lot of things is going to change, especially TdF will make a way more definite picture about all the battles in the table and HC races are going to change things a little bit as well. It is definetely looking quite good for my team though. At this point I feel like we have at least a good chance to repeat our 3rd place from the last season. A strong TdF may move me closer to something better. We will see. Good luck everyone for the remainder of the season!
I would love another battle, but being this far behind and you having both Bewley and Velits in the Tour makes it impossible to catch up. I suspect that you will have better riders in Switzerland and Dauphine also. I really dont have anything for those two races. In Switzerland I have Vasyliv as my leader and a slim hope that Vlatos can get a few points. In Dauphine I have Campero and Novak and my sprinters. So if I can get 200 points in total from those two races I should be happy.. I guess you will get more.
SotD wrote:
I would love another battle, but being this far behind and you having both Bewley and Velits in the Tour makes it impossible to catch up. I suspect that you will have better riders in Switzerland and Dauphine also. I really dont have anything for those two races. In Switzerland I have Vasyliv as my leader and a slim hope that Vlatos can get a few points. In Dauphine I have Campero and Novak and my sprinters. So if I can get 200 points in total from those two races I should be happy.. I guess you will get more.
Well I have König in Suisse and Velits&Vesely in Dauphine, so unlikely I will get anything on you in these two races.
Oh and btw no Velits for me in TdF, König will be present there. Somehow I rememberd it all wrong. So it is going to be only about Bewley there for me, but as it is quite expected that a really strong field of sprinters will be present there with riders like Degenkolb with superb train, Swift or Ciolek - I am quite sure he has much lower chances to dominate as Spilak. I expect it to be quite close after TdF between our teams.
SotD wrote:
I would love another battle, but being this far behind and you having both Bewley and Velits in the Tour makes it impossible to catch up. I suspect that you will have better riders in Switzerland and Dauphine also. I really dont have anything for those two races. In Switzerland I have Vasyliv as my leader and a slim hope that Vlatos can get a few points. In Dauphine I have Campero and Novak and my sprinters. So if I can get 200 points in total from those two races I should be happy.. I guess you will get more.
Well I have König in Suisse and Velits&Vesely in Dauphine, so unlikely I will get anything on you in these two races.
Oh and btw no Velits for me in TdF, König will be present there. Somehow I rememberd it all wrong. So it is going to be only about Bewley there for me, but as it is quite expected that a really strong field of sprinters will be present there with riders like Degenkolb with superb train, Swift or Ciolek - I am quite sure he has much lower chances to dominate as Spilak. I expect it to be quite close after TdF between our teams.
Well König is easily outscoring Vasyliv, so unless Vlatos can do anything you will outscore me there. Velits in Dauphine will score significantly higher than my guys. So I expect you to land 300-350 points from those two races.
Not having Velits in the Tour de France is a bit more soothing in terms of catching up though. I don't think Spilak will be all that superior though. The race is perfectly suited for Andy Schleck in the final week with his high ACC and REC. And Phinney is the favorite for the first week surely. So I have to hope Spilak can benefit from a better TTT otherwise he won't get yellow before medio week 2 - If at all... I do have some very good point scoring races after the Tour also, though. I guess 5 races where I should have atleast top 5 potential.
I do expect me to catch up a bit after the Tour, but catching 1250 points is not going to happen, I'm sure
It would be cool if Giro di Lombardia could be deciding once again though. Especially with the team I have there
So it is going to be only about Bewley there for me, but as it is quite expected that a really strong field of sprinters will be present there with riders like Degenkolb with superb train, Swift or Ciolek - I am quite sure he has much lower chances to dominate as Spilak. I expect it to be quite close after TdF between our teams. 
