Hidden Gems
by Hons on Feb 27, 2010 2:35 PM EST
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PrintTed has equipped us with unprecedented tools in which to analyze and more importantly, smack talk our way through the VDS season. (damn you Ted).
So bring it. Specifically, who is the rider that you found that the fewest other teams have found. In other words...who is your hidden gem. And don't hold back now...tell us why you picked that particular rider. This is not the place to tell us that you think that DZ is going to have his breakout year. This is the rider that you have and the fewest other teams have as well. Go your your team list, if you click on a rider you can see how many VDS teams have selected him.
For me, my hidden gem is Dries Devenyns (QST - 2pts). Now why would I and 5 other VDS' pick this Quickstepper. Well, this selection was driven by an interview with the burns, JV. He was talking about why he hired his new Swede Fredrik Kessiakoff (who I and 12 others selected). His explanation was that every year he watches the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and tries to scoop up the highest ranking 'no namer'. If you look at last years rankings you will see a bunch of known characters in the top 20, except for #15 (Kessiakoff) and #16 Dries Devenyns. So I looked closer at this DD fella, and last year I see a
16th Vuelta al Pais Vasco GC
16th Fleche Wallone
7th, final ITT at the Giro
a stage win at the Österreich-Rundfahrt (which is a level 6 race this year)
7th Tour de Wallonie GC
9th Giro del Piemonte and
18th Tour of Lombardi.
Basically, here is a guy with increasing returns every year for the last few on a team with not many other riders of his style. Thanks JV.
So who is your hidden gem.
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Devenyns was in my final cut
along with Kennaugh, Swift and Taaramae because as with Taaramae I can see him do well but I can’t really see where he will score too much?
My gem is Matthew Lloyd on Omega who I share with 5 others. The guy is a terrific Ardennes-type rider and with Cadel gone I’m counting on Lloyd getting some more space to move (and not Schlecking in the Amstel Gold )
Mine is Tom Leezer
3 other players picked him in their team. He scored 300 VDS points last year (including the new races). If he does the same this year he’ll bring in 75 points for every point I spent on him. I do expect him to do better though. Last year he was leading out Brown, this year he will do the same for Freire. That means higher profile races and with Flecha gone maybe even the TdF. He will get his own chances more too I hope. Plus, he is a year older now so he should be able to improve. He did pretty well in de Omloop today. He gave Nuyens the 3rd wheel of the day.
More hidden gems on my team are mostly their because I really drank the Vacansoleil Kool-Aid. Marco Marcator (picked 5 times) Sergey Lagutin (5 times) and Lieuwe Westra (7) will surprise us in the second rate races (I hope). Final hidden gem is Benoit Vaugrenard who has been consistently scoring around 80 points for every VDS cost point for the last two years. And he is bound to do better this year just for me of course.
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
gorka izagirre insausti
only 2 others picked this guy! i’ve got to be honest, i picked him because i needed a 1 pointer, and i vaguely remember albertina predicting big things from him in a thread at the back end of last year…the fact that she ultimately didn’t pick doesn’t bode very well does it? ah well.
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
The guy's name is Intxausti, no?
And he can do good.. But there were better one pointers ;)
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
damn
i said it was a vague memory…i’m sure this kid will come through for me. if he ever makes it to a start list.
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
I'm one of the five other teams who took Devenyns
I was in need for a 2 pointer, and at the time I felt I didn’t have a lot of Belgians on my team. I looked at his past results and saw a nice improvement from year to year, so I took him hoping he’ll continue his trend.
My second hidden gem is a 1 pointer, Roger Kluge from Milram. He’s on 15 teams. He’s a young sprinter and he won a couple of race last year in a continental team. He had pretty interesting results in Qatar.
And (that’s a surprise), my third rider who’s on very few other teams is…. Vino! Only 17 teams?
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
i guess
lou’s conversion drive didn’t catch on…
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
A lot of high-pointers feature in a surprisingly low number of teams
SamSan in 7 if I remember correctly.
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
Samsan is aiming the Tour...
FAILURE!
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
yes
For fun I scrolled down the list, the first rider I found who isn’t on a single team is Guesdon, a 4 pointer. He’s not the only one unemployed at 4 point, he’s just the first one in alphabetical order so he shouldn’t be alone in bearing that “honor”
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
Poor guy.. Thank God he showed is wrong today
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Thierry Hupond
Since I filled my bottom ranks with French men (after all, the team name is “La tete dans le guidon”), I have a guy like Thirry Hupond who nobody else has. Also, only one other team has Geniez. Honestly, I don’t expect much from these guys although I recall seeing Hupond a couple of times on the TdF last year. He’s only 25 so maybe he’ll have a break out year :)
Otherwise, I was kind of surprised to see only 3 people picking Gadret, sure he had a down year last year, but I feel like he can rebound. He finished 18th of the Vuelta in 2008…
Pablo Lastras Garcia
I and two other teams have him. (Hi Fred Marx!)
I wanted a two pointer who had some stage wins and he was the one who came up. He’s a little long in the tooth but maybe will work hard to get something going as he nears retirement age.
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.
None
I mean, I thought I did but this field is too sharp and this system is really hard to game. I mean, almost a quarter of the field joined me in picking a modestly undervalued Yauheni Hutarovich…damn.
My least popular picks were Jurgen Roelandts (4) and Leonardo Duque (2) — only 14 people apiece wanted them. We saw today what Roelandts can do. Duque climbs well for a sprinter, historically gets better results than last year, and will ride for himself.
Agree on Devenys. He made my short list but there were a lot of good 2- and 4-pointers out there.
my least held rider is actually Francesco Masciarelli
from acqua and sapone, only 12 people have him (what’s up Vlaanderen90 and semprenaroda!). I mostly got him because I didn’t have too many guys who rode the bulk of their races in Italy and wanted an incentive to watch the smaller Italian races. He does well in some of the hilly Italian classics and although a little steep at 4 points should bring something more back this year from turning 24 in may and from the new races.
Plus his two older brothers are domestiques and his dad is the team manager, so hopefully someone will support him in a few races that Paolini and Garzelli aren’t suited for or don’t make the finale for.
My second least selected rider was actually Vino with 17, hopefully he’s gonna light it up this year and worst case scenario he’ll attack everywhere that’s not the tour without his team getting too mad at him and be fun to watch.
I have Masciarelli too.
I remember being quite impressed with the way he rode the big mountains in the Giro last year. I think he was 2nd or 3rd in the young rider’s competition, so could make a step up this year and maybe get a top 10 on GC. Plus he has a rockin’ ponytail.
Yeah I think he is a steal at 4 points...The way that he came on at the end of last year's Giro is an indication that he can be somebody
that can go well deep into the GT’s. He should be able to get a lot of points this year.
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 27, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions
Oh I am not going to defend him at all...
When your on Acqua & Sapone, you always have suspicion
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 27, 2010 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
Masciarelli was tempting
but then the Italians busted Vania Rossi, Eddy Ratti and some young kid and I started to think to myself “Do I trust this guy?”
My least picked rider is Gorik Gardeyn of Vacansoleil.
He only cost 1 point and I figured he might spring a surprise or two in some of the smaller races. He was pretty good when he was with Unibet… regularly getting high placings in the smaller stage races like the Tours of Belgium and Luxembourg. He got nothing much when he was on Silence-Lotto for two years, but this year, new team, new chances… new Gardeyn?
I figured he was worth a punt.
Jonas Aaen Jorgenson
is my hidden gem. This diamond in the rough, a 23-year-old who rides with Saxobank, was chosen only by me and one other DS.
This is Jonas’s first year in the big leagues, but last year, while riding for a team I’ve never heard of, he had five wins. Granted, they were in races that I’ve also never heard of, but it shows that he’s the kind of rider who wins races. Also, Riis and the others at Saxo know an awful lot about spotting and developing young talent.
I also have another rider picked only twice: Steven Kruijswijk. He’s even younger, just 22, and riding for Rabobank this year after three years on their development team. He was there or thereabouts in some under-23 races last year, and finished eighth in the Tour of Ireland. He’s probably a few years away from scoring any real points, even in the newly expanded VDS calendar, but I like to take some chances with the one-pointers.
Jonas Aaen was with Capinordic last year
Capinordic was Denmarks biggest team after Saxo up until last year when it sadly closed down when their sponsor withdrew and they cold not find new backing. They dominated the Tour of Denmark last year with a team mainly built on young talent. ’
Rasmus Guldhammer is a product of Capinordic as is Matti Breschel. The DS was Matti’s dad Tom who is the most badass-looking man in all of Denmark.
Speaking of Breschel
I was really surprised that only 20 people took him. I thought he’d be more popular.
"Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs."
Interesting :-)
From the look of his results last year, I’d say this kid has a lot of potential.
by Susie Hartigan on Feb 27, 2010 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
I haven't been following him or anything
but a lot of the comments in Denmark said he actually stalled a bit last year and he should have gone to a bigger team already last year so that is a good sign. He will probably be’s on Saxo’s Ardennes squad and he had a top 10 at Haut Var.
Cool
My team’s a bit light on the Ardennes talent this year, so we can use all the help we can get in the hilly classics.
by Susie Hartigan on Feb 27, 2010 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
Good to hear.
I took Breschel at the nth hour after looking at Martin, Basso and Nibali. Bottom line for me was that he still churned out 870 pts last year despite not winning anything of significance. And it looks like he’ll only have to really work for Cancellara at Roubaix.
Glad to hear he’ll be in the Ardennes but won’t he be working for the Schlecks there? (I have Frank also.)
Anyone who has ability for the Ardennes has to be salivating. With all the retirements and suspensions (plus Valverde?) and guys targeting other races (SamSan, Evans), getting a result there will be easier than ever. The opposite of cobbles week, which will be stacked.
by Mr 60 Percent on Feb 27, 2010 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
Sure.
But take a guy like Ben Hermans. Hypothetically, since apparently no one took him in VDS. He finished top-15 in the Fleche last year as neopro.
Who finished ahead of him in Huy? Rebellin and Pfannberger are now suspended, Valverde may be next. Nocentini broke his leg. Evans and SamSan say it’s not an objective. And guys like DiLuca, Ricco, and Schumacher aren’t coming back.
Dream situation for someone like Hermans, or for the Hesjedals and Devenyns of the cycling world.
by Mr 60 Percent on Feb 28, 2010 12:06 AM EST up reply actions
Albasini is a good pick.
I had him on my team last year, and I was tempted to pick him again.
by Susie Hartigan on Feb 27, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
i feel sorry for you
i’m not much confident in my team.
by semprenaroda on Feb 28, 2010 7:45 AM EST up reply actions
I have Thibaut Pinot
Why? Romain Sicard said he is good. I checked and the kid seems to have a future
Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!
My Gem Sergey Klimov, Katusha
Myself and one other DS picked him…
Honestly picked him as he is a good dancer.. haha Yeah i know, but I needed a one pointer. Ohh and have you seen this:
Thinking with Pippo and Robbie wanting to be up there, that he would at least get some topn 10 finishes every now and then..
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
Tony Martin
Enjoy reading the analysis here – fell out of love with Devenyns eventually – he was in the group with Bos, Popo, Rosseler, et et.
I did tip ‘Kinder Bueno’ about Devenyns, and she took him…one of the Devenyns teams. Quickstep Whoo hoo!
The analysis – thankful for the game one reason because I studied the teams a little more than before. Regarding the who is a bike racer question, I did also focus on basic grand tour GC results over years, which hopefully was very helpful – your Dries Devenyns, my Edward Vorganov.
The projection question based on GC in GTs is made difficult by the ideas:
a) Whether a guy has plateau’d or is he ‘still young’ like with say Krueziger, who has regressed in TDF GC?
b) Whether a young improving guy is ever gonna be good enough to ride at the front of the peloton at all, for example Eduard Voragnov, who has come to age 27 as a strong grand tour domestique, and now a team change?
c) Whether or not guys give up the ghost Popovych style, and are just happy to become domestiques, or will for example Brajkovic ever come on, and just waiting for the chance? or is Jani another Popo, happy enough to go home August 1st? And Popo?
d) In bike racing very few can really win. Tour De France = Alberto Contador until further notice.
I took Tony martin, I didn’ t think he would be popular – mainly on the basis that he has not had a plateau year yet, and it’s possible he could win the Tour. Studying his short career, one thing that stood out to me was his 2nd in the final Giro TT of his very first GT. He did not tire out as much as some of the other more experienced guys, and just very strong.
Oh, and I took Grega Bole – the Rasmus Guldhammer of 2007!
ps. Changed my ‘handle’ away from thisisntthezodiac because, well just because, and this is my first post under new moniker. I will try best to keep in character, and I did keep my team name ‘Big Aloha’ the same. Thank you. Have a nice day!
Martin vs. Breschel was a tough call.
I just wonder if Tony has the right physique for GTs.
Kreuziger actually moved up on GC at the Tour last year; the only problem is that his teammate Nibali moved past him. But Kreuziger is two years younger and probably better in the end. Hopefully I won’t regret taking Greipel and Pellizotti ahead of him in the 18 slot.
Brajkovic. Aargh. If Radio Shack would just make nice with the Giro people and install Jani as GC leader, I would be glad to have him on my team. As is, no can do.
by Mr 60 Percent on Feb 27, 2010 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, good luck on that Liquigas 4 situation.
Noting Basso in the papes recently telling Nibali to wait 5 -6 years. ?
Feel like Basso and Pettacchi are some of the very best candidates from the costly players to be bargains. I gots neither.
by rubesANdbabes on Feb 27, 2010 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
Mightily unconvinced of Basso mk II myself.
Doubtless I’ll proved wrong. Though if I were Nibali I wouldn’t listen to Basso. Not least because they’ll be (or ought to be) competing for some of the same gigs this year.
I went with Nibali because I was impressed with him at the Tour (that day where he was needling away at Lance, for a start), though whether he pays off depends on what opportunities he gets in that team as you say.
No
You’re quite right to be unimpressed by Basso, Part II: Electric Boogaloo. Most dopers, I think, are impressive even w/o the dope (see, e.g., Jan, Lance, etc.), but some? Are apparently nothing (see, e.g., Basso, Landis, etc.). Very disappointing.
Let's see...some of my gems include...
Timofey Kritskiy: He is a freaking stud TTist and he can climb decently. Should be able to get a little time for himself this year. (1 of 3 who has him)
Alexandre Geniez: Very very good climber for Skil-Shimano (8th place on Mont Faron and top 20 on the first stage Ruta del Sol where he just got spit out the back near the end) and he is only going to be 22 in April so promise. (1 of 2 teams who has him)
Jackson Rodriguez: Solid stage racer for Androni blah blah blah who could come into his own this year by working with Serpa. He will only be 25 so he has promise. (1 of 9 teams)
Egor Silin: 22 year old for Katusha who is another very good climber and one-day rider. He tore up the Italian U-23 scene last year and was 3rd at the Russian Nat Champs…I am hoping for one or two good results (1 of 2 teams).
Hopefully they actually do something…
I'm the other with Geniez
We actually have 5 riders in common (Gesink, Martin, Nibali, Geniez and Sicard). I’ll take that as a compliment :)
by FrenchKheldar on Feb 28, 2010 12:59 AM EST up reply actions
Has Lucky_you33 submitted a team? She adores Erviti!
Won a Vuelta stage over Roche in 08…could do something!
isn't she called Helsy on PdC?
"Awesome! is more about what gets fans excited than what’s harder to do." - Chris...
what a guy
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
We could have done with him in December... for laughs only
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
We need to get Billdozer back in that case
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Mar 1, 2010 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
Arthur Vichot from FDJ... he may win nothing,
but seven Australians(?) want to keep the faith. Allez Arthur :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It's actually the perfect explanation for what was done at the TDU
It was the real world equivalent of picking a one pointer to give us a different perspective on the racing. And yeah, I’m one of the seven.
Best week ever. Got Belgium sorted, won a new bike and gained a new niece all in the space of 3 days.
by omnevelnihil on Feb 28, 2010 6:01 AM EST up reply actions
Well that's three of us... and I think Drongo makes four...
Shades is Antipodean… he’ll live with that I hope. I actually suspect there’s a Canadian in the mix, which makes sense :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Gustavo Cesar Veloso was picked by 11 other people
I wanted someone spanish and reasonably cheap
Good to correct that. Someone would have counted... no, really.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Laurent Didier
If he’s a gem, we’ll see about that. A few more have Lieuwe Westra, I have higher hopes there.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
I though he was a buddy-signing
as in, he’s a buddy of the Schlecks but doesn’t really belong on this level. I’m beginning to think he’s not, he looked really good in Haut Var. Story is he’s a talented guy who hasn’t been cycling full time in order to finish his education. Gotta kinda like that.
Kim Andersen is a long time Luxembourg resident so presumably he has good info on the talents there.
Juan Jose Oroz
No-one else has seen his potential, apparently. I’m singing a solo here, LOL.
Why?… well, I felt compelled to include a Basque rider, for some reason. Blame Albertina’s influence. And I truly think that Oroz has something special to deliver at some point soon. Seriously. When I was contemplating the Basque riders, deciding which lucky guy would be riding for In Vino Veritas, there was just no contest – my eyes fell upon his name, and the decision was made. I am just hoping that this is the year that the stars align for him, LOL…
I would have gone for Amets Txurruka had I not gone with Sicard..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I have both :)
"Racing bikes is for the kids, the rest of us just want to feel like kids on our bikes" - Flying Dog
Well you're clever...
Glad to see you here… tv reports on Chile were frightening..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It's tempting to take Txxxxxxrruka on his name alone.
Not only does he have the coolest surname in the peloton, but his first name means ‘dream’, which is so lovely.
The reverse: top similar teams
With 12 or more riders in common:
Common Riders / Team 1 / Team 2
18 / DO YOU SEE WHAT HA… / The Bit Between th…
17 / Fab, Tom & the Ame… / Beginner’s Luck
16 / The Bit Between th… / By the Numbers
16 / Benfarrim azul / Team Benfarrim
15 / DO YOU SEE WHAT HA… / By the Numbers
15 / Fab, Tom & the Ame… / East Nashville Slo…
15 / Grater’s Greats / Classy Bolars
14 / DO YOU SEE WHAT HA… / AkersWOE
14 / Team Obelix / Flaming Ferraris
14 / Capecchi’s Wizards / Burgi’s Glorious B…
14 / Vlammende Vedetten / De Vuile Aapjes
13 / the antagonizers / The Bungles
13 / Heroes / aussie wonders
13 / By the Numbers / Spot of Bother \o/
13 / The Instigator / Burgi’s Glorious B…
13 / By the Numbers / AkersWOE
13 / Cannoli_Crunch / The Know Nothings
13 / Burgi’s Glorious B… / JH Cyclemania
13 / Tin Dogs / AkersWOE
13 / AkersWOE / Geoff
13 / East Nashville Slo… / Beginner’s Luck
12 / Better Than Wigan / Cyclopaths
12 / Team Lanterne Rouge / The Know Nothings
12 / Better Than Wigan / By the Numbers
12 / Better Than Wigan / Spot of Bother \o/
12 / Maxpower / Burgi’s Glorious B…
12 / Heroes / Boom!
12 / Vlammende Vedetten / The Instigator
12 / Vlammende Vedetten / JH Cyclemania
12 / The Bit Between th… / AkersWOE
12 / Bucky Hinault / Beginner’s Luck
12 / Spot of Bother \o/ / AkersWOE
12 / Velits’ dominance / JH Cyclemania
12 / Dark Velos / accidentallydone-a…
12 / Velo! Velo! Velo! / The Bungles
12 / AkersWOE / Team Hooray
12 / Tin Dogs / Geoff
LEt me see.. The CF members
Capecchi, Burgi glorious, Vlammende Vedetten, Vuile Aapjes, JH Cyclemanua, The Instigator, Velits’ dominance
There is inbreeding going on there
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
frinkles
I have bauke mollema because of your influence. he better do something. heheh
"Racing bikes is for the kids, the rest of us just want to feel like kids on our bikes" - Flying Dog
it's his TDU name... from Perez I think,
but ZoeRochelle may have had something to do with it ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I am the one to blame
but I think Frinkles is pretty cool well if you go to the urban dictionary it is cooler than frinking…..
"Racing bikes is for the kids, the rest of us just want to feel like kids on our bikes" - Flying Dog
It is also, in Frinking parlance, more 'adorable' :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I have three in the team that noone else has picked
Krivtsov (AG2), Stroetinga (MRM) and Belohvosciks (FLM), and one – Russ (MLM) – shared with one other. I now feel fondly protective of them.
It’s a bit like owning a gerbil – they are “yours” but you dont feel the need to pay them much attention, and you hope against hope they learn how to use the wheel you bought them. When/if they do you pay them a bit of attention, and may even boast about how clever they are.
If they win we'll call you a god ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
You can mock re Beloh.... starting now if you like
I can’t remember the rationale behind picking a rider who is past his best, shares a team with Ricco so unlikely to ever play at the top table, is impossible to spell, and has very little chance of even winning his naitonal tt title.
But every time a Milram goes up the road I will now pay attention as he could be in my team.
I thought that Ventoso would be my hidden gem
especially because he was buried right at the bottom of the 2-pointers. But then he started doing too well in Spain last week and I see that he’s on 16 other teams.
I stuck with Mikael Cherel who’s only on three other teams because I expected more of him last season when he scored zilch. And because I dumped all my underperforming riders from 2008 when I picked my 2009 team and they all suddenly scored gazillions of points. I’d hate to see the same thing happen again. Actually that’s why I stuck with Jerome Coppel too, even though he probably won’t race in many places that count.
Ponzi scheme
Only two others picked Simone Ponzi with me. I know nothing about him but figured the name Ponzi has got to be worth something for a 1-pointer.
Jens Voigt doesn’t know where you live, but he knows exactly where you will die.
hidden gem in plain sight.
sammy sanchez. eight teams picked him. he is the lowest picked 24+ rider.
Rodania,,,,,,,Rodania,,,,,,,Rodania,,,,,,,Rodania
I thought about taking him
but he often rides a very reduced schedule, and it would just get too frustrating to think about how many points he could be picking up if he was racing
tour de france focus
this year instead of Vuelta and less of a chance at the WC has to hurt, wtf does he do after July to make up for the points he is gonna lose struggling to reach the top 10 in the Tour instead of on the Vuelta podium? Good luck though, love samsan as a rider myself, just not this year for 24 points.
Seems a few of the 20+ riders have around 20 or less suitors, tough to justify the cost. And then there is poor piti, with 9 takers.
he was my horse last year
sticking with him
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
I share Benat (not Bennati!!) Intxausti with 9 others
He as talked about a couple of years ago as the next big thing in Spai…er…the Basque Country (politics, schmolitics) but has stagnated at Saunier/Fuji. He seems genuinely excited at being back ‘home’ with Euskie and the management there are clearly pleased to have him, having been after him for a while. If they give him the attention and direction he deserves and needs, I’m hoping he might fulfil some of that potential. He’s shown flashes of talent..he was in a good and possibly stage winning two up break in the Vuelta until he flatted…and I think he might soon show more.
you almost convinced me to take him
But I ran out of space before
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
Had to choose between him and Christian Meier...
I went for national pride. And I think Meier has a good shot at the Canadian championship this year, which should bring in some points
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
and anyway we share a lot of riders
Dumoulin, Gesink, Fernandez, Trufimov, Uran
Where you spying on me when you made your team?
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
Kolobnev
Only four teams picked? Am I missing something?
Cycling will always be a beautiful sport no matter how many people disgrace it.--Christian Vande Velde
Last Year
I was the only one that had him. I’d have him again, except he’s 18 points. I was a little concerned that Kolobnev, Kirchen, Ivanov and J Rod are all going to be fighting for the same points. I ended up going with Kirchen because I think he’s the most versatile.
"Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs."
True, good point.
And I’ve got J-Rod too. I guess I really need them to play well together.
Cycling will always be a beautiful sport no matter how many people disgrace it.--Christian Vande Velde
Like Gasparotto?
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Mar 1, 2010 7:16 AM EST up reply actions
That cycling sage gave some additional information last month
You should avoid picking riders who go to new teams, unless it is a well managed team that gets the best out of a rider… An important distinction I’d say..
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
The 56 people
who decided that 24 points was a fair price for EBH this year obviously did not get that memo… ;)
I felt the same
I’ve got him, only two others besides us?
by Douglas Ansel on Mar 1, 2010 12:05 AM EST up reply actions
Uncovered gem
Nobody picked Mauro Finetto. Was I the only one who considered putting him on my team?
The guy did not have a top season last year but had a few nice wins in the tour of Turkey and the Hel van het Mergelland. He did pretty well in de Driedaagse too if I remember correctly. As a neo-pro the year before he did very well in the Italian october races. Scooping up about 300 VDS points (6 lombardia, 12 emilia, 8 lazio, 4 sabatini). This year he transfered to Liquigas, coming from CSF Group – Navigare. Going to a new team with a lot of big guns in front of him made me doubt his chances.
Anyway, if he does really good this year, the fact that nobody has him will make me feel less bad about dropping him.
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
He was the last guy I fired.
Oddly, it came down to a choice between him and Mauro Santambrogio. In the end it was basically a coin flip.
Cycling will always be a beautiful sport no matter how many people disgrace it.--Christian Vande Velde
Poor Jens.
I am the only one who chose Jens Mouris.
Wigglypuff Cav Crunch, Breakfast of Madison Champions!
I have only two riders not on at least 10 other teams
Morris Possoni- I picked him because he was under utilized at HTC and has moved to a new team that needs his climby strength. So hopefully he gets his shots and makes them pay.
Romain Feillu – I liked this kid and he was there and thereabouts in a lot of smaller races last year. He also did a very unfrench thing and jumped to a dutch team. Vacansoleiel want their tour berth so they should be highlighting this kid as their number two behind Bozic in sprints. Hope this pays off for me.
by bought with blood on Feb 28, 2010 2:51 PM EST reply actions
Funnily enough my Possoni reasoning worked the other way
I thought that he would have been given a few chances to ride for himself had he stayed at HTC, especially with the loss of so many top names (it really struck me when I saw their feeble line-ups this weekend), but that Sky has more and bigger names looking for that chance.
The sheer joy that will come from
Any VDS points produced by Vino will completely outweigh the likely wasted 12 points I spent on him.
Vino 4evah!
and come they will
Vino has shown in the past that he will not be denied, not by his own teammates, not by his DS, not by common sense…
I have Benoît Vaugrenard
One of 7 with him. More people are saying ,,Allez Arthur" than ,,Allez Benoît".
No idea if he’s a hidden gem. I had high hopes, but now that I’ve banished hope to the dunce’s corner, I suppose I can only admit to being interested.
I am the only person with Delio Fernandez Cruz (XAC)
Scored 15 CQ points in 2008 and 2009 each, none in 2010. Basically, I needed a 1-point Spaniard and I liked the name Delio.
The hiddenest rider I have is Jan Ghyselinck--on 5 teams.
Won the espoirs version of de Ronde last year and 5th in their version of LBL. Seems to be able to TT, too. Since he’s a neo, I hesitated about picking him, but Columbia has a good record of spreading the chances around. Last year, only one of their guys scored no points at all. A gem, though? Remains to be seen.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
Hmmm, no.
I gave up Textiles at the age of 14 after my Kandinsky insipred cushion cover became such a mess that it had to be rescued by my Mother.
Kandinsky inspired cushion?
See that long bit of felt with the lump on the end? That’s the siege of Vienna. The bit cut out from a Union Jack teatowel? Moses crossing the Red Sea.
I was thinking about picking him and had him on my team til about a week left and then I read his personal website
and it said that he likes to be the guy that sits at the front and grind away all day. I could regret my decision but it remains to be seen since he is so young.
by Vlaanderen90 on Mar 1, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe we should have a Hidden germ post too
Rider on your team most likely to be a doper. Well, maybe not.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
I like the idea
for starters 9 guys have piti
"Racing bikes is for the kids, the rest of us just want to feel like kids on our bikes" - Flying Dog
I picked Frederik Willman
Norwegian neo-pro for Skil-shimano. No one else did. Understandably. Probably the only rider on my team that is unlikely to collect any points this season.
I still picked him because: a) He’s Norwegian b) He’s the son of Jostein Willman who finished 14th in the TdF in 1979 (on the 8th stage he crashed out of 3rd place in the GC and dropped to 64th place) c) His last name means Wild Man. d) He had some results last year amassing a grand total of 115 CQ points.
Mirco Lorenzetto
Improved over the years and started 2009 very well until his crash in April. Is he an old sprinter who is now afraid to sprint or has he something left in him? I’m the only one who picked him. Could be the mistake of a rookie.
Marcel
Points today!
After a 4th and 7th place he was 2nd today giving me 25 points. It might be his last points but I’ll be happy for at least a week :-)
Marcel
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