Tweet
Le Tour va commencer. Every July the race begins again. For a fan of cycling, it is a bit like March Madness or the Superbowl. Three weeks of daily and continued conjecture, speculation, racing and, ultimately, victory or defeat. I can hardly wait.
For the first time since 2008, the Grand Boucle will include time bonuses at the finish line for the top three finishers on the first eight stages. This is meant to the keep the race interesting for the sprinters while not messing with the standings when the road turns up.
They have also changed the points awarded for the Green Jersey competition. This year they will award 50 points (instead of 45) for the winner of each of the first eight stages but second place will only garner 30 (instead of 35). Some have dubbed this the “anti-Sagan” rule. Sagan, as you may recall, won the green jersey last year without actually winning a stage. The idea is that with a greater point differential between the winner and everyone else, there is a greater advantage to a win, as opposed just to a place.
The rules changes are discussed here http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/u...kes-rules.html
This years course is very interesting. There is only a single ITT, and it is a short one (14k) in the first stage. Really just a prologue. The first couple of stages across the Nederlands and Belgium are pancake flat. Like almost perfectly flat. (I guess that’s why they are called the low countries.) Stage three, however, ends with the Mur de Huy “Wall” of La Flêche Wallonne classic fame, so it might see a shake up of the green jersey standings. Stage four will re-visit the cobbles. There is a TTT of only 28k on stage nine. After that, it is almost all mountains, with five stage finishes at summits. Stage 12 caught my eye; it includes two Cat. 1 climbs followed by and HC climb to a finish at Plateau de Beille. But the great stage will be in the penultimate day, when the peloton, or what remains of it, will go over the Croix de Fer for the second straight day (they had to change from the Galibier due to winter storm road damage) and then up the Alpe d’Huez. Given the Fantastic Four (Froome, Nibali, Quintana and Contador) who might all still be in contention, the winner of stage 20 might just carry yellow into Paris.
Without further hoo-hah, here are the categories for the contest:
1. Overall Winner; Pick the entire Podium.
2. Polka dot jersey; pick the top three
3. Green Jersey; Pick the top three
4. Pick the top team based on most stage wins (thanks BBB!) and TTT finish
5. Pick the Top three finishers for each of the following stages
a. Stage 1 ITT
b. Stage 4 Cobbles
c. Stage 9 TTT
d. Stage 12 Plateau de Beille
e. Stage 20 Alpe d’huez
6. Pick the top American finisher.
7. Lanterne rouge (last place) by nationality for the tie-breaker
Picks in by Friday midnight PDT, or at least before the first stage starts. Points will be awarded for correct riders on this basis 5 for correct rider in correct place, 2 for rider in the top three but predicted in the incorrect position. I reserve the right to change, etc. If there is any feedback, let me know. None of this is set in stone, and sometimes I get carried away.
Allez-y!
For the first time since 2008, the Grand Boucle will include time bonuses at the finish line for the top three finishers on the first eight stages. This is meant to the keep the race interesting for the sprinters while not messing with the standings when the road turns up.
They have also changed the points awarded for the Green Jersey competition. This year they will award 50 points (instead of 45) for the winner of each of the first eight stages but second place will only garner 30 (instead of 35). Some have dubbed this the “anti-Sagan” rule. Sagan, as you may recall, won the green jersey last year without actually winning a stage. The idea is that with a greater point differential between the winner and everyone else, there is a greater advantage to a win, as opposed just to a place.
The rules changes are discussed here http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2015/u...kes-rules.html
This years course is very interesting. There is only a single ITT, and it is a short one (14k) in the first stage. Really just a prologue. The first couple of stages across the Nederlands and Belgium are pancake flat. Like almost perfectly flat. (I guess that’s why they are called the low countries.) Stage three, however, ends with the Mur de Huy “Wall” of La Flêche Wallonne classic fame, so it might see a shake up of the green jersey standings. Stage four will re-visit the cobbles. There is a TTT of only 28k on stage nine. After that, it is almost all mountains, with five stage finishes at summits. Stage 12 caught my eye; it includes two Cat. 1 climbs followed by and HC climb to a finish at Plateau de Beille. But the great stage will be in the penultimate day, when the peloton, or what remains of it, will go over the Croix de Fer for the second straight day (they had to change from the Galibier due to winter storm road damage) and then up the Alpe d’Huez. Given the Fantastic Four (Froome, Nibali, Quintana and Contador) who might all still be in contention, the winner of stage 20 might just carry yellow into Paris.
Without further hoo-hah, here are the categories for the contest:
1. Overall Winner; Pick the entire Podium.
2. Polka dot jersey; pick the top three
3. Green Jersey; Pick the top three
4. Pick the top team based on most stage wins (thanks BBB!) and TTT finish
5. Pick the Top three finishers for each of the following stages
a. Stage 1 ITT
b. Stage 4 Cobbles
c. Stage 9 TTT
d. Stage 12 Plateau de Beille
e. Stage 20 Alpe d’huez
6. Pick the top American finisher.
7. Lanterne rouge (last place) by nationality for the tie-breaker
Picks in by Friday midnight PDT, or at least before the first stage starts. Points will be awarded for correct riders on this basis 5 for correct rider in correct place, 2 for rider in the top three but predicted in the incorrect position. I reserve the right to change, etc. If there is any feedback, let me know. None of this is set in stone, and sometimes I get carried away.
Allez-y!
Comment