The 2009 FGBC Classics Pool is almost ready to go. It will include the same races as last year. But unlike last year, we will use the same system for choosing teams that was used for the CX Pool--i.e., choosing riders from a series of lists. But there will be a slight variation in that there will be three different options for how those picks must be distributed. This will allow for a little more strategic thinking while still keeping it relatively simple. More about that later. For now, take a look at the list of riders below. The tiered groupings are based on the points that riders accumulated last season, with a few adjustments that attempt to take into consideration injuries and people like Armstrong and Basso who weren't around last year. There is also a separate category called "Ardennes." This groups together those riders who only do the Ardennes Classics--i.e., Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Should any riders on this list show up at other races, those results will not be counted. In other words, only their results in the Ardennes will count toward the pool.
For those so inclined, here is your opportunity to make some comments on the list. I'm particularly interested in hearing whether anyone who deserves to be there has been overlooked.
The 2009 FGBC Classics Pool will be launched on Friday. So we have a few days to make sure everything is in order.
Tier 1 (1100+ points):
Fabian Cancellara
Tom Boonen
Tier 2 (900-1100 points):
Allesandro Ballan
Davide Rebellin
Nick Nuyens
Philippe Gilbert
Tier 3 (500-800 points):
Filippo Pozzato
Juan Antonio Flecha
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Lance Armstrong
Leif Hoste
Marcus Burghardt
Martin Maaskant
Oscar Freire
Steven De Jongh
Stijn Devloder
Sylvain Chavanel
Thor Hushovd
Wouter Weylandt
Ardennes:
Alejandro Valverde
Andy Schleck
Benoit Vaugrenard
Cadel Evans
Christian Pfannberger
Damiano Cunego
Danilo Di Luca
Franck Schleck
Ivan Basso
Jerome Pineau
Joachim Rodriguez
Kim Kirchen
Robert Gesink
Samuel Sanchez
Thomas Dekker
Tier 4 (300-500 points):
Allan Johansen
Andreas Klier
Baden Cooke
Berhard Eisel
Borut Bozic
Fabian Wegmann
Geroge Hincapie
Greg Van Avermaet
Karsten Kroon
Mark Cavendish
Martin Elmiger
Matti Breschel
Murilio Fischer
Nico Eeckhout
Rinaldo Nocentini
Robbie McEwen
Stefan Van Dijk
Stuary O'Grady
Tier 5 (150-300 points):
Aitor Galdos
Anthony Geslin
Arnaud Gerard
Bert De Waele
Daniel Lloyd
Enrico Franzoi
Enrico Gasparotto
Frederik Willems
Gregory Rast
Guennandi Mikhailov
Janek Tombak
Johann Van Summeren
John Gadret
Lars Bak
Luca Paolini
Manuel Quinziato
Nico Sijmens
Nikki Terpstra
Pavel Brutt
Roy Sentjens
Ryder Hesjedal
Sergei Ivanov
Staf Scheirlinckx
Steven Cozza
Thomas Voeckler
Tier 6 (<150 points):
Aart Vierhouten
Alexandre Botcharov
Alexandre Usov
Allan Davis
Allesandro Petacchi
Bastiaan Giling
Benoit Salmon
Bert Roesems
Bram Tankink
Christian Murro
Christophe Mengin
Danilo Napolitano
Fabio Baldato
Franco Pellizotti
Gabriele Balducci
Gabriele Bosioso
Geoffroy Laquatre
Gert Steegmans
Jesus Del Nero
Jukka Vastaranta
Kevin Van Impe
Lars Michaelson
Luca Solari
Manuele Mori
Marcel Sieberg
Mario Aerts
Max Van Heeswijk
Michael Schar
Mike Friedman
Olaf Pollack
Pieter Ghyllebert
Robbie Hunter
Salvatore Commesso
Sebastian Chavanel
Steffen Wesemann
Svein Tuft
Thomas Vaitkus
Tyler Farrar
Vincenzo Nibali
Vladimir Gusev
Yaroslav Popovych
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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5 comments:
The keen eye of Andy has caught some oversights. Meanwhile Kim Kirchen crashed and broke his collarbone and several ribs at the Tour of California yesterday. So he will be removed from the list.
Oscar Freire was also involved in the same crash, though he only broke a few ribs. He's a tough cat, so I'll leave him on the list. And since Kirchen is in the Ardennes group, I will leave him in too. He should be back by then.
The Honorary Captain also went down in that pileup. He was able to continue the race. But it's not exactly been going as planned. Bummer.
Valverde is also under criminal investigation now...
www.cyclingnews.com
Yes, I know. It makes it all the more interesting, doesn't it. Will he ride or won't he? In a sense, the art of winning these pools is picking the dopers who don't get caught. E.g., Sella and Ricco in the Giro last year. Good times.
how'about a bonus rider whom you think will get busted for drugs...say 100pts?
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