Introducing the 2009 FGBC Tour de France Pool

Well, here it is. The official launch of the 2009 FGBC Tour de France Pool. The Tom Boonen situation still hasn't been resolved. But I'm tired of waiting. I am working on the assumption that Boonen is out, Davis in. Should that situation change, you can replace Davis with a rider of equal value. But I will not add Boonen. That would be unfortunate, I know. But blame Tornado Tom and his hankering for the nose candy. If he'd have stuck to the regular doctor-supervised doping program, we wouldn't be in this mess.

It all starts on Saturday with a 15 km time trial. Once again, I've tried to make things as easy and accessible as possible by grouping the riders into categories with some nominal ranking to differentiate between different riders within the categories. We will use the same system that we used for the Giro Pool, with some slight tweaking. This should ensure a relatively close competition and a series of well-rounded, yet different teams. Good luck.

Once again, the final results will count toward the FGBC - RRR FGD Challenge. As with the Giro Pool, only those who have valid race licenses are eligible to get in on this special action. In case you have forgotten, RRR won the last round, 53-29. I expect a 100% participation rate and a better showing from the FGBC this time around. Mike will not win this round.

Rules:

1. Pick a team of nine riders. Send your team here before they start racing on Saturday morning.

2. There is no entry fee. There are no prizes. Feel free to invite others to participate.

3. Points will be awarded based on the scoring system below (scroll down).

4. Any rider who is disqualified from the race for a doping violation forfeits all his points.


Choose your team based on the five criteria listed below. The list of riders can be found here. A lot of people messed this up last time. Please read these five criteria very carefully. This exercise will require some basic math skills and an understanding of simple logical operators (esp. "and," "or," and "not"). Criterion #3 proved to be especially tricky for some last time around, since it requires the simultaneous negotiation of two different lists. Pay attention to the bolded words and it shouldn't be too hard.

1. Pick two GC riders. Their numbers (to the right of the rider's name) must add up to five or more.

2. Pick two sprinters. Numbers must add up to five or more.

3. TT Men & Climbers - Pick one rider from each list. Their combined numbers must add up to four or more.

4. Pick one Stange Hunter.

5. Pick two Wild Cards. Note: if there are any riders listed under the wild cards heading who are also listed under a different heading, that is a mistake. Don't pick them as wild cards. They belong under the other heading. I think I've got it right. But I missed a few last time and, while we got it all sorted out before the race began, it got a bit messy.


Scoring

Individual stages:

150
125
100
90
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5

For the TTT, each rider who finishes with the team will be credited 25% of the points earned by the team for the stage.

Final GC:

600
500
400
350
300
275
250
225
200
175
150
135
120
105
90
75
60
45
30
15

Final Points Classification:

120
90
60
40
20

Final Mountains and Classification:

120
90
60
40
20

Final Young Rider Classification:

120
90
60
40
20

Notice that I have discontinued the 25 point bonus for the daily wearer of the yellow jersey. I just don't like the way it plays out. It makes sense in theory, but in actuality ends up piling more rewards upon those who already get their fair share. So it's gone.