ProTour Punditry Predictions

[SWSteve]

I got a stage prediction correct. Incredible.

 

[smutchin]

I've just updated the points and here, after the first race of the season, are the league standings:

Player: Pts
montage: 23
Marmion: 13
ItsSteveL: 12
Smutchin: 12
VamP: 11
Rich P: 10
IOTCB: 7
SteCenturion: 5
The Couch: 2

Chapeau to @montage who takes an early lead by virtue of being the only one of us with the foresight to pick Gerrans for the sprint jersey as well as GC.

I've discounted the Best Dressed Town competition because I thought there was only going to be one overall prize but it seems to have been awarded per stage.

Here's the breakdown of points. Do shout if you think I've got anything wrong...

 

[smutchin]

Tour of Qatar up next. Predictions as follows - but it's still a couple of weeks away, so you've plenty of time to think about it:

Gold (GC)
Silver (Points)
Lanterne Rouge
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6

 

[rich p]

Well done smutch!

 

[The Couch]

Tour of Qatar up next.

Aaahhh yes, the Tour of the parking lot... I guess this strategy will be: pick a sprinter as day 1 winner, copy that guy into every stage, into the GC and into the Sprint jersey, right?
(Or have any of the oil sheikhs put some money on the table and build the "Alps Mark 2" over there?)

 

[The Couch]

I've discounted the Best Dressed Town competition because I thought there was only going to be one overall prize but it seems to have been awarded per stage.

I am gutted... I really put like 1 full minute of thought into that Best Dressed Town
(probably should have used that time to think better about my other predictions... looking at my score )

 

[smutchin]

I am gutted... I really put like 1 full minute of thought into that Best Dressed Town
(probably should have used that time to think better about my other predictions... looking at my score )

Well, the only people who would have scored in the Best Dressed Town competition are me and @User (for McLaren Vale and Norwood respectively) but unless either of those has been declared outright winner, I'll withhold the points. (Maybe it can be held in reserve for use as a tie-breaker if necessary.)

At least your performance in this round proves to those yet to make any predictions that leaving it late to join in doesn't necessarily mean you'll finish last.

 

[VamP]

I am gutted... I really put like 1 full minute of thought into that Best Dressed Town
(probably should have used that time to think better about my other predictions... looking at my score )

Erm.. you just copied my choice! And Willunga failed to rise to the occasion at any rate!

FWIW I agree that the best dressed town selection is bit of a faff, and frankly a distraction. I am sure I would have done much better had I not spent so much valuable time researching it all.

 

[The Couch]

Just for the heck of it (cause I like getting bitch-slapped around here)

I'll have a swing at the 1st stage of Dubai... not Tony, not Fabian, not Phinney... I am going with Sagan :troll:

 

[VamP]

Are we doing Dubai? I thought not...

 

[The Couch]

Are we doing Dubai? I thought not...

Just read my post again
(just for fun)

 

[VamP]

Oh OK, I was panicking I had to go and read up on the parcours. Phew.

 

[smutchin]

I can't remember if I posted the latest calendar update but I did cut a few more races, mainly ones that overlap. So as it stands, the next few races are:
9-14 Feb: Tour of Qatar
1 March: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite
2 March: Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne
8 March: Strade Bianche
9-16 March: Paris-Nice
15 March: Ronde van Drenthe (Women)

I would have dropped the Tour of the Car Park as well but then it would be a very big gap until the next race, so it's just there as filler really. I'll reinstate any dropped races if people feel strongly about them. And I'll drop the Tour of the Car Park if people CBA with it. The Tour of Dubai can do one though. But if we're doing it for fun anyway... I'll back Alex Dowsett for stage 1. Patriotic, like.

 

[The Couch]

But if we're doing it for fun anyway... I'll back Alex Dowsett for stage 1

Oooowww... I like your guess (didn't even know he was in it, since I didn't even look at the full list )... still sticking to beast-of-all-trades The Hulk though

 

[smutchin]

Total stab in the dark - don't know if he's in it or not. Is there a start list yet? Had a quick look on the official website but it just says "coming soon".