Last week we launched the 2012 version of our in-house Directeur Sportif yearlong fantasy game, welcoming our new sponsor, Full Speed Ahead. A week into the competition, I can't reveal too much, but I can tell you a few things:
- There are some 400 teams either submitted or in progress so far. That's mostly on the dudes side. Don't forget, once you have set up a login, you don't need anything more to make a women's team too.
- Of the 1156 riders listed, y'all have collectively picked 437 different dudes from 42 countries. On the women's side, you've gone with 146 of the 809 riders listed.
- Team Somarriba leads the women's competition in the Past Performance is No Indication category, with Revolutions out to an early lead on the dudes side. Smy Team holds the distinction of having 18 guys in the 1-2 point category, a record (for now).
- The Contador Affair will have no impact on the game. I suppose we could have reconsidered his price, but it's too late, and honestly I don't know that it would come down much. The salient point is, unlike the UCI, once we launch our competitions, we're not too inclined to revise the rules.
- Deadline Day for the Men's FSA-DS is February 24 at
Noon 9pm Pacific time. That's two weeks from this Friday, a/k/a Omloop Eve. For the Women it's February 22, 9pm Pacific owing to the first event of the calendar happening on the 23rd. Plenty of time if you haven't gotten started, but don't snooze too long. Remember, just because you made your roster doesn't mean you're in. For that, you have to take the formal step of submitting it.
- Any other questions? Read more in our intro post or check out the rules page.
My squadra, on the flip...
Here's my Men's team so far:
Not too shabby, huh? Next I gotta get started on the vrouwen...
Coming along quite well, thanks.
Just waiting for closer to the deadline in case one of my homies gets injured or whatnot. I made decent notes throughout last year so that made it easier. I only have about 2 guys I’m on the fence with. PLUS, my lurker buddy has created an account & is working on his team.
I’m struggling to organize my women’s team…which is a slight reflection of my life if I think about it.
I have to say it is a good day.
swells - February 9, 2012
Is there a side bet between you and Team Lurker Buddy?
Willj - February 9, 2012
I'm working on the "do it all in one go just before the deadline" strategy
Since when I did detailed planning it resulted in a team which virtually stopped racing after the Giro.
William H - February 9, 2012
This is my approach as well
I use enough math and stats in real life too. Gonna play this by feel.
Douglas Ansel - February 9, 2012
Heh. Me too.
Probably a lot of people here who by temperament or education might try to select a team as rationally as possible. I knew it’d get crazy if I tried, and so instead vowed to make selections only after a six pack of beer. No principles or rules for selection unless obvious or plausible and easily applied while inebriated.
Le Sprinteur - February 9, 2012
you risk a season-long hangover, but then again you have a great excuse : )
paisley - February 9, 2012
I believe Majope was considering organizing a “night before the deadline, pick your team while drunk” thread
Willj - February 9, 2012
It will be a free-for-all smackdown happy hour
and anyone who still needs advice will get much of it.
majope - February 9, 2012
Excellent, I will not hit submit until then :)
Willj - February 9, 2012
I will also play much Violent Femmes
because I’m not sure anyone got my Kiss Off comment.
majope - February 9, 2012
Add it up
swells - February 9, 2012
much advice, true.
good advice, tbd
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
oh, similar to helping megabeth pick a team for tdf special game?
that was hilarious. we must do.
umwolverine - February 9, 2012
the first year i played, i chose the team while hyped up on painkillers, and finished in the top 100.
the second year, after much thought, i tanked into just below the halfway point on the list.
umwolverine - February 9, 2012
7 Dutchmen!
Welkom, vriend.
tedvdw - February 9, 2012
You spelled friend wrong
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
bedankt
Had five last year. Do I ever learn my lessons? No. No I don’t.
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012
The coming Dutch hegemony
Just around the corner…
Lopex - February 9, 2012
We just have to figure out which corner
TheFigurehead - February 9, 2012
Dat klopt
Jens - February 9, 2012
or
http://www.thepcmanwebsite.com/media/pacman_flash/
TheFigurehead - February 9, 2012
Hm
My QR Reader directs me to a Swedish porn site…
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012
A likely excuse.
majope - February 9, 2012
I like that VDS prices don't consider looming or realized doping bans
Keep the VDS speculation about points on road, not the courts.
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
I'm appealing that before a Swiss courts
I expect to win last year’s VDS before this year’s TdF starts
tgsgirl - February 9, 2012
You haven't a hope
of getting a decision in time.
platypus - February 9, 2012
3rd of 4th peruse through the list
and I’m at about 50-60 on the shortlist. Making decision is hard for me, can you tell? :D
RollinRollinRolland - February 9, 2012
As I think I may have mentioned before,
I’m not quite sure you’ve quite grasped the concept of “short”.
Then again, most men would estimate the length of a typical pencil to be about 18 inches.
straw dog - February 9, 2012
What I though pencils were standardised to 20 inches? :D
Yeah, sure its not much of a shortlist but once I’m happy with it, I’ll have sub-100 names to play with, as opposed to the 1100-odd available from the start.
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
I'm considering re-naming my squad Team Kiss Off.
They’ll hurt me bad, but I won’t mind. They’ll hurt me bad—they do it all the time.
majope - February 9, 2012
Nice team Chris, how much did it all costa?
RollinRollinRolland - February 9, 2012
6 points
So Chris has 144 points to use still.
ursula - February 9, 2012
I always
use 150 points. ATM I have 27 guys at 155, so that’s two quick cuts. But I’m still pondering. I seem to remember getting all excited about a bunch of kids in the Offseason Capsules — gotta go back and look up those names.
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012
Chicchi and Ciolek, I think.
majope - February 9, 2012
Yukihiro Doi
Vlaanderen90 - February 9, 2012
Devolder!
Ha! My daughter still thinks it is a curse word.
holmovka - February 9, 2012
Rec :)
tgsgirl - February 9, 2012
Not only her...!
I kept hearing in my dreams some Russian words + Devolver..!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
not a single frog on your team?
you might actually have a chance to win.
ant1 - February 9, 2012
Argentinian Gauchos & Co. Ready at the starting line...
I believe I have a few guys in the break already….
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Hope they're not using it all up before the FSA DS season actually starts...
majope - February 9, 2012
Naaa... just testing the waters....checking the mood of the peloton...
I bet I got 1 guy that no one else has on their team again this year.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Are you going for Ricco again?
straw dog - February 9, 2012
I heard so much about him...
Wasn’t around when the hole Ricco thing was on….
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
Submitted already.
Only spent about half an hour on it. Not nearly as much heartache as last time.
Triki - February 9, 2012
Still good though.
Triki - February 9, 2012
I keep changing my mind
and I can’t think of a good team name.
My women’s team was easy, I just picked names that I thought I had heard of and hit submit! That strategy with the men landed me mid-table last year but now I know too much to allow myself to do it this year!
Strides85 - February 9, 2012
Name is my problem too
I don’t want something that is going to sound lame at the victory-announcement.
Jens - February 9, 2012
the overoptimists might be a good name then.
ant1 - February 9, 2012
hehe +1
holmovka - February 9, 2012
You have to roll into the competition on a high
You will never feel as good about your team as you do on Feb 23
Jens - February 9, 2012
le train cain??
oopsy.
R Mc - February 9, 2012
Coming trainsmash?
platypus - February 9, 2012
Nevermind - I think I will use that
platypus - February 9, 2012
Indeed
You probably want to think about what you’re going to wear to the coronation too. Might want your name to reflect that.
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012
Good thinking
This is why you run this place. Always remembering all the little but important details.
Jens - February 9, 2012
For me it is hardest two weeks of the season.
Follows by saddest 30 or so weeks
holmovka - February 9, 2012
ha
yeah
civetta - February 9, 2012
Done and Done
Never competed before, now have men’s AND women’s teams!
The Orthopedic Ward and Surgical Strike Team
2thvet - February 9, 2012
I hope you picked the only Uruguayan guy of the VDS....???
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
No, missed him, dang it!!
2thvet - February 9, 2012
is an ok 1 pointer, last year he was only in my team... 15 points if i remember correctly he scored.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
forgot to look at nationalities. Did pick Caleb Fairly, Amarillo home boy.
Nice kid, I really like his parents too.
2thvet - February 9, 2012
That is how mine starts...!
Argentinians first… I look at others from South America but I want to finish higher this year. So more Euros.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Wise, my friend, Very Wise
2thvet - February 9, 2012
I also have ditched most of my self imposed rules
in an effort to do better this year. This is how the pressure on DS leads to doping right. I need one of those little pictures that says I lost my principles and picked Valverde
platypus - February 9, 2012
and I've only got 4 Australians
platypus - February 9, 2012
yeah,
i’ve been saving up euros too. i figure bribing Ted is my only hope.
ant1 - February 9, 2012
Eh? Oh noooo...!
Let me run to the bank..! How come he doesn’t take dollars?
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
No Monopoly Money!
tedvdw - February 9, 2012
his name is not solaar
ant1 - February 9, 2012
Got my team in already
I tried to be methodical this year, making a short list of 50 desired riders and actually tweaking my roster a couple of times once i made it. Maybe I spent too much time on it, but I have a squad I’m satisfied with.
agl - February 9, 2012
Being for the Benefit of Mr. McQuaid! is building along nicely
Team name has been found (keeping with my relatively obscure Beatles songs theme), my shortlist is done, now it’s time to cut the team down to a smaller number of riders.
The remaining steps are
-Going through the list of rider one more time. Or two more times. Or three… or more…
-Changing my mind and replace good riders with overvalued riders
-Listening to Albertina and take 4 Euskaltel riders
-Forgetting a couple of obvious 2 pointers that everyone else will have
-Remaining completely unaware of 1 pointers with a bright future
-Dropping a rider I had last year in favor of another who will do much less points (last year I dropped Rolland for Gauthier)
-Second guessing my decision to take or not Gilbert (Martin, of course).
-Regretting from March to October.
MathieuG - February 9, 2012
Sounds like our team selection process is very similar.
Albertina has a lot to answer for and listening to Holmovka seems to have given me a few Eastern Europeans too. Chris has to answer for the dutchmen (but I hired and then cut EBH so I guess I am responsible for some things.)
platypus - February 9, 2012
going welll
Almost done and again I rather stupidly picked a nearly 1/3 vacansoleil squad.
kom vuelta - February 9, 2012
Hehe, I did the same! 1/3 of the Vacansoleil
holmovka - February 9, 2012
Crap the more I read the more I want to go look and see what can I change..!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Work has seriously interupted my team picking this week
Of course I prioritised and put the work off until there was some shoulder tapping.
At least I’m down to 3 different team versions now, which with any luck, should mean less than 40 changes to be made…
blitzer maloney - February 9, 2012
Thanks for organizing, first time playing here
can’t decide yet on picking Gilbert, he has by far the lowest price / last-years-points, but it might be overly chauvinistic to expect him to do anywhere near as well as last year.
bvl - February 9, 2012
I think you mean "optimistic", right?
chauvinistic has a whole different meaning…
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
Overly patriotic
i seem to have misjudged the connotation in english
bvl - February 9, 2012
nah, I got it
but counting your flags, the team seems pretty diverse
paisley - February 9, 2012
well, I think I am just overly stupid to have noticed the second meaning...no worries
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
no you used the term perfectly – fanatical patriotism
But in North America the term Chauvinism is “usually” used as a “belief in the superiority of men over women.”
Willj - February 10, 2012
yep...after I posted I discovered a whole new meaning.
I plan on being chauvinistic just to make amends.
JustJoshinYa - February 10, 2012
As it stands, my team scored 11111 points last year
So I can’t really see how it could lose.
sylvan - February 9, 2012
So can we say..
You have Rein, Rui Costa, Cancellara, Kruopis, Schleck?
Frinking - February 9, 2012
Wrong
And now very wrong since I went and messed everything up. Gah! I do have three of those guys. I’m going to leave it for two weeks now and wait for injuries to happen. Won’t have Langkawi results to influence decisions this year with its later start – I never would have picked Kittel last year if he hadn’t won that Langkawi stage in January.
sylvan - February 9, 2012
Paulinho, Albasini?
Triki - February 9, 2012
Macahdo
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
Course.
Triki - February 9, 2012
he is a cheap 2 pointer... due to bounce back..
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.
I, for one, hope this goes for DSs.
paisley - February 9, 2012
No, I expect they'll do much better
sylvan - February 9, 2012
that's the spirit!
paisley - February 9, 2012
yes, three Canadians!
I like the way you think
MathieuG - February 9, 2012
Five in my women's team!
Even though home-town girl Erinne is on the sidelines this year.
I’m down to two Canucks in my men’s team after the latest re-jig.
sylvan - February 9, 2012
I thought by now my DS might have a clue. I have discovered he's even more of an idiot than I suspected.
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
I methodically selected my team
just now, took 10 minutes. “Team waiting for August 5th” led by Alberto " Imma go ape shit on this muthafuckin Vuelta" Contador. Is it smart? Ha
Phil H. - February 9, 2012
are you going all dopers again?
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
No
I even picked a Schleck! Not the whiny one though
Phil H. - February 9, 2012
Thinking he'll do the Giro
talk about dumb
Phil H. - February 9, 2012
That doesn't help me narrow it down. I don't think a sister is riding...
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
(I picked a schleck too)
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
I'm very scared
I picked my team in 15 minutes.
I found a (imo) great name the day after.
I keep going back to see if my selection process wasn’t totally messed up, but I keep leaving that page happy with the guys I’ve got.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
tgsgirl - February 9, 2012
go with the gut - nice strategy.
Too bad it won’t work for me. My gut only produces gas. :)
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
At least you will go out with a "boom"
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
and is not Lars...
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
The more I know
the more I know I don’t know. :-(
civetta - February 9, 2012
My current line-up scored 11k+ last year
Since both my teams in the last two VDS seasons scored only 7k+ the previous year and managed to improve by 4-5k I think I have this competition sealed up. All your base are belong to me!
Lopex - February 9, 2012
Yes. That's exactly how this works.
ursula - February 9, 2012
Why do I think you added a cruel villain-like laugh to the end of that message (in real life)?
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
ursula twists his long pointy mustache
ursula - February 9, 2012
Anyone else has this open somewhere in the screen??
http://www.podiumcafevds.com/deadline.php?mw=1&y=2012
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
2 weeks, 1 day, 7 hours, 45 minutes, 31 seconds.
That means my team will change another 314,5 times
Lopex - February 9, 2012
That 0,5 change, is that a Leipheimer slur?
He isn’t that short you know.
Jens - February 9, 2012
That short? Oooh that is why someone called him angry gnome?
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Yes!
tedvdw - February 9, 2012
I will never finish learning..
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
The day you quit learning is the day you die!
2thvet - February 9, 2012
Working through the checklist
1. Only French speakers allowed
2. Check which Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and Dutchies speak French
3. Only the good Feillu this year
4. Pick every Canadian
5. Order the team kit
6. Renew Jerome Coppel Fan Club membership
7. Buy wife Valentine’s Day Gift
Willj - February 9, 2012
And then back on your bike
‘cause you’ve been lazy lately!
broerie - February 9, 2012
Same for you Mr Yeehoo
broerie - February 9, 2012
You know he does ride a little (commute) but doesn't turn his GPS on during commute rides.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
I have been carbo loading
Willj - February 9, 2012
:)
broerie - February 9, 2012
I tried that excuse with my wife...
Her response…“More like fermenting”
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
+1
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
In fact,
I am carbo loading right now. Cheers!
tedvdw - February 10, 2012
Put 7 as priority 1 and you will be OK
platypus - February 9, 2012
I like the team I've got together
Gonna wait until submission eve (Omloop Eve Eve?) to submit it, just in case someone may be ruled out for some reason or another. I suppose I’ve been doing the same with the women, but I may forget to submit it if submission closes before the men. I really have no idea what I’m doing with the women (didn’t even pick Vos!) so there will probably be no tinkering between now and then.
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
We'll send a submission reminder via email
and I guess it will be announced loudly here, as well.
tedvdw - February 9, 2012
Same here so far from the beginning to now 4 changes.
Kicked Valverde out and had 6 extra points to use, so 3 2 pointers became 4 pointers. Other then that everything is smooth…..
My formula is very easy, from their cost 1=100 in return, or that is what I am hoping to get in return from every guy,…. Hope no one gets hurt or suspended for something they ate 300 years ago..
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Let me see... Argentinian Gauchos & Co,
Damn took me forever but there it is…!!!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Is there an easy way to get the flags horizontal?
majope - February 9, 2012
Buy'em some beers and don't be afraid to show some flesh.
broerie - February 9, 2012
Ha!
majope - February 9, 2012
I buy some beer but who would want to see my flesh?
I am screwed.. I better go and buy more beer…
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
If there is some let me know...
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
still no Belgians?
you’re doing it all wrong Pablo…
broerie - February 9, 2012
No broerie... Just don't fit in my team... Are you in the draft? Then I make room.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
I'd cost something like 0,000 000 000 05 points
broerie - February 9, 2012
Damn...! But you are there..! Good job..!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Hmm... you seem to have set your price at the exact number of grams of clenbuterol
per milliliter of Contador’s blood. Is 50pg/ml now a metaphor for “a very small number”?
Or are you implying that your results this year may initially appear indetectable,
but turn out to be of world-shattering significance?
straw dog - February 9, 2012
I'm not smart enough to use such complicated metaphors,
It’s just a subtle form of protest against the Contador verdict.
broerie - February 10, 2012
What flag is that
in between JJ and Cav?
tgsgirl - February 9, 2012
Marc de Maar
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
Lagutin?
broerie - February 9, 2012
Yep, that's the fella
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
Doh
Of course.
I forgot who we were talking about for a moment.
tgsgirl - February 9, 2012
Hey this is not Belgium..! (pro cyclist don't grow on trees here)
He is the only pro I know, and talk, and actually talks back to me…! Ha..! He is a cool guy and his wife too.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
No no, I think it's very cool that you know him
just stupid from my part. Should’ve realised you’d pick him :)
tgsgirl - February 9, 2012
is ok.. I forgive you..! Most likely after Giro they will take a few weeks off
this year I will take pics of him.. Promise..!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
don't forget his wife
broerie - February 10, 2012
Ok...! I can do that..!
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
Er...no, I guess it isn't
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
Cav? No thanks..! Is a 2 pointer from UK, hoping he will have a break out year
Hope he does well during classics, if not he can just repeat his last season, I will be happy with that.
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Stannard? Yeah, definitely underpriced.
I thought about him too, but I picked Thomas instead.
broerie - February 9, 2012
Blythe
platypus - February 9, 2012
ohh right, thats 221 then.
Uphill - February 9, 2012
Is 1
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
Geraint? or who?
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
but he's more focusing on olympic track this year (geraint), isn't he?
umwolverine - February 9, 2012
Don't know
Going to focus on leading out Cavendish though.
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
geraint supposedly rides giro
but no classics campaign (track worlds in australia 4/8 apr) or tour
andrewp - February 10, 2012
I've done the flags thing a couple of times already
But suffice it to say I’ve got:
2 Aussies
5 Belgians
2 Czechs
3 French
1 German
3 Italians
2 Dutch
2 Russians
2 Spaniards
2 Brits
1 American
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
At least 4 sprinters?
broerie - February 9, 2012
Ehhhhhh
Depends a bit on the definition :p One definitely (gee wonder who that is), one’s kind of a Freire-type sprinter, and 2 or 3 who wouldn’t ever win a TdF stage or anything, but could probably win a 20 or 30 man sprint at the end of a semi-classic or SSSR.
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
So I guess that means 3 or 4 Freire-types ;\
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
Hmm, and one of my Spaniards is Jan Anton Pijl
May need to do a bit of tinkering
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
He was strong today, I bet he'll win at least 5 classics
broerie - February 9, 2012
In his mind
But in at least four cases someone will have stolen his win.
Chris Fontecchio - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Upon further inspection, two of my Belgies are definitely redundant to one another
So one of ’ems gonna get the heave-ho
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
bah!
broerie - February 9, 2012
there are still pints for second you know
platypus - February 9, 2012
Er, points, but pints works just as well
platypus - February 9, 2012
Well, they're redundant to one another in the sense that they'd be going for points at the Nationale Sluitingsprijs or the Tour de Rijke or something like that
I think I can aim a little higher when going for second place p(o)ints.
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
OK, bad examples, since those races aren't on the calendar
But you know what I mean. Races at that level of (non) prestige.
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
The two Czechs are probably redundant to one another as well
They’re also teammates (and now you probably know who they are!), but I can’t decide which of them I would favor if I needed to choose one or the other.
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
And I also just realized they're probably not doing the Tour of California this year
(it’s Barta and Konig from NetApp, if I haven’t given enough clues :p )
The team has only 17 riders, so to do Cali and Italia would require every rider the team has. Has that ever happened before?
Aly Edge - February 9, 2012
Hey, at the risk of giving away no important secrets whatsoever...
…does anybody know wtf happened to Iglinskiy last season?
He kept riding, finishing races, but just vanished off the face of the earth as far as results go.
I can’t find any story that he was sick or injured.
Are we to conclude that he was probably juiced up in 2010, and just decided he couldn’t risk it any longer?
straw dog - February 9, 2012
This is the unknown for Valverde also
How many points did HWMNBN get in his comeback year?
platypus - February 9, 2012
I'm not arguing about the uncertainty (I'm not picking him)
but the depth and consistency of Piti’s wins are evidence of immense natural talent.
Of course there was almost certainly some enhancement on occasion, but you can’t dope yourself to that many wins in throughout an entire season without getting caught.
With results like Iglinskiy, on the other hand, he may have “peaked” for certain races.
(I know of absolutely no evidence, don’t want to badmouth the guy – may well have been sick, I just can’t find any news story)
straw dog - February 9, 2012
I've been wondering about Iglinsky too
Very odd to have fallen off a cliff like that
ursula - February 9, 2012
I had him on my team, cost something like ten points and turned out to be a doughnut
broerie - February 10, 2012
+1
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
He crashed in one of the classics, but then went straight over to Spain
Being forced to race despite not feeling fit reduced his results?
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
And rather embarrassingly
The most notable thing about my team, is that my team name is
“Ooh la la la la la la la la! Balen, we have no problem.”
But I have now decided to fire Tommeke.
straw dog - February 9, 2012
great name
broerie - February 10, 2012
I just cannot make that flag thing work!
Much more international than last time though, but sharing a few of the favourite riders of my friends so we can cheer together. I think I have a rather surprising team leader this year.
Four 4 pointers, ten 2 pointers and four 1 pointers. No Gilbert.
platypus - February 9, 2012
My goal is to have less doughnuts
needless to say Krispy Kreme is not getting my faith for another year.
platypus - February 9, 2012
Not trying to change your mind... (but playing with it)
He is due to have a good year after a disaster year….
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Lalalalal - not listening
platypus - February 9, 2012
Uh huh. That's exactly why I took Haussler in 2011.
I forget why I’m taking him again this year…
majope - February 9, 2012
I am pretty sure you said that we should convince you not to do it again...but I think it's a brilliant choice.
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
The puppet has become
the puppetmaster.
(Ok, it’s a doll, not a puppet, stop nitpicking.)
straw dog - February 10, 2012
Me too, with Haussler
The upside is that at some point he becomes a bargain. And he is, as of now, one of two riders who have been on my team all three years. Sorry EBH. Sorry Rein.
sebastiandeluded - February 10, 2012
I had NO DONUTS last year
that’s the only thing I can brag about
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
http://www.podiumcafevds.com/doughnuts.php?y=2011
tedvdw - February 10, 2012
First place! first place!
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
So far-27 riders
4 Spanish
1 Norwegian
2 Italians
I Irish
1 Russian
2 Germans
1 Slovenian
2 Aussies
2 Dutch
1 Canadian
1 Czech
2 Belgians
1 English
2 Danes
1 Portugese
1 Pole
1 Argentinian
1 Oregonian
ursula - February 9, 2012
Currently:
Australia x 2
Austria
Belgium x 2
Curacao
France
Germany x 3
Lithuania
Nederlands x 6 (hegemony, baby!)
Norway x 2
UK x 2
US x 4
majope - February 9, 2012
For me (pending)
1 Australia
4 Belgium
1 Colombia
1 Czech Rep.
5 French
1 German
2 Italy
2 Lithuania
3 Netherlands
1 Norway
1 Poland
2 Russia
1 Slovakia
I’m going to dump at least 1 Frenchie…maybe
Vlaanderen90 - February 9, 2012
Let me guess, you picked kruopis
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
I pray to god that we have no riders in common
Cause that would automatically make them mediocre.
As in, “Majope and ursula Cioleked again.”
ursula - February 9, 2012
...and we have one poor rider in common.
And I had such high hopes for him too.
ursula - February 9, 2012
Oh, She-bear.
Some of my riders do quite well. It’s just that the 20 or so who don’t sort of pull the average down.
majope - February 9, 2012
JJ is going to be in a lot of teams...!!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
Velits is Slovakian, not Slovenian
lieutenantmudd - February 9, 2012
Right you are and I don't have either Velits.
ursula - February 9, 2012
Bole?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Roshe FTW
D Martin too costly.
Uphill - February 9, 2012
He is in my boat..!
Shit I hope it doesn’t sink..!
pablo777 - February 9, 2012
The most interesting thing about Roche this year
is whether he will be called upon to give up his wheel to a Frenchman.
(Ok, I know he’s sort of French himself, but you know what I mean)
straw dog - February 9, 2012
Yeay, It saddens me I had to let go of D. Martin
but he’s been good to me in the past two years
broerie - February 10, 2012
Same here
but my most important strategy is “Kill your darlings”
Jens - February 10, 2012
This way of expressing that sentiment...
…makes you sound less like a serial killer
straw dog - February 10, 2012
Ja, I think that ship has sailed
Jens - February 10, 2012
My conclusion also
fired my beloved Sagan for the same reason. Think he will have a great year but too expensive
platypus - February 10, 2012
My tentative
line up by country
2 Aussies
1 Belgium
2 Frenchmen
4 Germans
4 Italians
1 Lithuanian
2 Luxembourg
1 Norway
1 Slovenia
3 Spanish(Albertina has a lot to answer for)
1 Swiss
2 Brits
I don’t have all my favorites in here but I am pretty happy with the line up.That said there may be last minute changes.And I still feel a bit disloyal for not having even 1 American,may have to put Ted King on.I do like his writing.
Dustbunny8 - February 9, 2012
Okay, but if the Coming Dutch Hegemony arrives this year, you're geen geluk.
majope - February 9, 2012
The odds
of it being this year go up substantially with not having anyone.You should thank me.
Dustbunny8 - February 9, 2012
If it happens, I'll be happy to give you all due credit.
majope - February 10, 2012
currently pending (this is the 4th or 5th rendition)
australia – 1
belgium – 4
denmark – 1
france – 1
germany – 3
italy – 2
nederlands – 3
poland – 1
russia – 1
slovenia – 1
spain – 3
sweden – 1
usa – 2
uzbekistan – 1
umwolverine - February 9, 2012
or, for those textually challenged
umwolverine - February 10, 2012
you missing an Argentinian in that mix...! he he
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
am this close (fingers really close together) to finally settling on a team name.
JustJoshinYa - February 9, 2012
Robbie McEwen interviews Aidis Kruopis here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2×2wNuR_KLA
What a sweetie…and he even blushes :)
Seahorse - February 10, 2012
First Draft!
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
I need my glasses..!
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
I added a "copy the flags" feature!
Go to your team page and copy the HTML code from the text box, paste here:
tedvdw - February 10, 2012
(Same sort order as your team. So if you don’t want to give too much away, first sort the team in any other order than price by clicking on a column heading.)
tedvdw - February 10, 2012
Good lord, you're good!
majope - February 10, 2012
Are we ready to call him SuperDooperTed yet?
JustJoshinYa - February 10, 2012
mine right now (too many guys and too many allies I think):
JustJoshinYa - February 10, 2012
Awesome!
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
Boonen, Kruopis, Sagan, Roche, Andy, Fabian, Chavanel?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Some right, some wrong :)
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
(Boonen and Fabs right of course)
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
Why is everyone focused on that swiss guy?
Jens - February 10, 2012
I just think he's hot
what’s your excuse?
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
The one who kept getting beaten last year by Tony Martin, and isn't even doing the Tour this year?
Suckers.
majope - February 10, 2012
no amount of sand bagging can stop this flood
you know that
paisley - February 10, 2012
they say everything can be replaced...
broerie - February 10, 2012
Willj - February 10, 2012
+1 eh
Willj - February 10, 2012
you picking a hockey team?
paisley - February 10, 2012
Women's World Championships
are here in Ottawa next year. Willj’s team has a good chance there. Maybe not so much in WVDS.
Here’s mine so far. I have to do better than last year’s debacle.
sylvan - February 10, 2012
au moins, vous en avez choisi plusieurs aussi :)
Willj - February 10, 2012
I have 4 right now
And only one Dutch.
Wrong hegemony?
MathieuG - February 10, 2012
no, we the Canadian Hegemony is coming :)
Willj - February 10, 2012
Missing a verb there..."fear"?
majope - February 10, 2012
D'oh!
I did warn you about the sort order. Now we all know.
tedvdw - February 10, 2012
Awesome!
One less team for me to worry about.
Chris Fontecchio - February 10, 2012
Anyways I think the Argentinian flag is JJ..
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
Kewl! This is my likely final team
Jens - February 10, 2012
I predict that at least one of the Swedes is Tommy Love.
majope - February 10, 2012
Way to go out on a limb there majope
And the other two?
Jens - February 10, 2012
Well, one of them has the same initials. And one doesn't.
majope - February 10, 2012
I know Jens would like to choose Emma in the Mens games as well
Willj - February 10, 2012
God knows she would score higher than some of the deadbeats I have there
Jens - February 10, 2012
JJ FTW...!!!
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
Would it be wrong to post your complete team if you’ve already submitted?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Only if you don't mind people snatching up all your bestest picks.
Most people wait, but you don’t have to.
majope - February 10, 2012
What good picks? I was 360th last year
broerie - February 10, 2012
Excellent result!
Seahorse - February 10, 2012
I think the flags are more fun
lieutenantmudd - February 10, 2012
I used to have 5 french guys but then I had my head examined.
sebastiandeluded - February 10, 2012
Still pending...
Vlaanderen90 - February 10, 2012
Actually, think I'm struggling to find any Belgians to pick
There’s 2 “under-priced” riders which I think are obvious, 2 others I could see in my squad but no young “roughies”. Italians (or French even) though, its like a gold mine.
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
Sorry forgot to add at the start of my sentence:
“Maybe its the lack of beer-glasses to look through…”
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
Bad year for Belgians.
Even tgsgirl could barely scrape up 11.
majope - February 10, 2012
Oh the austerity measures some take in these hard times :D
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
That took much restraint
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
2 underpriced Belgians
Boonen, I guess? I couldn’t tell you the other one. Some might say De Gendt is a steal at 2. VDB? He’s good, but 6 points seems about right. Sep, of course, is a bargain at any price.
sebastiandeluded - February 10, 2012
De Gendt is so underpriced,...
broerie - February 10, 2012
Ssshh
lieutenantmudd - February 10, 2012
Yep that's pretty much 3 out of the 4
So I’m glad I know a little :D
RollinRollinRolland - February 10, 2012
I like that 4th guy too.
he’s going to get his opportunities and that’s what you want. I just don’t quite believe in him. But wow, I could be so wrong.
sebastiandeluded - February 11, 2012
Since Ted made the effort to allow it
jsallee00 - February 10, 2012
I am curious who the non-Northern European is
lieutenantmudd - February 10, 2012
That most northern of Italians,
and known doping-enemy: Pinotti, is my guess.
tedvdw - February 10, 2012
Only two riders from Northern Europe
TheFigurehead - February 10, 2012
Well the north half.
Switzerland is neutral.
lieutenantmudd - February 10, 2012
That's a lot of Germans
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
Something that's been said before in Belgium.
majope - February 10, 2012
Well played
tgsgirl - February 10, 2012
Pozzato!
jsallee00 - February 10, 2012
Ted gives PdCers a new toy and they play with it!
Look at all those flags.
paisley - February 10, 2012
we're a simple and patriotic lot...
JustJoshinYa - February 10, 2012
Revsion!
I fired Frank and hired Oscar and Vino,still not 100% sure,love the flags though,thank you Super Ted!
Dustbunny8 - February 10, 2012
Some modifications here
And only god knows how much time you saved us with this Ted..! Thanks for the flags..!
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
Sigh....
broerie - February 10, 2012
(good luck with the race btw)
broerie - February 10, 2012
I am not going to even be close to the times
the other guys make, I do it for the sport, and I keep trying to make them work longer before they overlap me..!
I never did this circuit before, but right next to it is a route I like to climb… about 2 km long and you gain like 100 meters. Nice area..!
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
not even Rujano?
my best one pointer from last year
broerie - February 10, 2012
6 points? are you nuts?
Not paying that for him… He is not going to score 600 points. And that is my formula. 1=100.
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
Hey I almost, almost took Thomas De Gent
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
Oh man, Pablo, you should definitely take Thomas De Gendt.
He is VERY underpriced. :)
sebastiandeluded - February 10, 2012
there... happy?
<img src=“”http://www.podiumcafevds.com/riders.php?mw=1&y=2012&nat=SVK" title=“Slovakia” target="winVDS">
"/>
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
Ha! Who'd you drop?
sebastiandeluded - February 10, 2012
a guy from Netherlands, forget my spelling something like Breammier? 2 pointer last year had 225 points.
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
Brammeier is Irish
tgsgirl - February 11, 2012
That one..! Good catch..!
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
Well, in all seriousness,
De Gendt for Brammeier is, I think, a good choice.
sebastiandeluded - February 11, 2012
no one MADE you submit before the deadline, did they?
umwolverine - February 10, 2012
I didn't yet..! Are you crazy!!!
With all this doping going on who knows who will be next… I will wait till the end to submit… Besides all this warm ups races can hurt.
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
ok, not done yet, but
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
Everyone is picking JJ this year???
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
No Horner?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Veilleux?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Vino?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Pinot?
broerie - February 10, 2012
ah heck, I'll stop
broerie - February 10, 2012
ding ding ding
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
although that could change
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
surprised he's back really
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
I like Vino a lot..!
But this year I will..stick to the beer instead… Na he is good for half a season only, he will retire I heard… (politics)
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
but i saw him riding down the road the other day
we’re tight, man!
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
yell at him "previet" or dobre utra in the morning..!
Might land you an autograph
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
ok
i see astana pros all the time here, but that’s the first time i recognized vino
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
Must be nice... Wait, it is Nice right?? he he
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
you never know what races
he might buy a win in.
ant1 - February 10, 2012
no, why?
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
dunno
broerie - February 10, 2012
I't remarkable you haven't picked a singe 'merican
broerie - February 10, 2012
pour quoi?
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
racines?
broerie - February 10, 2012
Roots?
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
oui
broerie - February 10, 2012
similar in Spanish.
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
racinas?
broerie - February 10, 2012
raices.
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
I pick Belgians, Pablo goes for Agentinians, Will prefers Canadians and you...
broerie - February 10, 2012
he prefers to go to France so .... He picks frenchs>>>?
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
i thought will preferred cows
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
and i agree with you guys
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
fucking imperialists ;)
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
naaaaaa...!
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
but who would you have as an american?
horner? was dissing on my man contador during the tdf the year conta was kicking LA’s ass and LA was fighting his little tweety war. So, nah.
farrar’s ok, but meh.
Levi? bof.
hincapie? had him on the team a couple of years ago when i only knew a few riders names
phinney? ??
ted king, brookwalter, etc? I kinda like them but they don’t score. I think i had ted king on the team last year.
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
sorry... Levi what?
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
double meh
yeehoo - February 10, 2012
Oh... I have hopes for him this year.. My only american..
pablo777 - February 10, 2012
Farrar is fairly cheap this year
And there’s a few cheap Americans who I think could be great buys.
I’m American and I have exactly 1 on my team.
lieutenantmudd - February 10, 2012
yeah, mostly was just saying
i’m not really a fan – nothing against them either
yeehoo - February 11, 2012
Yeah, you have to consider their role in the team too
I’m sad to say that Horner will not be given many opportunities this year….
Ditto for the young guns on BMC.
Ted King? As Much as I love to follow him, his job is very well defined, and it rarely involves crossing the line first…
muk - February 10, 2012
talansky
umwolverine - February 10, 2012
Sshhh
lieutenantmudd - February 10, 2012
ok, i'll look
but normally it’s better to stay away from riders you hear about from his fans from the same country. If ip goes on about how great some irish guy is, or frinking about a dutch, i’ve learned from bitter experience to run the other way.
yeehoo - February 11, 2012
him or Peterson
broerie - February 11, 2012
Or neither
Vlaanderen90 - February 11, 2012
I think I've settled on this, but reluctant to submit just yet...
I’m quite convinced that I’ve put far more effort into this than the outcome will reflect,and yet I still can’t hit submit just yet…
muk - February 10, 2012
hmmmmm....
JJ, Cadel, Sergey after that no clue who did you pick…
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
I've just realised
No Italians!
Wow, how did I do that?
muk - February 11, 2012
I think it was the 6 Australians :)
sebastiandeluded - February 11, 2012
Guilty
Upon reflection I might be a tad guilty of a little bit of over enthusiastic patriotism, perhaps ….
Mind you, it is soooo awesome to have so many high quality Aussies to choose from.
muk - February 11, 2012
sweet
professorfate - February 10, 2012
and the gals! (somewhat / incredibly more transparent!)
professorfate - February 10, 2012
Sigh. I was just about ready to submit, then heard the UCI approved an additional day for the Tour of Poland.
Back to the drawing board.
majope - February 10, 2012
In 2013
You really plan ahead.
TheFigurehead - February 11, 2012
LOL..!
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
??
<img src=“”http://www.podiumcafevds.com/riders.php?mw=1&y=2012&nat=ESP" title=“Spain” target="winVDS">
"/>
ELVISGOAT - February 10, 2012
lots o spainards in there now... how'd that happen?
ELVISGOAT - February 10, 2012
This really should be my final lineup!
I decided to go for the easy national champ points with de Maar, and now that he’s a big-ish fish (though the Unitedhealthcare team has quite a few former ProTour riders on it) he might have freer reign to stomp at a race like the Tour of California. And who knows, that excellent ensemble cast could result in them getting wildcards to bigger races all the same. I’m pretty sure I’ve got wildcards covered for all three Grand Tours (got riders from Colnago, NetApp, Cofidis, and Andalucia), so go breakaway!
Aly Edge - February 11, 2012
And the girls
Though, seriously, at the end of picking this team I just went with riders who have the same first name as me (or something like it)
Aly Edge - February 11, 2012
That's so totally a valid concept
tedvdw - February 11, 2012
A bit tricky for you I suppose
Jens - February 11, 2012
Hey, I've said lots of times I don't know what I'm doing
I was happy just to get 10 or 11 riders I’d actually heard of
Aly Edge - February 11, 2012
so you took Vino?
Willj - February 11, 2012
On my women's team?
Uhhh……..
Aly Edge - February 11, 2012
He likes shopping
for wins. That’s about as feminine as he gets.
Jens - February 11, 2012
How are team time trials scored?
There’s one in the Giro and one in the Vuelta, and there’s one or two throughout the year at SSSR’s. How are the points decided in those stages?
Aly Edge - February 11, 2012
All the riders that finish with the team
get 20% of the points for the placing they get. So in the GTs they each get 16p for winning the TTT stage (80p total).
Jens - February 11, 2012
20% even if six or more finish together?
Aly Edge - February 11, 2012
Yes
tedvdw - February 11, 2012
Well after a short night sleep....
We have decide on this with my wife,
Argentinian Gauchos & Co. will look like this:
And The German Express (already submit) looks like this:
The only result that I am sure of is that if you put this two groups of young people together you end up having some great looking kids with a huge potential to be great athletes..!
pablo777 - February 11, 2012
Viviani keeps winning
Meaning I have to keep him in the team, even if is planning to go to track for the next 6 months
mb2612 - February 11, 2012
If think it would be for the greater good
If someone sabotaged his track bike :P
RollinRollinRolland - February 11, 2012
Changed my team again...
majope - February 11, 2012
I bet
you kept The Honey Badger and not this year’s Great Equalizer. I’m still hesitating. Where will he grab points? Ah well, nats probably.
tedvdw - February 12, 2012
And TTTs.
Maybe.
majope - February 12, 2012
Although looking at my team again (not on the FSA DS page, unfortunately, as Pablo broke it)
there are a couple I might try to offload to my Ed’s League team and replace with people I like better.
majope - February 12, 2012
Heeeyyyyyy...!!! Stop blaming me...!
Just wait until Ted comes back from riding and he will fix it in a heart bit..!
pablo777 - February 12, 2012
looking at Majope’s flags …… I’m tranquilo
And I guess tomorrow’s lunch date will be Dutch?
Willj - February 13, 2012
my first attempt at VDS is changing a fair amount but here's a current snapshot
Unicorns proving singularly unhelpful so far
randomgerbil - February 12, 2012
One descision I'm not sure about it picking Larsson fro 4 pts.
Any thoughts? Looking at who I got for 2 and for 6, he doesn’t look THAT great. I jut needed s/one for that number of points.
Triki - February 12, 2012
then again there’s an olympic Chrono this year and a World’s TTT, so…
Triki - February 12, 2012
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