ProTour Punditry Predictions

[The Couch]

I'll post the Paris-Nice scores later, but in the meantime, here are a few more races for you to start thinking about...

23 March - Milano-Sanremo
28 March - E3 Harelbeke
30 March - Gent-Wevelgem (Men); Trofeo Alfredo Binda (Women)
6 April - Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Men); Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Women)

OK, now that I have proven I can manage to complete a full stage race without any points and have given you all a head-start, it's time to get into action
Still... feeling a bit disappointment, getting just as much points for predicting Kwiatek for Strade Bianchi as for example choosing Kittel in a sprint stage of a stage race.


@smutchin (and the others here) do we take Dwars door Vlaanderen (26/03/14) as well? Often this gives a somewhat below-the-radar winner, so could be interesting
(Gatto, Terpstra, Nuyens, Breschel, Van Impe... in the last years)

Valverde is actually starting in this one as well (I guess to practice some cobblestone sections for the infamous TdF stage)

 

[smutchin]

Yes, why not. I think I had DDV on the list originally but crossed it off to keep numbers down. But it doesn't clash with anything else, so let's put it back in.

I'm personally happy with the scoring system giving equal status to one-day races and stages, since I think the game is all about predicting individual races. I might be inclined to reduce the points for overall classifications though, especially the minor classifications. But I think it's best to leave things as they are for this season, and maybe we can discuss revising the scoring for next season after we see how things pan out...

 

[rich p]

I agree Smutch. Seems like a good theory and I guess The Couch is just smarting after his Royaume Unis Eurovision song contest-like performance

 

[The Couch]

I agree Smutch. Seems like a good theory and I guess The Couch is just smarting after his Royaume Unis Eurovision song contest-like performance

You could have just gone for Belgian Eurosong-type of performance

 

[The Couch]

By the way, if anybody wants to take a punt for Dwars Door Vlaanderen... Obama is available as well

And now that the topic has been mentioned...
I hope Belgian will make sure to keep this year's Belgian Eurosong contestant Pat KRIMson (a.k.a. 2 Fabiola) inside to avoid any US security incidents
p.s. this is for the lovers of Belgian taste:

(To be fair though, they didn't get the Belgian nomination)

 

[rich p]

Okay, my hat's in the ring for MSR
Degenkolb

 

[Crackle]

Same ring - msr - degenkolb and I thought of it before Rich did.

 

[The Couch]

Same ring - msr - degenkolb and I thought of it before Rich did.

Yes, we've heard that before..

Inspired predicting from @Crackle and @The Couch to pick Ilesic for Lanterne Rouge!

I almost went for Sagan, but since this I want to go down swinging (and going down is really what I have been doing ): MSR - Greipel

 

[smutchin]

Part of me wants to say Cav but I'm gonna go out on a limb for MSR...

Arthur Vichot

Mainly for his cheekbones.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I'll go out on a limb as well and go for Vichot's teammate Arnaud Demare.

 

[rich p]

Part of me wants to say Cav but I'm gonna go out on a limb for MSR...

Arthur Vichot

Mainly for his cheekbones.

As good a reason as any!

 

[themosquitoking]

Cav for me for MSR but i'm going each way on him. That's allowed isn't it?

 

[dragon72]

For M-S, I'm picking Sagan or Cancellara.
My heart says Sagan but my head says Spartacus.

 

[Crackle]

Cav for me for MSR but i'm going each way on him. That's allowed isn't it?

As a bookie once said to me incredulously. 'Each way mate, you sure. If it comes in 2nd you'll still be paying me.' I don't go to the races often.

 

[themosquitoking]

As a bookie once said to me incredulously. 'Each way mate, you sure. If it comes in 2nd you'll still be paying me.' I don't go to the races often.

Went once on a corporate jolly, free food and booze and it still cost me. Never again.