Righty let's get the big show for the year on the road. All appeals to CAS are still pending, so Trail remains our defending champion with a mighty win over jimc and wolffman1.

In order to try and sway the balance away from the GC riders a couple of big changes have been made to the scoring. This year the top 3 placings on each stage will get bonus points (50, 25, 10). Also the same points are on offer for the first 3 in the intermediate sprint on each stage and for the hardest rated climb of each stage (but not if that climb is the finish!) So you'll need to give a bit of thought as to who are the opportunists and climbers in the peloton who could help you collect these points.


Part 1. Pick your team of nine riders from the starting list. You can only pick a maximum of three riders from those designated 'A-grade'. Generally these are the GC contenders, the top 20 scoring riders from last year and a few others I've added because I can.

On each stage your riders will score points based on their finishing positions (from 200 for first down to 3 for coming 198th). The idea is that consistently high placings will make for higher team finishes. In a change for this year the top 3 placings will also score bonus points (50, 25, 10)

The top 3 riders at the intermediate sprint on each stage will score points (50, 25, 10)

The top 3 riders on the highest rated climb of each stage will score points (50, 25, 10). If there is more than one climb equally rated highest (eg 2x cat 1), the scoring climb will be the one closest to the stage start. Mountain top finishes don't count as the scoring climb on the stage as they carry stage points.

Part 2. Pick the overall classification winners. One pick for each of...
- The overall GC
- The points classification
- the mountains classification
- young rider classification
- best team
- lanterne rouge (last placed rider)

Part 3. Each day pick the day's stage winner to earn valuable bonus points (100 if they come 1st, 50 for 2nd & 25 for 3rd).

To enter post your picks for Parts 1 and 2 to this thread before 9pm next Sunday. Stage picks must be made by midnight each day of the race.

Good luck and may the best man / maness win!

For those wanting to put their teams together before the final announcements are made. The good folks at roadcycling.co.nz have put together the team rosters here... http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/TourdeFran ... sters.html

Indicatively the A-grade riders that you can only include a maximum of three in your team are:

Alberto Contador
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Roman Kreuziger
Nicholas Roche
Samuel Sanchez
Andy Schleck
Vladimir Karpets
Luis Leon Sanchez
Levi Leipheimer
Cadel Evans
Robert Gesink
Ryder Hesjedal
Chris Horner
Andreas Kloden
Johan Van Summeren
Bradley Wiggins
George Hincapie
Frank Schleck
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Alexandre Vinokourov
Ivan Basso
Ruben Plaza Molina

Note: Not everyone of those named above may be starting this year. Check the startlists as they are announced/revised to make sure!

i LOL at you including Hincapie in A grade though...

...and Sastre. oops!

please sir can I start now?
Three “A” Riders
1. Alberto Contador
2. Andy Schleck
3. Bradley Wiggins
6 helperouterers
4. Mark Cavendish
5. Farrar
6. Tom Boonen
7. Mark Renshaw
8. Richie Porte
9. Laurens Ten Dam
The overall GC- Contador
- The points classification -Mark Cavendish
- the mountains classification -Philip Gilbert
- young rider classification - Robert Gesink
- best team -Radio Shack
- lanterne rouge (last placed rider) -Hurbert Dupont

Oooh that man is in quick!

I am still considering my options!!

Joel wrote:i LOL at you including Hincapie in A grade though...

Bang on the cut off of the 20th top scoring rider from last year!!

You Poohole John, youve got most of my picks

gotta be in quick, and I planned this for a whole 5 minutes. But going by last year, I know nothing about picking cycling teams

1. Rotorua Road Rash
2. R. Porte
3. M.Goss
4. Contador
5. Ben Swift
6. Vladamir Karpets (best haircut in cycling EVER)
7. T. Voekler
8. P.Gilbert
9. E. Boassan Hagen

Lanterne = Rotorua Road Rash
Maillot Jaune = Contador
Maillot Vert = Cavendish
Maillot à pois rouges = Gadret (Ag2r)
Maillot Blanc = Gesnick if eligible or C. Horner
Best Team = Leopard



Your Welcome and thanks again Tugboat

I dislike Gadret, entertaining to watch him do over his team mates all the time tho

Heres my pick: Thanks

Contador
J Rodriguez
A Schleck
Cavendish
T Voekler
A Charteau
M Goss
S Chavenel
T Farrar

GC: Contador
Points: Cavendish
KOM: D Moncoutie
Young Rider: Gesink
Team: Leopard
Lantern Rouge: J Hivert