Panache

We have concluded the first leg of the Wiskota Fantasy season. The classics proved to be monumental and as always, classic. Tom Boonen and Team Volpe dominated the first part of the season. However, the season has just begun. Who will be the heroes of the Grand Tours, Olympics, Worlds, and the great American stage races? I personally cannot wait to see it all unfold. But first, let’s take a look back at the classics and spring season as well as prognosticate on the future of the Wiskota Fantasy League.

Best Team: Team Volpe dominated the cobbles and the spring. With Tom Boonen having a monumental spring, Evans with a win at Criterium International, and Dan Martin finding points like potatoes in the Irish soil. Who am I kidding, Pat had Boonen and Tommeke reigned supreme in the 2012 classics campaign.

Honorable Mention: Team Wiskota Dynamic and Team Gregario Forza scored a multitude of points throughout their roster.

Best Pick: Boonen. I can’t wait to discuss someone else.

Honorable Mention: Nibbles, Sammy Sanchize, Wiggo, and Sagan.

Best Performance: Boonen cobbled double with an emphasis on Roubaix, Panache!

Honorable Mention: Nibbles at Tirreno, Wiggo at Paris-Nice and Romandie, Sammy Sanchez at Pais Vasco, Rodriguez at Fleche Wallone.

Best Value: Boonen, damn! We let Tommeke slide to the 4^th round! Don’t worry; we were not the only fantasy pundits to not expect Blownen to completely dominate. It has been 3 years since Tommeke was close to this type of form. Chapeau! Tommeke, Chapeau!

Honorable Mention: Nibbles in the 3^rd, Valverde in the 3^rd, Sagan in the 4^th.

Best Race: My favorite race of the year was the Ronde. Maybe it was the waffles, real Wisconsin maple syrup, homemade whip cream or the Trippel. Maybe it was the most exciting finish of the monuments.

Honorable Mention: I also really enjoyed Tirreno-Adriatico, Strade-Bianchi, Milan-Sanremo, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Picks I admire: Boonen- obviously, Nibali, S. Sanchez, Wiggins, Valverde, Danny boy Martin, Sagan, Mollema and Voekler.

Picks I don’t: Gilbert #1 overall, L.L. Sanchez, Leipheimer in the 2^nd, Rigoberto Uran, Nick Nuyens, the Schlecks, Millar, Kloden, and Vino.

Picks we missed: Team GreenEdge have been rocking Simon Gerrans and Michael Albasini. They were two big misses, but the Albatross, who could’ve guessed? Alessandro Ballan had a great spring. Although he had no wins he still racked up 166 fat points. Fillipo Pozatto had a good early classics campaign. The Astana tandem of Maxim Iglinsky and Enrico Gasparotto ruled the Ardennes. Lieuwe Westra and Niki Terpstra also had good spring seasons.

Biggest Reach: Levi Leipheimer. The Commish may call this a bit unfair; however, this may have been a bit of a reach if he was healthy.  Now it looks as though California and le Tour are question marks for the American. I hope lil’ Levi comes back and makes me eat my words.

Honorable mention: L.L. Sanchez in the 4^th, Millar in the 4^th, Vino in the 3^rd.

Team of the Future: This was tough but I got to say that Bill the Neo Pro is built for the Grand Tours and stage races. Maybe not the Giro, but he looks good for Le Tour and the Vuelta. I got to be honest, Gregario Forza will be tough in May and June, and Mike could be right there with the addition of Frank Schleck in the Giro. Obviously Team Volpe will be a tough Tour team with Evans.

Wiskota riders to watch: I like Michele Scarponi for the Giro. Cunego will also pick up some points there. In the Tour of California I like Horner. Nibali, Mollema, Dan Martin, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Gesink, and Krueziger could all score points in the Duaphine and Tour of Switzerland. Evans and Wiggins will both be great in the Tour de France.  Cavendish will probably clean up in the sprints. I’ll stop there as picking the Olympics, Vuelta, Worlds, Lombardia, and the Canadian classics would all deserve more time and thought.

Non-Wiskota riders to watch and/or pick up: The GreenEDGE duo of the Albatross and Gerrans has been great but it’s hard to know if these two can continue their successes. Tejay Van Garderen could be tough in California and Colorado. There is always the silent assassin, Denis Menchoz. Janez Brakjovic could do well in the Dauphine. There are also riders like Andrew Talansky, Ryder Hesjedal, Peanut butter and Jelle Vanandert, Sylvain Chavanel, and for the Commish, Rui Costa, stage hunter.

Well there it is, the State of the League. Now we get to play with the rosters a bit and make some transfers. I will trade L.L. Sanchez if anyone is interested. I’m looking for sprinters or to boost my Tour team. . Let me know where I am right on or way off. Who did I forget? Wrongly accuse. Etc.

Until next time,

Forza