From the Commish

Off-Season

Housekeeping

Even in retirement there is no off-season for Cipo 

A few things need to be worked out before the start of next season.  First, when is the draft?  The Tour Down Under starts on Tuesday, January 20th.  The weekend before is busy with birthdays, pond hockey and NFL playoffs.  I suggest we either meet Sunday night or do it Monday (MLK Day).  I know about half of us have that day off, but we could do it whatever time works for everybody.  If that does not work we could always do it the weekend before that (10th or 11th).  Please let me know what you think.

Second, what's up with the rule changes?  We have talked about dropping most of the euro level races, but cherry picking a few that we like.  Also, there has been discussion of changing some of the points for these non UCI World Tour races.  Namely, reducing the points available in the US races and the Worlds.  Having almost all of our races be from the World Tour should make drafting and the point system easier to understand.  In addition, it will be much easier for me to tally, not to mention reducing the need for weird pirated feeds from Italy.  So there it is let me know what you think and if there is a non World Tour race that you want included let me know.   Wiskota!

Wiskota League Banquet

November 7th 

Pancho Villa on Eat Street enters it's 3rd year of
 Wiskota Fantasy League sponsorship

Time to toast the season and chow some bubbling cauldrons of mystery mexi-meat.  I'm thinking 6:30 at Pancho Villa for dinner then possibly hitting some other spots in the neighborhood.  See you there. Wiskota!  

Three in a row for 

Team Wiskota Dynamic!!!

 The Commish keeps a close eye on the peloton
from the Wiskota Dynamic team car

Another season of the Wiskota Fantasy League has come to a close.  Team Wiskota Dynamic takes a historic third consecutive victory with Le Pacte de Loups and Gregario Forza rounding out the podium.

Il Lombardia

Oh, Danny Boy...

Martin attacks in the final K 

Another big score for Le Pacte de Lupes has, in all likely hood, secured second year director sportif, Steven, 2nd place overall in the Wiskota Fantasy League.  Danny boy Martin finally delivered on that high draft pick.

Maybe now he can get his teeth fixed

Only a few races to go and only one more world tour stage race left, the vaunted Tour of Beijing.  Coming off of the only, somewhat interesting year, ever, this piece of crap race is now defunct.  Who will take this final race, who cares?  Wait a minute, the final podium position is still up for grabs can the Neo-Pro hold on?  Will Volpe manage to squeeze out a few more sprint points?  Can Bill make a move or will he experience his first season off of the podium?  Does Gregario have enough left in the tank? He only needs 56 points.  Will Taco claim his second ever lanterne rouge?  Yes, yes he will.  Will we be eating tacos together as a team soon?  I hope so.  I'll be hitting people up for possible banquet dates, so check back soon.

WORLDS

Wiggo Worlds

The Kwiat1

A major shakeup in points as Volpe scores big time in Ponferreda.  Only a few races left and the race for the podium of the Wiskota Fantasy league is as tight as it can be with a mere 64 points separating 3rd place from 6th place.  Will anyone challenge Le Pacte de Loups for 2nd place?  

As the season comes to a close our eyes turn to the Wiskota Fantasy League banquet.  I'm looking at late October, maybe the 24th or 25th.  Let me know what you think.  Wiskota!

La Vuelta!

Pistolero!

Bang Bang, lights out

The final Grand Tour of the year is complete and our season is down to it's last few weeks.  Contador and Le Pacte de Loups scored a lot of points and is making a legitimate run for first place.

The Broom Wagon

...cleaning up after the week of racing.

Colorado

Yup, that's Nature Valley Grand Prix all star
Serghei Tvetcov rounding out the podium

Le Pact de Lupes cleans up in the USA Pro Cycling challenge taking first and second place as well as a few stage wins.  STP Greenline managed to squeeze a few more points out of the magic man, Rafal Majka.

Hamburg

Look Farrar beat Cav!

Wiskota Dynamic and Volpe racked up some sprinty points in the Vattenfalls Cyclassics.

From the Commish

Transfer Period #3

The third and final transfer period will open on Monday the 18th at 8 am.  This transfer period will close at midnight on Friday the 22nd just in time for the start of the final grand tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana.  This transfer period takes place during the Tour of Colorado (USA Pro Cycling Challenge), your current rosters will count for this race and transfers will not start to count until the Vuelta.

  

We've got a close competition this year with a heated battle for first as well as the rest of the podium spots. So, make some moves and enjoy the last part of the season.  Look for a few more Team Wiskota events including a Vuelta viewing party before the end of season team banquet.

Wiskota!

As always, leave a message in the comments section to make a transfer.

Nibali Wins The Tour!!!

Drop Cancellera on the cobbles

Drop everyone in the mountains

Kick back some champagne

Tour Stage Challenge

Stage              Patrick        Luke        Greg

1                      0                  0              3
2                      0                  0              0
3                      0                  2              3
4                      3                  0              0
5                      0                  0              0
6                      0                  2              0
7                      2                 0              0
8                     0                  2               1
9                     0                 0               0
10                   0                  3              2
11                   0                  0              0
12                   0                  0              2
13                   3                 0              0
14                   0                 0               2
15                   0                 3               0
16                   2                 3               0
17                   0                 1               3
18                   0                 0               3
19                   0                 0               0
20                   0                 3               0
21                   0                 2               3

Total:              10                 21           22

Gregario Forza Wins!

Volpe and The Commish owe you a beer.

Transfer Period 2

Tour de France

Let's do this

Alright, this is why we play this game.  The Grand Boucle is upon us and it's time to get your Tour team tuned up.  This Transfer period was moved directly before the Tour by popular demand meaning your pickups can be based on the most up to date info.  Transfers open at 8 AM on Monday the 23rd and close on midnight the 4th of July.  As always, just leave a comment on this post to make a transfer.  Vive Le Tour! Wiskota!

Broom Wagon

...cleaning up after the week of racing.

Dauphine

Soak it in, you just beat Pistolero

Solid riding and one ballsy break away earned Andrew Talansky the biggest win of his career. 

Suisse

The race hasn't been decided yet as they saved the queen stage for the final day.

Broom Wagon: Giro Recap

Nitro!

Viva Colombia!!!

Nairo Quintana secured his first (of many?) grand tour wins last Sunday.   With the Giro wrapped up the WFL leader board saw its first big reshuffling of the season.  Gregario Forza comes away the big winner scoring a massive (epic) 395 points.  The Tours of Belgium and Bavaria were in there too but for the most part Greg scored his points in the Pink.  Two Giro wins in a row for Gregario Forza, was made even sweeter with Forza beating the Commish in Velogames for the first time ever.  Is this the beginning of a new era?  The Nairo Forza era?  Can Gregario keep it rolling through the summer?  Will the Wiskota Fantasy League crown a new champion this season?
Stay tuned for more details and a previews of the weeks to come.   

The Giro!

Here We Go

Il Papa makes it official

From the Commish

Transfer Period 1

The Fight for Pink Begins on May 9th

Transfers open at 8 am on Monday the 5th and close at Midnight Thursday the 8th.  This year there is a scheduling overlap with the 4 Days of Dunkerque race.  Scoring for this race will use your original roster as transfers will not effect this race.  The emphasis is on getting your Giro team together.  To make a transfer simply leave a comment on this post after 8 am on Monday.  First come first served.

Broom Wagon: Ardennes in Review

Yes, those skirts are made out of coasters

GIlbert powered away in Amstel Gold and won the congratulatory beer chug.

"You young guys are going way to soon"

Valverde passed his rivals as if the were sitting still on the Mur de Huy.

Some guy thinks this is art

Gerrans timed it just right in Liege, and redeems himself in the eyes of his beer chugging Aussie bretheren.

Broom Wagon: Cobbled Classics Wrap Up

Until Next Year

The Terpinator destroyed the cobbles this year

Well, not exactly, we are lucky enough to have a cobbled stage coming up in this year's Tour de France.  Time to rattle the bones of some of these ultra skinny climber types, I like it.  But, besides for that little taster, we will have to wait another year to feed our cobbles jones.  Let's recap.

Dwars door Vlaanderen:  In a sign of things to come, the cobbles of the Paterberg got Terpinated (trademark pending) by Maillot Jaune Guillame's killer late round selection, Niki Terpstra.  

E3 Harelbeke: Despite how it may have seemed, Peter Sagan did not come away empty handed from the spring classics season.  He managed a sprint victory, heading a podium group of Terpstra and Geraint that we would get to see a lot more of later in the classics.

Gent-Wevelgem: Degenkolb began the transformation from being considered a sprinter to being considered a classics rider by...winning a sprint finish.  The only thing more ironic is Degenkolb's hipster mustache, or is that the actual style in Germany right now?  Apparently, he shaved his euro stash afterwards thus, dooming his chances for victory in Roubaix. 

The Ronde: We all know how his one turned out.  An epic, legendary, history making effort to bridge the gap by Kristoff came up heart breakingly short.  And some other guy opened a beer on the side of a table or something.

Scheldeprijs:  Skittles owns this race, but I haven't had much of a chance to rip on my boy Ty Ty Farrar yet this year and he came "close" to making me eat crow with a second place finish.  "you don't do that"

Paris-Roubaix:  Another great edition of the queen of the monuments.  In the end, Terpstra got a way for the win, but there was a whole hell of a lot more going on in this race.  The final group was crazy strong.  11 national road race titles, 14 monuments, 30 grand tour stages, 3 cyclocross world championships, 1 road race world champion, 3 green jerseys, 6 gold medals and for the first time since 1992, 1 Tour de France winner.

As the dust settles can we determine a WFL winner here?  Most of us scored significant points.  Eric and Greg keep battling it out for 5th place while Volpe sees his annual Cancellera bump give him some breathing room.  Steven has been raking it in, a bit from G. Thomas but mostly off the cobbles with Contador.  Bill is probably the big winner here as he has inched even closer to first.

On to the Ardennes where we put away our roleurs and bring out our puncheurs.  The WFL is full of climby riders and this next week should be pretty fun.  Tune in. Wiskota!

On the Rivet

Paris - Roubaix

Who will hoist the trophy this year?

Tune in early because the action starts at 6 am on NBC Sports Live Extra.  In addition, there will be another Wiskota Team group text started as soon as the Commish can drag himself out his hotel bed.  

As for favorites, one name looms large.  Can anyone top Cancellera?  At this point it seems hard to imagine. Sep Van Marcke has seemed to be on the best form.  Boonen obviously has the most experience and wins, but was lacking in Flanders.  GVA has been ripping it up, doing everything but winning.  Phinney was born for this race, but is it too soon?  Eddy the Boss has been given the go ahead at Sky, will Wiggo and the Penguin be there in the end as well?  Kristoff seems like a real tough son of a bitch, can he make it to the velodrome? Will Thor finally get his?  Or will one of Omega Pharma's many 2nd lieutenants ride away from the pack?  I haven't even mentioned Sagan, Degenkolb or Pozzato... Everybody has got a dog in the race so fire up the laptop and hit the cobbles.

Predictions:

Wiskota Podium:

Cancellera

Sep

Boonen

Spoilers:

Hayman

Langeveld

Leukemans

Is it weird that I kind of want Wiggo to pull this out?  Tour/Roubaix winner, epic.  Also, I'm serious about that Haymaker pick, dude has serious experience.  

    

Flanders!

Cancellera

It's Miller Time, Bitch!

Spartacus takes his record tying 3rd Ronde.  There have been so many races and so little time to recap.  The points are updated and ready for Roubaix.  Feel free to comment on your favorite moments from the cobbled classics season so far.

The Broom Wagon

...cleaning up after the weekend of racing. 

Milan-San Remo

There can be only one!
Kristoff unleashes the krakken in San Remo

An impressive Alexander Kristoff takes the biggest win of his career.  Cancellera sprints to a second place finish while WFL riders Cavendish, Stybar and Sagan round out the top ten.

On the Rivet

...who's racing hard this weekend. 

Milan - San Remo

The Sunny Italian Riviera: 2013

The first Monument of the season is here!  100 big points are on the line this Sunday.  Here's a quick list of who we should be looking for.  

WFL Favorites

Gregario Forza:  Nibbles

Team Volpe: Cancellera

Team Wiskota Dynamic:  Sagan

Mailott Jaune Guillame:  Kreuziger

Le Pacte de Loups:  Thomas

STP Greenline-Unobtanium: Van Avermaet

Taco:  Degenkolb

The Broom Wagon

...cleaning up after the week's racing.

La Ronca Takes Nice

It's all about the brown shorts

Pistolero Takes Tirreno

"I'm coming for you FrommeDogg"

Points, Points, Points.  Most teams (sorry Volpe) made a big jump in points last week as the WFL sent tons of riders to the all important week long stage races that mark the start of spring. 

 "The Race to the Sun", with it's new course saw "more aggressive" riders go for overall victory.  Stage wins and time bonuses were the name of the game as there was no TT or high mountain finish.  Perfect race for a climby puncheur with a finishing kick.  Carlos Betancur took advantage of a beneficial course and a strong team (that's right AG2R, a strong team) to take home the biggest win of his young career.  The sky is the limit for La Ronca.  Wondering why Betancur is nicknamed the raspy voiced woman?  Of course you were.  Click here and wonder no more.  

"The Race of the Two Seas" had a star studded lineup this year.  Froome dropped out as did Porte half way through.  However, that should not take away from Alberto Contador's dominant climbing performance.  Pistolero is back and showed some classic panache with an attack from 30 K to go, dropping the likes of Nairo Quintana on the penultimate climb.  If you haven't seen the end of this stage and it's 30% gradients you gotta check it out.  Also, Greg you should totally buy this T-Shirt.

All in all, there were plenty of points to be had.  Le Pacte de Loups was a big winner with Contador racking up huge points.  It could have been even bigger had Geraint Thomas not crashed out of Paris Nice. Team Dirty Sanchez's moved out of the basement with the help of 6 different rider's scoring including such legendary Taco rider's as Fuglsang and Degenkolb.  Wiskota Dynamic had a good week as well to retain the overall lead.  The biggest losers are Volpe, who has dropped to the bottom of the charts and Forza who just can't seem to keep the pace.  

Look for Gregario's "Chapeau" later this week as well as a preview of the first of the five Monuments, Milan-Sanremo. 

The Broom Wagon

... cleaning up after the week's events. 

The Classics Have Begun

The Season of the Strong Men

This weekend the classics got under way with the racing of the first cobbled classic of the season, the Omloop het Niewsblad.  Bill came up big with the huge Englishman Ian Stannard pulling off an impressive diesel style sprint.  He went super early and GVA just couldn't come around.  Lots of people picked up minor points here as WFL riders took the top 5 spots.  

It's recreation time!

The sprinters classic of Kuurne - Brussels - Kuurne ended with a group sprint as Quick step shredded the peloton on the few early hills and used their power to stay away until the end.  Boonen's sprint was all but a formality even with a speedy Moreno Hofland making a valiant effort.

A few crashes marked the beginning of the classics season. Most notably for BMC.  Both Thor and Phinney had injuries but both should be just fine.  Despite how bad it looks. 

Phinney continues to earn his stripes

The Classica de Almeria was also this weekend.  Only one WFL rider managed to score points here.  But it should be noted that those 5 points from Tiago Machado were enough to boost Eric the Neo-Pro past Gregario Forza into 4th place overall.

The Spokes Man

... Talking points from the Commish

Predictions

A Grand Tour Stage, a thug poet body art competition, The Ronde

Name three things Pippo Pozzato is NOT going to win this season.

As March approaches and the first part of the season comes to a close (let's be honest nobody cares that much about Qatar) it is time for the real fun to begin.  Classics season is upon us.  This is where casual fans become pro cycling fanatics.  Many people cite the Omloop Het Volk (Niewsblad) as the real start to the season.  And as thus we here at the WFL should take the opportunity to get on the record now.  Who is going to win what this year?  Make some predictions and have some fun with it.  You can make any prediction you want, but if you are in need of some inspiration: What pick is your for sure lock of the season?  Surprise win of the season? Upset? Comeback?  Joker pick?  Let's hear it, bragging rights are on the line.

The Broom Wagon

... cleaning up after the week's racing.

Oh, Man

FroomeDogg seals the overall in Oman for the second year in a row.  Is this the beginning of another dominant season.  Greipel sprinted to three stage wins.  Is this the beginning of another dominant season?  With 5 different riders scoring, Team Wiskota Dynamic managed to extend his overall lead.  Is this the beginning of another dominant season?

The Spokes Man

... talking points from The Commish 

Is BMC Cool Again?

When BMC joined the Pro Tour in 2010 English speakers everywhere took note.  With the legendary Ochowicz of Team 7-11 fame at the helm and riders like Cadel Evans and Big George Hincapie leading the charge this quasi American team seemed like an obvious fan favorite.  A Tour de France win and a string of big name signings including Thor and PhilGil bolstered their reputation.  When TVG and Phinney (the great American hopes for the future) signed with BMC it became obvious this is the team to follow.  Well, that was 2 years ago and since then things haven't quite worked out as planned.  The retirement of Hincapie, a lack of results from their classics hopefuls, failure to win another grand tour and the less then meteoric progress of the great American hopes paired with the rise of another dominant English speaking team has left us with one question: is BMC still cool?

As 2014 gets into gear BMC seems poised to regain the title of coolest team.  But what really makes a team cool? Kits and Sponsors: Sure red and black is always cool and the whole Swiss watch connection naturally lends itself to the sport of racing.  National Champs:  Gotta do those jersey's well. Check the team pic above, looking good.  But we all know it's the riders that make the team.  Evans, Thor and Gilbert look to make a resurgence.  A cool team needs solid veterans but more importantly young guys who can shake things up.  Van Avermaet is a strong man to be reckoned with. Phinney is starting to win things and with his haircut and Twitter account he should keep the fans busy all year.  But the biggest change this year is the all out support for TVG.  Yeah, he gives a horrible interview but if he becomes the second American to win the Tour we won't care.  Oh yeah, did I mention they added a bad ass Colombian and Sammy Sanchez?  Cool again?  You tell me.

On the Rivet

... a look at who's riding hard this week. 

The GC boys come out to play

Once again Oman lays host to the first big showdown between the grand tour contenders.  FroomeDogg, JRod, Nibs, TVG, Gesink, The brothers Schleck, Uran, Pinot, Kreuziger and Jerkin' Hand 'n Cock should all be there when they hit the foot of the Green Mountain.  The winner of this stage (stage 5 on Saturday) will probably win the overall.  But the lumpy profile of some earlier stages especially the circuit of stage 4 may see a few top riders drop out of contention before the big climb.  In addition to the GC battle Oman serves as a final tune up for the roleurs, puncheurs and sprinters of the spring classics.  The likes of Sagan, Boonen, Iglinsky, Kristoff, Terpstra, Stybar and Gilbert will give it a go on some of the tougher stages.  While I expect Greipel to wipe the sandy desert floor with the likes of Bouhanni and Forster in the straight up sprints.

Predictions

Wiskota Podium:

JRod

Froome

Uran

Spoilers:

Albasini

Konig

Lofkvist

   

Tour of Qatar

The Terpinator

Niki Terpstra and Omega Pharma Quick Step could not be stopped in the middle east.  It was a race for the strongmen on the flat desert expanses of Qatar highlighted by heat and crosswinds.  This is a race for the sprinters but the GC was decided by a stage one breakaway, a stage two Omega Pharma echelon and a solid TT.  After that OPQS were able to control the stages rather easily.  If you call a 57 km/hr pace easy.  Yup, 135 km at a 57 km per hour pace.  In old money that's 35 miles per hour!  That's my max speed bombing down a hill.  They did that in the wind for over 2 hours.  Crazy.  The sprints decided the lesser placings with Boonen, Greipel and Roelands taking some solid points.  But in the end, it was Maillot Jaune Guillaume with Niki Terpstra making the big score moving him into 2nd place overall.

The Broom Wagon

...cleaning up after the week's races.

Gerrans Wins Tour Down Under

Ochre...really?

Simon Gerrans wins the Ochre Jersey with an all around solid effort.  Team Wiskota Dynamic scored big, but almost everyone managed a few points with Forza and upstart STP Greenline leading the way.  More recap to follow soon.

2014 Draft Recap cont.

"Quality not quantity, man"

Team Wiskota Dynamic once again flexed his great cycling mind during this year’s draft and managed to somehow make his team even stronger, or at least in the spring classics. With J-Rod in the Ardennes, Sagan in everything (quality not quantity man) and with the addition of Mr. Recreation, Tom Boonen, Team Wiskota will be off to a strong start in 2014. Backing up his big three, Gerrans, Betancur, Ullisi, and Kristoff could as well score big points in the early part of the season. Once it comes to stage racing and Grand Tours the Commish will need to make some moves. Roche, Uran, Inxausti, Kelderman, and Brakjovik hold the hopes of the Commish in the one weekers and J-Rod is the lone GTGC guy on Team Wiskota. Not many holes in this team, if the Commish can make some meaningful moves for the US races and Le Tour, look out, it could be a three peat. Or will it be Sagan playing grab ass, Purito crying and Tommeke being too damn Pretty! Only time will tell.

Purito crying in the rain.

Best Rider: J-Rod                                                                                  X factor: Kristoff


Biggest Reach: Inxausti                                                                          Best Value: Boonen

Recreation

2014 WFL Draft Recap

The Place

The Picks

The Tots

It's been a long off-season, but the world tour is upon us again.  Thanks to everyone for coming out on a snowy Tuesday night. The picks are in and it's time to assess the results.

Taylor Phinney, Volpe's Legacy Pick

Team Volpe wasted no time in locking up his two favorite riders.  In Cancellera, Patrick has secured a perennial points machine and in Phinney he has the great American hope for the future.  I have to say I was surprised Volpe didn't stick with Boonen for another year, but the man knows who he likes and it has served him well in the past.  As we dig a little deeper in Volpe's lineup we see a lot of potential.  Several young guys on the cusp (Phinney, Kwiatkowski, Talansky) as well as several riders who have done huge things in the past but had a down season last year (Wiggo, JVDB, Pozzato). If it ends in a sprint you know Volpe will be there with Cav and Kittel and Movistar and Great Britain could easily finish on the top again this year.
Best Rider: Cancellera                                                        Best Value: JVDB 

Biggest Reach: Phinney                                                      X Factor: Pozzato

           ^                                                               ^

    Contador                                                     Dan Martin

Don't call me Fujarky.  The Wiskota Fantasy League was taken by surprise when Steven dropped the bombshell; after one season Team Fujarky was no more, welcome Le Pacte de Loups!  The wolf pack is on the prowl.  Led by Alberto Contador and Danny Boy Martin, this team has some bite. These two riders should be solid with the former a Tour favorite and the latter an all year kind of guy.  Steven's team has many likable riders with plenty of upside.  Will Dani Moreno ride a grand tour for himself?  Will the Gorrilla regain the title of fastest German?  Does Sky ride for Thomas on the cobbles?  Is TVG ready for solo Tour leadership? If we end up answering yes to these questions then Fujarky, I mean Le Pacte de Loups will have a strong year.
Best Rider: Contador                                                                  Best Value: Colombia
Biggest Reach: Greipel                                                                X Factor: Moreno

Scarponi, Moser and Pozzovivo 

Taco p/b Twisted Tea Old Fashioneds took the machismo to yet another level this season.  This year Mike plucked some of the best and brightest from around the world.  Italian triumvirate not withstanding, Taco has a very international team.  A chunky mustached German, a hair plug sporting Spaniard, an Aussie named Harley and of course, the god of Thunder!  Even the pretty boys from the low countries have some machismo in thier own way.  Will this translate into points?  My guess is yes, plenty of stage racers with a couple sprinter/one day guys mixed in.
Best Rider: Valverde                                                                Best Value: Henao
Biggest Reach: Thor                                                                 X Factor: A. Schleck

The Neo-Pro is on the train

The Wiskota Fantasy League is happy to welcome Team STP Greenline - Unobtanium p/b Eric the Neo-Pro to the peloton.  This expansion team does not seem complacent to just participate as he has a top end that can compete with anyone.  Having Richie Porte on your team will draw the ire of the Commish, but it should be worth it.  Current world champion Rui Costa finally gets to try his hand as a team leader and the sky is the limit. Several other stage racers including Mollema, Majka and Spilak could all have huge seasons.  Greg Van Avermaet is Eric's man to watch early in the season, this guy raced in everything last year and that means points.  The second half of this team is more questionable but riders like Paolini and Slagter could just snag a big race or two.
Best Rider: Costa                                                                                  Best Value: Spilak
Biggest Reach: Navardouskus                                                                X Factor: Kangert

The Man Behind the Curtain

Who is Maillot Jaune Guillaume?  The mystery man has done it again.  Without even showing his face "Bill", if that is his real name, has once again fielded one of the strongest teams in the league.  Froome, the early season Tour favorite, Tony "TT" Martin, Kreuziger and Gesink make for a very strong top end.  Bill has podiumed our first 2 seasons. Does he make the mid season moves needed to take home the overall victory this year?
Best Rider: Froome Dogg                                                                     Best Value: Hesjedal
Biggest Reach: Stannard                                                                       XFactor: Ten Dam   

Blast From the Past

Gregario Forza has been coveting the WFL trophy ever since the day he put it together.  He's been moving up each year.  Is this the year he goes out on top?  Well, if the year is 2011 then it's an emphatic yes.  Forza has managed to snag 4 of the top ten riders from 2011, include BoHaug and Cunego and it's 6 of the top 20.  Is Gregario living in the past (Evans)? Grasping on to long since faded dreams (Gilbert)? Remember that time Voekler was really good at the Tour, what year was that again? You know, before all those guys got busted for doping (F. Schleck).  Forza's been soaking in the hot tub time machine, where Boassen Hagen is the next Eddie Merckx and Cunego is a Giro contender.  All kidding aside Team Gregario Forza is a, if not the, force to be reckoned with this season.  With Nitro and Nibs on his team Forza is a favorite at all three grand tours.  If Gilbert can regain form and Stybar, BoHag and Chava get their chances Gregario will have a strong spring as well.
Best Rider: Nibali                                                                             Best Value: Chavanel
Biggest Reach: Voekler                                                                     X Factor: Stybar, BoHag

As always, we will defer to Gregario Forza when it comes to critiquing  Team Wiskota Dynamic.  Look for that post, a Tour Down Under preview and early season updates to come shortly.  All in all a great draft.  I'm looking forward to a fun season with more riding, watching and drinking together. On Wiskota!