On the Rivet

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

Crikey!

Critter crossing

The world tour gets under way down under as the first big points of the season are up for grabs. The teams are set and bikes are tuned lets hit the road.  No shortage of Wiskota riders at the Tour Down Under, some are even calling this the race's strongest startlist ever.  Let's check it out, Wiskota!

They should climb this

They have managed to make this race kind of fun with the inclusion of punchy climbs, the exclusion of a TT and some tough roads before the sprint finishes.  One of my favorite stages is back again this year.  The long drag up to the finish line in Stirling has made for some good racing.  Will the climbers go fast enough to drop all sprinters like in 2014?  Will a few fast men make it up the hill with enough juice left for the sprint, like last year? Or could this be the launching pad for the overall winner like in 2013?  Another cool stage is stage 3 with the corckscrew climb coming in the last 10 k of the race.  Ripp it up this just long enough climb, descend to the end and out sprint the hand full of riders who could follow.  At least that's what Geraint Thomas did in 2013.   

Epic Massive?

So, some twists and turns, mostly group finishes, how do we determine the winner of this thing?  Willunga! This is the closest thing they've got to a mountain here so lets climb it twice.  The winner here is almost always the overall winner.  The climbers will give it there best here.   

How to watch

6 bucks at Franklin Nicollet Liquors
Oh, the memories

The race is on Universal HD this year (not Universal Sports) and Willunga is Saturday.  With a little tape delay I'll turn that into some prime time action.  This race is actually right in the middle of the best wine region in Australia, so yeah, go ahead and pop a bottle from the Barossa valley.  Of course, they know a thing or two about beer in Australia, mostly drinking it.  I spose a Foster's Oil Can  could be festive.  As for food, a little Vegemite never killed anyone, but I'll stick to Outback.  A blooming onion with extra didgeridoo sauce please. 

Predictions

Obligatory Opera House Photo

Who are the favorites here?  There are a couple of ways to look at it.  Plenty of fast finishes with time bonuses.  Will one sprinter dominate?  None of the top guys are here so look to the like's of Nizzolo, Wippert, Lobato maybe even Ewan to take a stage or two.  Climby fast finishes like Stirling and Corkscrew could give a punchier rider a chance for overall, look to Gerrans (who has done it 3 times already), Ullisi, G, Bennet. maybe even Arredondo.  Willunga remains for the real climbers, Porte, Dennis, Henao, Pozzo, maybe even Hesjedal.  Tons of dark horses as its early in the season and the race has a kind of open format.  Look to Fernadez, Ladies Love cool Sanch, Machado, and Meyer for GC and Reinen, Boom and dare I say TyTy Farrar in the sprints.  Super sneaky pick: Moreno Moser on Corkscrew.

How it could happen: Its summer down under and most Aussies are busy throwing another shrimp on the barbie, but instead Rory "King of Chillcoot" Sutherland has been climbing Corkscrew and Willunga everyday.  We'll drop him on Willunga they say, but he's not going so easily.  Those bonus seconds pay off and Movistar takes a surprise win. 

How it might happen:  Its summer down under and the billabong has nearly dried up, but that won't stop Diego Ullisi from waltzing matilda right up corkscrew hill.  We'll drop him on Willunga they say, but he took bonus seconds in Stirling as well, and after the dust settles Ullisi holds on by the slimmest of margins giving Dynamic an early season lead.  

How it will happen:  Its summer down under and the blokes are looking for sheelas to have a root, but team BMC is ready to go off like a frog in a sock.  We'll drop them on Willunga they say, and the likes of Henao and Pozzovivo are like a shag on a rock.  Porte and Dennis look fit as a Mallee bull while Geraint looks like he's going to chunder.  BMC goes 1,2, they're stoked and Bob the neo-pro slams some neck oil.  Translation  

WISKOTA!

Chapeau

...Gregario Forza's weekly  "tip of the hat".

2016 Draft Day Recap

Volpe- Strong Riders, Grand Tour?

Bob's Manufactured Cycles p/b ANF- Strong top end, Go as BMC goes, Sagan will need to conquer the classics

STP-Greenline- Will not lose a sprint, Well rounded classics squad, Grand Tour  questions?

Forza- Built for the cobbles, relying on  2 wiley veterans in the Ardennes. Will Aru and Quintana be able to knock off Froome?

Sams Club- Well rounded and Strong team, Lack Grand Tour top end, hasn't been a problem in the past.

Le Pacte de Lupes p/b STRAVA- Strongest stage race team, Could be in a hole coming out of the Spring Classics.

From the Commish Teams

2016 Wiskota Draft Results

Volpe- Kwiatkowski 848 Cancellara 1899 Degenkolb 570 G. Thomas 993 D. Martin 1400 D. Moreno 457.25 Henao 1224 Gallopin 448 Yates (Adam) 998 Chaves 1466 Gesink 295 A. Lopez 836.75 Total: 11,435	Bob’s Manufactured Cycles p/b ANF Froome 3771 Sagan 4133 Porte 1863 TVG 704 T. Dumoulin 1442 R. Dennis 578 Landa 452 Wellens 934 Zacharin 1289 Alaphilippe 1538 De Clercq 26, Cunego 60,Frank 124, Nieve 466 Total: 17,380
STP Greenline- Costa 1339 Kittel 1310 Cavendish 1042 T. Martin 177 Mathews 1654 Boonen 1091 Pozzovivo 430 Boom 268 Rolland 51, Mareczko Haig 0, Firsanov 40, Benoot 679 Ewan 687 Total: 8768	TEAM Gregario Forza p/b Marginal Gains Nibbles 1518.75 Quintana 3568.25 Aru 567 Sep VanMarcke 1323 Stybar 711 Gilbert 273, Anton 24, Gilbert 100, Gerrans 867 Terpstra 283, Craddoc 85,BoHaug 40, Amador 368 ,Rolland 86, Jurgen VanDenBroek 109 Stijn Vandenbergh 108, Kruisjwick 797 Taylor Phinney 75 Total: 10,903
Team Wiskota Dynamic p/b Sams Club J-Rizzy 1290 Kristoff 2227 Uran 527 GVA 3316 Wilco 657 Ulissi 1850 Izaguirre 1845 Betancur Lobato 246, Formolo0, Teck Stannard 601, Pirazzi 48, Kyrienka Debusschere 294, Colbrelli 24, Meinjes 485, Arredondo 0, Dumbro 0, Navarro 65,                                          Total:   13,475	Pacte de Loupes/STRAVA Contador 2334 Valverde 2741 Pinot 1506 Greipel 1215 Majka 1244 Bardet 2087 Spilak 377 Mollema 1266 Fuglsang 1009 S. Yates 885 Roelandts 645 Hesjedal Total: 15,309

Round 1

1. Pat- Kwiatkowski
2. McNutt- Froome
3. Eric- Costa
4. Greg- Nibala
5. Luke- J-Rod
6. Steven- Contador

Round 2

1. Steven- Valverde
2. Luke- Kristoff
3. Greg- Quintana
4. Eric- Kittel
5. McNutt- Sagan
6. Pat- Cancellara

Round 3

1. Pat- Degenkolb
2. McNutt- Porte
3. Eric- Cavendish
4. Greg (luke)-Uran
5. Luke- Greg Van Avermaet
6. Steven- Pinot

Round 4

1. Steven- Greipel
2. Luke- Wilco
3. Greg- Aru
4. Eric- Tony Martin
5. McNutt- TVG
6. Pat- Geraint Thomas

Round 5

1. Pat- Danny Martin
2. McNutt- Tom Dumoulin
3. Eric- Michael Mathews
4. Greg- Sep VanMarcke
5. Luke- Ulissi
6. Steven- Majka

Round 6

1. Steven- Bardet

1. Luke- Jon Izaguirre
2. Greg- Stybar
3. Eric- Boonen
4. McNutt- Rohan Dennis
5. Pat- Daniel Moreno

Round 7

1. Pat- Henao
2. McNutt- Landa

1. Eric- Pozzovivo

3. Greg- Gilbert
4. Luke- Betancourt
5. Steven- Spilak

Round 8

1. Steven-Mollema
2. Luke- Lobato
3. Greg- Terpstra
4. Eric- Boom
5. McNutt-Tim Wellons
6. Pat- Gallopin

Round 9

1. Pat- Adam Yates
2. McNutt- Ilnur Zakarin
3. Eric- Rolland
4. Greg- Gerrans
5. Luke- Stannard
6. Steven- Fuglsang

Round 10

1. Steven- Simon Yates
2. Luke- Jens Debusschere
3. Greg (Luke)- Julian Arredondo
4. Eric- Jack Haig
5. McNutt- Alaphilippe
6. Pat-  Chaves

Round 11

1. Pat- Gesink
2. McNutt- Bart De Clercq
3. Eric- Benoot
4. Greg- Amador
5. Steven- Roelandts

Round 12

1. Steven- Hesjedal
2. Greg- JVDB
3. Eric- Caleb Ewan
4. McNutt-Nieve
5. Pat- Angel Lopez

Greg- Stijn Vandenbergh

Greg- Taylor Phinney

From the Commish

Draft Day 2016

Wednesday Jan. 13th

7:00 pm
The Local

One More for the Road?

New season, new point system, new members?  Well, we'll see.  Time to break out the old big board.  STP Greenline, you're on the clock.

Gegario Forza has reserved us a snug at The Local for our 5th annual Wiskota Team draft.  The long and storied career of celebrity DS Taco has come to a close as he has lost his main sponsor, Twisted Tea Old Fashioneds.  In addition, the promising career of Dan the Neo Pro was cut short when he realized he was in way over his head.  "What the hell did I get into" Dan was heard to mutter half way through his first draft.  Its looking like we will have at least one new member.  The Wiskota family is happy to welcome Bob MacNutt to the squad.  You will henceforth be referred to as Bob the Neo Pro until you prove otherwise.  We've got a tweet invitation out to Greg Lemond but this might not be the year.

As mentioned earlier, the point system has changed for this year, you can read about it here.  I will give you my take on the system on Wednesday, but in a nutshell: more points on offer, all races at all levels are included, jersey points are now included, and most race finishers will earn points.  Most of the resources you need to draft are located in the "Wiskota Links" side bar including links to the final rankings from previous years.  I include last years with a break down of where points were earned here.

Lastly, it's nice to get as many "Wiskota Events" on the calendar early, so please bring any and all ideas on Wednesday.  Let's have fun.  See ya Wednesday.  Wiskota!



  

The Broom Wagon

Vuelta

Worlds

Canada

Lombardia

What are you hiding up your nose Luca?

Been a long time since a new post.  Sorry, I've been hanging with Luca.  Only one  more race to go and the fight for that final podium spot is still up for grabs.  STP Greenline is gonna need a miracle to get out of the cellar but stranger things have happened.  Look for a season wrap up next week.  Followed by banquet plans and maybe a few offseason articles.  Until then, Wiskota!

From the Commish

Transfer Period #3

La Vuelta

With a Cava sponsor, this kind of thing is still encouraged in Spain

The Commish has been slacking (I'm busy), transfer window should already be open.  We'll open it tomorrow at 8 am and keep it open through the next weekend.  San Sebastian, the Tour of Poland and Utah will be during that window.  Your current roster will be used during those races.  Your new changes will take effect on August 10th in time for the Eneco Tour.  The big races at the end of the year are the Vuelta, Lombardia and Worlds.  So make some changes the podium is still wide open.

See

Even Purito?!

Froome Wins the Tour

Lame

Sagan Acts Like a Douche

Check it out here

Tour Stage Challenge

Standings

Stage            Forza      Volpe     Commish 

1                             1                     2                    0

2                             3                     0                    0

3                             3                     0                    0

4                             0                     2                    0

5                            3                      1                    0

6                            0                     0                     1

7                            1                     3                     2

8                            2                     1                     0

9                            1                     0                     3

10                          1                     0                      3

11                          0                     0                     0

12                          0                     0                     0

13

14

15

16                    GREG WINS 

17

18

19

20

21

Totals:                  15                  9                       9