2017 Teams

Draft Results

Le Pacte de Lupes:

Contador 1698

Porte 1124

Cavendish 222

Allaphillipe 906

Coquard 225

Groenewegon 1155

Gallopin 980

Naesson 974

Gasparatto 91

Visconti 643

Jake the Neo Pro p/b B-Rad's Coffee:

Quintana 1498

Nizzolo 111

Boonen 224

Pinot 1503

BoHag 1240

Sammy Sanchez 89

Brambilla 211

Roelandts 240

Barguil 869

Pozzato 163

Gregario Forza:

Nibbles 1740

Kwiatkowski 1663

Degenkolb 1017

Kruisvijk 614

Sep VanMarke 105 Pozzovivo 545

Mikel Landa 1245

Gilbert 1582

Wellens 956

Talansky 172 TVG 270

Gerrans 168 Formolo 173 Robocop 202

Team Wiskota Name Place Holder:

Kristoff 2075

Izaguirre 861

Costa 1033

Henao 877

Greips 1316

M.A. Lopez 625

Wilco 1000

Konig 0

Stannard 76 Dennis 105 Meinjes 325

Lobato 84 TVG 153 Roglic 181x

RainbowJerseyRobert
Sagan 2186

Ullisi 1079

T. Dumoulin 1993

Terpstra 440

Bouhanni 1232

Uran 1403

Jungels 759

Fuglsang 687

Pantano 74 Gesink 70

Petit 295 Viviani 841

Team Volpe

Chaves 536

Valverde 1794

Colbrelli 1109

G. Thomas 802

Gaviria 1010

Aru 1218

Benoot 914

A. Yates 950

Phinney 47

T Martin 506

Scott the Neo Pro:

GVA 2508

Bardet 1294

Skittles 1111

Poels 726

Majka 1001

Stybar 562

Rosa 200

Ewan 771

Rowe 332

Boom 68 Rolland 25

Team GreenLine Unobtanium:

Bling 1657

Froome 2080

Danny Boy 1579

Zakarin aka Suga’ Man 1273

Mollema 1064

DeMare 1330

S. Dumoulin 250 G Martin 300

Vakoc 248 Swift 107 Soler 90

S. Yates 914

Douell 125 Atapuma 101 Oomen 208

Round by Round Recap

Round 1

1. Stephen: Contador
2. Jake: Quintana
3. Greg: Nibbles
4. Luke: Kristoff
5. McNutt: Sagan
6. Pat: Chaves
7. Scott: GVA
8. Eric: Bling Mathews

Round 2

1. E: Froome
2. Sc: Bardet
3. P: Valverde
4. M: Ullisi
5. L: Ion Izaguirre
6. G: Kwiatkowsi
7. J: Giacomo Nizzolo
8. St: Porte

Round 3

1. St: Cavendish
2. J: Boonen
3. G: Degenkolb
4. L:  Costa
5. M: Tom Dumoulin
6. P: Colbrelli
7. Sc: Skittles
8. E: Danny Boy Martin

Round 4

1. E: Ilnur Zakarin
2. Sc: Poels
3. P: G. Thomas
4. M: Terpstra
5. L: Henao
6. G: Kruisjvijk
7. J: Pinot
8. St: Allaphillipe

Round 5

1. St: Coquard
2. J: Bo Hag
3. G: Sep Van Marke
4. L: Greipel
5. M: Nacer Bouhanni
6. P: Gaviria
7. Sc: Majka
8. E: Bauke Mollema

Round 6

1. E: Demare
2. Sc: Stybar
3. P: Aru
4. M:  Uran Uran
5. L: Lopez
6. G: Landa
7. J: Sammy Sanchez
8. St: Groenwegen

Round 7

1. St: Gallopin
2. J: Brambilla
3. G: Gilbert
4. L: Wilco
5. M: Jungels
6. P: Tijs Benoot
7. Sc: Diega Rosa
8. E: Samuel Dumoulin

Round 8

1. E: Petr Vakoc
2. Sc: Caleb Ewan
3. P: Adam Yates
4. M: Fuglsang
5. L: Konig
6. G: Wellens
7. J: Roelandts
8. St: Oliver Naessen

Round 9

1. St: Gassparatto
2. J: Barguil
3. G: Talansky
4. L: Stannard
5. M: Pantano
6. P: Phinney
7. Sc: Rowe
8. E: S. Yates

Round 10

1. E: Douell
2. Sc: Boom
3. P: Tony Martin
4. M: Petit
5. L: Lobato
6. G: Gerrans
7. J: Pozzato
8. St: Visconti

The Spokes Man

...talking points from The Commish

This is the Year:

20 for 2017 

Part 2

I mean, they're not this old, but...

Part one of our rider's to watch post focused on the young up and comers with really only a few big names.  Our second installment should have some much more familiar names.  Here we look at those riders who are in that second part of their career.  No rookies here, straight vets.

Now or never

You've had a good career, is there still time to make it great?

Zdenek Stybar: Let me start by saying, sure, "now or never" is a bit harsh.  Most of these guys already have careers that 99% of the peloton would kill for.  The question is: can that good career be great?  Stybar has won everything there is to win in the cyclocross world (or so I have been told, I wouldn't really know).  When he went roadie we were all very excited and he has delivered, most notably in Strade-Binache and with high placings on the cobbles.  Stybar still has time but if he wants to go down in history as a great rider he'll need several more classics wins.  And lets face it what he really needs is a win in Roubaix.  The most fickle of races requires many attempts because each year just a little bad luck and your opportunity is gone.  If Stybar is going to be known as a master of the cobbles he better start winning races now because his opportunities are becoming limited.  

Roman Kreuziger:  The Roman Crucifier (yup, that's actually what his name means) has some very good results.  He has won Amstel and placed high at Liege.  But it is his grand tour prowess that concerns our discussion.  White jersey at the Giro and 4 top tens at Le Tour, this guy is a true GC man.  A move to Orica, a team with young GC riders, rather than following Nibs or Contador to other teams, makes me wonder if Kreuziger thinks he just might be able to finally be the team leader.  A grand tour win might be out of reach but a guy with his experience knows that riding for the win at all costs can lead to very bad third weeks.  But staying within your limits while riding for a high placing can pay off while others have bad days and fall away.  Can Kreuziger string together a few grand tour podiums and be known as a legitimate threat in the third week.  If he wants that type of status he'll have to start now.
  
Sergio Henao: Every time I see this guy race I think, this guy could win.  Unfortunately he has not been able to race in nearly enough big time races.  He lost most of a season due to concerns about doping, fair enough, but the real issue is (once again) Team Sky.  12th last year at the Tour but you know this guy was carrying water bottles.  And it already appears that Sky is planning to back Landa and Thomas at the Giro.  Is this the career Henao is going to have, schlepping snacks for Europeans?  Just maybe Henao will be so good early in the season he'll have to be given some grand tour support.  Or perhaps he just focuses on the one week opportunities, or maybe Ardennes.  Whatever he decides its time to start that plan and get some serious results.

Giovanni Visconti:  Three time Euro tour winner, Visconti has had a solid career.  But that move to Movistar a few years back didn't come with as many world tour results as many hoped.  It must be hard to be on a team with Valverde as he sucks up all the wins big and small.  At 34 time is running out for Visco, but a new team means new opportunities.  There is really no reason why he can't be a leader at Bahrain.  If he can get some early results he may earn some protection in the Ardennes and one big victory could completely change the way we look at his career.

Jacob Fuglsang: Full disclosure: the whole idea for this post came from me thinking about Fuglsang.  No, not his dreamy Tiger Beat good looks, but his underachievement.  Once again, to be fair he has had a good career, but it seems that several factors have colluded against him.  Remember when they wouldn't even let him race the world tour when he was at Leopard-Trek?  Then a 7th place at the Tour in 2013 despite not starting as the sole protected leader, only to once again find himself being buried by other GC riders at Astana.  My sources (cyclingfever) tell me Fuglsang will be going to the Tour.  I haven't seen much from Aru in the Ardennes so just maybe this is the year Fuglsang gets some serious support in some serious races.

There is only now

One more for the road

Tom Boonen:  Most of these picks are pretty obvious as they are all in their twilight years, but none is more obvious that Tom Boonen.  Tornado Tom has made it pretty clear that this is his last go at it.  He really has nothing to prove having won damn near everything on cobbles multiple times.  But we all know what Tommeke wants, one more Roubaix.  Tied for most wins both there and Flanders, one more win would make him the undisputed king of the cobbles.  The fact that his old rival Cancellera will not be around to spoil his party cannot be lost on him.  Not that there isn't ample competition elsewhere on the cobbles, but when it comes to the Hell of the North, Boonen is still the favorite until the end.

Alberto Contador:  I thought he was retiring.  This guy has more final tours than the Eagles.  Well, a move to Trek sees him at it again.  I think many would agree that he is one of the best grand tour riders ever, but there are still some doubters.  Add the doping issues, loss of a Tour and Giro win , a lack of recent Tour production and for some Pistolero has lost his shine.  Here is a case where "one more for the road" would be one more really big one.  Sure hard to do but with a palmares like his only something this big would truly change his career legacy.  A Tour win and retirement mic drop? Epic.

Phillipe Gilbert:  It seems like a lifetime ago, but Gilbert was once the best cyclist in the world.  It seems clear to me that he will go down as one of the bests.  But just where will we place him?  If Gilbert wants to improve his status his move to Quick Step and his plan to target Flanders seems like a good way to go about it.  Winning a monument he's missing changes everything.  A San Remo win would do it but as a Belgian, winning Flanders would be the coup de gras.  He may not be on his last effort but he's pretty damn close and if the results are nowhere to be found that'll be all she wrote for JillBear.

Simon Gerrans:  Here's where it starts to get interesting.  I'm sure some Aussie reader is going to tell me that the legend of Gerrans will echo forever in the annals of cycling history but I'm just not quite there.  At 36 on a team with young talent, this may be the last hurrah for Gerro.  One more big win just might put him over the top, but the Tour Down Under ain't going to cut it.  Amstel or even San Remo still seem doable, and would probably do the trick.  But if you really want to dream big let's go World's followed by a rainbow striped farewell year.  Game changer.

Andre Greipel:  Apparently I have been watching racing for too long because all of a sudden Greipel is old.  The Gorrilla will turn 35 during this year's Tour.  With plenty of wins including 11 at the Tour his legacy seems pretty solid.  But will he be remembered as one of the best sprinters ever?  I have long been a fan of Greips and I would argue that in the age of Cavendish, Greipel has more than held his own.  With a guy of Greipel's caliber there are only a few things that could help his legacy.  Perhaps winning a sprinter's classic like Kuurne or Scheldeprijs might be the way to go.  He's shown some panache in the classics as of late and this would be an impressive  way to expand his palmares.  But a more likely scenario would have him dominate in the Tour.  Once again easier said than done, but if the Gorilla could somehow pry that green jersey from Sagan while taking a few more stages the big German could retire on top.

The Spokes Man

...talking points from the Commish

This is the Year:

20 to Watch in 2017
(Part 1)

Well yeah, obviously these guys

Rider's to watch lists, they're all over the place this time of year and if you're like me you just can't get enough  Often times these list are qualified: best classics riders, neo pros to watch, who's going to have a break out season and the such.  I thought I would put my own little spin on things by focusing on what this season could mean for a rider's career.  Could this be a make or break year?  Will you confirm your status as the new star of cycling?  Will all of your work finally pay off big time?  Or could your opportunity for greatness slip away?  I've chosen to group my riders by experience (mostly age) and used that to take a look at some interesting story lines for 2017.

The Future is Now

You've caught our attention, now what are you going to do about it. 

Jasper Stuyven:  An impressive escape in the last few K and the power to hold of the field netted Jasper a huge win last year at Kuurne.  At just 24 and with an impressive under 23 palmares Stuyven looks to be progressing well.  However, with the retirement of Cancellera all of a sudden there is a lot of pressure.  Should we expect a Ronde/Roubaix double from this guy, probably not, but a win in another classic and some good finishes in the monuments and he will be confirmed as the heir apparent.  No wins and just placings and we will look to the many other "next best things" Belgium churns out.

Pierre-Roget Latour: Two years ago we noticed this guy going blow for blow with Contador and Nairo at the Route de Sud.  Last year we saw him best Darwin Atapuma in the steep mountains of the Vuelta.  23 years old and climbing with best?  This kid could be the next big thing and some results this season would earn him the right to have some support.  If you want to race GC you need teams built around you.  But, if the legs fail or the TT is awful Latour may be doomed to live in the long skinny french shadow of Bardet.  However, with a last name like "La Tour" and a first name that is a type of champagne this dude seems destined for greatness.

Caleb Ewan:  The pocket rocket is only 22 but has gained a lot of attention by winning stages at the Tour Down Under.  A breakout win at the Vuelta in 2015 saw him best the likes of Sagan.  However, so far Caleb has had a hard time in true field sprints against bigger meaner leadout trains.  In the past Orica has been a real wild card of a team, no big GC guys.  This was ideal for a young sprinter looking to get a team formed around himself.  This has changed.  With Chaves and the Yates brothers Orica has some of the best young GC talent.  Add to that a proven veteran in Kreuziger and you start to wonder what direction this team is going.  There's still time to make this your team Ewan, but you'll need some results now.

Fernando Gaviria:  You thought Kristoff had a long sprint, this guy starts his sprint at 1K to go.  A track star makes the move to the road, a familiar story.  Gaviria has some unique skills and he'll have to use them to find his niche in a team known for classics specialists that also has a top level sprinter in Skittles.  Will Gaviria find this niche (Milan-SanRemo) or will he destined to live out his Ettix contract contesting second tier races.

Miguel Angel Lopez:  Another young climber, but this one looks to already have some all around prowess.  Winning the Tour de Suisse should be enough to solidify this riders young career but moves by his team have made this an important year career wise.  A Nibblesless Astana looks set to send Lopez to the Tour and send Aru elsewhere.  If Lopez can manage a good showing or even be amongst the big boys on a key stage his career will skyrocket.

Now is the Time

You've put in the work and moved up the ranks, it's time for the payoff

Michael Mathews:  Despite the semi douchey nickname, Bling Mathews has grown on me.  When he's on, his finish is as exciting as anyone.  We need only to look at stage 10 of last year's Tour to see Mathew's class.  Sagan, BoHaug and GVA; these are the type of riders Mathew's needs to beat.  Here's the rub, stages are good and any win helps, but if Mathew's is to make that next big step he will need to beat the likes of Sagan and GVA in the classics.  A new team may make the difference, win at San Remo or even Amstel and Mathews is now a Sagan beater.  Lose and we will start looking to others to do the job.

Rafal Majka:  There is no doubt the Majik Man has world class talent and with two polka dot jersey's we know he can climb.  After playing GC second fiddle at Tinkoff  for several years Majka has moved to the freshly minted world tour team Bora.  Top ten grand tour finishes including a podium at the Vuelta, now leadership at the Tour, everything is coming up Majka, right? Well, not so fast.  You may have heard another Tinkoff teammate has moved to Bora as well, will Sagan be the only protected leader at the Tour?  Can Bora strike the balance to support Majka or will he be forever doomed to stage hunt at the Tour and settle for Vuelta GC placings?    

Leopold Konig: Bora's counterpart to Majka, King Leopold was my GC rider to watch way back when he caught my attention in Utah.  Dude can climb, dude can TT, dude should have never went to Sky (the place that kills careers, I should write another article just about that).  Konig has transferred back to a German team and is slotted in to ride the Giro.  Jam packed lineup this year, but perhaps Konig can stand out.  Or with that TT, perhaps he becomes more of a one week racer.  Either way now is the time for the King.

Sonny Colbrelli: I'm not going to lie and act like I have been following Colbrelli's career for years (I mean I don't even have a nickname for him yet).  But, it appears this guy has put in the work, I would just have had to live in Italy to notice.  Another rider who's team transfer has created opportunity and with that pressure.  Bahrain-Murder is made up of old guys and young guys with only a few hitting that sweet spot in the middle where you're already good but you might be great.  How many one day races with bunch sprints can this guy find?  Does he become Bahrain's Ardennes guy or does he just end up leading out Bonifazio for the next 5 years.

Ilnur Zakarin: Last season Sugar Man definitely looked like a grand tour contender, but he also looked like he was dead in a ditch.  He was neither.  Zakarin has climbing and TT ability and he is now the GC leader of Katusha; he's Russia's version of the great white hope.  Can Zakarin carry the hopes of a nation and keep Katusha rolling or will he falter and the team starts to devise an exit plan.

Now or Never

You've had a good career, is there still time to make it a great?

Stay tuned for part two!

There is Only Now

One more for the road 

Stay tuned for part two!

From the Commish

Draft Day 2017

Friday Jan. 13th
5:00 @ The Local

Make your own dream team

The World Tour gets started down under on January 17th so it's time to get our teams squared away.  I've had the date on the site for a bit and a few people have said this date works best.  Hopefully everyone can make it.  Let me know.  

From the Commish

2016 Wiskota Banquet

The Black Forest is in Bavaria, Bavaria is by Bohemia,
Bohemia is by the Czech Republic, the Czech Republic
is by Slovakia, Peter Sagan is from Slovakia...see, it all makes sense

Everybody has confirmed and we've locked it in.  The 2016 Wiskota Banquet will take place at the Black Forest Inn on Saturday November 5th at 7:15.  This year the banquet moves from it's traditional Pancho Villa location just down the street to a more Slovakian-esque location.  I plan to try to get out earlier, say 5ish, for a few pints in the neighborhood.  Hit me up if you're interested.  Otherwise, see you at Black Forest.  WISKOTA!   

BOB THE NEO PRO WINS!!!

2016 WFL Champ

Sagan adds to his league leading point total

Technically there are a few more races, but the Commish is ready to call it for Bob the Neo Pro.  Sagan's victory at Worlds wraps up an impressive rookie season for Team McNutt with Pacte de Lupes and Wiskota Dynamic rounding out the podium.

The Wiskota Banquet is tentatively scheduled for Friday November 4th.  Tradition holds that we meet at Pancho Villa for a bowl of bubbling mexi meat.  However, the rules stipulate that the dinner locale is determined by the season winner.  So perhaps McNutt has a Slovakian restaurant in mind instead.  Let us know what works, lets get together and celebrate the most successful season yet.  WISKOTA!

On the Rivet

If anyone is looking for Christmas gift ideas this poster would do nicely

Sure the Wiskota title is pretty much wrapped up, but we still have one of the most beautiful races of the season left.  "The Classic of the Falling Leaves" never disappoints.  Milan, Lake Como, the hills of northern Italy, this church full of bikes...

Madonna del Ghisalo
Our Lady of Bikes or something like that

...the autumn colors, the top notch start list...  This is a race to watch.

Forza's Fury

Molto Bene

Basilica San Luca in Bologna

The Italian classics have become a bit of an afterthought towards the end of a long cycling season.  However, the mix of races, the scenery and the healthy dose of la dolce vita make this week a hidden gem.

Yup, they race to that church and you can stand in that portico thing and watch

Stay posted for Gregario Forza's race reports.

 

The Broom Wagon

KingTana!!!

Nairo Wins La Vuelta

Quintana gets his revenge finally topping Froome in a Grand Tour.  It was another exciting Vuelta packed with uphill finishes.  The overall and podium were still in play all the way to the end and Estaban Chaves even managed to slip past Contador for the final podium spot.  We had an American finish 5th, too bad nobody picked him up (officially) and another quit (which is becoming all too common).  Lots of points were gobbled up by the Wiskota League.  The Neo Pro has moved past Pacte de Lupes for overall while Forza and Volpe continue to challenge the Commish for the final podium spot.  
 A few more big races, including Worlds and one of my favorites Il Lombardia, "The Race of the Falling Leaves".  Will we squeeze in one more Wiskota get together?