Cycling Quotient, known as CQ, ranks the best riders in the world. You're able to pick points on every competition. It doesn't matter if it's an Pro Tour race or an small race in China, you will be given CQ points anyway. so if you want to now who's the best cyclist at the moment, take a look at the CQ rankings.
Here are the standings after two months of racing, January and February.
Current CQ Ranking - Individual Men
Philippe is 6th on the CQ ranking table. Hopefully he will be able to climb since he started to race pretty late. Greipel is the best rider from Omega Pharma after wins in Qatar and Oman.
Current CQ Ranking - Teams Men
Omega Pharma is 2nd in the team standings after two months but I think we are able to keep our posistion. However, It depends on how good Kruijswijk and Van den Broeck will ride in the Grand Tours.
Julian Kyer:"This young american rode aggressive in Isle Tour of Man and finished 10th overall.
Other News:
Philippe's contract expires 2013 and he has expressed an wish to ride for another team. "I want to ride in a team that gives 100% for me. I want a long contract and of course, money." it also seems like Omega Pharma will aim more at the Grand Tours with Kruijswijk and Van den Broeck for 2014 so they will may not even offer Gilbert any new contract.
However, two other teams have already expressed their interest in singning Philippe. The teams are:
Lepard - Trek wants to sign Philippe but there is really no reason for them to look for a clasic rider. Cancellara, Haussler, Kreuziger and Kolobnev is already riding for Leopard but both Cancellara and Haussler contract's expires 2013 so maybe they're looking after somone to replace them?
Current Leopard Squad:
Spoiler
Liquigas - Cannondale is one of the strongest team in hills. It could be a good team for Philippe, if the other riders work for him. If they not, this could be his worst nightmare. However, Ricardo Ricco is in the team and his contract expires in 2014. Philippe doesn't like dopers so he will probably refuse all offers from Liquigas.
Current Liquigas Squad:
Spoiler
Philippe could only find one reason to join Liquigas:
tsmoha wrote:
Still a good result for Philippe after this attack on the cobbles.. too bad that Van Summeren had no chance. I never liked this race in PCM
Yes this race is pretty useless with the cobbles so far away from goal. However, this wasn't the most important race but I think Philippe scared his opponents with his attack!
Edited by laidbackmarc on 17-06-2011 12:24
"The Appian Way (Latin and Italian: Via Appia) was one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, Apulia, in southeast Italy."
Svam about the race: "The Via Appia was the first of modern Roman roads. It was built in 312 BC. These kind of roads were revolutionnary because of their cobbled surface which simplify a lot the travels for army and traders. The Via Appia is the only one of Romand Roads starting from Roma who crosses the centuries. Now, it remains a 12km part in south-east of the city.
The classic starts from Roma and goes to Ostia and the coast until Latina. There, there is another ancient part of the Appia, then the route arrives to the Appia, litteraly. There is 5 loops on the top part of the Roman road and finally the full section : 12km. The finish is in Roma, near Circus Maximus and Coliseum.
As a matter of interest, in 71 BC, the companions of the rebel slave Spartacus were crucified along the Via Appia. A bad omen for the Swiss ?"
Marc's Comment:"Omega Pharma are for sure the strongest team. This should be an easy one!"
The race is on and Skil - Shimao works for Coen Vermeltfoort. All Omega Pharma riders looks fresh on the first cobble selection.
Jussi Veikkanen is in the break and he is the first riders who enter via Appia. he looks like strongest one in the break. Sadly, the weather is awful and there is only one spectator along the roadside. A tough start for this new race.
Philippe attacks with and he is in asolo lead when the race is passing via Appia for the last time. No one even tried to follow Philippe, this looks like an easy one!
The bunch is on the via Appia for the last time and van Summeren attacks. Vermeltfoort (Skil - Shimano) and Traksel (Landbouwkrediet
) tries to follow him but soon the have to let him go.
van Summeren is strong and with 5kms to go he have almost caught Philippe. However, Philippe doesn't seems interested in crossing the line together with "Summie" because he continues to ride.
Philippe wins! Johan van Summeren is 2nd 10 seconds behind. "We could have crossed the line together", Johan tells Philippe. "I didn't now that you were behind me" Philippe answer. Take it easy guys, we won so let's celbrate instead of argue.
Results:
[img-l]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4210/32400447.png[/img-l]1 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto 7h12'25
[img-l]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4210/32400447.png[/img-l]2 Johan Van Summeren Omega Pharma - Lotto + 10
[img-l]https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7397/79173909.png[/img-l]3 Bobbie Traksel Landbouwkrediet + 1'03
Great double in Strada Appia - not the hardest opposition though - could be because it's a custom race? I have the same problem with Strada Appia in my custom db actually
I think you change this with an editor. For example: In STA_race --> gene_ilist_fkIDteam you can decide which teams to paticipate. You can also change the class of the race in the column: fkIDnewUCI_class.
However, I added a few other races the first year and it looks like the startlists gets stronger and stronger for every year so it seems like patience is a good solution on this problem.
hellboy wrote:
Great report,great win
I like that lonely girl standing by Via Apia,isnt she a Roman hooker?
if she is, she's an ugly desperate one
Or maybe Berlusconi's ex girlfriend? Who knows? We have to stop and ask her next year!
tsmoha wrote:
Nice win in Strada Appia
Leopard and Liquigas both don't seem to be a good fit for Philippe, imo.. and other teams may have girls like this, too
Thank you. We will se what happends next year, but you're right Leopard and Liquigas doesn't looks any good. Hopefully, more teams will show theit interest.
"The race starts in Gaiole in Chianti and finishes in the famous public space Piazza del Campo in Siena. The route consists of 190 kilometres around the city of Siena, including 70 kilometres of gravel roads, called sterrati in Italy. Parts of the route were originally used in a recreational race, or gran fondo. The organizers of the race, RCS sports, were inspired by the Ronde van Vlaanderen with its bergs, and Paris–Roubaix with its cobblestone sections."
Philippe's Comment:The race goes up and down all day. The gravel roads are very technical so the race reminds a lot about Amstel Gold Race. I won here in 2011 so I really like this race. However, it's hard to predict. If it rains like it did in the Giro 2010 it will be a lot harder than on a sunny day. I really hope it rains this year!"
Cadel Evans won a stage on gravel roads in the Giro 2010. The rain was heavy and his rainbow suit became brown.
Gilbert wins Strade Bianche in 2011. Italian Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego were just behind him. In 2012 Stefan Schumacher won this race
De Rosa
211. M.Bono
212. F.Baggio
213. O.Berdos
214. M.Boaro
215. G.Brambilla
216. C.Cucinotta
217. G.Magnanelli
218. F.Rocchetti
The race starts and the young prospect, Pierre Pauly, is in the break. However he drops the break and leaves a trio of Italians in the front.
The gap growns so Omega Pharma has to react. Jan Bakelandts attacks and he comes closer for every pedal stroke. His daily form is +5.
Bakelandts reaches the Italian trio. The gap down to the bunch is big and it looks good for Bakelandts. He attacks immediately when he reaches the break and no one can follow him. He is alone in the lead.
The two past winners Schumacher (2012) and Gilbert (2011) attacks. Schumacher has to do all work though. Gilbert has still Bakelandts in the front.
With 10kms to go Schumacher and Gilbert is 20 seconds behind Bakelandts. However, it looks good for Omega Pharma. It will be easy for Gilbert to outsprint Schumacher if they catch Bakelandts.
Schumacher isn't strong enough to catch Bakelandts who is having a great day so Bakelandts holds of for the victory! Behind, Gilbert outsprints an tired Schumacher and takes the 2nd. Another amazing double for Omega Pharma!
"I could have made an attack to take the win but that felt like the wrong thing to do. I mean, In Strade Appia I won ahead of my domestic van Summeren so letting Bakelandts win felt like the right thing to do," says Gilbert after the race.
Results:
[img-l]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4210/32400447.png[/img-l] 1 Jan Bakelandts Omega Pharma - Lotto 5h15'55
[img-l]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4210/32400447.png[/img-l] 2 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto + 23
[img-l]https://img820.imageshack.us/img820/8636/31983671.png[/img-l] 3 Stefan Schumacher Miche - Guerciotti + 41
