8 races left, and there is plenty to race for still, who will be promoted?
Firstly with the Individual Rankings, Cornu leads, but new World Champion Valverde will be favourite - Rein Taaramae perhaps the only other rider in with a chance - unless Valverde under performs.
Spoiler
1
Dominique Cornu
BEL
Jack Wolfskin
1055
2
Alejandro Valverde
ESP
Santander
1046
3
Rein Taaramäe
EST
Team IKEA - Bianchi
1004
4
Yuri Trofimov
RUS
Sony Ericsson
913
5
Francesco Ginanni
ITA
Vespa-Caffrey's
908
6
Tom Danielson
USA
Team Starbucks
904
7
Mikhail Ignatiev
RUS
100% Me
821
8
Walter Pedraza
COL
Sony Ericsson
814
9
Manuel Lloret
ESP
Team Olympus AirAsia
799
10
Sergio Luis Henao Montoya
COL
Nespresso-Sportzone
748
11
Rinaldo Nocentini
ITA
Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
734
12
Matthias Kessler
GER
Nespresso-Sportzone
698
13
Philippe Gilbert
BEL
AON Global
666
14
Raúl Granjel Cabrera
CUB
Sony Ericsson
663
15
Juan Van Heerden
RSA
AON Global
644
16
Fabian Wegmann
GER
BMC Racing Team
642
17
Kim Kirchen
LUX
Jack Wolfskin
617
18
Ben Swift
GBR
100% Me
601
19
Leif Hoste
BEL
Nvidia Intel
568
20
Tejay Van Garderen
USA
Wal-Mart
538
21
Sam Bewley
NZL
M&M Cycling
526
22
Kai Reus
NED
Jack Wolfskin
524
23
Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio
MEX
Team Energie-Diesel
504
24
Ben Hermans
BEL
Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
495
25
Robert Kiserlovski
CRO
M&M Cycling
482
26
Leonardo Bertagnolli
ITA
Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
482
27
Florentino Marquez
ESP
Sport Lisboa e Benfica - Michelin
473
28
Francisco Ventoso
ESP
Santander
469
29
Stefan Schumacher
GER
Wii Racing
467
30
Gianpaolo Caruso
ITA
Nvidia Intel
459
31
Frantisek Rabon
CZE
Team NOS
451
32
Peter Stetina
USA
BMC Racing Team
446
33
Janez Brajkovic
SLO
Wii Racing
436
34
Jimmy Casper
FRA
Kenda Pro Cycling
430
35
Erik Mohs
GER
IrnBru - RBS
427
36
Ivan Basso
ITA
Vespa-Caffrey's
426
37
Juan Miguel Mercado
ESP
Team Energie-Diesel
417
38
Oscar Freire
ESP
Nokia-Nike
416
39
Matthew Goss
AUS
Jack Wolfskin
415
40
Geert Steurs
BEL
Nespresso-Sportzone
408
41
Simone Ponzi
ITA
Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
406
42
Mikel Astarloza
ESP
Nvidia Intel
403
43
Matteo Carrara
ITA
Team Olympus AirAsia
398
44
Aleksandr Efimkin
RUS
Kenda Pro Cycling
386
45
Marc de Maar
NED
AON Global
385
46
Giovanni Visconti
ITA
Team Starbucks
382
47
Gustav Larsson
SWD
Team IKEA - Bianchi
379
48
Jurgen Vandenbroeck
BEL
Molteni
379
49
Danilo Napolitano
ITA
Vespa-Caffrey's
379
50
Vladimir Efimkin
RUS
Team Starbucks
366
Halfway through the season, nothing separated Sony Ericsson, Jack Woflskin and 100% Me on top of the division, but since then Sony Ericsson have led non stop, and led by over 500 for a long period of time - but potentially, Jack Wolfskin could spoil their party. Its unlikely, but following Missouri, the gap does look somewhat smaller.
After 100% Me in 3rd, there is an intense battle for what we know will be at least 2 promotion spots (could be more if PT teams disband), with Energie-Diesel, Nespresso, Starbucks, Vespa and Wiggle all certainly in the mix. Ikea, Olympus, BMC and Santander are real outsiders now - with the latter 2 level on points.
Spoiler
1
Sony Ericsson
4604
2
Jack Wolfskin
4251
3
100% Me
3720
4
Team Energie-Diesel
3209
5
Nespresso-Sportzone
3201
6
Team Starbucks
3168
7
Vespa-Caffrey's
3016
8
Wiggle Pro Cycling Team
2915
9
Team IKEA - Bianchi
2880
10
Team Olympus AirAsia
2802
11
BMC Racing Team
2713
12
Santander
2713
13
AON Global
2337
14
Team NOS
2294
15
Sport Lisboa e Benfica - Michelin
2036
16
IrnBru- RBS
2007
17
Nvidia Intel
1956
18
Kenda Pro Cycling
1893
19
Wal-Mart Pro Cycling Team
1875
20
M&M Cycling
1842
21
Wii Racing
1699
22
Molteni
1482
23
Team LEGO - CapriSonne
1166
24
Nokia-Nike
1144
25
Ernst and Young / Apple Computer and NBC News
801
26
EON Ruhrgas
788
27
Acqua & Sapone
634
28
Team Ultimate
155
29
Team Ultra Adventure Pro Cycling - Sponsored by Hello Kitty
100% Me
Races: All, apart from Sun Tour
Theres a fair amount on offer for the sprinters, with Swift doing Franco-Belge and Isbergues along with Kennaugh - and Kennaugh then going on to do Piemonte and Faso. The usual Ben Nasser/Roche/Martin/Froome squad will do Lazio and Torino, with Ignatiev joining them for the HC race.
Acqua Sapone
Lazio, Torino, Piemonte, Sun Tour
Dont expect too much from them - the team will hopefully soon be much changed, from the transfers.
Aon Global
FrancoBelge, Torino, Faso
Juan van Heerden is a strong tip for at least a couple of stages from both Franco Belge and Faso, while Phillipe Gilbert will line up in Milano-Torino.
BMC
ParisTours, Faso
Its up to Haedo and Sinner to deliver a strong close of the season for BMC - the Argentinian will have fond memories of Faso, having secured the indiviual Continental rankings title there last year.
Ernst&Young
Their season ended after Univest GP
IrnBru
ParisTours, Faso, Sun Tour
Erik Mohs willl lead for ParisTours and Faso, while there is a team of Aussies (plus Kunshin) for the Sun Tour, where they could feature - in the breaks if nothing else.
Jack Wolfskin
ParisTours, Lazio, Torino, Faso
Goss leads in ParisTours, while Kirchen comes in for the Italian races. They will look to attack the cobbles in Faso, with Albert included in their squad
Kenda
FrancoBelge, ParisTours, Isbergues, Faso
Sprints are the key, with Michael Vanderaerden looking set to lead in FrancoBelge, and will also race in ParisTours, joined by Casper. The Frenchman will then go on to ride Isbergues and Faso
M&M
All, apart from Lazio and Sun Tour
The likes of Vaitkus, Nazon, and Haidar Anuawar will all try their hand in some of the remaining sprints.
Molteni
All, apart from Faso and Sun Tour
Theyre doing 6 races, but none of their riders really stands out
Nespresso
Torino, Piemonte and Sun Tour
Kessler and Fedrigo will lead the way in Torino, the likes of Hoffman, Siedler and Richeze are there for Piemonte and the inform Henao Montoya will close his season down under - racing for promotion
Nokia-Nike
FrancoBelge, ParisTours, Sun Tour
There is Freire for FrancoBelge and Haussler for ParisTours, before closing off in Australia
NVidia
Sun Tour
They also finish their season in Australia, but are unlikely to make it a winning end
Santander
Isbergues, Torino, Piemonte
Ventoso will lead the team for Isbergues and Piemonte, but Torino is the crucial race, and Valverde will ride, aiming to secure the Individual Rankings title
Sony Ericsson
Lazio, Torino, Piemonte
Ghisalberti, Anza and Granjel Cabrera will ride Lazio, but only Anza remains for the bigger Torino. The Cuban returns for Piemonte though, alongside Bazajev and Grillo
SL Benfica
ParisTours, Lazio, Torino, Piemonte
They are unlikely to do much, as classics have not tended to support the team this season
Team Energie Tiesel
Torino, Sun Tour
Vicioso and Astarloa are likely to lead in Italy, with Mercado set to ride down under. Big results are needed in both races to keep up the promotion push
Team IKEA Bianchi
All bar FrancoBelge and Faso
Will look to score where they can in the classics, but the important race will be the Sun Tour with Taaramae, Larsson and Alarcon. A victory is vital for any slim promotion hopes, and if its Taaramae who wins, the Individual rankings could be a reward.
Team LEGO Capri Sonne
Franco Belge, Torino, Faso, Sun Tour
Theres Ciolek for FrancoBelge, Gil for Torino, perhaps Hunter and O'Grady as outsiders for Faso and then Gustov shall lead the Sun Tour team
Team NOS
FrancoBelge, ParisTours, Lazio, Isbergues, Sun Tour
Docker and Markov are there for ParisTours, while Rabon rides Lazio. Docker also rides in Australia, alongside former Sun Tour winner Hansen.
Team Olympus AirAsia
Sun Tour
Only the Australian race to go, but they bring a strong squad - Azizulhasni Awang for the sprints, and Cadel Evans for GC - who will certainly be the crowd's favourite
Team Starbucks
Torino
Visconti or Koren will presumably lead, but they are unlikely to finish in the Top 5 with only this race remaining
Team Ultimate
FrancoBelge, Torino, Faso
The same team for all 3 races, they should at least feature in breakaways
Team Ultra Adventure
All bar Torino and ParisTours
Not much to say, as ever
Vespa-Caffreys
ParisTours, Lazio, Isbergues, Torino, Piemonte
The unpredictable Napolitano will ride all 5 - hoping for a result in the flatter races mainly. Ginanni joins in for Lazio and Torino, and it is crucial for Vespa that he performs well.
Walmart
ParisTours, Sun Tour
Just 2 races left for them
Wiggle
All apart from FrancoBelge and SunTour
Trusov is perhaps unlikely to do well in the flatter races, so a lot of focus will be on Nocentini and Bertagnolli to deliver the points that Wiggle require. They may well need a repeat of Luke Rowe's Faso win last year to stand a chance.
Wii Racing
Sun Tour
Albasini is probably their strongest rider in their sole race of the month
Fenian, you clearly have a shot due to the quality of Ginanni and Napolitano. Starbucks seems out of contention considering that they will only be in one race and Wiggle is also likely to score a lot.
It seems that October will be exciting and good luck to everyone who is competing with me for promotion.
Edited by untal on 05-02-2010 19:15
Its an interesting situation. The chasers (Vespa and Wiggle) both have more races to come than Nespresso and Energie-Diesel, more opportunities to catch up, while both of the latter will be counting on the Sun Tour - in what seems like a strong field
With such a strong field in the Sun Tour I doubt my team can take the needed amount of points to secure the promotion. I've sent only JM Mercado and no other climber to pursue the triumph in Australia. The rest of the team, are some of my weakest riders, I believe, except for Corioni.
There is hope, nevertheless, and my boys are not willing to jeopardise a very good season over a bad month.
