Talossan Cycling Association Tour: Utrecht -> Madrid 2022

[Glüc]

Quick update on the virtual standing:

If all the individual rankings stay the same over the next two days the teams would get the following end of tour points:

GHS 1390
KIN 1330
GNH 1210
BDC 1010
VFL 940
CJO 890
VAL 805

The effect of Roglic dropping out is massive as the bottom three teams were all on course to score at least 500 points more before he crashed.

Together with the daily classification points and the current standings this gives the following virtual standing:

1. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 7920
2. Kinetic Racing - 7325
3. Els Gagnheirs - 6930
4. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 6371
5. Velociposse Florencia - 6047
6. Naziun Cjovani - 5986
7. Valcürïăs - 4840

Something quite spectacular needs to happen this weekend for GHST to not win or Valcürïas to not end 7th, and the biggest part of that needs to happen tomorrow, because there wont be much room for a change in the standings on saturday.

We do still have a close race for second (between Kinetic and Gagnheirs) and fourth/fifth (between BdC, Velociposse and Cjovani).
Kinetic Racing does seem favoured to become second, though they should be wary to not lose any terrain tomorrow, as Gagnheirs may have the edge on the final sprintstage on sunday because of Ackermann. The withdrawal of Roglic means BdC now seems favoured to take fourth place. However the differences are small enough that anything can still happen.

[Sir Lüc]

And so decision day draws to a close, with a third stage win for Richard Carapaz (GHS,KIN). A trio including Carapaz, Higuita (GNH) and Meintjes (GHS) broke away on the penultimate climb, to take the KOM points and the intermediate sprint, only to splinter apart on the last climb as Meintjes first, Higuita second were reeled in by the pursuers, led by the usual group of GC leaders.

Carapaz held on to win his third stage of this Vuelta, followed by an attacking Thymen Arensman (BDC) in front of the rest of the chasers rounding out the top 10. Dropped from the lead, Carlos Rodriguez, who loses two places in the GC to the benefit of Arensman and Joao Almeida (BDC,GNH,VAL).

The predicted attack by Enric Mas did not come after all -- Remco Evenepoel is all but assured to win the 2022 Vuelta a España, his 2 minutes lead likely to stay intact as we head to our sub-100km, flat-as-a-pancake final stage. Richard Carapaz wins the polkadot jersey, and Mads Pedersen the points classification - both with three stage wins to their name after a kinda underwhelming first week, in different ways.

As per TCAT, it's another GHST daily win, Louis Meintjes's seventh place providing the points to make the difference over Kinetic and our many shared riders. It's not all over yet, though: the race for 5th place should come down to the wire, and particularly Cjovani, Gagnheirs and Velociposse have the chance to put a final mark on TCAT 2 with sprinters such as Pedersen, Groves and Ackermann.

Standings after Stage 20:
1. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 6952 (+608)
2. Kinetic Racing - 6319 (+542)
3. Els Gagnheirs - 5928 (+398)
4. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 5676 (+463)
5. Velociposse Florencia - 5316 (+323)
6. Naziun Cjovani - 5217 (+217)
7. Valcürïăs - 4138 (+211)

[Glüc]

Cant do the full update now, so that will have to wait for tomorrow. Sorry :(

In short,

* TCAT made it to Madrid

* Another sprint, another Gagnheirs win

* Gordon Hiatus Support Team now officially confirmed as the winner of this TCAT!

Full update, scores, final standings tomorrow.

[Glüc]

Apologies for the delay.

As expected the final stage was a low pace slow affair, with lots of photo ops and celebrating by Evenepoel (general classification winner, red jersey), Pedersen (points classification winner, green jersey), Carapaz (king of the mountains winner, blue polkadot jersey) and the rest of the Gordon Hiatus Support Team.  Plapp (GNH) bravely tried to stay ahead of the peloton in the final rounds and managed to hold on for an impressively long time, but the peloton caught him and we did get the traditional mass sprint. Pedersen (GHS, KIN, GNH, BDC) was the first TCAT rider across the finish again, followed by Ackermann (GNH, VFL), resulting in the most points going to Els Gagnheirs.

Standing after all 21 stages (without final classification points):
1. Gordon Hiatus Support Team 7235 (+283)
2. Kinetic Racing - 6631 (+312)
3. Els Gagnheirs - 6406 (+478)
4. Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero - 5941 (+265)
5. Velociposse Florencia - 5565 (+249)
6. Naziun Cjovani - 5392 (+175)
7. Valcürïăs - 4217 (+79)

[Glüc]

In seventh place:

Valcürïăs (VAL, Benito)
5062 points
Team leader: @Vitxalmour

Team of the day: 2 times

Stage Wins: 1 (Roglic 1x)
Best General Classification (Red): 4th (M. Lopez)
Best Points Classification (Green): 13th (M. Lopez)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Blue Polkadot): 8th (M. Lopez)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 3rd (Almeida)

Team:
Roglic 1549 [abandono: stage 17]
M. Lopez 1357
Almeida 1248
Cavagna 326
Mäder 321
Diaz 95
Adria 89 [abandono: stage 8]
Cabedo 47
Cimolai 30

Stage points	2787
Daily GC points	833	Final GC points	750	Overall GC points	1583
Daily PC points	36	Final PC points	0	Overall PC points	36
Daily KOM points	17	Final KOM points	15	Overall KOM points	32
Intermediate Sprint points	16
Summit points	60
Breakaway points	60
Daily assist points	408	Final assist points	80	Total assist points	488
Total daily points	4217	Total final classification points	845	Total points	5062

Valcürïăs went for a linguistics based strategy, being the only team not to spend the full allocated budget on riders. This was a risky strategy that led to some interesting choices. Sadly, it did not pay off. The strong performance of Miguel Angel Lopez kept some hope alive of the Valkyries not ending last, but the very unfortunate crash of Primoz Roglic, who was in strong form and looked like the main contender for the victory in the general classification if he hadn't been forced to withdraw, put an end to that hope.

[Glüc]

Shit shit shit

I meant to quote the Valcurias post to use the format for the next one (and then remove the [ quote ] bit), but instead I accidentally edited the original post which means now the Valcurias post is gone.

@Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă, GST, any chance the previous edit can be recovered?

[Vitxalmour]

Shit shit shit

I meant to quote the Valcurias post to use the format for the next one (and then remove the [ quote ] bit), but instead I accidentally edited the original post which means now the Valcurias post is gone.

@Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă, GST, any chance the previous edit can be recovered?

That's somehow fitting.

(If anyone is wanting to learn the Valcürïăs strategy, we chose only the cyclists with accent marks in their names, in honour of our plenitude of the same.)

[Glüc]

Im just posting this here for now and Ill revert the first post back to Ṿⱥłçür̃įẫꞩ later
In sixth place:

Naziun Cjovani (CJO, Benito)
6302 points
Season score: 15707 (#3)
Team leader: @Iason Taiwos

Team of the day: 4 times

Stage Wins: 4 (Evenepoel 2x, Roglic 1x, Groves 1x)
Best General Classification (Red): 1st (Evenepoel)
Best Points Classification (Green): 4th (Evenepoel)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Blue Polkadot): 5th (Evenepoel)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 1st (Evenepoel)

Team:
Evenepoel 2659
Roglic 1549 [abandono: stage 17]
O'Connor 889
Groves 627
Kuss 251 [abandono: stage 9]
Affini 168 [abandono: stage 10]
Adria 89 [abandono: stage 8]
Bol 40
Cimolai 30

Stage points	3744
Daily GC points	1192	Final GC points	800	Overall GC points	1992
Daily PC points	93	Final PC points	70	Overall PC points	163
Daily KOM points	26	Final KOM points	40	Overall KOM points	66
Intermediate Sprint points	6
Summit points	61
Breakaway points	80
Daily assist points	190	Final assist points	0	Total assist points	190
Total daily points	5392	Total final classification points	910	Total points	6302

The winning team of the first edition was plagued by withdrawals this time. Losing Kuss early was a bad start. Still, Naziun Cjovani were still looking like a contender for the victory after two weeks, with Evenepoel and Roglic as the two main contenders for the Maillot Rojo. However, even as Evenepoel won the GC, Naziun Cjovani had a poor final week. Losing Roglic was particularly devastating of course. Still, Naziun Cjovani is the only team to feature the winner of both editions so far.

[Glüc]

In fifth place:

Velociposse Florencia (VFL, Florencia)
6510 points
Team leader: @Breneir Tzaracomprada

Team of the day: 3 times

Stage Wins: 1 (Roglic 1x)
Best General Classification (Red): 1st (E. Mas)
Best Points Classification (Green): 3rd (E. Mas)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Polkadot): 3rd (E. Mas)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 8th (Parra)

Team:
E. Mas 2415
Roglic 1549 [abandono: stage 17]
Ackerman 973
Hindley 941
Yates 437 [abandono: stage 11]
Affini 168 [abandono: stage 10]
Parra 25
Owsian 2
Carretero 0 [abandono: stage 11]

Stage points	4016
Daily GC points	1057	Final GC points	685	Overall GC points	1742
Daily PC points	68	Final PC points	100	Overall PC points	168
Daily KOM points	39	Final KOM points	80	Overall KOM points	119
Intermediate Sprint points	20
Summit points	71
Breakaway points	0
Daily assist points	294	Final assist points	80	Total assist points	374
Total daily points	5565	Total final classification points	945	Total points	6510

This would have been a very strong debut for Velociposse, with a team consisting of several strong climbers who turned out to be especially strong on the most challenging mountain stages, but like some of the other teams they too were plagued by withdrawals. Yates contracting covid was a disappointment, but Roglic crashing was an even bigger problem for the team. Thankfully Velociposse had a strong backup in Enric Mas, who on most days was able to keep up with Evenepoel, finishing second overall.

[Glüc]

In fourth place:

Banqeu da Cézembre OneFiftyZero (BDC, Cézembre)
6961 points
Season score: 15818 (#2)
Team leader: Glüc da Dhi

Team of the day: 1 time

Stage Wins: 4 (Pedersen 3x, Arensman 1x)
Best General Classification (Red): 5th (Almeida)
Best Points Classification (Green): 1st (Pedersen)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Blue Polkadot): 4th (Arensman)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 3rd (Almeida)

Team:
Pedersen 2090
Almeida 1248
Arensman 1233
Hindley 941
Kelderman 582
Yates 437 [abandono: stage 11]
Hayer 295 [abandono: stage 10]
Van Gils 84 [abandono: stage 16]
J. Lopez 51

Stage points	4331
Daily GC points	834	Final GC points	790	Overall GC points	1624
Daily PC points	216	Final PC points	120	Overall PC points	336
Daily KOM points	38	Final KOM points	60	Overall KOM points	98
Intermediate Sprint points	138
Summit points	58
Breakaway points	40
Daily assist points	286	Final assist points	50	Total assist points	336
Total daily points	5941	Total final classification points	1020	Total points	6961

The plan was a more balanced approach with less focus on one or two favourites and hopefully more contributions from less expensive riders. This didn't really go according to plan, as outside of the phenomal Pedersen it took very long for the other teammembers to start scoring. Losing Hayter just before the time trial didn't help. In the end, things turned around a bit. For Arensman in particular the tour could have been longer as he grew stronger by the day towards the final stages. In the end, BdC was the only team without a top 4 finisher in the GC.

[King Txec]

Shit shit shit

I meant to quote the Valcurias post to use the format for the next one (and then remove the [ quote ] bit), but instead I accidentally edited the original post which means now the Valcurias post is gone.

@Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă, GST, any chance the previous edit can be recovered?

I don't believe I can recover an edited post. I can only recover a deleted post. Sorry.

[Glüc]

In third place:

Els Gagnheirs (GNH, Maritiimi-Maxhestic)
7736 points
Team leader: @Baron Alexandreu Davinescu

Team of the day: 5 times

Stage Wins: 3 (Pedersen 3x)
Best General Classification (Red): 2nd (E. Mas)
Best Points Classification (Green): 1st (Pedersen)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Blue Polkadot): 3rd (Mas)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 3rd (Almeida)

Team:
E. Mas 2415
Pedersen 2090
Almeida 1248
Ackermann 973
Masnada 294
Higuita 245
Plapp 208
Dennis 162
Alaphillippe 101 [abandono: stage 11]

Stage points	4331
Daily GC points	700	Final GC points	840	Overall GC points	1540
Daily PC points	248	Final PC points	220	Overall PC points	468
Daily KOM points	32	Final KOM points	100	Overall KOM points	132
Intermediate Sprint points	204
Summit points	85
Breakaway points	80
Daily assist points	726	Final assist points	170	Total assist points	896
Total daily points	6406	Total final classification points	1330	Total points	7736

Having a second sprinter besides Pedersen caused Els Gagnheirs to score the most points on the flatter stages, but Els Gagnheirs did well in the mountains too due to Mas and Almeida. Relatively unharmed by covid and crashes (although with the sad exception of Alaphillippe), this was a very strong debut for the team from MM, resulting in a spot on the podium.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

We at GNH headquarters are pleased to have done well on our inaugural outing, but vow to return in the future and crush all who come before us. We will ride to victory on a road made of their lamentations.

[Glüc]

In second place:

Kinetic Racing (KIN, Fiôvâ)
7986 points
Season score: 16611 (#1)
Team leader: @Audrada Roibeardet

Team of the day: 1 time

Stage Wins: 8 (Pedersen 3x, Carapaz 3x, Evenepoel 2x)
Best General Classification (Red): 1st (Evenepoel)
Best Points Classification (Green): 1st (Pedersen)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Blue Polkadot): 1st (Carapaz)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 1st (Evenepoel)

Team:
Evenepoel 2659
Pedersen 2090
Carapaz 1436
O'Connor 889
Cavagna 326
McNulty 268
Devenyns 166
Alaphillippe 101 [abandono: stage 11]
De Gendt 51

Stage points	4428
Daily GC points	839	Final GC points	910	Overall GC points	1749
Daily PC points	274	Final PC points	195	Overall PC points	469
Daily KOM points	100	Final KOM points	160	Overall KOM points	260
Intermediate Sprint points	206
Summit points	124
Breakaway points	100
Daily assist points	560	Final assist points	90	Total assist points	650
Total daily points	6631	Total final classification points	1355	Total points	7986

Kinetic managed to win all four jerseys this edition. Quite an achievement. The team consistently scored well as Evenepoel dominated the mountains and Pedersen dominated the sprint and still managed to improve their position towards the end because of the mountain stages won by Carapaz. A very strong performance, but one team prevented Kinetic from winning this time.

Congrats to Audrada on scoring the most points over two editions this season.

[Glüc]

Ok, it took a while, because it's been a busy week, but here it is:

The winning team of the Talossan Cycling Association Tour, season 1, edition 2, Utrecht -> Madrid 2022 is...

Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS, Benito)
8620 points
Season score: 14644 (#4)
Team leader: @Lüc

Team of the day: 5 times

Stage Wins: 9+1 (Pedersen 3x, Carapaz 3x, Evenepoel 2x, Meintjes 1x + team time trial)
Best General Classification (Red): 1st (Evenepoel)
Best Points Classification (Green): 1st (Pedersen)
Best King of the Mountains Classification (Blue Polkadot): 1st (Carapaz)
Best Young Rider Classification (White): 1st (Evenepoel)

Team:
Evenepoel 2659
Pedersen 2090
Carapaz 1436
Meintjes 768
Geoghegan Hart 734
Yates 437 [abandono: stage 11]
Van Baarle 318
Dennis 162
Norsgaard 16 [abandono: stage 10]

Stage points	4974
Daily GC points	1044	Final GC points	910	Overall GC points	1954
Daily PC points	273	Final PC points	195	Overall PC points	468
Daily KOM points	89	Final KOM points	160	Overall KOM points	249
Intermediate Sprint points	208
Summit points	143
Breakaway points	100
Daily assist points	404	Final assist points	120	Total assist points	524
Total daily points	7235	Total final classification points	1385	Total points	8620

The Gordon Hiatus Support Team cruelly ditched Roglic from their team after a disappointing performance last time. It did help, cause with the riders the budget was spent on GHST was a stage winning machine this time. The winning started with the prologue in Utrecht and didn't really end after that, with Meintjes winning a stage as well in addition to the three jersey winners. The score could have been even bigger if Yates hadn't tested positive for covid, but otherwise the team was relatively unharmed by withdrawals. A very strong performance.

Congrations to Lüc on the victory of GHST!

[Glüc]

That was it for TCAT this season. Many thanks to @Audrada Roibeardet, @Lüc, @Iason Taiwos, @Baron Alexandreu Davinescu, @Breneir Tzaracomprada, and @Vitxalmour for participating.

We will take a long break for now. The peloton will make one more stop in Australia for the world championships, but riders won't be representing their teams there.

That means for the teamleaders, I will see you all in May 2023!

(Most likely near Pescara, Italy. The exact location and route will be announced in the coming months, probably October 17th? Lüc promises he will definitely do the live reporting from one or more of the stages next time  ;D )

[Sir Lüc]

Thank you Glüc for organising and keeping everyone up to date, and thank you everyone else for participating. Hope to see you all for TCAT 3 next year!

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

That was really fun to follow along! Great job, guys!

[Glüc]

So the route for the first leg of TCAT 2023 has been revealed! We'll start in Fossacesia, Italy on May 6th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbG9LLJRKbY

The climbing time trial to Monte Lussari should be very exciting.