Yesterday I published the method I felt should be used when attempting to statistically analyze the performances on teams and riders during the Spring Classics. I included a list of which races should be scored, how they should be weighed, and point system borrowed from Competitive Cyclist. I concluded with the final scores and a ranking by team. You can read all about it here. (Or just scroll down.)
Today I’m posting scores and rankings of individual riders. I’ve included the top-25–the full list is a bit unwieldy.
Here’s the run-down:
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 400 pts.
2. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 351 pts.
3. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 310 pts.
4. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 298 pts.
5. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni 285 pts.
6. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha 280 pts.
7. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 227 pts.
8. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia – Highroad 212.5 pts.
9. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 208 pts.
10. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 193 pts.
11. Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha) 190 pts.
12. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Columbia-Highroad 174 pts.
13. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Silence-Lotto 172 pts.
14. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni 165 pts.
15. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – N.G.C. 148 pts.
16. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 142.5 pts.
17. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 134 pts.
18. (tie) JoaquÃm RodrÃguez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 130 pts.
Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas 130 pts.
20. Antonio Colom (Spa) Team Katusha 129 pts.
21. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia – Highroad 128 pts.
22. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank 126 pts.
23. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 117 pts.
24. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini 115 pts.
25. (tie) Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 100 pts.
Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas 100 pts.
Notes:
1. No real surprises here. The best riders on the best teams from yesterday’s ranking top the charts. Furthermore, it looks like riders who peaked for March and early-April scored more points than those peaking later. Wonder what adding Romandie to the mix would do to the standings?
2. Gilbert’s the first rider on the list to have not won one of the races used for the calculation.
3. Kuschynski makes the list due only to his 2nd place in Ghent-Wevelgem.
Several riders not making the top-25 jumped-out at me for one reason or another:
1. Rabobank’s Tom Leezer scored 87 pts. via 5th in Kuurne, 3rd in DePanne, and 8th in Ghent-Wevelgem. A rider to watch?
2. AG2R’s Martin Elmiger seems to like rough roads after scoring 42 pts. via his 3rd place in L’Eroica and 9th in the Ronde.
3. Matti Breschel flew the cobbled flag for Saxo Bank in Cancellara’s absence, scoring 30 pts. with a 5th place in the Ronde and 10th in Roubaix. Not bad! His teammate Matthew Goss kept the top-10 streak alive in between with 3rd in Ghent-Wevelgem. One can only imagine what Cancellara could have done (had he been healthy) with teammates such as these.
4. By now you’ve already read something extolling the virtues of Simon Gerrans. He scored 53 pts. with his top-10’s in Amstel, Fleche, and Liege. Looks like Cervelo scored big with this kid!
5. The biggest rider to have missed the top-25? It has to be Alejandro Valverde. He really has no excuses for a mere 16 pts. for his 7th place in Fleche.
Your thoughts?
