Tour De France Tipping Competition

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 02 Jul 2008, 14:23

Roll up for the inaugural TDF tipping comp.

The teams have finally been announced, and published today, so the comp can start. Everyone can enter, especially members and friends of DHBC.

No cost to enter, but that’s mainly because we don’t have any prizes yet. I’m working on prizes, and it’ll probably be a free feed at one of our local cafes. If anyone has any other ideas let me know.

Select a team of 9 riders to compete in the tour. Your skill will be to pick the best 9 riders to win and hold the 3 main jerseys on offer in the race. You get points when a rider on your team wins or places in the three jersey competions each day. You also get points when a rider on your team defends his jersey.

If you pick a strong team of riders, you will start scoring points immediately. If you get it horribly wrong, don't despair. You can swap your riders for better ones (for a fee).

I’ve designed this comp from scratch, and I’ve never done it before, so this is a bit of an experiment, and I welcome everyone’s feedback. If you think this is too complicated, I can simplify it.



Here are the rules:


RULES
Whilst the Tour de France is a race against the clock, the tipping comp is a points race. You will be pitting your skill against others to try to predict who will take out the various jerseys on offer throughout the race.


Step 1
Select a team of 9 riders from the participants in this year’s Tour. Your riders can come from any of the 20 teams competing this year. Here is the list: http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2008/teams-riders. or

http://startlist.cyclingfever.com/start ... 7&id=18888


Step 2
Nominate a team leader from your 9 riders. This rider will be competing in the yellow jersey competition.


Step 3
Nominate a sprinter, and a climber for your team. These riders will be competing in their respective competitions, and accruing points for your team.

- You can only nominate one leader, one sprinter and one climber for your team.
- You can nominate the same rider to be your leader, sprinter and/or climber.
- It is possible to change your nominated leader, sprinter or climber, but there are conditions, and it will cost you points. (See later).

Points will be awarded each day depending on the success of the riders of your team. The points will be as follows:

Image

Points in the above table are cumulative. For example, if the leader of your team wins a stage, you will get 30 points for the win, plus 60 points for the team leader winning = 90 points. If that rider is also your team sprinter, you will get a further 30 points.

Changing your team:
You can change your team any time, but it will cost you.
The cost is outlined in the table below:

Image

If you give up a rider, you don’t get any points. You just give him up.

If you lose a rider through illness, injury or misadventure, you still have to pay the fees to buy a new rider. That’s bike racing.

If you lose a rider through controversial circumstances (cheating, drugs, etc) you cannot replace him and you race on with just 8 riders. This rule has been introduced to counteract the unfair advantage you may have gained from fielding a drug cheat. (I won’t be going back and subtracting points. That would be too hard.)


Step 4
Provide your team members to me by PM, including your contenders for the 3 jerseys. Please provide rider’s official race numbers when you give me their names (assuming official race numbers are issued before Saturday).


Step 5
Develop your strategy. There are several strategies you could use to win this competition.

E.g. you could choose to pick a team of sprinters in the first week, and nominate a sprinter as team leader, etc. Then in the second week, switch your team leader to a climber, and in the 3rd week when you can see who is likely to win, nominate the likely winner as leader.

Or, you could choose a team of the contenders for the yellow jersey, and concentrate on getting the yellow jersey points, which are higher value.

Or, you could just try and guess the winner of each jersey, pick them in your team, and stick with them. This will save you transfer fees. Transfer fees have been designed to give an advantage to those who stick with their original team. They stop people making too many changes. This strategy should give the best result for most people.

There is definitely an advantage to picking a sprinter as the team leader in the early stages. You will note that you get twice as many extra points if the leader wins. However, the additional cost of switching to another leader after the flat stages (~160 points) probably nullifies any early gains, so you better know your sprinters and their form if you want to adopt this strategy.


Step 6
Make sure you notify me before the start of the next day’s stage if you want to make any changes. You can notify me by PM.


Results
I will try to post updates daily in this thread (or possibly a separate thread if this one gets too crowded.)

Let the competition begin...
Last edited by Toff on 02 Jul 2008, 15:48, edited 1 time in total.

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Simon Llewellyn
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Postby Simon Llewellyn » 02 Jul 2008, 14:35

If you lose a rider through controversial circumstances (cheating, drugs, etc) you cannot replace him and you race on with just 8 riders. This rule has been introduced to counteract the unfair advantage you may have gained from fielding a drug cheat. (I won’t be going back and subtracting points. That would be too hard.)
Can we elect a rider who we think will definitely go out to drugs for bonus points? It is a tipping comp after all...

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 02 Jul 2008, 14:37

Can we elect a rider who we think will definitely go out to drugs for bonus points? It is a tipping comp after all...
Great idea. I'll include it, but only on condition that you lose points if your prediction is wrong.

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 02 Jul 2008, 17:25

Looks good, i'll have to start thinking about my selections.

Another tipping comp i reccomend people enter is http://www.velogames.com/tdfmain.php No prizes, but it's free.

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Adrian E
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Postby Adrian E » 02 Jul 2008, 23:14

thanks for the reminder!

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 05 Jul 2008, 01:29

It's not too easy trying to cut down from my shortlist of 13-14 riders. Play it safe.... or gamble on a wild card.... i'll let you know :?


Anyway, here's the mini-league info for velogames:

League Name: Dulwich Hill
League Code: 04165427

timyone
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Postby timyone » 05 Jul 2008, 11:12

ok ive sent my team :D
I was stuck between choosing all the number one riders, choosing all the sprinters, and choosing all the riders that simon told me to :D

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 05 Jul 2008, 19:02

Team is in. I went for a pretty safe team, but it was tempting to chuck in some dark horses. I guess it's just a waiting game now...

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 07 Jul 2008, 14:29

Okay, entries have been processed, and results for the first 2 stages are out.

Here are the rankings:

Image

I'm embarrassed to say that we are all being put to shame by a girl who doesn't even ride a bike (as far as I know.)

Well done to Dani, and to everyone else... C'mon guys what's going on?
Last edited by Toff on 07 Jul 2008, 14:32, edited 1 time in total.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 07 Jul 2008, 14:30

Also, anyone who forgets who they picked, can contact me and I'll give you your riders.

Late entries can also join...

othy
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Postby othy » 07 Jul 2008, 15:59

Chris, as Dani & I completed ours on the night, could you message me a copy of our choices? Thanks

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Postby timyone » 07 Jul 2008, 16:32

lol! thats funny that you put csc in!
i still reckon they will go well

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 07 Jul 2008, 20:47

Clearly the Michaels' are more consistant than the Tims'

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Adrian E
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Postby Adrian E » 07 Jul 2008, 20:50

Well Danni certainly wasn't kidding when she said she was good at tipping comps!

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 08 Jul 2008, 10:48

Stage 3:

No-one got points for anything except Green Jersey from last night's surprise breakaway.

Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 09 Jul 2008, 07:53

Stage 4 results are in.

Othy, Dani & Christian are the biggest movers, each getting an extra 67 points.

I added an extra non-comp team, made up of just the Aussies, in the hope that Cadel would get on the board, but sadly, this team is also yet to score any points.

Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 10 Jul 2008, 21:43

Stage 5:
Image
Last edited by Toff on 11 Jul 2008, 10:45, edited 1 time in total.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 10 Jul 2008, 22:00

Proof that I know nothing about bicycles :roll:

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 10 Jul 2008, 22:32

Time to cut my losses for future benefits, -60 for me.

So tempting to change more, but i don't want to go even further back. Hopefully tonight will come good for me. I just wish i picked Kirchen in the beginning.
Last edited by T-Bone on 10 Jul 2008, 22:36, edited 1 time in total.

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Adrian E
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Postby Adrian E » 10 Jul 2008, 22:34

I can't even remember who I out down, but my velogames team is going well. Although everything will change after tonight.

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 10 Jul 2008, 22:40

Yeah, i'm more used to velogames. My team will slowly improve in that, but unfortunately for me Fouad picked almost the same team, except he got lucky with Dumoulin. I should have gone with Schumacher rather than Steegmans, as he hasn't done anything for me yet.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 10 Jul 2008, 22:54

I just resent your team details Adrian.

T-Bone, I've updated your team.

I suspect the scoring is about to change after tonight's stage.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 11 Jul 2008, 09:42

After Stage 6, the rankings are set out below:

Looks like the gaps are starting to close.
Image

timyone
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Postby timyone » 11 Jul 2008, 11:23

go team australia!!!

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Huw
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Postby Huw » 11 Jul 2008, 11:34

If I remember right, I chose Soler as my climbing god. Since he's not in the race any longer, do I get to draft another skinny dude to my team?

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Postby othy » 11 Jul 2008, 11:37

If I remember right, I chose Soler as my climbing god. Since he's not in the race any longer, do I get to draft another skinny dude to my team?
If you lose a rider through illness, injury or misadventure, you still have to pay the fees to buy a new rider. That’s bike racing.
Huw, looks like it will cost you.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 11 Jul 2008, 11:59

Bugger. He's my climber at the moment too.

According to the rules which I made up before the comp began...

"If you lose a rider through illness, injury or misadventure, you still have to pay the fees to buy a new rider. That’s bike racing"

This means that you can select another climber for a cost of 60 points, and carry on with a team of 8, or you can buy another rider for 200 points, plus 60 points to nominate him as your new climber.

I can't waive the cost to buy a new rider, because we have seen which riders are in form, and if you got to pick, say Ricco, after seeing his current form, you would not be on a level playing field with someone who picked him before the Tour started.

I don't have access to your team and I'm going to RAW tonight, but I can send you your team later this evening.

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Huw
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Postby Huw » 11 Jul 2008, 12:29

I'll be at RAW too. Since I'm planning on sitting out of races all night (after leg speed on Wed night, my legs are about as lively as great grandma Beatrice's dead daschund Heinrich), I'll have plenty of time to chat with you about how to proceed.

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 11 Jul 2008, 12:36

200 is too many points to sacrifice, i'm going to have to think on this climber business for a little while.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 11 Jul 2008, 14:14

T-bone, one idea would be to put your team leader down as your climber, and race on with 8 riders. Should get you a healthy amount of points, I'd imagine, and shouldn't be too costly. I suspect that's what I will do.

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Postby othy » 11 Jul 2008, 15:31

Should we be able to see all the team selections people have made?

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Postby mcrkennedy » 11 Jul 2008, 15:49

Fouad picked almost the same team, except he got lucky with Dumoulin. .
I asked Fouad about his choice of Dumoulin in his Velogames team and he was not sure if it was just the need to pick someone worth 2 points or his ability to read a race!! :lol:

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 11 Jul 2008, 16:07

Should we be able to see all the team selections people have made?
Tactically, I don't think it's fair for you to see who others have picked. A lesser picker could leech off your greatness. If you want to tell people who you've picked, that's your prerogative, but I won't be telling. Well... not until after the Tour is over.

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 11 Jul 2008, 22:22

I believe Fouad just got lucky with Dumoulin. I had the same issue with needing to pick 2 point riders, but so far i haven't had the luck.

I agree with the team selections, only reveal the winners team after the tour is over, not that it would matter too much, as you should be able to work out some of the riders the teams anyway.

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Postby FAswad » 14 Jul 2008, 11:06

Sorry for the confusion. MCKennedy was talking about picks in the Velogames, where you do not have the option of sapping riders. I missed out on your this competetion unfortunately.
Tactically, I don't think it's fair for you to see who others have picked. A lesser picker could leech off your greatness. If you want to tell people who you've picked, that's your prerogative, but I won't be telling. Well... not until after the Tour is over.

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Postby FAswad » 14 Jul 2008, 11:13

Ahhhhhh, come on mayyyyte, give me some credit for the Dumoulin pick? Please?

As a matter of fact, I was hoping that my other pick, Flecha, would surprise me with a pleasant win given the profiles of the first week stages, but so far no luck.

Wish I haden't missed out on Toff's competition. Tactically, its very exciting to be able to swap riders for points anytime during the race.
I believe Fouad just got lucky with Dumoulin. I had the same issue with needing to pick 2 point riders, but so far i haven't had the luck...

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 14 Jul 2008, 12:22

Ok, i'll give you a little credit for picking riders that would most likely get in breakaways, but you were lucky his break stayed away. Steegmans is finally getting a few points, so i'm hoping he'll get me up there.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 15 Jul 2008, 10:24

Guys, sorry for delays in posting updates.

My computer went seriously offline on Friday night, and after much crying and gnashing of teeth, I've discovered it was my wireless router that had died.

I'll be posting the stage updates right away.

Also, a number of people picked rider 51 - Juan Mauricio SOLER HERNANDEZ as their climber. Since I have not heard from everyone about who they have chosen to replace him, if you had Soler as your climber, he has been replaced by your team leader, and 60 points have been docked from your total.

Unless I hear otherwise, this is how things will stand.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 15 Jul 2008, 10:25

Stage 7:
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 15 Jul 2008, 10:26

Stage 8:
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 15 Jul 2008, 10:27

Stage 9:
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 15 Jul 2008, 10:42

Stage 10:
keep an eye on Christian and Alex, who are catching up fast.
Image

Huw, thanks for talking me out of selecting Ricco as my climber on Friday. :evil: I went with Valverde, and he seems to have dropped off into obscurity!

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Huw
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Postby Huw » 15 Jul 2008, 12:02

Huw, thanks for talking me out of selecting Ricco as my climber on Friday.
All's fair in a tipping comp! :lol:

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Postby timyone » 15 Jul 2008, 12:19

man the only team im beating is csc?!
(who i still reckon are the coolest team in the comp :D
Go voidt :D (or is it voigt?)

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 17 Jul 2008, 22:28

Stage 11, and we have a new leader.
I think it will be a pretty close race from here...
Image

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 17 Jul 2008, 22:40

So, do those that picked Ricco lose points??? (stripped of their victories?) :wink:

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 18 Jul 2008, 11:01

So, do those that picked Ricco lose points??? (stripped of their victories?) :wink:
In the rules, I stated:
"If you lose a rider through controversial circumstances (cheating, drugs, etc) you cannot replace him and you race on with just 8 riders. This rule has been introduced to counteract the unfair advantage you may have gained from fielding a drug cheat. (I won’t be going back and subtracting points. That would be too hard.) "

The other reason I can't take away any points already won is that not even the TDF website is re-allocating points. It still shows Ricco as the wearer of the polka dot jersey after stage 10. Unless they update the score, I can't either.

You will all be delighted to hear that I had also just changed my climber to Ricco, at a cost of 260 points, then 3 minutes later, turned on the TV to hear of his dismissal. :evil: :evil: :evil:

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 18 Jul 2008, 22:02

Stage 12 was an absolute b*tch to process, thanks to our good friend Ricardo. Anyway, it's done now. I'm languishing!
Image

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 18 Jul 2008, 23:18

I'm just waiting for someone other than Cavendish to win....

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 20 Jul 2008, 14:19

Stage 13:
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 20 Jul 2008, 14:36

Stage 14:
Image

Still waiting on some clarifications on some team changes, so the points could change slightly for the last 2 stages. Won't affect the leaders though.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 20 Jul 2008, 19:42

Bit of a rebound there Chris

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 21 Jul 2008, 07:53

Stage 15:
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 23 Jul 2008, 08:36

Stage 16 results.

We have a 3 way race. Well done to Christian who managed to put last night's winner on his team (even if it was a joke).
Image

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 24 Jul 2008, 22:49

Well, i think i'm too far back in this tipping comp, but i'm now only 6 points behind adrien in velogames, so i'm hoping to defend my title there.

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 25 Jul 2008, 03:44

Stage 17:
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 25 Jul 2008, 07:40

Stage 18, and Dani, inches her nose in front again.
Image

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 26 Jul 2008, 17:53

After Stage 19:
Image
A tie for 2nd place!

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 26 Jul 2008, 20:02

Its going to be interesting tonight

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 28 Jul 2008, 02:38

Stage 20:
Image

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Simon Llewellyn
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Postby Simon Llewellyn » 28 Jul 2008, 02:50

Just goes to show just because you win the tour with the yellow jersey, white jersey & teams classification doesn't mean you'll do any good in the tipping comp!!!

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 28 Jul 2008, 16:12

Final Results from Velogames tipping:

1 DHBC James Fowler 5987
2 Faswad FAswad 5738
3 The Derailleurs AdrianE 5228
4 Team Tammie Michael Kennedy 4700
5 CTC Stretch 4436
6 Team Red Beard Tim 3922
7 Bulza Simon 3551

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weiyun
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Postby weiyun » 28 Jul 2008, 19:35

Final Results from Velogames tipping:

1 DHBC James Fowler 5987
2 Faswad FAswad 5738
3 The Derailleurs AdrianE 5228
4 Team Tammie Michael Kennedy 4700
5 CTC Stretch 4436
6 Team Red Beard Tim 3922
7 Bulza Simon 3551
James, I think you doped! :lol:

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T-Bone
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Postby T-Bone » 28 Jul 2008, 22:43

I'm just defending my Title!!! If i have some time i'll put up the scores with the doped riders points removed, just have to search through all the teams (luckily the velogames guy decided to make another list with dopes removed).


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