Season 22

[Vos]

Vuelta stage 1, hills-TT 23km ( 2x wind ) ;
44º  Christensen  1:28"
With a mechanical breakdown in s2.

Vuelta stage 2, C^MDMC^ 280 km ( 1x wind ) ;
11º  Christensen  0:43"
Unfortunately all his teammates could not help somewhere with 55200. Christensen even got a sleeping icon in dh s3.
And his result is a bit dissapointing, probably 0:14" faster was possible, even in an isolated race.

Vuelta stage 3, flat-TT 52km ;
46º  Christensen  2:37"

Vuelta stage 4, CCCFF ( storm ! ) ;
46º  Christensen  2:02"
Most likely a strategic mistake not to select a helper for this stage.
Christensen had to do it on his own, and finishing one group better ( easily, due to a helper ) is already a difference of 0:23"

Vuelta stage 5, flat-climb ( 1x wind ) ;
12º  Christensen  0:32"
25º   Beckham ( free role )
Ups, a tactical mistake of at least 0:11" or possible even more.
Because Christensen was isolated the whole race, ánd had bad luck in s5 by just missing the cut, he finished as 1st of a group of 10.
I hoped that Meijer and Caneschi could help, but their 5 EP start was too slow.
And I expected that Szõnyi would help, but what I thought was a risk-free start of 4 EP, appeared to be not good enough.
Free role Beckham scored way less extra points than I expected, and with wisdom after the race, of course he should have been a helper.

Halfway the Vuelta, Christensen is 8º GC on 1:38"
And early in this season, I accepted a top 7 GC Vuelta sponsordeal.
Perhaps it will be my 3rd big tour GC sponsordeal that I'm not going to achieve this season. I guess that I suck in big tour tactics.
Hopefully the 2nd half of the Vuelta goes better, and Christensen can move up one GC place. But very uncertain if he is capable to do that.

[Vos]

Vuelta stage 6, MDMDM ( storm ! ) ;
10º Christensen ( teamcaptain )  0:41" --> finished with lightbulb ! 
11º  Caneschi ( helper )  0:41" --> perfect helpers job !
16º  Beckham ( free role ) 
18º  Szõnyi ( free role )
The risky free role tactics were bad, both started too slow, could not return due to the storm, with as consequence bad results.
In contrast to the teamcaptain-helper-combo, they did amazing in this stage 6.

Vuelta stage 7, mountains ;
6º Caneschi ( free role )  --> mechanical breakdown in s3
8º Beckham ( free role )
17º  Szõnyi ( helper )
28º  Christensen ( teamcaptain )  1:50"
Masterhelper Szõnyi went too slow in s2, but he returned in s4 to his teamcaptain.
Still, not a great race, because Christensen could or should finish one group better, what is a big time difference of 33 seconds better.

With 3 more stages to go, Christensen is 5º GC on 1:23"

[Vos]

Vuelta stage 8, MDHHM ;
16º  Christensen  0:36"
I assumed that he would be isolated in s3, but unxpectedly helper Caneschi was with Christensen in the s3 front peleton of 42.

Vuelta stage 9, hills ;
11º  Meijer ( helper )  0:21"  --> excellent helper's job with 5x hands symbols.
19º  Christensen  0:38"  --> finished with lightbulb !

Christensen is now 4º GC on 1:13"
The top 3 GC is out of reach, and I assume that he drops one place. But it is looking good that he will achieve the top 7 GC sponsordeal.

[Vos]

Vuelta stage 10, hills ;
12º  Meijer ( helper )
55º  Christensen  1:10"
Suddenly Christensen lost contact with Meijer in s4, despite Meijer was riding minus 1 EP in s2, s3, ánd s4, compared to his teamcaptain.

Vuelta final GC ;
5º  Christensen  1:17"

[ophiuko]

This is officially the hardest season to avoid relegation in 1st div. Previous record was on season 3, where the 30th team made 4732points, and the 31st made 4593. Both have already been beaten, and it looks like it will go over 5000. It seems like Aurora_Australis already saved it with the TT WC, probably just by 52 points as it is likely that the cut will be on TeamEuroscalt (5150 points). Tonight's market could come with surprises. Good luck to all the candidates!

[Aurora Australis]

Fortunately my guy most likely to take over from Christian Pocock (Billy Janson) didn't need to get into race mode and the other four guys got enough points.  I knew it was getting high, but I hadn't realised how many points were needed until the day prior because I went to my casual job on the weekend & floods stopped me from getting home (I got home Tuesday evening).