TDF - Green Jersey

Previously

Flat stage: 35-30-26-24-22-20-19-...1 points for the first 25 riders to finish
Medium stage: 25-22-20-18-16-15-...1 points for the first 20 riders to finish
Mountains stage: 20-17-15-13-12-10-9-...1 points for the first 15 riders to finish
TT stage: 15-12-10-8-6-5-...1 points to the first 10 riders to finish
Intermediate sprints (2 or 3 per stage): 6-4-2 for the first 3 riders

Now

Flat stage: 45-35-30-26-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2 points for the first 15 riders to finish
Medium stage: 30-25-22-19-17-15-13-11-9-7-6-...2 points for the first 15 riders to finish
Mountains stage: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-...1 points for the first 15 riders to finish
TT stage: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-...1 points to the first 15 riders to finish
Intermediate sprint (just one per stage): 20-17-15-13-11-10-...1 for the first 15 riders

Summary
- now its standardized to be first 15 riders scoring for each sprint
- flat stages have even more weighting (not that any other stages have been relevant to the points jersey for decades)
- winning is more important than before
- most importantly the intermediate sprints are now likely to be crucial for winning the points jersey

Backed Thor. Not fast enough on flat...may even lead out Farrar...but 9/1 feels too high when you look at week one parcours..and those intermediate points.

Besides...I just like Thor.

GB?

Laid Cav, Gilbert for starters and nibbled at Boonen, EBH, Greipel

Quite looking forward to the sprints for a change this year. Be interesting to see whether the Cav / Greipel grudge match is as one-sided as it promises to be or whether the German has been hiding this season. Also a Farrar win would be very emotional if he can pull it off

On paper the rule changes appear to favour Cav but I'm not totally convinced. Boonen was saying he thinks all the extra sprints with two a day some days could favour the strongmen like himself and Thor and I think he might have something there

Petacchi becoming an increasingly backable price as well although I haven't played him yet. At least with him you know he's their sprinter no matter what

Backed EBH last year..and was so disappointed when he wasn't allowed to do anything except fetch water for Wiggins. Judging by Dauphiné he will be restricted again..unless Wiggins collapses early.

Looking forward to both points & mountains comps this year.

Thanks GB for the info.

Turning into an interesting comp this year. Think credit is due to the route masters (not the buses) for livening up the format.

Got Cav at approx 9/4 which happy enough with, should be some simple points tomorrow.

I read that in an interview yesterday Gilbert named Evans as his favourite for the green jersey.