UCI Rankings Rider Update | Tadej Pogacar remains in the lead, small changes in the Top10

Yes, given the way these things are calculated, quantity matters as much as quality. Still, Ineos is a disaster. The last really great rider they signed and developed into a major player was Pidcock, and even he is now kind of invisible. (and yes, I realize he does mtb and cx). The whole program has fallen apart, and even all their money can't seem to stop it from getting worse.

Indeed.

Agree all around. Arguably more than any other sport, just showing up and being competitive matters. In every other sport the games are scheduled and the participants all show up, whereas in cycing they pick and choose. That dynamic is made even more complicated by the dependence on sponsors, who have to pay for everything the teams do and want certain kinds of exposure in return. If you don't have a superstar on your team, you'd think that showing up for races and fighting for breaks, stage wins, minor jerseys, etc., would be vital, but as you say, not all teams pursue that strategy. Maybe for some corporate sponsors its enough to simply have the VIP suites and other perks for themselves and their clients. Can't think of any other reason so many old guard teams, including some with reasonable budgets, seem so complacent.