Velominati Super Prestige
The Velominati Super Prestige is a season-long competition wherein readers will be submitting their predictions for the top five finishers of each qualifying race. In order to qualify, your picks via the VSP Picks form above the posts section of the VSP Event article pertaining to the race in question by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight on the day of the race start. These articles are clearly marked and are generally posted at least 72 hours in advance of each event. The current leader of the competition has the honor of posting on the site bearing the VSP Leader’s badge; winners of select races (the monuments and Grand Tours) similarly gain the honor of posting with a dedicated badge for the remainder of the year. Prizes may be given for key events; these prizes will be announced on the associated VSP Event. Points will be tallied as the season progresses and the winner will be announced after Paris-Tours. Prizes to be determined.
Scoring (One-Day Races)
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings of each race by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on the day of the race. Regular Points Points will be scored in reverse order of finishing order: 7 points for first place, 5 points for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, and 2 for fifth. Readers will also earn 1 bonus point for every other rider named in the top five, regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice. Tie Breaking In the event of a tie, the first reader to submit their predictions will be named the winner.
Scoring (Grand Tours)
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings on General Classification of each Grand Tour by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on the day of the first stage or prologue. Points Points will be scored as follows based on the final G.C of the race: 20 points for first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 7 for fourth, and 5 for fifth; plus 3 points per rider in the top five regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice. Changing of the Picks* Contestants are allowed to make line up changes on one of the rest days of the Grand Tours but not both. These changes will come with a point penalty. You will be allotted one (1) rest day to make swaps in grand tours; you may pick either the first or second rest day. The penalties for swapping will be lower for the first rest day than the second. This will allow you to swap out a rider(s) who gets caught in some first week nervousness with a 5 point penalty for each swap. Or make some go for broke/doomed to fail break-away swap on the second rest day for a 10 point penalty for each swap. That’s it. You make one swap or five on either rest day for the corresponding 5 or 10 point penalty per swap. Additionally, if one of your riders crashes out, DNF’s, or DNS’s, you may swap them out on a rest day with corresponding penalties if you haven’t already used up your one rest day swap. Tie Breaking In the event of a tie, the first reader to submit their predictions will be named the winner. Minor Stages We will be posting VSP’s for minor stages as well. Scoring is similar to one-day racing, except no bonus points are in play for getting the rider in the wrong placing.
Scoring (Minor Stage Races)
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings on General Classification of each Minor Stage Race (less than three weeks) by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on the day of the first stage or prologue. Regular Points Points will be scored in reverse order of finishing order: 10 points for first place, 8 for second, 7 for third, 5 for fourth, and 3 for fifth; plus two bonus points per rider in the top five regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice. Tie Breaking In the event of a tie, the first reader to submit their predictions will be named the winner.
Posting Badges
The following badges will be worn by current leaders of the competition and sub-competitions:
| Overall Super Prestige Leader: |  |
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| Milano Sanremo: |  |
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| VVomen’s Ronde van Vlaanderen: |  |
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| Men’s Ronde van Vlaanderen: |  |
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| Paris-Roubaix: |  |
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| Leige-Bastogne-Liege: |  |
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| Giro d’Italia Leader: |  |
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| Giro Rosa Leader: |  |
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| Tour de France Leader: |  |
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| Vuelta a Espana Leader: |  |
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| Giro di Lombardia: |  |
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| Overal Super Prestige Lanterne Rouge: |  |
2016 Velominati Super Prestige Schedule
Les Hommes
Start |
End |
Event |
Race Website |
| 18.03.2017 | 18.03.2017 | Milano-Sanremo | www.milanosanremo.it |
| 26.03.2017 | 26.03.2017 | Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields | www.gent-wevelgem.be |
| 02.04.2017 | 02.04.2017 | Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres | www.flandersclassics.be |
| 09.04.2017 | 09.04.2017 | Paris-Roubaix | www.letour.fr |
| 16.04.2017 | 16.04.2017 | Amstel Gold Race | www.amstelgoldrace.nl |
| 19.04.2017 | 19.04.2017 | La Flèche Wallonne | www.letour.fr |
| 23.04.2017 | 23.04.2017 | Liège-Bastogne-Liège | www.letour.fr |
| 05.05.2017 | 28.05.2017 | Giro d’Italia | www.giroditalia.it |
| 04.06.2017 | 11.06.2017 | Critérium du Dauphiné | www.letour.fr |
| 10.06.2017 | 18.06.2017 | Tour de Suisse | www.tds.ch |
| 01.07.2017 | 23.07.2017 | Tour de France | www.letour.fr |
| 29.07.2017 | 29.07.2017 | Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian | www.klasikoa.net |
| 19.08.2017 | 10.09.2017 | La Vuelta ciclista a España | lavuelta.com |
| 08.09.2017 | 08.09.2017 | Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec | www.gpcqm.ca |
| 10.09.2017 | 10.09.2017 | Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal | www.gpcqm.ca |
| 20.09.2017 | 20.09.2017 | Mens World Championship Time Trial | |
| 24.09.2017 | 24.09.2017 | Mens World Championship Road Race | |
| 07.10.2017 | 07.10.2017 | Il Lombardia | www.illombardia.it |
La Femmes
Start |
End |
Event |
Race Website |
| 26.03.2017 | 26.03.2017 | Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields | www.gent-wevelgem.be |
| 02.04.2017 | 02.04.2017 | Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres | www.flandersclassics.be |
| 16.04.2017 | 16.04.2017 | Amstel Gold Race | info@amstelgoldrace.nl |
| 19.04.2017 | 19.04.2017 | La Flèche Wallonne Féminine | www.letour.fr |
| 23.04.2017 | 23.04.2017 | Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes | www.letour.fr et www.pesantliege.be |
| 30.06.2017 | 09.07.2017 | Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile | |
| 20.07.2017 | 20.07.2017 | La Course by Le Tour de France | www.letour.fr |
| 29.07.2017 | 29.07.2017 | Prudential RideLondon Classique | www.ridelondon.co.uk/events/classique |
| 17.08.2017 | 20.08.2017 | Ladies Tour of Norway | www.ladiestour.no |
| 26.08.2017 | 26.08.2017 | GP de Plouay – Lorient Agglomération | www.grandprix-plouay.com |
| 29.08.2017 | 03.09.2017 | Boels Rental Ladies Tour | www.hollandladiestour.nl |
| 10.09.2017 | 10.09.2017 | Madrid Challenge by la Vuelta | lavuelta.com/Madridchallenge |
| 19.09.2017 | 19.09.2017 | Womens World Championship Time Trial | |
| 23.09.2017 | 23.09.2017 | Womens World Championship Road Race |
Standings
[vsp_gc year=”2017″/]
Past Results
[vsp_gc year=”2016″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2015″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2014″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2013″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2012″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2011″/]
2010 VSP G.C.
*The Changing of the Picks rules are designed to promote fair play and keep the competition fun and open throughout the three-week race. Abuse of these rules will be managed through the “Piti Principle”: if we we feel you are attempting to exploit loopholes or otherwise take advantage of the Changing of the Picks rules, we will penalize you by deducting points from your total score. Much like the UCI doping suspensions, the amount of points deducted will be based on how egregious the abuse was.
@ojhart
You may also need to polish up the crystal ball to work out what your size is likely to be by the time the kit actually gets delivered in a year’s time…
Well DAMN! No CyclingRevealed Monday Quizzes this year.
http://www.cyclingrevealed.com/trivia/triviaindex.htm
I know that Strade Bianche is not a VSP event but since it is one of my top 3 favorite races of the year (along with RVV and P-R) and it is this Saturday, anyone like to venture a guess as to the top 5 finishers?
I cannot find a start list yet but Stybar and Sagan just have to be in the mix.
Kwiatowski given the team leader by Sky?
Nibbles always shows up and says he wants it but then does not produce.
Well, good on Kwiatowski, a deserving winner. Good season so far and we have no shortage of solid favorites/contenders for Milan San Remo!
@Minnesota Expat
given Gaviria’s excellent early form, and staying power, you’d have to look closely at him for the win, along with GVA, Sagan, Kwiatkowski, etc. he’ll be looking to redeem his error on the Via Roma last year.
Will there be a Super Prestige this year? Just getting excited about coming out of hibernation and heading out on the bike. I always look to this site for the inspiration and to remind me of the V. What’s happening?
Like the primordial fish appearing from the swamps I am dragging myself out of the pool boasting mighty shoulders and twig like legs. Time to meet the man with the hammer, but just to give me that little initial push, track cycling style….VSP? La Primavera this weekend (like you didn’t already know that)..
Kinda waiting until the 11th hour to open VSP this year, eh?
@chuckp
I’m thinking that we need to remember that @frank, et al don’t exactly do this as a job or anything. That said, I’m worried that this is starting late this year. I would miss the VSP terribly if it went away but I know that I wouldn’t have the time to sustain this website.
@bwjosh
I hope so…
2016 VSP first prize. A few of you have commented about Frank’s reference to the bike frame prize for last year, so I thought I would let you know what happened. First, there certainly were no complaints from me or problems with the prize. The prize is awesome. Don Walker has been very gracious and generous. I have never played the VSP for the prizes. The game is a blast and I enjoy the competition and banter. I am addicted to bike riding myself and love following the pro races. I was lucky enough to win the VSP a couple of years ago and received the coveted Velominati apron which I proudly wear in my workshop (I build hardwood furniture). In 2016 I did not pay attention to what the prizes were until the end of the season when I realized I was in the running for a possible win. When I actually won it, I wasn’t sure what to do. I am retired and over the past few years downsized my life by selling things including my extra bikes. I know that violates the rules, but I did keep my beloved Trek Domane. When I talked to Don about the bike frame, I realized how nice his frames actually are and that the idea was to do a build with him for the rest of the bike. To do justice to the quality of the frame it would take a minimum of several thousand dollars to get components worthy of that type of custom frame. Unfortunately, I am not in the financial position at this stage in my life to invest that kind of money into a bike like that, although I would have loved to. I had to laugh because Minn Expat was actually right about me paying for my youngest daughter’s final semester of graduate tuition this past month. I considered maybe auctioning off the frame on this site so that somebody with the financial wherewithal to do the bike up right could do it with Don. Don was ok with that. Frank didn’t think that was the best idea and I totally understood his concern. Frank and I decided that if he had a hat or jersy laying around that might fit me, he would give me that as a prize. I am absolutely totally fine with that. I am just happy that Frank and the other Keepers take the time to run this game every year. They do a great job. Dan
@dancollins
Well put. You make a good point for keeping the prizes in context of a free to enter, fun competition.
@dancollins, @Teocalli
Thanks guys!
@dancollins
Sorry, Mate! I had no idea that you were supposed to build up the bike with Don at your expense.
I thought it was a straight up free frame.
Completely understand.
@frank
I totally agree with @dancollins – for me VSP is first and foremost a fun way of making pro races even more exciting, with or without prizes. Having said that, I couldn’t be happier if last year’s bronze prize did eventually find its way to me! The V-kit looks badass but are there any pieces available atm? -Olli
Total cockup here! Will try to get a VSP up for Gent today at lunch so keep your eyes peeled – but we may have to akip
it. Sorry!!
Are the 2017 standings posted anywhere? At this point in the season, I like to see just how shitty I’m doing.
@BacklashJack
I thought of asking the same thing, but then realised blissful ignorance of the hoplessness of my situation is probably best.
Hey Frank,
First, know that my kvetch/request is contextualized by the general awesomeness of the Velominati site and Super Prestige, both of which I enjoy immensely. Also, my kvetch is minor. Namely, can you double-check my Women’s Fleche Wallonne entries? I was scored three but VDB stood for Anna van der Breggen. Not a huge deal, but I’m hoping to inch up to my deserved level of mediocrity. Also, thank you and everyone else who runs this. Cycling has never been so fun to geek out on. If you end up in Houston for some unfathomable karmic reason, I’ll buy you some mugs of St. Arnold’s.
@Lebowski Achiever
I think if you click on the dispute against your picks that eventually it will get looked at……….
@RobSandy
They are posted right here…but only as of yesterday when it occurred to me that I hadn’t updated that yet. Also the schedule is updated as well.
@Lebowski Achiever
@Teocalli is onto it, although I jumped in and took a look. Your pick was auto-mapped to Jurgen VDB, so just goes to show the mapping is not always a sure shot. Just expand your picks (hit the down arrow to look at your mapping) and hit dispute. That way it shows up in my dashboard for me to take a look at.
Also, for general information, I have kept mapping Lizzie to Armistead not Deignan for continuity sake for her as a rider. It is a matter of the VSP programming I’ve done not taking into account people changing their names – not because I don’t respect or appreciate her marriage!
@frank
Do the current standings 4/19/17 5:07 PM EDT reflect the results of today’s Fleche Wallonne? I am not sure if they automatically update or have to be tabulated. Thanks!
@frank
Not sure I actually want to know how badly I am doing. As usual. Then again as the VW advert used to go…….
@frank
Thanks, Frank (and Teocalli). You are a wonder of efficiency. One can only assume the same holds true for your pedal stroke!
@Teocalli
@Teocalli
Thanks @frank!
OK, Queen Lizzie is now officially recognized as Deignan by the VSP for 2017 while still retaining all her results (and your points) for previous years.
Philip, you may kiss the bride.
Keep up the awesomeness, please, I only started entering this season and I enjoy watching the races even more than I already did.
@frank
It seems I suffered from a mechanical diring both Fleche Wallone races. The site only allowed me to enter one name instead of five. I put the (rest of the) names in a post.
Should I consider this ‘bad luck and a puncture just before the 3k mark’ or is there anything that can (and might) be done?
@David van Dijk
For info this can happen if you hit the return key when moving between riders in the pick list. Select each pick box with your mouse or the down arrow key.
@David van Dijk
David, more likely, you are using the wrong browser. Internet explorer does not work for me and I get exactly the same problem as you just described; Firefox Modzilla fi does work.
@frank
That last thing will be the case. Mechanical at work it was than :D
Five hours ’til the Duphine starts. Are we in for a last minute opening?
I’m wondering the same thing as John. Almost midnight here…is the post for pics going to be left open until the first stage finishes to allow people to log their picks? Or is the Dauphine just going to get canceled like the ToC did?
I may be mistaken, and often am when it comes to memory, but it seemed last year we didn’t do Dauphinee and did TdS instead (to my surprise). I don’t recall if we have done it in previous years.
@xyxax
I recall the TdS being in the schedule. Don’t recall if it was instead of, or in addition to.
Clearly @frank has been super busy during VSP scheduled race starts this year, what with the book and all – that’s life. Perhaps admin rights could be given over to some competent and keen volunteer to keep the VSP rolling?
Hi @frank and the Keepers. What’s the script with the VSP this year please? I note that the last 2 races haven’t been updated and both are saying I am not eligible for a rest day swap as I have used it in the first rest day. I didn’t do any swaps at the Tour and San Sebastian is a one day race where there are no rest day swaps.
Is there a bug in the VSP system?
Like the Pernod Super Prestige, is the VSP now done and dusted? Makes me wistful for both.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xvARRwGAIg
@John Irvine
i think this site is now largely abandoned, save for about fifteen regulars.
@Cary
Was going to say something similar.
On the positive note, it means I’ll have the +1 badge for eternity. And I’m also winning the VSP.
I’m sure that means a lot to everyone.
@RobSandy
You’re the Stephen Roche of the VSP. :)
@Cary
Hoping to meet Frank in Nov and see if we can sort something………..
@Teocalli
Are we saying the VSP site or Velominati.com are abandoned? Or are Frank and the keepers just busy with their real lives and haven’t had time to post. I can live without the VSP, but this site is one of the few corners of this world to hide from reality!
@BacklashJack
I’m pretty sure Gianni quit. Frank, I assume, is too busy to deal with the site. He has three articles from me that could be posted easily.
I’m in the same boat as you – if the VSP goes, no big deal. If the site goes I’d really miss it.
@wiscot
Agreed. I hope we can figure out a way to keep the lights on until things get back to normal.
@Teocalli
I know I’ve never been the most vocal member on here, but I read every article and virtually every comment via the RSS feeds.
I’d be very sad to see the site go under. As someone with pretty severe social anxiety, going out on club rides is a daunting prospect and requires a lot of effort compared to here, where there’s no pressure to be A Certain Person (Rule #43 notwithstanding).
With that all said, I’m willing to throw my hat into the ring to help out if new Keepers or equivalents are needed.
And on the bold presumption that this is due to something utterly horrid happening in @frank‘s private life, I hope it all works out, mate!
@Cary
much life happening beyond our ciclismo universe, but people still belong to this world created by Frank and dutiful Keepers. “Marko you are missed.” I’ve intentionally been off the bike and plan to *start again in January after finishing house work, business goals, self-work, and ultimately rebuilding The Sword in Dec/Jan – to start *road/allroad racing and all that that implies. Period. Later…
*Waiting for stuff to happen here is the best part of Velominati.
@universo
i don’t disagree, but, a cursory persusal of the archives here will quickly out the ongoing content hiatus, and end of season VSP abandon as unprecedented. i wanna believe!!
@mulebeatsdrums
I hear ya!
@Teocalli, I sent you a private message btw.
Where’s @BuckRogers, did Uncle Sam send him to go undercover somewhere? Last thing I know, German internet still is operational.