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.
@wiscot
And that you Delgado’ed E3 and Ghent Wevelgem women’s. As if you had something more important to do. Likely not!
@Teocalli
Gosh this is tough. Quickstep have got the strongest team and seem to have got their act together regards actually winning stuff.
1. Sagan
2. Terpstra
3. Lampaert
4. GVA
5.Degenkolb
Ouch – http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vincenzo-nibali-quits-pais-vasco-due-to-saddle-sore/
@MangoDave
Dammit. You’re right. I would have undoubtedly scored about 20 points from my predictions in those races! Damn job keeping me busy . . .
Current PR entries that I have…….
Paris-Roubaix picks:
Sep Vanmarcke
Peter Sagan
John Degenkolb
Dylan Groenewegen
Arnaud Demare
Thanks @Teocalli !
I’m loving the look of that cobble (I’m calling it a cobble, don’t argue) as a PR prize! Really cool, and a little different!
My picks:
Yes, I’ve gone for three QuickSteppers and no Sagan. I’m insane. I’d have liked to put Van Aert in there, but I don’t think his team are going to give him the platform.
Also, how is there still no Women’s race?!
@Teocalli
i’d like to change my picks slightly, i hope it’s not too late..
1) Stybar
2) Gilbert
3) Sagan
4) Vanmarke
5) Van Aert
OK got all those.
@mulebeatsdrums – it was a piece of broken cobble that I’ve managed to true up to a mini-cobble with a cold chisel and hammer and a while grinding on a grinding wheel. I had similar thoughts on Quickstep – I can’t see one of them (at least) not making the grade. Just hope I’ve picked the correct one…………
Random picks
1 Terpentine (so unlikely but who knows!)
2 Sagan
3 Greg van A
4 Wout CX God
5 Stybie CX minor deity
@Teocalli
Augh, beauuuutiful. Well, let’s hope my QS boys come up trumps. I’d love to see G get a podium, but I can’t see it somehow.
@Teocalli
thanks. i almost always follow my first mind, but in this case, i think i’m onto something!
New picks
philippe gilbert
jasper stuyven
wout van aert
sagan
degencobbles
We have a full house……..
oops there is a mistake in there around KogaLover’s picks. Will fix.
PAAAH-REEE ROOO-BAAAY!
Amazing how the Sagz can handle the tools while riding (fixing his stem with an allen key).
Finally he understands the meaning of noblesse oblige
Going to be close………..
@Teocalli
Sagan looks comfortable to me. Think he’s going to surge to win alone in the last 5k.
@Teocalli
How did he engineer that break!? I missed that bit.
Looks like a race for 3rd now……..
@RobSandy
He went at 53Km to go and they let him bridge over to the breakaway.
Hoping that Michael Goolaerts recovers OK.
I think I sorted all updated picks OK as below
Perhaps I should stick to last week’s strategy of randomly picking someone else’s picks.
Great ride by Sagan and Dillier.
Looks like the Cobble goes to @RobSandy
@Teocalli
Well done @RobSandy, enjoy your cobble!
Standings pending any protests for my typos………
Great picture of the World Champion’s attack. That is van Avermaet looking back for help. Quickstep is nowhere to be seen. Grate tactical move by Sags.
@Rick
You snooze you lose
@Rick
Wow, is nice. I’d like to thank my team and my mum.
@KogaLover
He’ve got wrong key at first. His scream: “Štvorku!” (size four) to the team car will become a legend. When he was done he handed the key over to the motorcycle driver. Great souvenir I would say.
Great win, I had pulse 170 last 50km. Whole Slovakia is in a celebration mode today.
@Pali65
I like how he channelled the Prophet in tinkering with his bike while racing and the Badger by winning P-R in the bands.
This is why I love Sagan:
Sagan for Slovak TV:
“When I attacked with 54km to go I was expecting to have a couple of guys come with me. When I looked back and found out I was on my own.. it wasn’t the plan but I didn’t mind that much”
Horrible news: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michael-goolaerts-dies-following-cardiac-arrest-at-paris-roubaix/
Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. RIP Michael and may every wind be a tailwind……..
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michael-goolaerts-dies-following-cardiac-arrest-at-paris-roubaix/
better link
or not
@Rick
what is really terrible is the 12 second video that’s all over the net showing him crumpled in the ditch with his bike as the peloton passes. what are people thinking? what about his family? i am not a puritan, but i think that’s ghoulish and sad. as a fan, i am naturally concerned, like many others are, so i click the link and am disappointed by this. to me, it’s irresponsible journalism. that man has a mother and close friends, and this should be considered. of course, you can click links almost anywhere now and see hours old footage of kids getting bombed, so i guess i shouldn’t be surprised at this.
@Teocalli
i keep picking Wout for the podium this spring. i suppose i like the idea of a kid stepping up witout a major team, putting up the results he’s had this spring. he was a big animator today, and on superior form, like he has been since snatching the cross title from a rampaging Van der Poel. he’ll be well marked for the rest of his career on the world tour now. very very impressive.
Is a Rule #95 violation ok when the World Champ does it?
@freddy
Phil Gil thinks so. when the cyclist is wearing WC stripes or a continental tricolore, i think form must follow function
@Rick
An awful coincidence. I was in an LVRC race on Saturday and it seems like exactly the same thing happened to one of the other guys in my category.
12 minutes in, heard a bang behind but kept going. We got pulled over half a lap later and told to wait, then that the race was cancelled as ambulances and an emergency helicopter arrived. The guy’s heart had stopped and he wasn’t responding – nobody sure if it was the cause of the crash or the result.
It can happen any time.
@Rick
Tragic. So very, very sad.
@Cary
I kept picking Terpstra last year – should have continued this year rather than switch to Stybar!
Will Amstel Gold favour the lighter riders such as Kwiatkowski or will he get marked out again? Valverde on another run of form? Alaphilippe to pinch one? Picks open for men and women.
@freddy
No. I was happy for him to win until he raised his golden bike above his head….
@KogaLover
@KogaLover
I blame the sponsors. I’m giving Sagan credit, like I did with Wiggins, in that he lifted the bike up grudgingly and not for long.
Sagan can do what the hell he likes.
Amstel Gold:
1) Gilbert
2) Valverde
3) Alaphilippe
4) Kwiatkowski
5) Benoot
Amstel Gold
1. Sagan
2. Alaphilippe
3. Kwiato
4. Phil Gil
5. Benoot
Sagan’s put himself into the race which I think means he thinks he can win it. And I refuse to pick BadShit.