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.
@davidlhill
Have you ever seen a GC contender attack so bravely and effectively before?
Has he won the Giro today?
Holy fuckballs.
@RobSandy
I’m not taking anything away from CHris – think it’s an amazing effort.
Things the Merckx did were comparable, no? The day he took a train behind him for almost the whole 200km stage?
But seriously, I don;’t recall a GC leader collapsing so dramatically before. Froome still had to take on Dumoulin, which as I write he has an is in the Maglia Rosa.
@RobSandy
Not sure, but all the “issues” aside, Froome is earning his appearance fee today. If this wins him the Giro and the win sticks, it’ll go down in history as one of the great wins of all time. Remember Jerusalem? Poor Yates, he just ran out of gas in the worst way.
@wiscot
Astonishing.
@RobSandy
Indeed. For the sake of the sport, I hope Froome’s drug tests from this race come back squeaky clean. Given the cloud hanging over his head since the Vuelta, would he be stupid enough to dope this time? Did he ride the 80kms without taking a puff from his inhaler? I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but another failed test and he should be banned – permanently.
We’ll see what Dumoulin can do tomorrow. 80kms solo has to have taken a toll . . .
@wiscot
Just came back to resting heartrate and then expecting to be the first to write about this stage and then you guys have already been posting about it… Amazing indeed, whether he takes the pink at the very end or not. Mixed feeling for me: Froome first and Dumoulin 2nd is good for my VSP (@Teocalli, I hope I am getting a good Italian wine and not some small gobbly-cobbly thingymebob) but in my heart I’d rather see Dumoulin taking the win again. Still, it ain’t over till it’s over. Definitely again another very interesting Giro.
@KogaLover
Agreed. I’d like to see Dumoulin repeat. Whatever happens tomorrow, the Dutchman has shown that despite his size, he is a serious GT contender and that last year was no fluke.
Crikey. I’ve been out all day can’t wait to watch the replay………..
@KogaLover – It’s a mug – pretty sure I never said I’d provide anything to fill it!
P.S. @Rick has his nose in front on 14 with @Chris, @KogaLover, @RobSandy, @Teocalli a wheel down on 13…………going to be a tight finish all round.
Wow, what an epic. I hope Froome is cleared of inhaler abuse and doesn’t have anymore adverse tests (I’m skeptical on the former) because that was ballsy and racing needs rides like that.
If anyone has a link to footage of the whole stage, please post it. So far I’ve had to make do with a five minute highlights video on youtube.
Chapeau to Sky and Froome – they bet the farm today and executed flawlessly. When Froome was asked before the start if he was going to turn the race upside down there was a flash on his face that said it all.
Fair play to the Brits and Irish overall, Yates, Froome and Bennett all stepping up and taking the race on.
Giro by far my favorite grand tour.
@rfreese888
Absolutely flawless. And love the fact that even Brailsford was out on the course to hand out bottles and food.
I just read that Froome actually pulled out most (?) of his time gain on the descents. I guess that also explains Dumoulin’s less than complimentary comments on the descending skills of some of the others in the group he was in.
@Teocalli
It also sounds like some of this advantage came out of Dumoulin waiting for people to ride with. Maybe he should also have rolled the dice and gone himself.
If a big chunk of Froome’s time came out of those factors it doesn’t make Froom’s ride any less impressive but it does reduce the validity of the comparison with Landis’ ride.
Have you read the whiny bull shit being written on CyclingTips about the travesty of the day and how Froome has broken hearts and killed professional racing?
BTW the last 129km can be watched on Tizz Cycling.
@Teocalli
George Bennett’s reaction to Froome’s win is also worth watching.
@chris
I’m almost at the point of unsubscribing from just about all the cycling blogs for their whining or the stupid comments associated with them. I don’t mind people having doubts but if people are going to post diatribe they should at least show some knowledge of facts first. The internet can be a depressing place!
I haven’t seen Bennett’s reaction but it also struck me that from what I saw that Pinot, Lopez et al mostly just sat on Dumoulin’s wheel till the last dash to the finish. If that was the case throughout the last 80Km then you’d expect an in form Froome to pull out that on someone like Dumoulin over that terrain.
@chris
Ah found it………
…and then there are the people who are calling for the Giro and Vuelta to be reduced to 2 weeks.
@Teocalli
Indeed! I kind of expect it the comments sections but not in editorial/opinion pieces but it’s long been apparent that CyclingTips and Shan Stokes has a massive grudge against all things Froome and Sky.
As for Cycling News, live feed only.
@Teocalli
It’s always struck me as odd that people will question a stick insects ability to stick with the leaders on the climb and pull out the occasional lead but no one seems to question a big time trialist staying with the climbers in the high mountains or at least not loosing Yatesian amounts of time.
@Teocalli
Probably the same idiots calling for shorter test matches and a three or four test ashes series. There are times when there’s no harm in saying “because that’s how we’ve always done it”
@Teocalli
Ha Ha! Just watching Bennett backtrack from any innuendo implications at the start today.
Oh and given that we may be heading for a bunch finish for the spot prize a first place tie will be resolved first on who has the best placings (ie a 5th place beats 2 NITRO etc) and if that does not spilt then it will be based on who posted first, assuming I can trace that back.
” We’ll see what Dumoulin can do tomorrow. 80kms solo has to have taken a toll . .. ”
indeed
Just watching Dumoulin being paced back to the peloton on the bumper of the Team Sky car.
Pinot hits the wall with 40Km to go…………shedding time by the bucket load. Come on Pinot I need you to hang in for 4th………
@chris
@Teocalli
Dumoulin said that Pinots domestique descended like an old lady. Class.
If people are questioning how much time Froome took racing basically one on one with Tom D, then they should be also questioning how Yates and Pozzivivo looked like world-beaters one day and nothings the day after.
It’s the same shift in performance, just in a different order.
@Teocalli
Yesterday hurt! I wonder who else is going to come up empty?
Can you post up the picks again? I can’t really remember who I’ve got!
Watching it on an RAI feed. Way to much time being spent on the talking heads!
@chris
Sure……
Hmm, what ever became of Chavez?
I need Dumoulin to hang in there and Lopez to drop a place.
@chris
Chavez dropped out of it last week after the stage he won.
@Teocalli
Lightweight, these cyclist have no work ethic.
Froome with no teammates.
No Ine of them has Poelled himself back up!
Pop.
So assuming I have this correct it looks like @Rick will be leading out with the Asti Spumante tomorrow barring any incidents….
There is still another stage and the race is not over but I would like to thank my teammates and sponsors for putting me in this position .
Special thank to @Teocalli for all the work on the VSP!
@Rick
There is another stage but my team and I will join for a glass of fizz. The sprinters can play but I’ll cross the line just after you.
Great work, @Teocalli. I’d say you’ve become the de facto Keeper.
@chris
Thanks both – though @Chris I think you’ll find you will cross the line just after me who will likely be just after @Rick……..
@Teocalli
I wasn’t suggesting I would be second. Just that I know my place!
Good lord. 2 frickin’ points. How sad….
That being said, some fresh new faces filling out several spots in the top 10.
Thanks to Teocalli for running the VSP. He might not actually want to become a Keeper as that doesn’t seem to end very well . . .
@chris
Hear hear! When @Teocalli was supposed to meet with @Frank a couple of months ago (and @Frank dislodged his shoulder then), I assumed @Teocalli was applying righteously for such position. The meeting did not take place but he got the job!
And since @Teocalli works in IT, can you clone this site and take control of it?
@KogaLover
Cloning it would not be right, I’d rather see this site arise from the ashes and so keep all the history.
@chris
I think it’s only my second time (potentially) on the podium!
I see Aru abandoned early yesterday and Pinot was taken to hospital and stayed in overnight so will be DNS today. Was not good the few shots they showed of Pinot yesterday. Hope both recover quickly.
@Teocalli
Just saw Mads Pedersen explaining Rule #60: if your tires are too hard to ride Roman cobbles, you need to be able to quickly release air.
You would have hoed that the Grant Tour organisers would know enough not to have to neutralise the final stage for safety.
So given the neutralisation final results are……
and the running VSP is………..
TeamSky, what Rule dictates to match the bartape to the leader’s jersey?
@Teocalli
Gapped slightly by Rick. But I will keep fighting until Paris (the hypothetical Paris at the end of the VSP).
What a Giro. I think that’s one of the most engaging Grand Tours I’ve followed. And the most unpredictable.
And as the dust settles from Chris Froome’s extraordinary victory I still have a lot of questions.
How much did his first week crash affect him?
Did he enter the race drastically undercooked and almost let the GC contendors tire each other out in the first 2 weeks?
So was losing time only to take it back on that stage the plan all along?
How does he look so out of control on descents but go so bloody fast?
At what point do we start talking about Froome in the same breath as Merckx/Hinault (I’m guessing this will greatly depend on the outcome of the salbutamol case somewhat)?
Is he going to win the Tour too?
@RobSandy
Re: Merckx and Hinault comparison: now would be the time. And I will be watching your six at the Tour!