Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 Le Tour de France
While a good number of Velominati get all uppity around May and make rash statements like their preferred Grand Tour is the Giro d’Italia, because it has more and bigger climbs, beautiful white roads and crazy tifosi, there’s no denying that Le Tour de France is the real grandaddy of them all.
Admit it, July trumps May every time.
Maybe it’s because of the greater media attention, or the fact that there’s bound to be a controversy, but I for one look forward to this time of year with a fervour that has myself and others residing in the lower half of the world consuming inhuman amounts of caffeine and staving off sleep deprivation for 21 days on end, without question or cause for concern. It’s all about the bike (race) and nothing else really gets a look in. Job? Ah, we can do that blurry-eyed and with concentration levels that are probably below safe standards if operating heavy machinery. Or even computers. In fact, operating a computer becomes the central task of the day, as we check results, reports, the topography and distance of the next stage, and of course our VSP standings.
Which brings us to the Blue Riband event on the 2011 Velominati Super Prestige; Le Tour de France. Who will be resplendent in the Maillot Jaune after three weeks of high-pressure tipping, rest-day swaps and bonus stage picks? Have we seen the last of Steampunk’s yellow reign of terror? It’s time to peak, to climb well for your weight, and move Sur La Plaque to the top of the VSP. Study the guidelines (with a grain of salt, as whatever we say here overrides the guide, so ask if you’re not sure), respect the Piti Principle, and enjoy the next three weeks of the greatest show on earth. As usual, get your picks in by 5am Pacific time on Saturday morning. If you wait until the last moment and bugger it up, don’t come crying, just wait until the first rest day with all the others who pulled a Delgado.
Brett’s Take:
As a Keeper, my own tips don’t count to any jerseys or prizes, so this Tour I think I’ll tip with my heart rather than my head; it’s let me down enough this season anyway, so any ‘logic’ or ‘knowledge’ is to be discarded and replaced with ’emotion’ and ‘taking a stab in the dark’. In fact, I might even target the KOM this time around, try and get in some long breakaways and pick up points over the smaller cols while none of the big contenders are paying any real attention. Yeah, channel the spirit of JaJa, Reeshard and the Chicken. Better get me some juice.
Taking the heart over head approach, I have to say that this is going to be the year of an upset. It’s there for Cadelephant to take. The cards are all falling for him; Cont Of The Highest Odor will fade in the last week, spent from his Giro and without a reliable supply of prime beef to call upon; Grimplette, while he may have been foxing in Switzerland, just doesn’t have the firepower to match it with Cuddles or COTHO against the clock, and hasn’t got the mental capacity to attack in the mountains. Wiggins, Gesink, Grimpelder… they’ll be fighting for scraps.
It’s a three horse race, this one, but at last count there’s only three steps on a podium.
Marko’s Take:
Recently on these pages we’ve at once lamented the loss of the all-rounder GC contender and derided the formulaic predictability that “well-rounded” riders in the modern peloton employ to win races. All the names at the top of the Giants of the Road list, however, excelled at one thing, winning the biggest sporting event in the world. But it isn’t climbing prowess, time trialling efficiency, tactical sense, and winning ability alone that endear riders to us. If it was it would be way easier and really boring to be a cycling fan. So what is the difference between a guy like say, LeMan and a guy like Armstrong? Panache. What we’ve lost isn’t a type of rider but a style of rider. Rather what we’ve lost is panache. If, in the modern day, being a douchenozzle or belladonna means panache, so be it. But if doping scandals and bro-mances make you yawn, keep in mind there is a lot of bike racing going on in le Grand Boucle.
So I ask, where’s the panache as far as GC contenders go? Cuddles (may have blown his panache wad last year), Le Petit Grimpeur (no panache), Sammy Sanchez (panacheicito), Basso (panached-out), Horner (Mcpanache), JVDB (panache-a-be), CVDV (pa-crash), Veino (panachenozzle), and Ryder (trying to get all the Canadian panache that Don Cherry has been hogging for the last 30 years). For me, other than Cuddles, Veino, and Ryder it’s hard to get really excited about any of the GC contenders. But alas, I will not vote solely with my heart like my Aussie bro in New Zealand. I will do my best to garner points for no other reason than pride as I don’t get shit for winning either.
So then, now that I’ve gotten all pessimistic about the GC, what am I looking forward to? Panache, fucktards. I wanna see Faboo tow Frandy through the TTT for Leotard Schleck (thanks Dr C) and then make some perfect amount of dumb remark afterward. I wanna see Cavenisgrowingonmedish win some sprints. I wanna see Farrar beat the Manx Mouth in some sprints or cry trying. I wanna believe in the Rainbow Jersey again. I wanna see if Tomeke still has what it takes. I wanna see Jens hurt EVERYBODY. I wanna see some Russian or Spanish dude I’ve never heard of have the ride of his life and shed some tears on the podium, and I wanna see Gilbert on a long solo break on his birthday get himself a stage win and maybe even the yellow jersey for a bit.
The reason this race is so cool is there are so many races within the race. Sure, you betcha, get drawn into to GC drama but don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees. There’s a shit-ton gonna happen in the next three weeks and it’s gonna be good.
Gianni’s Take:
Burned from the all too predicable days of Pharmy, I just don’t care that much about the yellow jersey, Contador or a Schleck – ahhhh, who cares, skinny little bastards. I’m all in for the drama hidden within each day’s race. A stage win in the Tour can make a rider’s career and every stage has unscripted drama: Stuey O’Grady finishing the stage within the time limit, riding in from 100km out with a broken collar bone. Or Magnus Backstead riding in by himself, dropped in the small mountains, finishing beyond the time limit, his number peeled off his jersey and he is ruined. These things happen every day in the Tour.
I like a good spoiler, like Eros Poli on Mount Ventoux, or the spoiler small break that stays away when the last 40km is a high speed tailwind run, ruining a day for the sprinters. I like Rik Verbruggen, flat back, so aero on his bike, hauling ass, a crazy solo bid for glory. I want to see more of that. I would be thrilled to see one of the Garmin roulers win a stage, and I’ll be thrilled if HTC doesn’t win the TTT.
I can schleckulate about a few things: unless Contador and Cavendish get their front wheels tangled up together resulting in a horrendous career threatening crash, both Andy Schleck and Tyler Farrar are doomed. I’m sorry, Andy can’t go fast unless it’s a steep hill (up) and no one is as good a sprinter as Cav, by a lot. Then again, if my schleckulations were worth anything, I wouldn’t be down in the boggy hole that is the low end of the VSP results.
Frank’s Take:
Every year, it happens. Every single year. It has a bitter taste, Disappointment. It sits on the front of your tongue like a small black weight that is surprisingly heavy for its size. Even though you’re not swallowing it, the taste spreads throughout, slowly – into your jaws first, then the rest of your being.
With one exception, I have never had my chips down for a rider who ended up winning – not since 1990, when I was all-in for Greg LeMond. 1991-1995 was Indurain: I favored first Bugno, then Rominger. 1996: Virenque. 1997: Virenque. 1998: Pantani; it was a long shot, but the awesome little dude pulled it off for once in my life. 1999: Zulle. 2000-2004: Ullrich. 2005-2006: Basso. 2007: The Chicken. 2008: Frank Schleck. 2009-2010: The Grimplette. But I continue to favor the dark horse because I know that when I am redeemed, it will be glorious beyond articulation.
This will be that year. Not because I will change my tactic, but because this is the one for les Fréres Grimpeur. It’s a hilly enough race with enough uphill finishes – we all know the skinny boys have a challenge when the road points down. (You’d really think that with all that practicing they do going uphill that they’d occasionally get a chance to practice going down one as well, but those boys descend like first-year amateurs.) Bertie blew the guns at a very difficult Giro and all the Spanish Beef in the world can’t help you recoup from that kind of effort in time for a similarly difficult Tour. Cuddles is a pipe dream borne from the understandably optimistic thoughts from our antipodal brothers and sisters in Oz and Newz. Wiggo, Vande Velde, Gesink, and Van den Broek will all learn how hard it is to pull out a good Tour ride for a second (or first) time when the pressure is truly on.
I’ve also vowed not to get caught up in my propensity to dwell on the fact that Contador should not be in the race. The fact that a rider who failed a dope test in last year’s Tour has been allowed to start is a reflection of the ineffectiveness of Cycling’s governing bodies, not on Bertie. True, I hate him and would be happy to see him not start, but if I were in his shoes, I admit that would start if I was allowed to. And, lets face it: Andy’s win will mean more when it comes with the defeat of Alberto than with a nonstart.
Awesome freakin’ stage.
Sammy stole Bertie’s steak?
What a ride by Voekler.
@frank
Nicely prognosticated…can’t say I’m upset. Loved seeing Good Cadelephant pushing the pace to finish it off.
@Mikeweb
He’s been rocking them all tour, I’d love to see him wear them right through but not actually wear the maillot.
I don’t think Bertie has been dropped since Paris-Nice in 09.
Ride of the day goes to Tommy Danielson. Looks like he is the Garmin GC leader now. Oh, and some guy named Contador got dropped. And some other guy named Frank did some cool stuff.
@Mikael Liddy
Eventhough he’s in my top 5, I wouldn’t mind seeing that either.
@Mikael Liddy
I happen to have a prognosticator octerpus.
Not decisive, but I’m feeling really good about today. That was some great racing. The Schelcks proving they’re a great tag-team. Andy should have attacked a bit earlier and gotten more time on Contador, but that’s a tough call with Fränk up the road; how to time that without endangering his lead?
Bertie is looking worse and worse, I’m glad they got some time on him before he gets a chance to recover more from the Giro. Andy still well placed for the overall win, since I’m sadly expecting my favorite, Fränk, to fade in the last week.
And Evans and Basso. RESPEC.P.
FUCKING RAD.
Danielson jezzus…… Can’t wait for him to get a bit more experience..
I am not counting Contadoor out yet but its looking hopeful?
Phil Anderson providing the expert comments on SBS’ wrap up, he’s doing the interview in his own brand cycling jersey & vest and still looking in better shape than half of the tour riders.
LEGEND!!!
@frank
Yeah real happy about Basso in the VSP picks, he seemed to be doing it pretty easy up there.
So annoyed my Eurosport livestream just cut out. Apparently, now I have to get back to work. Why can’t people just pay me to watch cycling? I’m really very good at it.
It’s 3:30 am. I am gonna be a wreck at work. But it was worth it. That was some fine racing.
Look like cunego is in better shape than COTHO after the giro. First week team at the front: Omega, Htc and Cervelo now its the turn of Euskaltel, Liquigas and Omega again ? Just hope the Shleck brother inc. will atleast do something tommorow.
Shakeup on the GC; Fränk into second, Basso into fifth. Bertie has more than two minutes to make up on Grimpelder, and just under two minutes on the Grimplette. That’s starting to look complicated, but anything is possible.
Gerard takes the lead on the VSP.
[vsp_results id=”8758″]
[/vsp_results]
In the post interview when asked about Bertie, Levi made the point that he’s been down on the deck something 4 or 5 times already and after a bunch of falls it’s hard to be at 100%.
@Erik
Do you need an assistant or a manager? I really don’t care…
Samuel Sanchez ( Euskaltel)won the ̩tape 12 РCugnaux Luz-Ardiden 211 km
Would you want some Orange Juice with that ?
Pictures taken in Voiron ( Dauphiné 2011)
ASO OFFICIAL NEWS
“17:23 – Voeckler conserve le Maillot Jaune
Il franchit la ligne en 9ème position, avec 50” de retard sur Samuel Sanchez.
17:23 – Le Top 5 de l’étape
1. S.Sanchez 2. Vanendert 3. F.Schleck 4. Basso 5. Evans
17:21 – Victoire de Samuel Sanchez
Le champion olympique s’impose pour la première fois sur une étape du Tour de France.
“
Amazing from ‘Meet the’ Voeklers. So good that good cadelephant put some pain on the others and also that Frank had the confidence to stroll up the road. Looking trickier for Bertie now, it must be said… but Grimp Jr gapped him by a few seconds at the beginning of the Alps last yr and it was a mistake to write him off then. I think he will threaten in the third week….
Basso is totally the silent killer for this, still no-ones talking about him and you just know he’s going to be right there at the end.
I’m rooting for Basso and Cadelephant to solo away up the Agnel like the proverbial drunk couple at a tango convention.
….oh and I won my bet at the office for Nic Roche breaking into the top 10 today – awesome riding!
Gesink lost 18 minutes, LL Sanchez 17 and a half. Rabobank looking bad.
Why o why did I have an appointment at 10am? Last I saw Roy and the fantastic Thomas were heading up the last hill. Missed all the action! Kudos to Thomas for another great ride and to the Europcar team. Not the strongest team by a long shot, but they’re contributing way more to the race than some other teams. Europcar have to be feeling pretty good about their last minute sponsorship decision too – tons of great pr in their biggest market. The team is validating their decision. It’ll be interesting to see what Leopard and HTC come up with sponsorship-wise in the near future.
I can’t post a link here but if any of the Velominati have access to the New Yorker, there a great article in the July 11/18th issue about cycling in Rwanda. Talk about observing Rule #5? These guys are the personification of Rule #5. Also interesting is the involvement of Jock Boyer who really seems to working in less than perfect conditions to rebuild his life after past sins. Check it out if you can.
Marvellous – I take the lead for a day ! :O) Great ride by Sanchez, Frankie was looking good, Cadel was almost looking a bit casual, be interesting to see how the other mtn stages turn out. Alberto was looking a bit pained behind the others.. Great ride by Geraint Thomas – one to watch in future!
@G’phant
Indeed, mate. I kept my schedule clear for a month and only just managed it. Fantastic.
yeah, Kloden was spit out the back and lost a podium finish today too
one big stage down, several yet to go…I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!
and i am go glad my number one pick is long gone, adios amigos, so much for eating veggies all Tour, looks like you shoulda stuck w/that Spanish Beef
I may be wrong, but there are too many days he has simply not had it, today was penultimate
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Schlick the younger
3. Sammy da man Sanchez
4. Kloden
5. Gesink mee think
why did my picks come up ??
no changes…
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Schlick the younger
3. Sammy da man Sanchez
4. Kloden
5. Gesink mee think
@Alpin
Nice to have you back. Strong work on that French Eurosport tv spot.
Watching little Tommy V fight toe to toe with the big boys was awesome. Love Sammy Sanchez and he has put settled any doubts I had in him
@Netraam
So that means we get to sub riders for each of them. Also Twistin’ Banged and Felled. If any other contenders fell out of contention today by more than 10 minutes, let me know and I’ll update the list. Riders who were in contention and fell off the pace by over 10 minutes today qualify.
I’m putting little Damiano Can He Go in there for Gesink…the little guy impressed today!
VSP PICKS:
1. Grimplette
2. Good Cuddles
3. Grimpelder
4. Basso
5. Canhego
@frank
Your picks are looking awfully prescient at this point.
Question for any mechanics out there that are better than me (which is most of you): As I mentioned earlier in the week, my SRAM rear shifter broke, and I am getting a new one shipped. It’s going to be another week or so, which leaves me without my race steed for the weekend and perhaps next. I’m planning on taking my Ultegra 9speed shifter and derailuer off another bike. Will I need a spacer for the 9 speed Shimano cassette that I assume will fit my White Industry hubs (on super light Reynolds sew-up carbons)? Thanks, and a helluva stage today, no?
@frank – just saw Tv highlights. I reckon grimp sr might have it this year. That was properly steady up with more speed. Cuddles and Basso looked good too. And Berto looked like they were struggling the most…
I’ll be swapping Gesink for Schleck the Elder then.
Could this be his tour? Frank Schleck beating his little brother? I think so, actually. Andy is not yet impressing.
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy
2. Frank
3. Alberto
4. Cadel
5. Ivan
@joe, @Netraam
Yeah, that would be awesome – I’d love to see it! I hear everyone on Andy not looking too impressive, but remember this: he is not losing ground and he always gets strongest in the last week. With that being a tough week, that’s going to be a good time to peak.
And Basso silently sneaking up there. Very, very strong ride from him; I love how he takes control. Very cool guy; really admire him. One of my all-time favorites, I’d love to see him anywhere on the podium again.
@scaler911
I don’t think you need the spacer in there, but that’s a better question for Oli. I have needed spacers for 8spd cassettes, but not for 9spd. It might not be that cut-and-dry, though.
After LBL it was nice to see Frandy attack instead of skiing with another rider. I too was pleased to see Basstardo riding tempo in the saddle hands on tops with no visible problems. Bertie looks off but I’d say we can count on him launching atleast one blistering attack in the high hills. He’s Bertie, defending champ, and rides harder the more pissed he gets.
Today was good but we ain’t seen nothin yet.
@scaler911
Put it on and see – if you do need the spacer the lockring will tighten and and cassette will not sit tight, you will be able to wobble it with your hand. I’ve got 8 and 10 speed, don’t need spacers but don’t use white hubs either.
Tooommmmeee! Frenchmen who grow a third leg when they get the Yellow jersey, he could be disrupt a few more teams’ plans if he keeps this up!
Basso and Grimpelder in for Lulu Sanchez and GuessingGuessingGone.
VSP PICKS:
1. Albeefo Contordure
2. Shlecklet
3. Cuddles
4. Basso Profundo
5. Grimpelder
@Alpin
Sanchez appears to be wearing Olypmic ring earings… good job he won!
@Marko
Yep: much too soon to write him off. You don’t have to like him, but he’s tough and has character. Unless knee is much worse than he’s letting on, I expect we’ll see a half-hearted attack in the Pyrenees to soften up the contenders, and then some fireworks in the Alps. Today looked a bit like a hold on and don’t show your hand kind of day.
That said, it looks as though someone sat down with the Grimplets since LBL and explained how you do a one-two punch. Some very good riding from both of them. And nice to see Jens burying himself on the climb.
Also very cool to see Voeckler defend jaune on Bastille Day. Brilliant work from Rolland there.
@RedRanger
@Gerard
>thx< I’ll be back soon with the Alpine stages and new photos !
I hope to see and cover 2 or 3 stages including the Grenoble TT just before the Finish on the Champs Elysées .. if i have the possibility i’ll ride with one or two mates to the Galibier and the Alpe … we’ll see!
Your work is outstanding! Keep it up. We look forward to seeing your pics.
A Bientot.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Evans
3. Frank S
4. Andy S
5. CVV
@Mikael Liddy
And, even better, I distictly heard Phil A refer to the team of le freres Grimpeur as “LeoTard S..” before he tailed off and corrected himself. Could he have been reading Velominati too much?
Pretty soon we might start hearing Phil and Paul calling the race as follows “Grimpelder is putting the hammer down, and Cuddles and Grimplette respond… COTHO’s been dropped! COTHO’s been dropped!…”
Wow, what a stage!
Tommy Velcro put in an awesome display of tenacious riding.
Basso looking ominous. I was nearly jumping out of my skin watching Basso and Evans swapping off the lead when they were chasing down Frank.
I’m really pleased for Tom Danielson as well. Fantastic effort from him.
Gil-Bear: Wow.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Evans
3. A Schleck
4. F Schleck
5. Basso
I swapped out CVV and dropped in Basso.
May I please violate the Piti Principle and change the order of my top 5? I don’t see Contador winning the Tour now. Sheesh. Would somebody get this man some Clenbuterol?
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Evans
3. Frank S
4. Andy S
5. Basso
Looking at the stages to come, I see “only” three decisive mountain stages to come.
Saturday (Plateau de Beille), next Thursday (Galibier Serre Chevalier) and Friday (Alpe d’Huez) – Schlecks have gotta bit of work to do to put distance into Evans Basso and (still) Contador. I say they need a good 2 minutes on them all to be safe.
With every day, Cuddles chances slightly increase…
Jens was magnificent last night.
What happened to Gesink?
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Cadel Evans
3. Frank Schleck
4. Andreas Kloden
5. Bobby Gesink
@Alpin
I was only thinking to myself the other day “where’s Alpin?” during all of this and lo and behold, you raise your stellar head above the masses! Well done. So cool and I’m so jealous….
Sam San in for Guessing, but Cuddles still there for the win. Great ride today.
VSP PICKS:
1. Good Cadel
2. Asleck
3. Frau schleck
4. Sam San
5. Turn up the bass….o