The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige continues the with Giro d’Italia, on Saturday May 8 in Amsterdam. This will be the first Grand Tour of the series, and while we have a set of rules established for the competition, we’ll be modifying them as we go if we notice any problems with them.
Personally, I feel the Giro is the Cyclist’s Grand Tour; it’s not as main-stream or commercial as the Tour de France, but the race generally makes for a more exciting three weeks. There is something about the topography and geography of Italy that seems to lend itself to unpredictable and aggressive racing where several riders typically stay in contention until the final stages of the race.
With this being the first Grand Tour of the series, we’ve set up a scoring system that we think will be fair but will also help to close down the competition and afford newcomers the ability to catch up with some good picks. Jump over to the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page for a full explanation of the rules and the standings, but here is the ten-second overview:
Every contestant is to choose their top five General Classification picks of the race. The final podium of the Giro is worth 15 points to the winner, 10 points for second, 5 points for third, 3 points for fourth, and 2 point for fifth. Given the effect crashes can have on a tour, we’ve set up some guidelines around making changes to your lineup during the race: you’re allowed to change your lineup if any rider in your pick list drops out for any reason without any penalty; rest days will allow contestants to make changes to their lineup, however those changes will come at a point penalty. (Visit the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page for a complete breakdown of these points.)
Every day, the leader in the points standings will have the honor of wearing the Pink Jersey when commenting on the site; the overall winner will wear the Pink Jersey for the remainder of the season, and will also earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker. All reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free Velominati Shop Apron. As always, if you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the comment section.
Sub-competitions will be conducted while the Giro is underway for specific stages. These stages will be chosen a few days prior to the stage being held and will be selected based on the current race conditions with the aim of choosing the most decisive and exciting stages of the race, so check back often to make sure you don’t miss out.
Good luck!
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1. Veino - Seriously, he's gonna tear shit up
2. Almost there Cadel - If it only weren't for Veino
3. Can-he-go (Cunego)- There's got to be an Italian on the podium. It's the Giro
4. Basso - He might still be pretty good
5.
Christian Vande Velde (CVdV). He's good enough, he's strong enough, and I like him.Injury replacement: Carlos Sastre-fier. (read Pacifier)@Marko
Young rider: Bookwalter
points: Griepel
KoM: Simoni
1. Cadel, knows he can't win the TdF so he is all in for the Giro
2. Cunego, was going well in the Spring Classics, Italian and has paid people off
3. f'ing Vino
4. Scarponi, sure he is doper, it's working for him
5. Vincenzo "da Shark" Nibali, why not, Basso is smoking like a hippie's motorbike
Why is Denis Menchov not racing? Biological passport issues? Twiggo, saving himself to be beaten in the Tour.
@Marko I see no Grimpeurs in the Giro start list on Cyclingnews. I'd love to see VDV kick some ass and win a stage.
Holy Hell, this year is going so fast, Sersiously. Tour of Flanders was just 'last week,' it seems.
@wvcycling
That's right, it's off to Amsterdam everybody. Get comfortable at the Hashish Cafe' of your choice. The fun starts Saturday. Place your bets.
OK, so maybe it's just that I'm a lawyer and my life consists of looking for loopholes, but I think the DNF and Crashes rules are susceptible to manipulation. Both permit a contestant to "make full changes to their picks" in the event of a crash or DNF affecting one of their riders, and neither requires the adjustment to be made within a particular time after the withdrawal or crash. I think this means that, if you deliberately pick five sprinters (and/or Gesink-like serial crashers), then when one of them inevitably crashes or abandons you can wait until just before the end of the race and submit a full fresh crop of five. Of course, you would clearly be a prick if you did that, but technically you could try. I wondered about proposing some modest emendations to the rules to ensure such outcomes aren't possible (e.g. only changing the rider who's out, and having to do so within two days of the withdrawal / crash). But there'd still be a risk that some other lawyer would come along and study the rules and assert s/he'd found another loophole, and then before we knew it the site would be more about careful parsing of Frank's sentences than about the racing. So I think I'd favour, instead, an additional rule - similar to what tax lawyers call an "anti avoidance" rule, what insurance lawyers refer to as the doctrine of "uberimae fides", and what courts of equity refer to as the "doctrine of clean hands" - to the effect that anyone obviously taking the piss be liable to forfeit whatever number of points seems reasonable in the circumstances. We could call it the "Don't Be A Douchebag" Rule. Or, better yet, the Piti Principle.
@wvcycling Your so right - Hey Frank can we have a procrastinators deadline for picks on the Giro I'm just not ready for the pressure and tension. I know I am in complete denial of R#5 but have pity man.
@Geof Love the DBAD Rule and even though comparing me to a lawyer is like Tiny Tim (yukalaly and all) to Jimi Hendrix, I had the same thoughts... and your solutions are elegant.
@john
Shit, you're right and I think I even knew that. Re-tip coming.
Lampre seems to have a strong team so I am heading in that direction with the full knowledge that since it is mostly Italians they will be sniping and grousing and therefore weaken the whole but it is an Italian race so...
Vino because if you can't beat them join them..
If Evans was a little thinner in his face I put him at the top but that extra weight is going to slay him on the Gavia...
The last 2 because I don't know what else to do - Pellizotti out, Freire not starting maybe? Wiggo is English and Voekler is French...
Good luck all - it should be a great Giro!
1.) Cunego
2.) Vino
3.) Evans
4.) Sastre
5.) Petacchi
Frank, Wow LOVE my new jersey - that is AWESOME!!! (and I can't remember why I have the honor being in second and all but I do not care) the Campionissimo Maglia! Yea Baaaby!!!