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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@Roberto Marques
It's so complicated, it makes my head hurt. I mean, I guess we can't blame him for coming back because the rules allow him to, so why shouldn't he? For me, it's his lack of confession or acknowledgement of what he's done and now - according to his open letter - his apparent feeling of entitlement he feels towards the publics acceptance of his honesty.
For me, I can't accept him unless he confronts the issue with the fans. Even the Basso "It was just attempted doping" works better for me than what he's trying to pull.
Can someone explain the points system to a thick Welshman, how does Marko end up 13pts ahead of everyone else?
Rest day re-shuffle:
Out with Wiggins and in with Nibali
@frank
I really liked Veino before the bust. His riding style, scrappiness, vigor, he's really fun to watch. Before he got caught and was riding out of his mind all bandaged and scraped up was impressive. It seriously bummed me out when he was busted the day after the 07 TT he "won". And at the same time it bummed me out it didn't suprise me. That's just cycling sometimes, well, a lot.
I hear what you're saying about his approach, attitude, letter, and all. I guess I don't care as long as he's clean. Lot's of cyclists are douchebags. I'd prefer the dopers to all be cool like Millar and more riders to have attitudes like Spartacus, Farrar, Horner, etc. But if they make racing more interesting and raise the competetive bar cleanly then ultimately that's what I care about. I may not want to go for a ride or have a beer with Vino (Cunt-odor, Cavendouche) but I love watching him race. I'd like to like them but would rather see good bike racing. To that end, may the strongest rider win.
@Jarvis
Here is the point breakdown:
1. 15 points
2. 10 points
3. 5 points
4. 3 points
5. 2 points
We also award 1 point to any rider named in the top five, but in the wrong placing. Basically, Marko picked Veino to win and since the little pig is in the pink jersey right now, that gives Marko 15 points, provisionally. He's the leader "on the road", as it were. The day after tomorrow, when he tests positive, he'll be back in the bunch with the rest of us.
@frank
You'll never get a positive on my B sample dude.
@Marko
That's the other bit of it, isn't it? We all just want to see good bike racing and really when it's all out there, I want to see the riders lay it all out on the road. Ultimately, I don't care if they're doping or not; what I care about is that it's a level playing field.
I suspect if we want clean racing, then we as fans should settle for one-day races and stage races that are seven days long, have five stages, and the stages are all under 200km. Do you want to watch that race? I sure don't. I want to see these guys race for three weeks, day in, day out, over the biggest mountains and over the worst roads, in all conditions. So, I suppose we're at the heart of the problem, because ultimately there is money in the sport because it attracts fans.
But, I'm with you - Veino was a riot before his suspension. I was also a huge fan of Hamilton and of Basso, not to mention Der Kaiser. Ullrich is still one of my all-time favorites, and Basso is certainly back on the Frank A-List.
But Hamilton is not. During Hamiltongate, I habitually checked his blog, waiting for updates of any kind. At some point, months went by with no word from him and that cut the cord for me; I never went back to him. He rejected his fans, and that was very disappointing.
I suppose part of the complicating issue is that it's not so much the drugs as it is treating the fans with dignity. I think as much as a full confession, I might feel differently about it if Veino's letter said, "I never doped in my career. I was framed; I've always been clean and I'm a casualty of the system. But I served my suspension, and have managed to come back to the top, so suck it, bitches." It would be lies, but it would be consistent. It really gets me that he denied, denied, denied, and now is partially admitting that he indeed doped in the past but now he's clean. In order to move on, I need something more than what I'm getting.
And, if you're seeing inconsistencies in all my comments and posts about doping throughout the years, it's because it's fucking complicated and it makes me crazy.
@frank ta, understand now. Thought somehow he'd gained 15pts already, not that it was "on the road".
But don't go down the "level playing field" debate on doping. It'll get me annoyed and I won't sleep. But I know the deal with the inconsistent approach. Been there myself. Back in the 90's when Pantani and Riis were being hypocrites and leading the protests against police raids and dope testing it annoyed me hugely. How dare they insult my intelligence to that extent, it was fucking obvious what they were up to. But then a year or so later, I was thinking that at least they are all on a level playing field and fuck it, at least it looks good.
But then...you get more info, you read more, and you realise they were taking the fans for idiots. For some reason I couldn't stop watching cycling, but when I did I didn't believe in any of what I saw. Does it help that I'm British and the only really conflicting character we have is Brother Millar? Probably. The three other British riders who have ridden significantly on the PRO scene in those years were Boardman, Hammond and Hunt.
Doping and dopers aside, Gazzetta dello Sport has some interesting remarks about the contenders, especially Veino. Those like Marko are looking especially wise right now, maybe not in a few weeks but on the road, today, Marko is no Nancy-boy.
@Jarvis
@frank
I'm with you both, it's confusing and we have all sparred about doping in 2010. I have to assume Vino is clean and he sort of did his time so he has the right to race. And he is one tough monkey, the scary Andrei Tchmil of the 2010 peloton.
@john
Ohhh geeez, you're too kind. I'll take it, for now, as you say.
Dude, I'm seriously considering breaking out the chrome bar tape again after I saw that!