Velominati Super Prestige: la Vuelta a Espana
The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige continues with its the final Grand Tour of the season, la Vuelta a España, on Saturday, August 28. This will be the final opportunity for contestants to rake in a load of points; and with the list of injuries, and non-starts together with riders using the race as preparation for the World Championships in October, it will make it all the more challenging to pull together some good picks.
This particular Grand Tour is simultaneously the most boring and most exciting; various sections of Spain features desert with dead-straight roads where little is to be seen aside from a colorful peloton gliding along a road for 6 hours. On the other hand, the mountains are steep and brutal, and the weather this time of year can be atrocious, so the mountain stages tend to showcase fireworks like we don’t see elsewhere during the season.
Having run the VSP Giro and Tour editions where we tested the ruleset for picks, and I think by this time we’ve managed to set up a scoring system that seems fair and helps to close down the competition to afford newcomers the ability to catch up with some good picks. There is a full overview of the rules and standing at the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page, 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 la Vuelta 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, there are 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 Golden Jersey when posting on the site; the overall winner will wear the Golden 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 Artisan’s Shroud. As always, if you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings.
Continuing with our jersey picks from the Tour de France edition is the competition of naming the winner of the points and climber’s jersey winners. There will be no points awarded towards these two jerseys, but the leader of the competition will have the honor of commenting with associated jersey badge throughout the competition and the winner will earn the right to comment with that badge until next year’s race. The contestant who picks both the final points and climbers jersey winners correctly will win a Velominati Logo bumper sticker. Tie-breakers will go to the first contestant who posts their entire lineup (all 5 GC picks plus points and climbers jersey winners). Given that this sub-competition has no points, pick substitutions will only be granted under the DNF regulations of the VSP; no rest-day substitutions are allowed.
Sub-competitions will be conducted while the Vuelta 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. Sub-competitions will be held in separate editions.
Good luck!
Rules and results are posted Velominati Super Prestige page.
Yeah…this one will not be easy as the Tour…have no idea yet…Menchov, Andy, Nibali, … who knows?
Is there anywhere that we can see a roster of who is actually racing?
Otherwise it’s:
Eddy
Eddy
Eddy
Eddy
Eddy
Eddy
and
Eddy
@all
Start roster:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-espana-start-list
@frank
it’s not a golden fleece any more, it’s a red jersey
Fecking Schleck
Nibali
Invisible Denis – it’s his second GT so won’t go as well as in France
Bangedandfelled – he can’t crash out of all three Grand Tours in one year
JC Peraud – my random wildcard
Mountains
Kreuziger
Points
Benatti
1. F schleck
2. Menchov
3. Nibali
4. A Schleck
5. Anton
1. F. Grimp
2. Nibali
3. Jo-keem Rodriguez
4. Menchov
5. Sastre
Points
Ali-Jet
Mountains
Inigo Montoya
Points: Farrar
Mountains: Moncoutie
Points: Farrar
Mountains: the agoraphobic David Moncoutie
As the wearer of the Maillot Jaune, I’m still undecided as to whether I will participate in this year’s VSP Vuelta.
GC; Hayden Roulston
Points; Julian Dean
The rest; Spaniards or Russians whose names I can’t type or pronounce.
One eyed and entirely unrealistic but you can bet I’ll be all over any results these 2 get. Specially Rolly, he’s well due.
@minion
Ka pai. Kia Ora.
Grimplestiltskin (F)
J-Rod
L L Cool J
Nibble-knee
Roche (jnr)
Going up: J-Rod
Going fast: Ale Jet
Ah, the Minion makes his appearance! (A sometimes-workmate of mine.) Totally in line with your ridiculous reckonings on most things…
1: Young Grimp… shit, he needs to win a GT, any GT
2: Invisible Denis
3: Carlo’s Ashtray… he’ll smoke em at home.
4: Old Grimp
5: Rugs
Montagnes: J-Rod
Gallops: T Bone
@Jarvis
wrong VandeVelde
looks like there’s another guy named Van Der Velde
@Marko
cyclingnews got it wrong and listed Ricardo instead of Bangedandfelled, see. Just another part of their shoddy journalism. If their race coverage ie start lists, stages etc wasn’t so good I’d have stopped using the site years ago. As it is I use Velo Nation for news these days.
@Jarvis
I see. Good work
1. Frankenclimb – HE’S ALIIIIVE and he’s got Andy to help.
2. Papa Tiempo Sastre – check that CTT team – STACKED with grimps, and he’s a GT double MASTER
3. Nibali – Giro podium, focused on this GT, and the TTT will be Liquigas’ to lose.
4. Comrade Invisible – his GT double history is a bit sketchy, though he’s on good form
5. J-ROD from the ROKKIT SKWAD – a heavy year for him, first GT, the Vuelta is his second. Star on the RISE though, I tell you.
SHIRTY VERDE: Cavendouche
SHIRTY DE MONTANAS: J-ROD
(PS – Frank, I really did try and work out something to automate the VSP, but, like you, LIFE intervened) Next year!
@ben
do you not think that most of the Cervelo team has a huge chance of imploding given the news this week? Sastre has already said that he wanted a different team but the bosses said otherwise. Sastre himself is sorted for next year, so is there much point in trying to impress him with dedication and work-ethic? Wouldn’t surprise me to see more than one Cervelo rider trying to get themselves noticed in a frantic scramble for a contract next year.
1. F. Grimp
2. Nibali
3. Mench
4. Mosquera
5. J-Rod
Going up: Mosquera (because Moncoutie and J-Rod were taken)
Going fast: Hushovd (because Bennati was already taken)
1. Schleck Jr.
2. Menchov
3. Nibali
4. David Arroyo
5. Schleck Sr.
@Jarvis – damn you and your questions! I’ll admit that that is a pick of the heart. But I also think that the grimps on CTT would probably like to be seen climbing well with Carlos and maybe get a spot on the Geox squad with him… considering Garmin is snatching up classics riders.
@all
Rumor has it that that Garmin will be rockin’ out on Cervelo next year. THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about. T-Bone Farrar – local boy – sprinting to the Green jersey on my favorite bike…
UPDATE: It just got confirmed…
1. Gimpenheimer the Elder
2. Gimpenheimer the Younger
3. Nibali
4. Menchov
5. J-Rod
Points = Petacchi
KoM = Gimpenheimer the Younger
Needed to get something down earlier in case I ran out of time. Had time to study form and have a re-think
1. F. Grimp
2.
NibaliA.Grimp3.
Invisible DenisNibali4.
BangedandfelledInvisible Denis – it’s his second GT so won’t go as well as in France5.
JC PeraudJ RodI’d forgotten about A.Grimp and missed J Rod on the start list. Got to have a Spaniard in the top-5.
Mountains
Kreuziger
Points
Benatti
fuck! had to have another re-think as it looked like just copied @cyclops’s homework
1.
F. GrimpNibali – because the Grimps never win Grand Tours and no-one else has Nibali at the top2.
NibaliA.GrimpF.Grimp3.
Invisible DenisNibaliA.Grimp4.
BangedandfelledInvisible Denis – it’s his second GT so won’t go as well as in France5.
JC PeraudJ Rod@ben
I’m thinking that Sastre would have taken anyone he wanted already. Geox is probably not far off full. Anyone trying to impress as a domestique has keft it a bit late as a good domestique will do their job all year. All that is left is for those who can win a stage or two.
@frank
But will Farrar ride for the green jersey? Hushovd is rumoured to be joining which isn’t going to sit too well with T-bone and Hushovd isn’t going to ride for another given that he will probably end up being the defending green jersey.
Ooo… just in time
1. Roman
2. Tommy Danielson (Sorry, I have a soft spot for Garmin…)
3. Car-lose
4. Igor Anton
5. Roche… I can’t be… I say it is
Mountains
Manuel Ortega Ocana (just based on the name…)
Points
Farrar
… Millartime to go for a solo attack into Barcelona (er wait… that was the Tour… and last year… darn no Barcelona this year)
@frank
Do I smell a Garmin-must-be-matched-to-a-Cervelo rule in the offing?
1. LL Cool J
2. Grimp The Elder
3. Carlos “El Bebe”
4. Pellizzoti
5. A-Yo-Yo
Points: Thor
Mtns: Moncoutie
@Steampunk
Quite possibly. Except that Garmins are useless in terms of being used in cycling on the road, and as such voilate Rule #74.
@frank
That’s what I figured, but your enthusiasm for this merger seemed to suggest the inkling of a potential exception.
@ben
No worries, I didn’t have time, either. Let’s work to have it for 2011…
As for my picks…I was so good earlier this year…I was good, I was good, I was good, now I am bad.
A few things are certain. Old Clock isn’t going to do any better than he has in his previous two GT’s, and he’s not getting younger. Geox will have their hands full, that’s for sure. Second, I’m compelled to vote for my boy Gaysink, but he will fall near the end and loose some places, not mention that he’s not participating. Third, I’m crap, crap, crap. Not to mention there are no clear favorites in the start list. I also don’t think Menchov is a rider to get second. He’ll either dope up enough to win, or get third. Just sayin’.
Also, I’m on the J-Rod wagon, but does anyone else smell a positive drug test?
OK, Custom Velominati Mug to the rescue:
My picks are:
1) Le Grand Frere Grimpeur
2) Nibali
3) Munchedtoomuch
4) Dirty Sanchez
5) Le Petite Frere Grimpeur
Bulges: J-Rod-Gonna-Test-Positive
Gallops: Hometown boy T-Bone
Ok, I’m bloody channeling the universe and…and…
1) Schleck Sr.
2)Minny Denchov
3)LL Sanchez
4)Schleck Jr.
5)Nibali
Green: Theo Bos
mountains; Kreuziger
1. Nibali
2. J “ROCKET” ROD
3. Grimp sr
4. LL cool S
5. Silent Assassin
hungover picks. time for a recovery ride
Just landed. Assume I’m late entering, but will do it anyway.
Nibali
J-Rod
Kreuziger
Menchov
And (shuddering to even say it) TommyD Holy crap. That’s ridiculous. Ahh well.
Sheisse. Other guernseys…
Upwardly Mobile: Banged & Felled (ridiculous call – it’ll be some Spaino mountain goat, but I like the guy)
Rapidly Mobile: Farrar. Assuming Douche will leave early, and Farrar didn’t finish the Tour or Giro, so will finish this one. Big assumptions!
@andy
hangover recovery ride was disgusting. threw up on my bibs a little after about 40k.
TTTs are easily my favourite time trial, enjoyed watching the HTC train do their stuff. Even better, cav is in red!
I’m sure we hate to hint at these things, but if I had to put money on a high-profile positive, he’d probably be it.
Oh sweet Jesus! That’s beautiful. The name on it is wrong (for me, anyway), but that’s beautiful!
Worth noting: this will be Tejay Van Garderen’s first grand tour. If there was a Jailbait Jersey at the Vuelta, I’d be betting on him.
Son of a beeeatch. I didn’t just land like Hawkeye but I’m way out here by the dateline, I’m late too but having seen no results I’m putting in some guesses.
@Roberto Marques
I questioned your choice of Menchov in the TdF and was I wrong but sheeeit what a dark horse, I just have no data.
The Lux boyz, I don’t think so. Sastre, nay, he is finished.
1. LL Sanchez, why not?
2. Dennis M., second or fifty-seventh, take your pick
3. N. Roche, still pissed off from TdF
4. Gimp the Elder, too many nappies
5. Mikhail Ignatiev…insert Russian here
@frank
Nice! That is a pretty picture there. Don’t stop drinking.
sorry fella’s. would have loved to rode along, but just got back in from racing. Missed the call thursday for the ‘picks’. good luck to all. I will enjoy the season next year picking w/you all…or anything later on. Worlds??
btw…nice mug shot Frank
@Frank:
You got me down for Huntarovich for the points jersey, right? Has anyone dropped Cavendidntthinksomerussianformerlanternerougecouldgofastdish like that in recent memory? What the hell happened, there??
@Steampunk
I can’t remember ANYONE EVER motoring past Cav like that. Did he think he had it and get lazy? If not, it will give others some confidence!
Seems Cav had been ill throughout the stage cos of the heat, Whodawonit acknowledged that he recognised Cav wasn’t having a good day
@Brett
Yeah, keeping in line with past form, Kiwis seem to have proven especially adept at crashing (durning warm up?!? FFS) So they’re smashing the road rash jersey (white with red blood stains and rips along the side)
@minion
Kiwi’s don’t have a mortgage on that – Aussie Matt White (now Garmin DS) missed a Tour de France by doing his collarbone riding over a TV cable before the prologue start.
@andy
Sounds like Cav was imitating you out there today, puking and whatnot. Perhaps he threw back one too many last night after his donning of the leader’s muleta.
You should call it the Frank n’ Stein
@Marcus
I forgot about that one! That’s a classic.
@Jarvis, @Collin
Poor little Cav…the only guy who had to ride in the heat…awwwww….