Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France 2013, Stage 19
Since it appears that the descents are where the action is in this year’s Tour de France, we thought we’d forgo our usual Mountain-Top Finish for the Stage VSP and instead go for what I’m guessing might be a real cracker of a stage into Le Grand Bornand. In 2009, the Schleck Tandem hadn’t yet discovered their collective drag chutes and did a stage-winning riding with Bertie pointlessly attacking to drop his own teammate on the run up the final climb.
This year features a bumpy profile which includes two of what I personally have found to be the hardest climbs in the Alps: the Glandon and the Madeleine. They’re going up the easier side of the Glandon (which shares the road with the Col de la Croix de Fer from this side) and then down to the steep side of the Madeleine. Then its over the camel’s back to the Col de la Croix Fry before diving into the valley for the finish.
In my review of that stage in ’09, I was airing my Dirty Schlecky Love on the laundry line, but there is little risk of that happening again this time around, unless Le Petite Schleck finds his patrones between now and then. And lets not forget that Contador is descending like a witch on a broomstick and putting Froome on the ropes in the process. Not to mention, Nairo’s horrible lines on the way down could mean we see a major shuffle on the GC.
Be that as it may, the stage itself will surely go to a breakaway and that’s what we’re here for. So get your picks in by midnight Friday for a chance to win a pair of Bont shoes; the winner will be assisted in selecting the size and will also be helped through the molding process. VSP Points go towards the overall VSP, not the Le Tour VSP. Finally, as this is a Stage VSP, points only go to getting the places right, no bonus points for getting the right rider in the wrong place. Good luck.
[vsp_results id=”24469″/]
@motor city
Yes you did, and you get the shoes my friend! Congrats…
Shit. I Delgado’d this. At least I went riding.But I totally would have picked Kloden. I mean, that was obvious for second.
Son of a gun! @motor city rules. Not easy conjuring up who is going to win when it’s not the race leaders. How do you even get on a bike after yesterday’s stage? I can’t imagine, much less starting off with a HC climb. I’d dope just to get in under the time cut.
@motor city and given you declared for bankruptcy yesterday, a needy winner!
YES! Amazing, adding a stage victory to my 3rd place on the TDF VSP last year. All this twatwaffling with all you twatwaffles is paying off.
I usually buy new road shoes at Christmas with cash I get given by my parents. This year I’ll spend that money on V-kit instead, it seems like the appropriate thing to do.
Cheers Keepers and the kind folks at Bont.
Late to the party.
“the hardest climbs in the Alps: the Glandon and the Madeleine.”
Indeed, riding up the Glandon after the Madeline was the toughest thing I ever did on a bike.