The early eighties saw the tide change in the European Peloton. Components were taking on a new, curvy shape as they left their boxy forms behind. The glint of toe clips in the sun would become a rarer sight as the move towards clipless pedals would take hold in 1985. English speakers were winning the big races classically won by continental Pros.
The 1984 Tour could be my favorite edition of the race. In 1983, the rookie Laurent Fignon had won in the absence of Le Patron, Bernard Hinault. The 1984 race saw the two go head-to-head, with Fignon becoming the one and only person in history to have laughed at Hinault and lived. He did more than live, he won. The new guard was here, and they were making their presence known.
This photo is from the stage to l’Alpe d’Huez. LeMond was riding in support of Fignon, and Robert Millar, in his second Tour, was leading the King of the Mountains competition, which he would eventually win. Millar wrote an account of this stage in Issue 13 of Rouleur, which everyone should make an effort to find a copy of. He describes the attacks that come fast and furious on the penultimate climb in such vivid detail, it makes my guns ache. But worse than that is his and LeMonds effort to hold on to Fignon and Hinault’s wheels in the ride through the valley to Le Bourg d’Oisans and the base of the final climb. It is the perfect description of the suffering of the Cyclist. LeMond, in service to his leader, is on the front one moment as he reels Hinault in after an attack, before being cast into the gutter and the back wheel a moment later when the next attack comes.
Just as 1984 was a watershed moment in the Pro peloton, 2013 is a watershed year for the VSP. This year we are offering five amazing prizes from five amazing partners.
Prizes
First prize is a Veloforma Strada iR road frame, painted in an exclusive Velominati color scheme with the newly-designed Velominati Super Prestige logo. Please note that this is a brand-spankin’ new frame for Veloforma. The geometry can be reviewed here.
Second prize is a pair of Café Roubaix carbon tubular wheels. The winner of this prize will be given the choice between the sub-1000g Haleakala wheels or a road version of my beloved Arenberg wheelset. As an additional incentive, anyone who enters their picks in the Tour VSP will get a $200 discount on any wheelset at Café Roubaix.
Third prize is a pair of Bont cycling shoes. The winner of this prize will be assisted in selecting the size, color, and model of shoe.
Fourth prize is a Flandrian Best kit from DeFeet consisting of a wool U-D-Shirt, Arm Skins, Kneekers, Slipstreams, and a pair of V-Socks.
Fifth prize is a wool jersey from our Keepers Tour tour partners, Pavé Cycling Classics.
Many thanks to each of our sponsors for providing such exciting prizes.
Rules
Enter your picks for the top five riders on G.C. by the time the countdown clock goes to zero; Grand Tour scoring rules apply. Check the mapping of your picks by the end of Stage 1 and use the dispute system should it be mapped incorrectly.
We will be enforcing Piti Principle rules much more closely. We will be accepting pick disputes through the start of Stage 2. After that, it will be at The Keepers’ discretion as to whether or not we allow the dispute. If your pick is ambiguous and we map them to the wrong rider, make sure you check your disputes before the deadline; we may reject the dispute after that time. For example, should both Tony and Dan Martin take the start and you enter “Martin” as your pick, we will pick one for you and you will have to live with it if you forget to dispute it before the deadline.
Good luck, and Merckxspeed.
Update: This is the same paint scheme that the winner will have, except the VSP Winner’s Badge will be replacing the V-Lion.
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[vsp_results id=”24179″/]
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View Comments
Please let it be that Froome is clean...
@iansansom
Well Sky bus is well equipped so I'm sure they have a shower there.Otherwise he can always use one in a hotel.You shouldn't be too disappointed.
Guys, that wasn't Chris Froome, it was Richie Froome (according to P&P at one point).
@LA Dave
Kreuziger pipped him at the line as well, cheeky.
Seriously? People watch that stage and want to worry about doping? That was a fucking spectacular ride by Froome and Porte. Can't believe Contacor was left for dead like that.
Dont worry. They're all on drugs. Just enjoy the spectacle.
Can't wait for double Alpe d'Huez
@Harminator
I hear you baby!
Highlight of the day was Sagan wheelie and salute before the peloton passed him. Someone has some character out there. Also, I'm heartened to see as many douche fans in France as California. I don't know what makes a person want to dress so weirdly and scream along side a suffering cyclist. I don't get it...and you fucking kids stay off my fucking lawn!
Broome has 4+ minutes on everyone. The VSP is now a dog fight for places 2 through 5. There is not a lot of time between anyone there so all this will get shaken up some more.
Did you hear the Schleck-chute snap open down low on the Ventoux?
@Buck Rogers
Comparing times up any climb during a bike race flawed - the tactics and pace of others in your group (ie. how much time drafting v not, when you go full gas, etc etc) make comparisons meaningless. Furthermore, anyone who thinks about comparing times up Ventoux probably needs to first think about Ventoux. It is the windiest (recorded) place on Earth! Conditions have more than a little to do with how fast you can head up there.
And it is problematic to condemn an athlete just because of their absolute dominance over others. That would be like suspecting Usain Bolt because he is so much better than any of his competitors. Just like Armstrong only got really suspect when everyone he beat went pos. I guess when all of Asafa's competitors get done for doping, we should start getting a bit more suspicious of his dominance over them... Oh, wait a minute.
@Marcus Usain's competitors... just tried to get the funny line out a bit too fast.
But back to cycling, what about Evans' going pop? He seemed to crack a lot worse than he normally does. Wonder if it was the Giro or if the old man is done for good? Will be kind of interesting to see what happens between him and TJVG next year. Maybe they should both be supporting someone else!
@Marcus
Well, Gilbackwards just signed for another 2 years. Maybe they'll have to tow him to wins on the medium hilly stages?
That certainly was a loup "pop" from Cadel. At least it indicates that he and TJVG are probably clean.
And Schleckette too. His DS picked him for the stage win beforehand - nothing like a bit of patronising motivation...