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
@unversio
@Chris
That wasn't really directed at you as much as a general note on my current feelings on doping. I'm just tired of having to put the energy into deciding if I should marvel at an achievement or put a * next to it. I hate what it does to corrupt the beauty of athletic achievement, but I think I'm ready to stop wringing my hands over it, and just watch greatness.
@Buck Rogers
Evans is signed for 2014 and he (so the story goes) loves dollars almost as much as he loves Molly the kelpie. So he will be back - cos he aint getting a job being a commentator or sports personality when he is done on the bike.
I would love to see him target the Ardennes again - but that won't happen with Gilbert in the team.
I'm thrilled I am not able to make any changes to my VSP, this way I can't bugger it up anymore. What in the hell was I thinking putting Valverde there? Goddamn, that was a rash decision.
universio - my local theatre is run by a really good dude. They have a Bond fest going on and I just saw one of those original posters up in the lobby. I went in for a closer look, almost seems lewd even by today's depraved standards.
They also have a retro scary movie fest that runs year round. Saw "The Warriors" on the big screen on 35mm. So sweet. I grew up watching that movie on WPIX with my big brother. I dragged the VMH along and she enjoyed it, which surprised me, as she's more a BBC period piece viewer.
All change...negative points now probably but I was never going to win anyways...
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Quintana
4. Rodriguez
5. Fuglsang
I think I'm good with original picks, would like to drop Valverde, but who knows, Movistar could make something happen in the Alps...only wish I had put Quintana higher!
@Marcus
Hahaha, maybe he'll go back to MTB riding...
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Porte
4. Valverde
5. Quintana
I delgado'ed the rest day, but to hell with it. A man keeps his word.
@BuckRogers, well, I guess you may have seen some of my tweets or FB comments from yesterday. Maybe not
When any other pro sport starts to test like cycling, I will continue to throw the mud back. When the NHF, NFL, NBA, MLB, World Cup, Premiership all start testing the champion team....or at least sport media start asking why aren't they tested, I am going to keep watching, supporting, and loving the cleanest pro sport out there.
@Dan_R
Amen brother. I'm sick of cycling being the bad sport when most of the rest pay lip service to dope testing. It's amazing how here in SE Wisconsin, Ryan Braun is still put on a good boy pedestal.