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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View Comments
@frank
+2
@mcsqueak
I know where you live.
Unless J Rod and Malmerde find a case of Irn Bru on the road to Alpe D'Huez my VSP is sunk. There's 2 things I'm sure about though - 1. if @strathlubnaig wins another VSP the rest of us Jocks will never hear the end of it and 2. I'm going to get him to pick some lotto numbers for me. I'll settle for 5 plus the bonus ball please.
Mind you he could do with some new kit to replace on his well worn in Focus with 250k on the clock.
So who wins tomorrow's stage? Anyone care to guess? Andy Schleck has been looking better and better each day. He is far enough back on GC to have a go and get away with it. Roche? Cannot see him winning, although he'll try like hell early on and fail famously. Froome? Let's this one get away to quiet a few doubters? Sparky Contador keeps attacking until he breaks Froomie? J-Rod drops them all with 3 k's to go? Mollema and Tan Dem who will have no lack of home supporters and history as well on their side? John "Fuck-no-you-can't-have-my-wheel" Gadret? Kreuze? Martin? Porte? Gesink perhaps? Evans back form the dead (wouldn't count on THAT one)???
For my money, I am betting on Kreuziger followed by J-Rod and Froomie.
No matter what, it will be awesome!
@Nate
It's "maths" ( we invented the bleedin' language after all....) and like I said, just messing about really with no real chance of teh win!! Perhaps I can get a pack of butt butter as the booby prize for coming flat last. ( see I mentioned boobs..now all I have to do is squeeze in some nipple lube and burbon and this will be the best post ever!!)
@paolo
Yeah Nate: I killed the bottle solo, but I really could not bear the thought of sharing good bourbon with anyone who does not just drink it straight. No mix, no ice for me, just pure straight room temp right out of the bottle.
Man, I need to make a Cogal with you guys sometime. We have some serious drinking to do!
And paolo: Nice job throwing the boobs and nipple lube in there! JiPM would be proud!
@Buck Rogers
None of that helps my vsp, so fuck it. Seriously though, tomorrow should be awesome. Contador has not laid down yet, so I think we will see some Kreuziger/Contador/Rogers funny business, with Kreuziger going on the first ascent hoping to isolate Froome for the second go round. If Quintana decides to go with Kreuziger, it could get very fun, very fast.
Should be interesting if it rains...
@paolo Way to outflank @brett for the lanterne rouge. Don't you live over here? We say "math" and there are more of us.
@Buck Rogers Can't fault you for no ice. I like a little ice for bourbon, but not for Scotch. Come on out and we'll run a cogal in your honor.
@Nate
I do live over here and I switch nationalities as is my wont. Bit like Frank only it's more legit becaue I have dual citizenship. You do say math. There are more of you. It just makes you wronger....