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
@Joe
@paolo has had 16 years to acclimate. I think it hit 115f at the peak....you looked ok with it on the climbs as you disappeared out of sight up ahead.
I don't get Aussies being smug, I mean at the end of the day they are still Aussies.
Only failure to finish can stop Sagan being in Green in Paris.
@Joe
Quote today on tv...they are thinking of replacing the phrase "man up" with "Gee up!"......suitable tribute I say!
@Deakus
"... I'm definitely going to keep fighting. It felt a lot better today than yesterday and it felt a lot better [at the finish] than at the start today, but I got a crack at on my bone so it's always going to hurt." - Geraint Thomas casually describing riding le Tour with a fractured pelvis as if it were a minor irritation and adding his name to the list of riders who are completely fucking nails in my book.
Alright, so what is a guy in the U.S. without t.v. to do now that steephill has pulled their streaming links (thought they were getting wacky anyway.) So far I've been watching via firstrow sports but lots of insane pop-ups. Don't want to bug up my computer.
I like watching on Eurosport but it looks like I need to be in Europe to subscribe. I guess I could alter my hook-up to make it look like I'm in Europe?
I'm willing to pay $30 USD but I don't want to watch via NBC. Why? I already thought they sucked and just showed the VMH the final KM from today and fucking Phil built up Sagan, then said he won, the very belatedly said Gerro won. No apology for totally fawning over Sagan and not giving a solid winner any respect. What a fucking jerk.
Hmm, I'm thinking I could pay and sign up to NBC, mute Phil, and then listen to Eurosport or BBC audio.
@Ron cyclingfans.com has links to stream Eurosport's coverage.
Yeah unfortunately we Aussies are lumped with Phil & Paul, despite them having Matt Keenan on their staff who showed at the Giro that it's possible to provide commentary & information that actually relates to what is happening on the screen, and get it right the first time.
@mouse Aussies first across the line in Stages 1 & 3 - smug grin on face as well!
Gerrans' purposely leaving a gap ahead of him with about 300 to go to then launch out of Impey's slipstream was classic. Even Sherwen noticed it.
Fucking Liggett needs to retire. He has been so inaccurate for so long, then he launched his COTHO defence (he reminded me of Brick Tamland in Anchorman, "I love lamp") and his mistakes are worse and worse every year.
Chamois-sniffing doping apologist should fuck off to Austin and commentate COTHO's Strava rides.
@Marcus
Unless I completely misheard this, I'm pretty sure that on Day 1 I heard "Beautiful day here - not a cloud in the sky," which at least matched the picture on screen at that instant. However, about 10 seconds later the shot from a different point shows plenty of clouds, which seemed like one of those cases where I wasn't sure if I should believe him or my lying eyes.
Pretty sad.
@ralph And yesterday no mention of Bakelands till he was pretty much on the podium, how hard can it be! Shame we can't have Dave Harmon and the boys her in Oz, except then pretty much 70% of their commentary is Sky based which also shits me. When is Jens going to retire and start commentating?
@mouse
Reporting for duty also sir, front an centre, yep, thats how you do it, well played Gerro. Excellent lead out by Mr Impey.
Inside line on a corner is the "New Black"
Can I sleep now ?