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
@Chris
Re-do the calcs on cost when you factor in all the software that is included and the fact that you need to replace upgrade them less often because of the way the operating systems are designed and run. Then look in the corner of the room at the box that is squeaking and bleeping and picture a shiny white IMAC there.....
This loosening the purse strings at all?
@Deakus I use Microsoft Office, which I've got the 2010 64 bit copy (and can upgrade cheaply through software4kids or the like), Chrome and Picassa which are free. There is no software cost implication of buying a new windows computer.
The purse strings are fairly loose but it's also empty.
@Chris
As long as you steer clear of Windows 8...that is the devils work!
@frank
@Gianni
@Nate
@Deakus
Thanks all! We were leaning that way anyways but if all my "invisible friends" as the VMH calls you guys seem to agree, it just makes the decision that much easier. And, if it turns out to have been a bad decision, I can blame it all on you. Nice how that works out that way.
Okay, so filling dead air King Kelly was just discussing his new book. He said that he feels fortune to have raced in the glory days of cycling. I immediately wondered what he meant. A.M.? How could it be good after the Prophet was gone?
Well, he clarified. When I raced we'd all sit around and talk about the race, talk about the stages, get to know one another and really were a team. Now, when I see the teams at the dinner table...they are all texting or playing with their phones. They don't get to know one another, they don't discuss the race.
I don't want to sound like a curmudgeon or a Luddite, because "smart" phones and tech can be fucking nice. I acknowledge and admit this.
But, imagine being a PRO cyclist and sitting around with your teammates and pals and talking about the day you just put in and then the day ahead. Talk about the beauty of the sport! What is more beautiful than sharing a meal and having a chat with friends?
And now when you go out to a restaurant or bar or pub you'll see entire tables of folks playing with goddamn phones. Or, showing each other a photo or an application they have on their phone. It's depressing.
To put a positive spin on it, I go out each week after Tuesday night futbol with my mates and I do realize how lucky I am that we all sit and talk. About what? Who knows! We just talk and catch up. Work, kids, spouses, partners, life. If someone has to make a call they excuse themselves and check in to make sure the partner and child are aokay. No talking at the table, no texting, no ignoring the moment. I realize I'm so damn lucky to have a group of friends who behave this way and while I love it, it makes me sad to look around the pub and see the others. Tune out, tune in.
Anyway, I thought it was telling about modernity and social interactions and technology that Sean nicely pointed out how lucky he was to race in a day when you spent time getting to know your peers. Now it seems everyone is too busy to get to know those around them, distracted by the virtual world.
Cherish the moment, chat with your mates!
Martin rode the TT in a 58x11:
http://m.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-shorts-more-pseudo-science
@G'rilla
That's not a big plate, that's a fucking serving platter!
@frank
This is pure Douche but must be a discipleof the "V" to name his energy drink V-7
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=146398158748418
@JohnB
I think I read somewhere he dated her/him...
Saints preserve me I'm so fucking sick of hearing P1 and P2 reading from the race book about the Duke of Arras and Charles the fucking 8th as we see another chateau and pretending they know shit.
TV coverage of this sport is appalling when you consider what it could be if they let someone competent do it.