Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France 2013

millar-lemond
Robert Millar leads Greg LeMan on the road to l’Alpe d’Huez in 1984

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.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Veloforma/”/]

[vsp_results id=”24179″/]

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1,667 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France 2013”

  1. This will be a slow and methodical “process” to make the actual entries.

  2. @unversio

    This will be a slow and methodical “process” to make the actual entries.

    Yes, and remember the tie goes to the first person to enter the picks!

    Posting up that Strada iR paintjob again – its just too cool!

  4. Wow y’all have really done it this time. Amazing prizes.

    I’m kinda nervous about making good picks because that Veloforma is beautiful.

    A real work of Art.

  5. My picks

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Talansky
    3. Contador
    4. Evans
    5. van Garderen

  6. just for good measure

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Contidor
    3. TJ VanGarden
    4. Ryder
    5. Evans

  7. VSP PICKS:

    1. A. Contador
    2. C. Froome
    3. J. Rodriguez
    4. A. Valverde
    5. TJ Van Garderen

  8. VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Ryder Hesjedal
    3. Nairo Quintana
    4. TeJay Van Garderen
    5. Andrew Talansky

  9. Wow! You guys just keep blowing my mind!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Contador
    3. Porte
    4. Valverde
    5. Joaquim Rodriguez

  12. Sheeeeit!

    I want that Veloforma frame. I want some Café Roubaix carbone wheels, I want Bont shoes, I want more De Feet kit. And yet, as Keeper, ineligible. My pet monkey will enter and kick some monkey ass. Monkey will bequeath kit to me. Monkey will meet untimely death.

  13. Dang, you just took the VSP up ANOTHER LEVEL.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Contador
    3. J. Rodriguez
    4. Porte
    5. TJVG

  14. Holy.Fucking.Fuck they are some prizes! Better get these right…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froominator
    2. Bertie Beefsteak
    3. Cuddles
    4. Richie
    5. J-Rod

  15. Great looking frame and great prizes

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Cadel Evans
    3. Alberto Contador
    4. Joaquim Rodriguez
    5. Richie Porte

  17. @Dan_R

    As a partner, I got a peek at that frame earlier, but holy Merckx she’s nice!

    I’ve touched it.

  18. Fucking hate Sky, but…..

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Contador
    3. Sagan
    4. Cavendish
    5. Porte

  19. VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Ryder Hesjedal
    3. Cadel Evans
    4. Joaquim Rodriguez
    5. Alberto Contador

  20. I’ve been so busy with stuff recently I’ve sort of checked out of entering the VSPs, but man, look at that frame, ohhhh lawdy. Can’t pass on a chance to win that beauty.

    Just throwing some shit on the wall, we’ll see what sticks.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Sagan
    3. Contador
    4. J Rod
    5. Van Garderen

  25. VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Ritchie Porte
    3. Alberto Contador
    4. Tejy Vangarderen
    5. Joaquim Rodriguez

  26. I just can’t help changing my mind lots of times. Also, Ryder can’t possibly be on the kind of form he’d need for a top-5 like this….

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Purito
    3. Porte
    4. Contador
    5. Van Garderen

  27. Green jersey: mark cavendish
    White jersey: Moser Jr
    Polka Dot jersey: Van Den Broeck
    Most aggressive rider: Rolland
    Best team: Cloudy Sky

    VSP PICKS:

    1. The spanish Steak
    2. Rui Costa
    3. Va Va Froome
    4. Keuziger
    5. J-Rod

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. Christopher Froome
    2. Richie Porte
    3. Peter Sagan
    4. Alberto Contador
    5. Cadel Evans

  30. good luck,everyone. hopfuly all the contenders have a good race and battle it out for the 100 Tour,cheers.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. froome
    2. ryder
    3. contador
    4. tejay
    5. quintana

  34. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alberto Contador
    2. Richie Porte
    3. Pierre Rolland
    4. Chris Froome
    5. Cadel Evans

  36. VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Contador
    3. Porte
    4. Joaquin Rodriguez
    5. N Quintana

  38. Excellent work on the prizes, certainly have upped the ante this year, not to mention the stress levels when deciding what picks to go with.

    Well done.

  39. @itburns

    PS – Merckx 525 wasn’t a bribe – unless it was.  These aren’t prizes, they are the Immanentization of Cycling Nirvana.  Nothing to say beyond that.  “Strong Work” would be like meeting the Prophet and saying “Nice Pedaling”.

  40. game over.  just ship me everything now so that you wont have to deal with disputes and remapping. in essence im doing you a favor.  seriously.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. froome
    2. evans
    3. contador
    4. joaquin rodriguez
    5. valverde

  41. I’m new. Be nice.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Joaquin Rodriguez
    3. Nairo Quintana
    4. Richie Porte
    5. Tejay Van Garderen

  42. VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Alberto Contador
    3. Richie Porte
    4. Tejay Van Garderen
    5. Joaquin Rodriguez

  43. Holy fucksticks.  Shit just got real!

    Awesome work keepers!  As awesome as a V shop apron was, this blows it out of the water!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Cuddles
    3. Contador
    4. Purito
    5. Porte

  44. That frame will look great with my new kit when/if it arrives…………. ;o)

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chris Froome
    2. Alberto Contador
    3. Joaquim Rodriguez
    4. Richie Porte
    5. Nairo Quintana

  48. Blimey. That prize spread is superb

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Porte
    3. Rodriguez
    4. Contador
    5. Schleck

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