Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France 2013
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″/]
Out with the 500/1 outsider
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Chris Froome
2. Alberto Contador
3. Alejandro Valverde
4. Joaquim Rodriguez
5. Cadel Evans
New Picks, probably just as poor as last time, but I still think Froome won’t finish the race.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Valverde
2. contador
3. Evans
4. Dan Martin
5. Schleck
Rest day swaps….
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Dan Martin
4. Nairo Quintana
5. Bauke Mollema
@Tartan1749
It always seems to me that wearing loud kit is more effective when you can hold the wheel and deliver some results. If he was rolling in or near yellow, I’d be more impressed!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Mollema
3. Contador
4. Quintana
5. Valverde
Fools!…rest day swaps are:
1. Useless on day 1….cost vs likely chance success.
2. Useless on day 2….the cost is prohibitive!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Quintana
4. Valverde
5. Evans
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Valverde
4. Quintana
5. Rodriguez
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Joaquim Rodriguez
4. Valverde
5. Dan Martin
@Deakus
Yes, but when your picks have imploded like Teejay or Pinot, I figure it’s better to take a chance on new picks than just accept zero points on those. It’s all for fun, after all, so why not roll the dice again?
@Skip
Well if you are already done for then ethyl not..as..you say. So far only TJ has let me down. I am still hoping vroomy gets worked over and pushed back to third, I think good cadel is starting to show some form and Bertie is quietly riding himself towards the alpes looking for a killer chance when vroom splutters and blows up….the one I had not planned for was valverde!
@Deakus
It would be interesting to see of all the GT VSP winners how many did rest day swaps, esp last year when the penalities were increased.
I am not a believer of swapping out (dance with the person that you came with) and never have but I have never been known to make sense and I have never won a GT VSP. So there you have it!
@Deakus
As for Valverde, I smell Spanish steak cooking (I HATE that fucking guy!)
Well, the hope of seeing Sagan squeeze one of the podium girls in Paris isn’t going to happen, so I’m going to try swapping in some new names. Baby needs a new pair of shoes!!!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Valverde Alejandro
4. Nairo Quintana
5. Schleck Andy
Plus, I now get to rank below all of the people who have no correct picks, with my current score of -7. Woohoo!
@Buck Rogers
Yes it would be interesting….I wonder if the keepers could tell us if any vsp winner from last years grand tours made a swap…?
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. C Froome
2. A Valverde
3. J Rodriguez
4. C Evans
5. Dan Martin
@Deakus
I know, I know, but Big Jurgen dropped out and Tejay decided to go backwards. What was I to do? Have a couple of place holders in there? Not that my new choices are any more likely to be correct. Don’t the tour riders know what we have at stake here? I mean, they get their swag for free, we have to sit on our arses, look into crystal balls and make wild guesses as to who will win.
Ok, Porte out, Quintana in. Game on!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Valverde
4. Cuddles
5. Joaquim Rodriguez
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Hesjedal
4. Valverde
5. Evans
@Buck Rogers
My no swap policy is going out the window. Money, or serious prizes,spoils everything.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Joaquim Rodriguez
3. Nairo Quintana
4. Valverde
5. Dan Martin
Just one swap as red Ryder and his 6th rib aren’t playing so well. Hang tough Red..great race now that the Death Star has shown a weakness, “evacuate, in our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances….” (Said with the proper English tone)…
“use the Force” gents to bring the Death Star down..
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froomeeee
2. Cuntador
3. Cuddles
4. Alejandro valverdict
5. Rui-Costa
Ah well, here goes I guess. But really, I can’t call it, which I’m glad about. It’s making for much better viewing than last year that’s for sure.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Chris Froome
2. Alberto Contador
3. Alejandro Valverde
4. Bauke Mollema
5. Joaquiem Rodriguez
@Deakus
I agree that it’s risky, but we are trying to win a bike frame! I willing to risk losing 5 to win 5.
Porte out, and Quintana in. I’m happy with the rest, even with the added risk that Nairo will be forced to give way to his so-called superior (which would be a humiliating kick in the crotch).
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Quintana
4. Valverde
5. Joaquim Rodriguez
Swap, we don’t need to swap, we don’t need to show you no stinking swaps…hahaha.
i will stick with the ones I brung as always…
Ok, loosing points to win bike…
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. QUINTANA ROJAS
4. VALVERDE
5. Rodriguez
TJ out Valverde in.
Quintana is ridiculous and has to move up. Contador has been there. J-Rod has been there on the climbs lurking in the background and despite his lack of team support i feel like he’s gonna make a big move on one of these climbs.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Alberto Contador
2. Christopher Froome
3. Alejandro Valverde
4. Joaquim Rodriguez
5. Nairo Quintana
Well, Porte’s visit from the man with the hammer on Stage 9 means he’s my only first rest day swap. Bauke Mollema has been impressive and he slides into the four seat. Not feeling all that great about Purito, but hopefully he has some good days in the Alps and can make up the 40 seconds he currently needs to break into 5th place.
Fun racing so far, Froome has been great and really put in an amazing ride to control all of the madness on Sunday. He rode like Le Patron of the peloton that day with not a teammate in sight.
Loving Quintana as well, and hoping that Valdirty hits a wall in the Alps so Nairo can ride for himself. If not my VSP is screwed.
Thanks as always to the Keepers for putting on the VSP. Great work.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. The Froome Wagon
2. Contadork
3. Nairo Escarabajo
4. Mollemollemollemollema
5. Purito
@Buck Rogers
+ 100
@LA Dave
I agree! Buck, you’re awesome. I feel like such a whore picking Piti. I need a shower now.
Rest day swaps. OK, trying to make the cheapest change I can (Porte out, Valverde in) but suspecting that the whole shebang from 3-5 needs to move up a spot to allow someone like … Valverde? Quintana? Cuddles? in
If Richie does a miracle ride to get back into contention I will be madder than a cut snake.
BTW, did any Velominati do l’Etape du Tour? I did not but was with a bunch of friends who did. Amazing number of cyclists overtaking Annecy. And having trouble overtaking each other out on the course, from what I hear. Well done to all those who completed the stage! Stunning location for a great day’s ride.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Valverde
3. Contador
4. Mollema
5. J-Rod
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Valverde
3. Evans
4. Contador
5. Rodriguez
Not just any Porte in a storm, and i needed a shower anyway.
valverde in.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Rodriguez
4. Valverde
5. Evans
It looks like the Spanish Armada is coming for Froome. We all know how that worked out.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Chris Froome
2. Alberto Contador
3. Alejandro Valverde
4. Joaquim Rodriguez
5. Cadel Evans
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Valverde
4. Mollema
5. Rui Costa
May the blessings of Merckx be upon them!
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome, C.
2. Contador, A.
3. Evans, C.
4. Valverde, A.
5. Martin, D.
No thankyou, I shall not swap, Im happy where I am. Cheers
Not making any swaps, im sure id be negative points, but good on the aussies and oGe. Look like the sort of fellas who could liven up any funeral
Hold nose. Insert Malmerde. Blech.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Evans
4. Valverde
5. Martin
FFS.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Evans
4. Valverde
5. Dan Martin
Not making any swaps, probably means I can wave good bye to a new frame but hey ho, that’s the way I roll. Stupidly loyal. Hate rest day, have no excuse for falling asleep at work…
Not happy to switch, but guys 28 minutes down aren’t going to be in the top 5, especially with the air drag on such huge sunglasses slowing him down.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Rodriguez
4. Valverde
5. Mollema
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Valverde
4. Quintana
5. Mollema
Shuffling the deck chairs about.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
1. Mr. Michelle Cound
2. Piti
3. Contador
4. TJ Van G
5. Porte
O dear, they have been at the sauce again….I hate to say it but I think I preferred last years efffort!
@Deakus
Although to give them some credit there is a HTFU t-shirt at 3:18
@Deakus not to mention a cameo from the Prophet
I guess Vino continues true to form and Grimpelder is off to Astana…..Andy to follow 2014? I guess Jensy will not be allowed to retire after all, he will need to lead the team next year!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-frank-schleck-to-astana-for-remainder-of-season
Yeah, no shit! I almost threw my personal integrity under the bus when I saw that swag list and made a few changes. Get thee behind me Satan!!!