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.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Veloforma/”/]
[vsp_results id=”24179″/]
@Daccordi Rider
Just read Froome is calling for the stage to be neutralized in the event of weather, claiming safety is the concern.
As Riis said, nobody is forcing anyone to ride fast and beyond their comfort zones. Just like nobody forces the riders to measure every gram of carbs in and Kcal out, or in the case of Sky measure every little bit of wattage for marginal gains that add up to superhuman performances.
Let me just say: I’m so glad to have found Velominati. I was just over reading a couple articles on Cyclingnews, and I’d kill myself if those were the folk I had to interact with, daily, about our beloved sport. Jesus H Merckx on a crutch.
Speaking of marginal gains and descents, I’m somewhat surprised that not much has been made about Cavendish’s use of hydraulic brakes. From what I’ve read, their improved modulation can make quite a difference in the twisty bits.
@Spun Up
Maths is what a lisping Catholic does on Sunday. But what do I know, I grew up in the slide rule era.
Borrowing the fingers and toes of my wife and kids, I calculate that with initial picks, you would have 25 points now with a potential for 35 if Contador drops a spot.
With rest day swaps and the 20 point penalty incurred (4 moves), you currently have 15 but with a potential of 27.
@scaler911
Vantucky, the capital? Mm.
If Jefferson has a capital, it’s probably in somebody’s shed in Cave Junction. You Vantuckians, face it, you really are almost Portlanders.
@scaler911 That makes sense. Nice maillot by the way.
@PeakInTwoYears
Actually, the capital of Jefferson would be Yreka CA. The humble little gas station stop on I-5 almost on the border. When I first took Mrs. Scaler there, she stated “well, this explains a lot about you”.
@Nate
Thanks. I honestly hope it isn’t a jinx. I was just chatting with Frank, and I’m pretty sure I won’t sleep tonight.
@xyxax Thank you! That’s about what I thought, but somehow, I have 16 points now. Not sure why.
@wiscot Yes, almost exactly that, Malmerde and Martin pumpspoking Kintango in a crazed suicide attack…ah, but for that Evans fuck. Soft pedaling a climbing TT. I was concerned that he might show his age, but I was wrong. He’s showing MY fucking age. Sigh.
@pakrat zakerly, what does Froome think this is, a bike race or a work safe convention? I for one don’t sit up all night to watch them neutralise a race coz a lanky Kenyan is worried the Spanish Armarda will try to burn him off on a tough decent. I’ve riden down that road and it is very technical, steep and provides a good an opportunity for someone with a big set of cojones to shake things up or take one risk to many. Surely that is part of a race calculation as much as how hard you ride elsewhere?
@scaler911
Now that makes solid sense. I recently drove through on my way home from Santa Cruz, 900 miles in one push with The Pixies in the earbuds and saw, again, the tears of Shasta sheen. North of the Bay and south of Roseburg, there’s a lot of powerful magic. And I don’t even smoke much anymore.
@Nate
Fucking solid gold.
@mcsqueak
OK, guys – we’re not talking about Mathematics here…we’re talking fucking ARITHMETIC. The shit we learned in first and second grade.
If Potential Score – Penalty > Score w Existing Pick, then it might be a good deal. If not, don’t swap.
The tricky bit is only in that if you swap riders, you’re getting a penalty on both riders. The only time the swap really makes sense is when you’re substituting a rider in.
And yes, we designed it so swapping riders isn’t a no-brainer. You have to make really calculated moves for it to be a good idea.
Going dark for tomorrow…both of us can’t help our work schedules to watch it in the AM so we’re waiting until after work. FUCK. I’m staying off-line all day.
My productivity at work will go unmatched, mark your calendars.
@PeakInTwoYears
Evidently you can take a Jeffersonian out of Jefferson, but you can’t take the Jefferson out of a Jeffersonian.
@frank
I guess you. Ever heard of Sir Isaac Newton either Fronk. Why am I not surprised.
But I am surprised at what my iPad did to that post….
Lets not forget to mention Boole Cayley and Whithead. Kinda like saying name a good Belgian cyclist and some idiot saying ooohhh solid gold..just saying matey…..research your shit before you talk shite.
@frank
I’m not usually one to stick up for the Poms, but seriously mate, if you haven’t heard of Turing, it says more about you as a ones and zeroes guy than it does about them (as a mostly zeroes country).
@ten B
American revisionist history would make even the North Koreans blush. Frank and Nate probably think Steve Jobs and Bill Gates invented the internet whilst Harrison Ford and Mark Hamil captured and decoded the Enigma machine.
@Chris
I’m pretty sure that Hollywood conclusively established that the latter was the work of Matthew McConaughey.
@ten B
I stand corrected, I wasn’t really paying attention.
Did Harrison Ford and Mark Hamil save us from Hitler, then, or was that Brad Pitt? I do know that Charlie Sheen, Stalone and Willem Dafoe defeated Ho Chi Mihn, Chairman Mao and Emperor Ming in the Vietnam war.
Wasn’t Matthew McConaughey COTHO’s Brofriend?
@ten B
On that score one could go a little further back to Charles Babbage, who invented the things.
And Bertrand Russell – he’s pretty well known, if not quite up there with Kim Kardashian.
Alpe D’Huez!!!
If you haven’t seen this one before, it is either pure genius or absolute rubbish – you decide…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msjJK10pf44
@Nate
We will never forget the role of Jefferson troops in the Crimean War.
How about that Tejay, this morning?
Fuck me!!! Where’s the chatter here??? stuck at work, actually REALLY crazy busy and only able to catch live trackers but DAMN, it’s on like Donkey Kong!!!
God DAMNITTTTT cyclingnews!!! Ticker dead again! Off to Velosnooze!
Jesus, Contador is BLEEDING time all over d’Huez! Might lose second place to Quintana!
Tejay…
Porte putting in another MVP performance today!
Go Nairo, Go J Rod…where is Contador?
Illegal feeding of Froome by Porte – funny, I didn’t think Skeletor actually ate food
FUCK!!!! Too bad for Tejay! Riblon for the win, no?
The Man with the Hammer is busy today. Looks like he just brained Tejay and hit Froomie as well. d’Huez takes no prisoners!
Sucks for Tejay that he had to chase Riblon and Moser after his mechanical. Amazing effort, though.
@LA Dave
1:30 back of Quintana. Just holding his 2nd place for now! It will be close!!!
Damn! Shake on the VSP today! Will Cotadotr hod second? Will J-Rod move top 5???
J-Rod in 5th now on GC and only 26 seconds off 3rd place. Contador holds 2nd place only by 21 seconds from Quintana Unbelievable! Tomorrow’s stage will be a true test of who recovers the most! less than a minute separates 2nd from 5th place!
Great stage! Now everyone please just hold their places to the end. I’ve got 1, 2, 3 and 5 in order!
But Contador does not look happy. He may lose 2nd place tomorrow without some top-notch recovery.
It’s 3:30am in NZ, I’ve been drinking for 4.5 hours, and have to be at work in 3 hours. Anyone else in this predicament?
5 Minutes 11 seconds, is that the edge that Bertie gave up when he switched to Certified 100% Organinc Dope Fee Steaks?
With three riders in the top five I need Malmerde scoff two of them tonight.
Well, from a VSP standpoint, that kinda sucked. But boy was it fun to watch. Guess I gotta wait till tonight to see if I’m still in yellow. I don’t think so.
@Bianchi Denti Pull a sickie. There’s no other way that you can recover for tomorrow night.
@frank
So who wants to email frank and tell him Jens won the stage?
@Bianchi Denti
Holy SHIT!!! NICELY done. How many swap point penalities???
@Bianchi Denti
I’m at work, but may start drinking. Depression drinking is never good.
@Bianchi Denti
Same for me… but I have a 5 point penalty for swapping in Mollema to replace Porte and now they are both way down the line… hopefully it stays like this and I can at least compete for a podium spot!
Of course I am pulling for Nairo to do well and beat Contador so if that happens I’ll be ok with it. It’s a win win proposition at this point as far as I’m concerned….
What an amazing stage today. Can’t wait to watch the replay tonight.
The race for the VSP is a lot more exciting than the procession in France…
@ChrisO
Ahem, what about James Clerk Maxwell or Lord Kelvin (maybe not a pure mathematician but his dad was) just to name two British mathematicians who came from Scotland?
@ChrisO
Chapeau, you all really took that one and ran with it while we were asleep.