Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Nice 2012

The master of Paris-Nice: Sean Kelly

It’s right around this time of year when the little voice in my head that spurs me on in cold, wet, Rule #9 conditions starts getting overpowered by all my other personalities who at this stage are gathering stones and crowbars and getting ready to enforce their will on him regarding their preference for riding in nice, warm, sunny conditions. I feel bad for the little guy, too, since he helps me a lot in a climate like the Pacific Northwest; but truth be told, my fingers still haven’t regained their feeling from last week’s ride and I admit it would be nice to arrive home after a ride triumphant and warm instead of frozen and soaked like a wet rat.

It appears I’m not the only one ready for some warmer weather, and Paris-Nice traditionally holds a place of honor as “The Race to the Sun” for its timing is such that the race often starts in the French interior with rain (and possibly snow), and arrives on the sunny Cote d’Azur in Nice in balmy conditions.

With that we start our first stage race of the season, along with an opportunity to expose more bugs and logical faults in the VSP software. But never mind that; the same basic rules apply as do with one-day races, expect the stakes are a bit higher with 10 points for first place, 8 for second, 7 for third, 5 for fourth, and 3 for fifth plus two bonus points per rider in the top five regardless of the rider’s placing. Should the race be exciting enough to merit its inclusion, The Keepers may elect to include a bonus round on the VSP for one of the stages along the way. Watch this space for news in that arena.

Check the start list and watch the countdown timer as picks close at 5am Pacific on Sunday; up for grabs is the personalized Velominati Shop Apron to the contestent who wins the season-long competition. Check the Main VSP page for scoring guidelines and rules. Seeing as this is the first stage race, I strongly encourage you to enter your picks early, knowing that you can make changes all the way up until the VSP closes. If you notice something behaving strangely, please let us know and we’ll have time to resolve the issue.

Good luck.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Calmante says:

Mar 2 2012 at 8:19 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Frank Schleck
2. Tony Martin
3. Bradley Wiggins
4. Damiano Cunego
5. David Arroyo
Steampunk says:

Mar 2 2012 at 8:31 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Martin
2. Wiggins
3. Valverde
4. Brajkovic
5. Taaramae
el gato says:

Mar 2 2012 at 8:40 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. wiggins
2. schleck (the Frank half)
3. van garderen
4. voeckler
5. menchov
The Oracle says:

Mar 2 2012 at 8:45 pm

@frank

@Skinnyphat

Levi is like a fine wine....

...that was left in the cellar too long and is now corked?

That's a lexicon entry right there--corked.
RayElVis says:

Mar 2 2012 at 8:57 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Wiggins
3. Martin
4. Kloden
5. Porte
frank says:

Mar 2 2012 at 9:44 pm

@Netraam

"Radio Shack to treat Paris-Nice as a "mini TdF." Schleks in top form after spending all of February looking frantically for one another." - Dan Wuori on Twitter.

One of the funniest things I've seen today! I'm gonna look that guy up and follow him for sure, if we don't already.
frank says:

Mar 2 2012 at 9:55 pm

@paolo

@frank
I think you're right about the being realistic bit. Riders are on short contracts. Top ten finish..stock goes up. Podium..stock goes up. Your palmares means nothing if it says...blew it all and came in 34th but really went for the win. Shame but that's life. There are only very few racers who can afford to have that cavalier attitude and only because they have already achieved so much, I guess.

Not so sure - take a look at Jackie Durand - classic escape artists who went on the hail mary and almost never made it and still enjoyed great success. Character and panache can't be great assets that a team wants and is very marketable - often as much so as a few wins on a sheet of paper. The, if e guy can also talk to the press? Gold mine.

But I suppose he netted a RVV and thats no joke. But riders often get contracts for getting in breaks and putting the logos on TV for an afternoon - but that's also not racing for the win either.

I'm thinking more of the Wiggo class rider - the ones who could win a massive race, but it seems they're afraid to dream too big. Not sure where I'm going here. Best to stop then.
San Tonio says:

Mar 2 2012 at 10:06 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. B. Wiggins
2. L. Leipheimer
3. T. Martin
4. JJ Rojas
5. E. Viviani
936adl says:

Mar 2 2012 at 10:36 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Wiggins
2. Piti
3. Levi Eggtimer
4. Ratpack
5. Roche
936adl says:

Mar 2 2012 at 10:38 pm

As an aside is the Grimplette riding this? I've seen him listed as a starter but I can't see him picked by anyone?