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.
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@Tartan1749
And I think he has his name on them too! For me, Valverde wears his socks just right. Short. Not low-cut, not long, just right. Wish I had the ability to post pix . . .
Thw way that he just rode right around 'Transitions' was very impressive. Even more so given the length of the stage.
Given a little luck he could well take MSR in the hoops!
@Buck Rogers
I guess that's an issue all other sprinters are wrestling with these days: do I go early and hope I can hold it and that Cav might hesitate or get blocked, or do I take his wheel and try and come off it? Both options seem to be unfeasible these days. Cav seems to be a master of the timing.
I have to say, he's maturing rapidly (I also have to say I never really bought into the "immature" Cav stuff: sure, he talked he talk, but he won the stages/races and ALWAYS thanked his teammates.) It's also great to see a rider who really respects and honors the WC bands. The "irregular" win salutes seem to be gone too.
Tom Simpson still casts a long shadow over British cycling and I believe Cav wants to go down as THE greatest British rider ever.
@RedRanger
Nice reference... clocked that: the enemy's gate is down.
@wiscot
Good call on Simpson but also have to think about R Millar when you are speaking about the great British riders, in my opinion.
@Buck Rogers
I hear you, but I was talking about THE best - bar none. Don't get me wrong, as a Scot, I have a very big place in my heart for Millar, but always dream about what he might have achieved if he had been decently managed. Odd character for sure (have you read Searching for Robert Millar?) but a huge talent. Had he been on the equivalent of an HTC or Garmin - teams that might have accommodated his idiosyncracies a bit better - then he could have achieved so much more. Kinda like another Scot - Graeme Obree. Ironically both rode for the disastrous Le Groupement team.
Sooooo... I've got Wiggo at #1, and Valverde at #2 (my other three picks are hopelessly buried in the crosswinds of stage 2). What say you all about the chances that this could be the final result?
@The Oracle
No idea. I had Tony M winning, and Phinney at #3, but right now I have Twiggo, Levi and Alejandro in my top 5 so I think I'm still good for some VSP points. The next two stages are pretty nasty though and that last TT is pretty short. Right now I'm thinking Valverde as Twiggo and Levi aren't super-aggressive and V likes to attack and wants to show he's back. My money's on the Spaniard.
Does anyone have a link to some final kms of video that shows an overhead shot? I want to see Cavendish (& Oscar!) weave through everyone for that finish!
I saw it live but now watching RAI, Eurosport, Sporza, they cut it right after the finish. I want to see the Ultimo Kilometro from overhead again.
Thanks, duderinos!
@roadslave525
haha, I wasnt sure any one would get the reference, but I put it out there anyway.