Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2012, Stage 16

Stage 16

Which bold rider has this stage circled in their tour bible? Wednesday July 18th, Stage 16, 197 km. The day after a the final rest day. A climbing day with two HC climbs followed by two Category 1 climbs and a serious descent toward the finish. The Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde: you better be a fearless climber and a good descender, but a better climber. This is not a stage for Sagan or Fränkie Schleck (sorry Frank). If Wiggo was going to have a bad day, this would be a special one to have it on. And this follows a rest day? Could the weather finally make a difference?  Will the mad tacker return? Will climbers just try to survive this stage to perform on the fearsome Stage 17? More questions than answers in the Velominati Super-Bunker.

All VSP bettors better give an extra shake of the monkey bones before casting them down. Study them well. There is much at stake: Fizik R3s for the winner, 2 pair of DeFeet socks for first loser. The rules are the same as for the first single stage VSP. Points are awarded for correct place only. Delgado might have enjoyed this stage but don’t be like him.

 

 

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

View Comments

  • I'm backing Froome to crack spectacularly and admit he isn't as good as he thinks, and apologise

    JVDB is the big danger man for Wiggo, so I expect him to do the most damage - Cuddles will chase after him and explode, Wiggo will slowly wander back to their wheels but not quite

    Nibbles to go long range and fail spectacularly, but we will love him all the more for it

     

    VSP PICKS:

    1. JVDB
    2. Nibbles
    3. VJvG
    4. If he were mine, I'd slap his fa
    5. Rolland

  • @scaler911

    Schoolboy error on the photo - your handlebar is obscuring the view

    VSP PICKS:

    1. JVDB
    2. Nibbles
    3. VJvG
    4. If he were mine, I'd slap his fa
    5. Rolland

  • Okay, a bit of sanity has prevailed. But just a bit.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. The Constant van Garderen
    2. Rawhide
    3. Pinot Noir
    4. The understudy
    5. Cuddles

  • So, last month I did this http://app.strava.com/rides/11536392 followed the next day, by this http://app.strava.com/rides/11536390 - so I can categorically say that it is not possible for mere mortals to do this all in one go, even leaving the beautiful Mary White climb off the start

    As these are not mortals who are doing this, I am taking the day off, telling the wife I am looking after the kids, invite a cycling mate and his kids around for the day -we will at this point, lock ourselves in the TV room from 9.30am, for what I expect to be a 16 hour day of racing (unless they do not stop for a meal at the top of each climb, as we did / had to) - the only time I shall unlock the door, will be to slap the kids, or get more beer from the fridge - the BBQ will be rolled up to the window of the TV room to allow grazing on mostly processed meat

    Can anyone better that for their plans tomorrow?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. JVDB
    2. Nibbles
    3. VJvG
    4. If he were mine, I'd slap his fa
    5. Rolland

  • Pretty sure Sky and BMC are not gonna let any breakaway get any good time tomorrow, it's too late in the game...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Evans
    3. Wiggins
    4. Nibali
    5. Schleck

  • Patriotism affecting the selection of the winner.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Evans
    2. Nibali
    3. Sorenson
    4. Van Den Broeck
    5. Wiggins

  • @Dr C Strong work. Will the kids also be locked into another room or are you just hoping that they'll still be there when you wake up on Thursday morning? Why not drag the fridge into the TV room to avoid leaving the room?

    I'm planning on working from home. No really, I've got loads to do. I am, however, going to go and do my first TT in the evening. Unless Cambridgeshire has suddenly spouted a few HC climbs it'll be a bit flatter. I'm sure the wind will make up for it.

1 4 5 6 7 8 34
Share
Published by
Gianni

Recent Posts

Anatomy of a Photo: Sock & Shoe Game

I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s World Championship Road Race 2017

The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2017

Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2017

This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…

7 years ago

Route Finding

I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…

7 years ago