Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2014

Marcel’s tan lines are crisp

Attention all Velominati. The Tour VSP is going on line and it should be a good one. Sure, between Froomy and Bertie a person could hedge their bets but Moviestar is all in for Valverde, BMC for TeeJay, Astana for the Shark and Garmin is finally committing to a team leader in Talansky. Some other teams (ahem…Trek Factory Racing for one) have resigned themselves to hunting stage wins. The Tour swings through the Yorkshire Dales, everyone but the riders can enjoy some excellent ales. As the Tour continues to Lille, Norther France and Belgium, the quality pints continue. Yes, it’s hot and the VSP generator has beer on its mind.

The route, the sprints, the climbing and even the final time trial should make this a decent Tour. Here is a start list. Everyone will have a vial in their jersey pocket, but don’t worry, it’s legal.

It is still not too late to win the overall 2014 VSP and we have made it worth your while.

First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.

Refer to the VSP page for details concerning scoring and rest day swaps. If you want to call yourself Pedro Delgado, you will only have yourself to blame. The VSP banner on the homepage has the countdown clock, refresh your browser and don’t be late. Good luck and good picking.

[vsp_results id=”30275″/]

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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View Comments

wiscot says:

Jul 11 2014 at 5:59 am

Can I just throw some more kudos Nibali's way? Take a look at him: leader of the Tour de France. Wearer of the maillot jaune. That's it. No yellow helmet, gloves, shoes, bike etc, etc, etc. Just the jersey.

Total respect.
andrew says:

Jul 11 2014 at 6:12 am

@wiscot Absolutely. If only the damned shorts weren't that fugly colour. It may not be his fault, but it'll never be a classic look, will it?
VeloJello says:

Jul 11 2014 at 6:30 am

@Mike_P

Prudhomme was on BBC Radio last Saturday morning, ahead of the Grand Depart, saying that after London in 2007 and with Wiggo causing such huge public interest in the 2012 Tour and Olympics, he and ASO had already made a decision that they needed to come back to the UK within 3 years, either to Edinburgh or Yorkshire. How do we get it back again?!?!

I can see Edinburgh being the next pick in the next 5 years. If Edinburgh can get off its arse and put together a persuasive argument to start there. Just saying "Its reet nice city ye ken?" isn't gunna cut the mustard.

The Scots have some great riding, albeit in some pretty remote regions. I live on the North East coast near Northumberland, and I'd love to see the tour run through some of my playground (or as Matt Hayman calls it "our office"), but it's pretty remote countryside. Edinburgh is an hour and half away and a joint Lothian/Berwickshire/Northumberland bid would be fantastic, and at least spread the cost. That fucking Scottish Independence vote may be distracting time and funds elsewhere at present mind...

Plus Glasgow is running the Commonwealth Games this year... Now Glasgow, there is a thought, if they want to keep the momentum running, could be a good shout.
Mike_P says:

Jul 11 2014 at 6:37 am

@KW

And we just can't let Stage 5 go, can we?

Now Terpstra thinks the pave shouldn't be in the Tour.

"...he says that non-classics riders should not be forced to tackle them in a Grand Tour.

"I think cobblestone races are made for Classics. For a Classic you can chose to ride over the stones, but if you participate in the Tour de France you don't volunteer to take the cobblestones," said Terpstra.

No you don't volunteer, Niki; you get picked by your management and paid to do your f'ing job and ride the race. All of these guys have more talent and are fitter than any of us (most of us) could ever wish for, but come on. It's not so many decades ago that the mountains were climbed via dirt tracks. What do they want, virtually reality helmets and a Tour run by computer on turbo trainers to ensure absolute safety and unblemished riding surfaces? Next will be Pinot saying descents have no place in the Tour.

Rambling rant over.
Chris says:

Jul 11 2014 at 6:48 am

@Mike_P

@Chris

@VeloJello

@Geraint

Stage 2 was a breath of fresh air in itself, as that got the GC guys paying attention, but followed up with Stage V has made for a great week of racing rather than a dull week of waiting.

A-Merckx to that Geraint. Prudhomme and co have put together a dynamite start to the Tour...

+1 on that count. The guy has revealed himself to be an evil genius. Contender for The V-Award without having been on a bike.

Prudhomme was on BBC Radio last Saturday morning, ahead of the Grand Depart, saying that after London in 2007 and with Wiggo causing such huge public interest in the 2012 Tour and Olympics, he and ASO had already made a decision that they needed to come back to the UK within 3 years, either to Edinburgh or Yorkshire. How do we get it back again?!?!

Not sure about Edinburgh, it'd certainly be a great location but unless they've miraculously finished the tram system which as had Princess Street dug up since the last century it's not a goer; they'd want a sprint finish along there with the castle in the background.

Anyway it'd be wasted on the Scots, they're even less familiar with exercise than they are with food that hasn't been battered and deep fried.
Teocalli says:

Jul 11 2014 at 6:54 am

@Fausto Crapiz

Waiting on the mountains...... getting tired of watching guys crash (and motorcycles almost run them over) in the rain.

That's the thing with youngsters these days. All instant gratification, no patience and unable to see the bigger picture.
VeloJello says:

Jul 11 2014 at 6:59 am

@Chris

Anyway it'd be wasted on the Scots, they're even less familiar with exercise than they are with food that hasn't been battered and deep fried.

Ha ha. I'm picturing Porte riding up to Froome in the last 5km and passing over a deep fried Mars Bar from his back pocket.
Teocalli says:

Jul 11 2014 at 7:00 am

@Chris

Not sure about Edinburgh, it'd certainly be a great location but unless they've miraculously finished the tram system which as had Princess Street dug up since the last century it's not a goer; they'd want a sprint finish along there with the castle in the background.

Sprring finish up the Tram Track??? Heyzeus (by Merckx) that really would be the last man standing stuff!
Teocalli says:

Jul 11 2014 at 7:02 am

@Teocalli

@Chris

Not sure about Edinburgh, it'd certainly be a great location but unless they've miraculously finished the tram system which as had Princess Street dug up since the last century it's not a goer; they'd want a sprint finish along there with the castle in the background.

Sprring finish up the Tram Track??? Heyzeus (by Merckx) that really would be the last man standing stuff!

Sprring??? wtf Sprint - hopefully obviously
VeloJello says:

Jul 11 2014 at 7:04 am

@Teocalli

@Chris

Not sure about Edinburgh, it'd certainly be a great location but unless they've miraculously finished the tram system which as had Princess Street dug up since the last century it's not a goer; they'd want a sprint finish along there with the castle in the background.

Sprring finish up the Tram Track??? Heyzeus (by Merckx) that really would be the last man standing stuff!

I reckon it'd be a Depart from Edinburgh and a finish in Glasgow outside their shiny new Velodrome if the Scots did get it.

And that's a big if.