Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2014
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″/]
@PeakInTwoYears
Looks like Valverde got his just deserts today. Nibbles is on another fucking level at present. Seems focusing on the TdF has helped after all (coughs and points finger at Froome)… Watching Pinot and Bardet scrap for second is going to make the 3rd week lively. And DJ VanGarden (available for parties, weddings and Bar Mitzvahs) was a joy to watch.
I never thought I’d say this an englishman, but not seeing the relentless Sky train pouring pain on the front of the peloton is a breath of fresh air.
Hey Frank, I still want the Veloforma frame I won fair and square for getting the first place in the Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2013.
AG2R will put minutes into Pinot on the descent of Port de Bales. Peraud’s climbing is on par with Bardet but much better in the TT so he will probably be on the podium with TJ.
Major respect to Peraud for being able to hang onto Nibali’s wheel on the way up the last climb – that dude was all the way in the pain cave. Also to Bardet for having the cojones to attack Nibali on the descent. I never thought I’d say (or type) this, but AG2R are my favourite team at this year’s Tour.
Fantastic stage today. I love seeing Nibali put more and more time into the other blokes. He has a commanding lead and yet feels the need to say “Wait! I have more pain to dish out. I will assert my dominance not by just beating you but obliterating the playing field.” And the ride by Majka today was pure V. Couldn’t even bother zipping the jersey back up. And the look after crossing the line… if there was a mattress to his side I am sure he would have just toppled over. I must say the V award of the year will not be an easy choice to make, what spectacular showings from all types of riders this year.
Blow me down, our team leader has just come 11th overall at the Etape, after trying a 150km solo breakaway over the Tourmalet and Hautacam.
Just makes me wonder why he needs fodder like me in the same jersey. Happy to humour us I guess.
I hear Pinot muttered “Sur la plaque, fucktard” to Valverde yesterday? Nice.
Shed a tear for Bauer. Fucking awesome ride today by him. Kristoff on form again.
Crooked helmet…again. Great ride by Elmiger/Bauer, shame they didn’t make it.
@velojello
New favorite line.
Aaaagghh – Jack Bauer, so near and yet so far. Much respect for a top effort. Kia kaha.
I’m going to keep my eyes open for this Bauer guy, rode like a stud, heart on his sleeve. One of the rides of the tour IMO… Just would have loved for it to have come off for the romance of the tour, but that’s racing.
Watch from 1.00min, more class than a high school.
“you must be proud of your achievement?” “nah not really a win is a win so this is more of a failure”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152278113931733&set=vb.533336732&type=2&theater
Wanted to cry today.
Nuff said
Best episode of 24 I’ve ever seen.
@minion
Somebody has to stand up for Ritchie – he’s been sick with bronchitis since the cobbles stage, on antibiotics … So pull your head in.
@dyalander
But there was the usual moment of looking at each other a couple of kms out and ultimately that is what cost them the stage. As has already been said…that is racing though….they could have won and bathed in shared glory, but ultimately they dicked it.
Tony Martin for president…still…and the V moment of the year!
It’s a long way for Laurens but I hope he makes it!
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Valverde
3. Van Garderen
4. Pinot
5. Ten dam
@RHE218
It does bring me back at -34 points but I’ll consider this a rollerbank session for next VSP season
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Mollema
4. Valverde
5. Nibali
My arithmetic suggests that I should continue to play with the cards I have
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. NIBALI Vincenzo
2. BARDET Romain
3. PINOT Thibaut
4. MOLLEMA Bauke
5. VAN GARDEREN Tejay
Normally I’m happy for any stage winner. But Kristoff, I don’t know, I just don’t feel much love for him. Is it because he wins without looking like he’s trying? Normally seated, doesn’t really rock or throw his bike. Is it the big ugly helmet? The 27-going-on-45 mug? I don’t know.
Would have been nice to see the break stick. A shame when a guy misses out on what might have been his one big win.
I don’t know what to think about Haussler either. He made a comment that there are no shit cyclists anymore, not like 5-6 years ago. Okay, this is insulting to PROs from 5-6 years ago, to say nothing of say the shitsters that must have existed in the peloton, oh, twenty-five years ago. So he insults a lot of dudes. Also makes an excuse for why he didn’t win. But at the same time, if there was so much shit in the peloton just recently, why wasn’t he moping up?
I understand winning at that level is insanely hard. I know he was likely pissed at 2nd and just off the bike, but he also gave an interview earlier in the year, a long 0ff-bike one and he just seems like he’s accepted being just below the top tier. Man, if I was getting on in years and that close, as I think he is, I wouldn’t waste a breath on excuses. I’m sure it must be frustrating to be that good and that close, but you gotta just work your ass off and stay motivated. Years of sports here, with not all that much natural talent (or size!) so it kind of bugs me that he’s so good, but seems to have an attitude that isn’t helping.
But hey, maybe he’s just being very honest.
Rest day! Get off the cycling sites and go get some Monday work done, ya bastards!
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Bardet
3. Valverde
4. Talansky
5. Porte
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. nibali
2. valverde
3. froome
4. nibali
5. rodriguez
@Ron
err……like you are clearly doing?
what a disaster. some swaps to salvage a few points
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali, Vincenzo
2. Froome, Christopher
3. Talansky, Andrew
4. Valverde, Alejandro
5. Nibali, Vincenzo
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali, Vincenzo
2. Froome, Christopher
3. Talansky, Andrew
4. Valverde, Alejandro
5. Van Garderen, Tejay
Did I miss the start?
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Valverde
3. no pick
4. no pick
5. no pick
@Ron
Sagan would also like a stage win, however, meanwhile he’s very successful with consistent top-5 finishes.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Contador
3. Valverde
4. Talansky
5. Nibali
I’m going to need some inspired rides from the rest of my picks to make this happen.
I’m depending on Malmerde to stay ahead of the French boys.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Vincenzo Nibli
2. Tejay van Garderen
3. Thibaut Pinot
4. Alejandro Valverdi
5. Leopold Konig
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali
2. Van Garderen
3. Valverde
4. Mollema
5. Talansky
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali, Vincenzo
2. Valverde, Alejandro
3. van Garderen,Tejay
4. Mollema, Bauke
5. Bardet, Romain
Looks like Valverde is still hanging in there.
http://pelotonmagazine.com/feedzone/valverde-and-movistar-vow-to-keep-fighting-nibali/
Despite the craziness of the first week, I was checking out the abandonments and there are a number of full squads still chugging along, with others losing one or two, at most.
I wonder how the percent of riders pulling out in 2014 compares to the other 100 editions? I wonder if us cycling aficionados have been bitten by the Hyperbole Bug?
*(this bug, which I think started in the dark heart of 24 hours news television, and is now spread via social media, makes every event, no matter how forgettable, in fact the biggest/worst/best thing. ever.)
Da Costa pulls out so given my original picks were Froome, Contador, Valverde, Talansky, Da Costa then Valverde should be seriously worried. I this a record?
@Ron Broom wagon getting heavy with those bis names!
Found here
Delgado for the rest day. Valverde better stay in second!
Nice win for Rogers. My man Thibaut fucking stuck it to Bardet today. Just need Nibbles to have a REALLY bad day with Valverde, then Porte to find his legs and I should be home and dry.
Nurse! Time for my meds…
Did Mick really take a fucking bow?
Nice ride though, and fireworks on the last climb!
I’m starting to think Pinot is a strong candidate for the Rule #5 Award; doesn’t seem so terrified on the descents anymore!
Here are the standings updated after the rest day swaps and today’s fireworks. A few of you tried a cheeky little move by leaving Nibbles in a lower position and also putting him into a higher position. You can’t score a rider in two places so if you’re moving a rider up or down that means double penalties because you’re changing the position where the rider was as well as the one where you’re putting him.
Very much a Piti Principle violation, but don’t worry, I took the liberty of updating your picks with a N/A and awarding you your penalty anyway.
Three Frenchies in the top 5 with less than a week to go. How many Velominati were born when that last happened?
@frank
He stole it from Phinney’s win at the ToC this year.
@KW
Both a couple of Twats on a Bike in my opinion (which no one really gives a shit about but that’s cool).
Buck – I care, man. I care.
I want to know how Greg Van Avermaet rode to a 6th place finish today. The guy can win on almost any parcours, in any weather, at any time of year. (or at least be really, really fucking close to winning). He’s amazing.
Also, second to last…Hmm, was Luca making some more phone calls today while tailgunnin’?
Mtns. classification, young rider, and ordering of the Frenchmen in the top 5 seems like it going to get real fuckin’ exciting before Sunday.
@Ron Mtns. classification, young rider, and ordering of the Frenchmen in the top 5 seems like it going to get real fuckin’ exciting before Sunday.
You got that right. Forget Froome and Contador, we’re going to see some ace racing before Sunday. Three Frenchies with a shot at the podium and a douche like Malmerde blocking the way. Allez les Bleus!
@KW
It’s still better than Contador’s “pistolero” gesture. Oh, and while I’m at it, what was the deal with Nibbles when he won stage 10 and did the thumb sucking thing? It was in the Cuddles realm of weird/minimalist salutes.