Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2017

Favorites ascending. Photo: Gruber Images.

As many of you know, I write a monthly column for Cyclist Magazine where I answer Dear Abby-esque questions, and the most recent query pertained to whether I consider the Tour the best race of the year, or whether it’s an over-publicized circus. The question made me realize something about myself: I have a weariness around the Tour de France not unlike a romantic whose heart has been broken one too many times.

The fact is, as much as I prefer a race like Paris-Roubaix or the Giro d’Italia to the mid-summer shit show that is the Tour de France, nothing gets my anticipation going quite the way the Tour does, which is undeniably the pinnacle of the season; all the classifications and stages are prestigious enough that racers of all sorts are all arriving at the start in peak form. There is a promise of hard racing from day one, but the first week consists mostly of me worrying about the big favorites crashing out. As soon as we get through that mess, my heart is usually broken on the first day in the mountains, when the favorite takes a decisive lead and the rest of the race is most about stages than the GC.

At least, these are the dreads of a man who lived through the Indurain and Armstrong eras of racing.

Nevertheless, the Tour always manages to seduce me, and this year is no different. Maybe this year, she won’t be such a cruel lover. And, maybe this year, I won’t make horrible picks in the VSP. Just maybe, just maybe. You know the drill; get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero, and you get some swap options on the rest day. Good luck!
[vsp_results id=”104413″/]

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

RobSandy says:

Jun 29 2017 at 2:56 am

@chris

@frahronk The v-site is broken, paragraphs don’t work and it’s infected with nasty little social media likey likey things. /newpara If we must have social media buttons, can we have a little “that’s shite” turd button?

0

Best thing is, the 'Like' buttons don't work either!

Suits me, I don't like anything.
chris says:

Jun 29 2017 at 3:29 am

@RobSandy

They seem to work for me, I've just liked your post. Perhaps the system recognises your likeless, cynical soul.

Disclaimer: I only clicked like to test it. I generally do my liking anonymously, in private and elsewhere. I am British, after all, and wouldn't want anyone to see me show emotion.
Two Ball Billy says:

Jun 29 2017 at 4:37 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Nairo Quintana
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Richie Porte
4. Warren Barguil
5. Dan Martin
LeoTea says:

Jun 29 2017 at 5:04 am
Interesting interview with Froome on the Beeb - has some detailed observations

about going in to the pain cave: http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/40436886

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Porte
3. Quintana
4. Fuglsang
5. Bardet
Geraint says:

Jun 29 2017 at 5:11 am
Froome wins, that's what he does. Seen the Sky team? You could start a war with that lot, three of them capable of a top five or even a podium.

Tempted to pick Porte over Quintana for second but I think the Movistar machine will swing it for the impassive Colombian.

The rest? Pick any two from a dozen or so rising stars, nearly men, and super-domestiques

.

VSP PICKS:
1. FROOME Christopher
2. QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander
3. PORTE Richie
4. BARDET Romain
5. ARU Fabio
KogaLover says:

Jun 29 2017 at 5:24 am
@Teocalli

If you are watching on Sunday when it goes through Henri-Chapelle watch out for a bunch of folk in vintage kit. L’eroica Limburg are doing a ride over there from Valkenburg to watch it go through. I should be there hopefully, in Brooklyn colours.

0

Much envy

VSP PICKS:
1. Vroem-vroem Froome
2. POSH (Porte Out Starboard Home)
3. V-ana
4. Contador Toreador
5. Bird's song (Fuglsang)
Buck Rogers says:

Jun 29 2017 at 6:40 am

@Teocalli

If you are watching on Sunday when it goes through Henri-Chapelle watch out for a bunch of folk in vintage kit. L’eroica Limburg are doing a ride over there from Valkenburg to watch it go through. I should be there hopefully, in Brooklyn colours.

0

Should be amazing! Next year I'll be at Limburg (although I doubt it will be close to the tdf next year--but one can hope!).
il ciclista medio says:

Jun 29 2017 at 6:46 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Porte
2. Quintana
3. Froome
4. Bertie
5. Valverde
Blackjohn says:

Jun 29 2017 at 8:10 am

Froome

Porte

Bardet

Quintana

Aru
wiscot says:

Jun 29 2017 at 8:53 am

@chris

@frahronk The v-site is broken, paragraphs don’t work and it’s infected with nasty little social media likey likey things. /newpara If we must have social media buttons, can we have a little “that’s shite” turd button?

0

I like your idea, but 95% of what's on Social Media is generally classifiable as "shite." I like to think the V-site shite is a better class of shite. Designer shite if you will, for a discerning audience.