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!
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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

Teocalli says:

Jul 5 2017 at 12:46 am

@Duntov

I think you need to look in a mirror wrt your penultimate para.
RobSandy says:

Jul 5 2017 at 1:18 am

@Randy C

1) Stupid stage 1 leaves Movistar shortchanged and main GC contenders at 30 sec disadvantage cause they chose not to bomb around tight turns w/wet road paint on TT bikes.

0

You still banging that drum?!

No-one was disadvantaged - if you're a bike racer and you choose to ride slower than other guys in the same race you're not going to win!

If anyone was stupid it was Valverde for overcooking it into a tight corner in the wet.
RobSandy says:

Jul 5 2017 at 1:28 am

@chris

@Duntov

Did you read as far down as Rule #43?

0

That number of exclamation marks alone is a clear Rule#43 violation.
chris says:

Jul 5 2017 at 1:59 am

@RobSandy

@chris

@Duntov

Did you read as far down as Rule #43?

0

That number of exclamation marks alone is a clear Rule #43 violation.

0

That and excessive use of Caps Lock.
RobSandy says:

Jul 5 2017 at 2:41 am

@chris

@chris

@Duntov

Did you read as far down as Rule #43?

0

That number of exclamation marks alone is a clear Rule #43 violation.

0

That and excessive use of Caps Lock.

0

I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM
dyalander says:

Jul 5 2017 at 4:27 am

I won't bore you with my analysis of the sprint, I've got nothing to add not already said. I will say, as sad as it is to see Sagan and Cav out, incidents like that are part of what makes cycling and the TDF great. If I want no contact and clean speed in marked lanes I'll watch athletics. I love the chaos, the confusion, the complexity of slightly technical finishes. Sprints have always been dirty and juries always inconsistent - I like having something to analyze and argue about. When wax the last time the first week was crash free? It's part of what makes the tour amazing. I'd hate to see a tour with nothing but clean sprints that test nothing other than speed. I can't wait to see how today's stage pans out and to see how the battle for points takes shape over the next week.
dyalander says:

Jul 5 2017 at 4:37 am

@Cary

@Rob

An after thought, I like them both – a lot. They both have class and a sense of humor while being fucking pro both on and off the bike. They are friends and know that this is pro racing. My bet is that they will go on as usual. This is just unfortunate for both.

terribly so. some of these finishing stretches in grand tours lately are terribly technical. racers are going to race. sprint finishes look great on TV, and there are a LOT more top speed guys in the peloton now than ever before. there are a dozen Abdujaparovs, Cippolinis, and McEwens contesting every finish now. a certain amount of this carnage is inevitable, with things as they are.

0

There's always been a bunch of quality sprinters and always been carnage. McEwen wrestling Cooke on the line in Paris for the green anyone? It's not like those guys were winning every sprint by lengths or crashing on every sprint - it just seems that way through the mists of time. I think you're both right - they'll be back and thru won't change how they ride, and a certain amount of carnage is inevitable.
Randy C says:

Jul 5 2017 at 4:49 am

@RobSandy

@Randy C

1) Stupid stage 1 leaves Movistar shortchanged and main GC contenders at 30 sec disadvantage cause they chose not to bomb around tight turns w/wet road paint on TT bikes.

0

You still banging that drum?!

No-one was disadvantaged – if you’re a bike racer and you choose to ride slower than other guys in the same race you’re not going to win!

If anyone was stupid it was Valverde for overcooking it into a tight corner in the wet.

0

You're right. Go slower you don't win. That is racing yes. And sure didn't make for compelling racing watching bike racers crawl around a course full of tight turns on rain soaked road paint on TT bikes.

A lot of things can happen over all these stages but one thing is for sure, unless misfortunate strikes Team Sky, either Thomas or Froome will win. They might can just take 1-2 ? Quintana and Porte can attack all they want but it won't change the inevitable if Froome, Thomas and Sky Train can keep it all together.

And it was a stupid stage 1 that set the stage for a potentially big yahhnner of a tour. Like I said, to me, it was disappointing.

I'll still watch every night though.

I am digging the Giro Rosa highlights on Steephill. Annemiek is having a fantastic year and is a blast to watch race. Her, Anna Van de Breggen and Katarzyna and many others all are a blast to watch race.
Cary says:

Jul 5 2017 at 4:49 am

@dyalander

I won’t bore you with my analysis of the sprint, I’ve got nothing to add not already said. I will say, as sad as it is to see Sagan and Cav out, incidents like that are part of what makes cycling and the TDF great. If I want no contact and clean speed in marked lanes I’ll watch athletics. I love the chaos, the confusion, the complexity of slightly technical finishes. Sprints have always been dirty and juries always inconsistent – I like having something to analyze and argue about. When wax the last time the first week was crash free? It’s part of what makes the tour amazing. I’d hate to see a tour with nothing but clean sprints that test nothing other than speed. I can’t wait to see how today’s stage pans out and to see how the battle for points takes shape over the next week.

0

bloodsport is fun until it surpasses its ability to pay for itself. an individual like Sagan, Cavendish, or in days gone by, Cippolini or McEwen, is bigger than the arena in which they participate. or Lance Armstrong was right about everything he's currently villified for.
dyalander says:

Jul 5 2017 at 5:24 am

@Cary

It's hardly a blood sport; I haven't really expressed my point very well. Clearly the element of danger contributes to the spectacle. I've seen a lot of people posting that Sagan's DQ has ruined the spectacle. My point is simply that it is the spectacle. Even the inconsistent jury decisions - it all adds interest. I wouldn't want to make it more dangerous but nor would I want to sanitize it either.