Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2017
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″/]
@TheVid
Unless we have another outbreak of Terry Pratchett coming round.
@wiscot
Here is hoping that Aru and Martin can animate what is setting up to be another Sky snooze fest. Regarding the Maillot vert, I am looking forward to an interesting competition and hope anyone but Demare or Bouhanni wins. Nothing against the hosts but I just don’t think either of these sprinters are Rule #43 compliant.
Maillot vert
@wiscot
Yep, great attack, and he looked fantastic. Never been a big fan – his descending efforts in the 2015 Giro, among others, brings back memories of several face-palm moments – but I love the way he goes after it when he feels good. During the Giro, I learned of the amazing lengths he went to to get enough racing as a junior, travel wise, and that increased my respect for the guy. He certainly isn’t lacking in the heart department. Was great to see Martin finish so strongly, too. That’s gotta boost his confidence for a good result.
Froome’s little blistering turn of speed looked ominous. Porte looked good too, apart from grinding that big gear again when he took over. Contador and Quintana looked tired. A lot of folks aren’t fond of the course, but I liked the TT start – if you didn’t show up ready, you were gonna lose time and couldn’t just build up slowly til the last half of the tour. And there looks to be a lot in it for the more punchy riders. I think the GC might be more interesting than some expected. Hope so
Chaves lost some big time. Form was unknowable, but I thought he might be in with a chance for top 5. I picked him in lieu of Aru. Doh!
@Rick
Today was great racing and a lesson in style too. Aru looked awesome in the Italian champs jersey, white socks, white shoes and regular shorts. No garish “I’m the Italian Champ tricolor turd” in sight. Alas, however, Dan Martin just looks kinda crappy in comparison. His Mavic shoes, while they match the Lidl sponsor logo, look awful.
Nice too to see Aru looking super happy on the podium, Geraint Thomas looked pretty fuckin’ miserable most of the time he was in yellow.
A shout out too for Phil Gil who won the award for combativity and wearing a proper cap on the podium.
@stooge
I hear ya. I’ve got Chaves and wee Nairo in my top 5. Might be using some swaps next week.
@stooge
And, though the green jersey comp may turn out to be an exciting one, in twenty years time, rightly or wrongly, whoever wins it will be recalled as the guy who won it that year Sagan was DQd. So whoever wins it better win it real good.
@stooge
To finish first, first you have to finish.
Funny enough Slovak TV bought the rights for airing whole stages and Slovaks are so pissed off that no one wants to watch Tour de “Fraud” anymore… Conspiracies about “French wanted a French Green jersey winner, but they had to eliminate Sagan first, DD owner part of the TdF organizers team, etc…” are all around.
As I see this, the long series of Cav sending fellow sprinters to the deck was finally punished as expected. Only a pity that Peter got the bill. He wanted 7 consecutive Maillot vert trophy and that feat is apparently over.
@Pali65
There are all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories getting around about Sagans DQ, let alone opinions of the incident itself, and from all corners of the globe. I was just reading about how it is the French and the English that are conspiring behind the scenes. It is a reminder of how much reach the TDF has, and that a huge part of the audience only really follow racing once a year (a fact not forgotten in the DQ decision itself, I’m sure). It’s all quite amusing.
@wiscot, @Buck Rogers, @stooge let’s just get one thing clear. While Aru’s bike, kit & accessory choices are all correct ingredients for looking fantastic, none of that makes up for the horrific manner in which he actually drives the bike along.
He makes Froome’s stem staring, spider humping a lightbulb, pedalling action look attractive!
@Mikael Liddy
You’ll get no argument from me. Double that when descending. Triple it if it’s wet.
@Pali65
Is there actually – ” the long series of Cav sending fellow sprinters to the deck “. I’m not counting but my impression is that he’s the one hat seems to mostly end up on the deck.
@Mikael Liddy
I think Dan Martin also looks pretty horrific when he’s laying down the V. The only one of the contenders I’d actually enjoy watching is Bardet – hope he does well.
Where’d I get the +1 badge from? I think I preferred my VSP leader’s Rainbows…
@RobSandy
Isn’t that because he’s borrowed Shane McGowan’s teeth?
@stooge
There is no Anglo French collusion to discredit Sagan or contrive to place a Frenchman in Green after years of hurt caused by English domination of yellow. None whatsoever. And there was no digital manipulation of the finish line photos.
@RobSandy
Your role in Pirates of the Caribbean in another thread.
@chris
Brilliant!
@Teocalli
Arrrr!
@sthilzy started it anyway.
@stooge
Nah, nah, nah. I’d still rather watch Aru any day. Being Italian rather than Kenyan/English, there’s a bit more passion to the boy.
@chris
Wow! Shane’s teeth look pretty good in that pic! Usually they look like an abandoned graveyard. While I’m here, I have to brag about seeing the Pogues twice in 24 hours back in the early 80s. They played the Queen Margaret Union at Glasgow Uni on a Friday and didn’t finish until after midnight. Then, on Saturday night they played the Barrowlands in Glasgow’s east end. I don’t think Shane was sober the entire time!
Lend me ten pounds and I’ll buy you a drink . . .
This came across my Facebook page; pretty funny.
https://teespring.com/peter-sagan-dq#pid=369&cid=6513&sid=front
@chris
That is awesome!!!
@chris
Priceless picture!
In the last 2 days I’ve read so many theories including:
Yesterday was a day off in Slovakia and I rode my MTB in a hot and humid weather on a quite long route along Danube shore. It is a long distance European bike route and there is a segment with deep gravel surface (I would like to know which idiot decided about this) where I met a French couple who complained about the road. Cold blooded I’ve told them that this was ordered day before by our prime minister as a revenge for TdF. They frowned and then started to laugh loudly. We had a nice chat together and left as good friends. They’ve just expressed a hope that Sagan will win next year and I had to smile about this encounter for the rest of the day.
Sorry for off topic…
WTF? I hear talk that Bora want Sagan reinstated. Ye cannae dae that! He’s out. He’s missed at least two stages. What kind of precedent would it set? This is not a rider missing a time cut through injury or illness. The race jury threw Sagan out for dangerous riding. Ok, so he are Cav are having a bit of a lovefest over it, but Pinchy is out. It’ll be a huge mistake to let him back in.
@wiscot
Lawyers are involved. I do not think they expect him to be reinstated that is just their opening bargaining position. The Bora council’s claim is that by rule a rider can only be expelled from the race if he is given the chance to present his case and Sagan was not given this chance. My guess is that they are ultimately looking for monetary damages from the UCI and/or ASO.
@wiscot
His team will have to drop back 2 stages and pace him back up.
@wiscot
Have you seen the reports of Cav and his family getting abuse on social media. There are some truly sick people out there.
@Teocalli
I have indeed. There are some positive things about social media – and some very bad things as well. Being able to hurl despicable invective anonymously being the chief expression of the latter.
@Rick
Bora might have a case for damages for lost PR/media exposure. Sagan gets a lot of press and that is now lost. They can’t reinstate him though. The UCI will happily say to ASO – “this one’s all yours.”
@Pali65
Great story. Glad they came around to the joke.
@wiscot
I absolutely believe that Bora has a case for damages. If Sagan was not allowed due process by explaining his point of view as mandated by the official rules Bora is very likely to win. I am not a lawyer, however, and would love anyone who is to chime in on the subject.
PS> I also believe that the Bora legal team was 100% certain that Sagan would not be reinstated. That was an opening position which they expected to be denied. Now they can argue that they have been harmed first by the expulsion then by the denial of the reinstatement request.
@wiscot
I heard that if the fine is less than 200 francs that they need not consult with the rider.
As for social media, I think team directors taking to twitter, making allegations of violence, and dictating what must be done, prior to any decision, is way out of order. I get that emotions are high, but there should be a rule around this sort of thing, and it too needs to be enforced.
It’s a shame it has ended up in court.
@stooge
I am going by the interpretation offered on the broadcast of today’s stage. I seem to recall Paul consulting the rule book and confirming that the rider must be given due process prior to expulsion.
Copied and pasted from UCI Cycling Regulations:
12.2.006 The Commissaires Panel may judge the matter only if the offending party has had a chance to defend his point of view or if, being present when summoned, he fails to respond.
Have you seen Demare forcing his way around Katusha guy in the sprint no matter what? Is this negligence to hit the brakes business as usual or a dangerous reckless riding? Any penalties due?
@Pali65
Demare has done that twice now. I have to believe that if he was not French there would have been penalties. I don’t understand how they can kick Sagan out and not punish Demare for the Tuesday stage. Then he veered off of his line again today.
@Rick
Today Demare kinda kept his line, but he should have been relegated for cutting off Bouhanni on Tuesday. But he’s French and this is Le Tour. Patriotisme!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/a-statement-from-cyclingnews-contributor-philippa-york/
Chapeau to Phillipa and all the best. And let me be one of the first to say “fuck off” to the inevitable haters who are about to crawl out from under their rocks. Even in 2017, it takes a lot of courage for a high profile person (particularly a former sportsman) to come out in this way. Good luck and best wishes with your new life.
I hope we don’t see any haters around here, wiscot. One thing I find pleasant about cycling is that the fans/participants seem to be a bit more educated and open-minded than the average American ball sports fan.
With the scary political, environmental, and economic situations going on around the world, my need to care about personal choices of individuals is so far down on the list of things I think we need to be discussing. I really don’t care what bathroom someone wants to use when we have a moron potentially provoking nuclear war.
@Ron @wiscot I’m sure there’ll be haters but hopefully not here.
The abuse Cav and his family have received suggests it’ll be inevitable. I hope not.
@Phillipa York Chapeau and all the best. I still look forwards to your columns.
@RobSandy
Even with his whole team he’ll never catch up. Not now they’ve lifted the road closures.
@chris
Indeed. For all the fun we have at our own and each other’s expense around here, I like to think we keep things a bit more mature than some other sites that invite postings/comments.
I’ll be very, very disappointed if we get any Pippa haters on here.
@chris
I understand correctly he left for Monaco with his wife? He might not want to come back.
Been away for a spell, haunting but not posting-
Given the amount of betting and monies on the line I do not find it at all odd that some in power would find it to their advantage to remove Sagan while Cavs dressings were still fresh- two main sprinters out in one swoop….gosh, I’m sure other teams buses that night were secretly counting their blessings as they went to bed that night(along with countless bookies).
Race organizers need to shoulder some of this blame also; barriers that were state of the art in 1930 still being used, roads from WW I still in use that would cause mayhem during a fondo then throw in a 70 KPH sprint. Even when the race was being run without “lead-out” trains the roads were dangerous at best, but as the races, teams, tactics and speeds got better- so did the risks. Organizers have the responsibility to negate those risks. How many riders have to end up in the back of ambulances before barrier material is used to enhance rider safety not add to the injury?
Its a dangerous sport to begin with, no need to add fuel to the fire of the public’s cry for blood.
ride safe guys-
@chris
Arrr, tis be a joke you scurvy sea-dog!
@wiscot
No Phillipa hating from me, just a question/observation…
Her interview in The Guardian referred to her life and achievements as Robert Millar being in a box which is now in the past, as a way to say she wasn’t trying to change history. FWIW I think it’s a good thing she addressed that to head of any stupid ideas that records need to be revised.
But clearly the fact that she’s doing commentary on ITV and writing columns for newspapers and magazines is because of the achievements of Robert Millar not Phillipa York.
Obviously her knowledge and insight remains unchanged so to be very clear I’m not questioning whether that should continue, my thought is just about the name change.
Many women continue to use a ‘professional’ name even if they choose to change their surname when they marry. Particularly if they have had a career up to that stage and people know them professionally, especially when identity is a key factor. My wife for example was a TV and radio presenter and reporter – although she legally changed her surname to mine (entirely her choice, I didn’t mind) she kept her maiden name in her work.
I can understand there may be some issues for trans-gender people to make a definitive statement. I guess it’s a way of saying ‘I’m not that person now’. And yet, in the sense that we are made up of the experiences of our lifetime she still is partly that person.
Why shouldn’t someone still be called Robert or George and turn up as a woman? If gender is a state of mind then the social construct around a name should be irrelevant.
@RobSandy
You need to change your username and icon thingy if you’re going to carry on with this piracy malarkey.
Although I’m not sure how you’d keep it cycling themed. @Seaman Sandy’s Scratchy Chamois?
@ChrisO
I’m sure Cycling Weekly would have preferred the name Robert Millar to be used, purely for promotional purposes.
Obviously I have no direct experience but I’d imagine a transition of this kind is much more of a ‘whole life change’ than getting married, so any link to the previous part of one’s life (even if just by a name) probably feels like a negative one.
I don’t know but I can see why Phillipa has made this choice.
On another, related note, I remember reading rumours about this a long time ago. Hopefully Phillipa has an easier and happier time now it’s been made completely public. I think she’s been very brave, it’s clearly not a decision that’s been made lightly and I wish her all the best (but I will continue to remember her days as a badass racing cyclist with fondness).
@Dean C
Now that is an interesting thought for sure. Recall when Dale Earnhardt had his fatal wreck racing NASCAR and the idea behind barrier and wall design and all kinds of other safety devices changed. His wreck was in to a hard concrete wall. And ultimately it was steel and foam energy reduction (SAFER) barriers that were installed in race tracks, starting at Indy. Use of the Hahns device become far more prevalent after his accident as well (and ultimately in many instances were required I believe). There are more ex’s too of safety design that stemmed from this wreck and resulted from NASCAR taking a much more proactive approach.