Plateau de Beille has a reputation. It’s long. It’s hard. It’s steep. It’s high. And, because it’s in the Pyrenees, it’s either really hot or really wet.
Although it has only been featured in the Tour four times (1998, 2002, 2004, 2007), it has quickly been placed high on the list of fabled Tour mountaintop finishes for the simple fact that every time the Tour has had a stage finish at the Plateau, the winner of the stage has gone on to win the Tour: Pantani, Amstrong, and Contador have all won here and gone on to win le Grand Boucle. (Of the past winners, Pantani is the only rider whose photo I’m willing to post on a VSP event.)
For those of us who are superstitious, we will, because of this track record, choose the rider whom we hopes will go on to win the Tour. Those of us who are more reasonable might engage in some prognosticating, while others still will inexplicably pick Mark Cavendish or Philbert.
While we traditionally kick off the first intermediate VSP for a Grand Tour on the first mountaintop finish, this time around we waited for this decisive day. The riders have played their cards close to their chest, but surely they will be laid out on the table tomorrow. Get your picks in by 5am Pacific tomorrow morning for the chance to win 3, 2, or 1 points for the podium spots, and 1 point for 4th and 5th places. Good luck.
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@Oli
Yeah, you almost got 1 point. Good morning.
Haha! And a jolly good morning to you, kind sir...
@Oli
It's actually 8.30 in the evening here. So what's the protocol? Do you wish someone a good ____________ depending on where they are or where you are? Not sure, you know, with globalization and the interwebs and all things get complicated.
@Ron
Oooh Ooooh I had my first road ride on tubs yesterday too, despite being paranoid about punctures, and the spokes needing their spoke tension evened out, it is undoubtedly teh awesome. I just bought a cheap pair off the local ebay, cleaned the rims, glued up some old tubs, greased the hubs and glued them during the week. Takes 400grams off my training wheels, but climbing on them is rediculous. I'm off for another ride soon, can't wait.
@scaler911
Your bike looks like the terminator with half it's face shot off - half disguise, half industrial menace underneath.
Do you wish someone a good V-day depending on where they are or where you are?
@marko
Put that down to mental fatigue from the long, hard stage last night - I wasn't thinking about time zones, just responding in kind. Good night, kind sir...
@Oli
If you're gonna go down, go down big.
I'm not going down big or small!
@Steampunk
Ah, yes. A little salt for my wounds. I should get a point for living here for 16 years. Oli, save yourself. Don't travel TO Houston, travel THROUGH Houston.
I would like to point out I picked 3 of the top 5 finishers. Just none in the right places.