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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@Eightzero
Savage.
@CJ CJ, your reply is just drivel. I'm not new here. I've been reading the posts here for some time. I know that Frank likes to indulge his feminine sensibilities. He "just likes" some riders rather than others. Like a woman just likes flowers on Thursday, but chocolate on Saturday. A real man has reasons for his value judgments. Frank has none. He's a bitch.
@Slash
And you're manifestly a fuckwit.
Now, let's all settle down and be nice to each other again.
Thanks for the talk.
@Slash
He "just likes" some riders rather than others
Well, yeah - isn't that the point of being a fan? Certain riders will appeal to you and others won't, and not necessarily for fully objective reasons. For example, I must admit to not really knowing who Johnny Hoogerland was before his crash (still getting into the whole racing thing) but now I'll keep an eye on his results. Who do you watch out for and why?
@Slash
What G'phant said.
@Slash
He's also the moderator. Good one einstein.
Bye Bye now!
Hi All, is there a prob with the VSP - I have just logged on again for the rest day reshuffle, and it has been taking an age to upload each page, logon etc - other pages and emails are normal speed....
Anyway, I see I have also dropped off the VSP for some reason
Can I be reinstated with my list, which won't appear even though I am logged on
1. Schleckette
2. Cuddles (I know he is going to win, but W)
3. Fronk
4. Basso
5. Contador, now he appears to be drug free
Sorry this is not relevant to the post under discussion, but didnt know where else to put it. This is a google theme i did to celebrate TDF 2011. TDF theme for Google chrome
How do u like it guys?
@Slash
Nope, you're new here. And noone gives a flying fuck what you think. Maybe share something, build up a profile and personality and someone will. Or fuck off and troll somewhere else.