The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige continues the with Tour de France edition, on Saturday July 3rd in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, just kilometers from the start of the Giro d’Italia in Amsterdam (Dutchland is a small country). This will be the second Grand Tour of the series, and at this stage the Grand Tour rules and regulations are fairly well-defined, so take a moment to review them on the VSP Page.
The Tour is, of course, a major event. My personal preference lies with the Giro, but there is no denying the magnitude of the Tour and the appeal it holds. For three weeks, the world pays attention to our sport, and – provided the Tour doesn’t coincide with the World Cup football matches – this is the biggest sporting event during this time of the year. (An interesting observation: the last time these events coincided, the winner was eventually stripped of his title.)
Having run the VSP Giro edition where we tested the ruleset for Grand Tours, we’ve managed to set up a scoring system that seems fair and helps to close down the competition to afford newcomers the ability to catch up with some good picks; the Giro proved that lineup switches and the associated penalties kept the point gains pretty small while allowing strategy to play an interesting role. There is a full overview of the rules and standing at the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page, but here is the ten-second overview:
Every contestant is to choose their top five General Classification picks of the race. The final podium of le Grande Boucle is worth 15 points to the winner, 10 points for second, 5 points for third, 3 points for fourth, and 2 point for fifth. Given the effect crashes can have on a tour, we’ve set up some guidelines around making changes to your lineup during the race: you’re allowed to change your lineup if any rider in your pick list drops out for any reason without any penalty; rest days will allow contestants to make changes to their lineup, however those changes will come at a point penalty. (Visit the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page for a complete breakdown of these points.)
Every day, the leader in the points standings will have the honor of wearing the Yellow Jersey when posting on the site; the overall winner will wear the Yellow Jersey for the remainder of the season and will also earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker. All reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free Velominati Shop Apron. As always, if you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings.
New to the Tour de France edition is the addition of naming the winner of the Green and Polka-dot jerseys for the Tour. There will be no points awarded towards these two jerseys, but the leader of the competition of these jerseys will have the honor of commenting with a Green or Polka-dot jersey badge throughout the competition and the winner will earn the right to comment with that badge until next year’s Tour. The contestant who picks both the final Green and Polka jersey winners correctly will win a Velominati Logo bumper sticker. Tie-breakers will go to the first contestant who posts their entire lineup (all 5 GC picks plus Green and Polka-dot jersey winners). Given that this sub-competition has no points, pick substitutions will only be granted under the DNF regulations of the VSP; no rest-day substitutions are allowed.
Sub-competitions will be conducted while the Tour is underway for specific stages. These stages will be chosen a few days prior to the stage being held and will be selected based on the current race conditions with the aim of choosing the most decisive and exciting stages of the race, so check back often to make sure you don’t miss out. Sub-competitions will be held in separate editions.
Good luck!
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View Comments
@Souleur
"4. Jurgen Ven den Broeck"
Never a bad call to pick a second or even third tier favorite. Arroya and Scarponi come to mind for the Giro. And fuck I hope I don't get burned on not picking Thor for green. I really wanted to and the cobbled argument holds much water. Thing is though, his train doesn't seem as strong as Cavendoosh and Farrar and I just can't pick Cav
@Marko
Thor might miss the train, but he's got one hell of an all-round engine. He won't win as many stages as Farrar or Cav, but he'll finished second and third consistently and I'm hoping for another long solo from him.
Re. Wiggins: basically a chapeau to Sky for providing the opportunity for Michael Barry to ride his first TdF.
@david
No problem; updated your picks for you.
@Steampunk
That's what makes him and this sport so damn cool. And, he didn't need the train last year. I'll be pulling for him but I think this might be Tyler's year.
@david
By the way, all our best possible wishes and strength to your mother. I echo Marko; cancer is an asshole; kick that fucker's ass. Show that shit was Rule 5 is all about.
Sweet baby jesus hep me now. I'm impressed a few have picked Lance to win. No one is going for VdV, OK, I'll do that. Menchov, really? What about Karpets, Brett? I'm going with AC to get on the score board then who knows. Sure Lance will be up there but maybe he will finally have the "bad day." Polka Dot I have no clue. And I would like Thor to be in green but...
And A. Grimpeur, TT Champ of Luxembourg??? They must really suck at time trialing in Luxembourg. That is crazy talk.
1. AC-unless he crashes early
2. A. Grimpeur-finally gets fit toward the end, where it counts
3. Basso-why not?
4. Twiggo-he can't hang with these other climbers and not enough TT to get back time
5. VdV-just to beat Lance, insane perhaps
Green Jersey-Cavendish because he is so damn fast
Polka Dot-AC, can a man wear both jerseys?
Jeezus, really I did not think I would read all this and then not have an easier time! I mean its tactics in this competition to sit back and wait. I know its like wheel sucking and then sprinting but there is no rule and it is all about the yellow. But I feel like I have sucked wheel to the bottom of Alp de Huez and now I got nuthin.
So its Armstrong vs Contador and they both are doing what they do really well, one racing little, the other winning lots and they both seem to be in form. So Arms could loose it with a bad day and come back in the TT and Conts could be coming off his spring peak. I feel like picking A. Schleck. Screw it here it is...
1.) Armstrong - he is such a control freak Tour machine and wants to be a god.
2.) A. Schleck - needs to prove himself but can't.
3.) Contador - bad luck, off year.
4.) R. Gesink - cause I like him.
5.) C. Horner - just feel like it.
Green - Hushovd, Poka - Gesink
@Marko
Well, somebody else picked Farrar already, and heart says Thor. It would be great to see Farrar have an impact in the standings; last year's Thor vs. Douche competition was a little boring. Having a more-than-capable third contender would make things interesting. I'd be totally okay with Tyler going home in green.
1. Armstrong
2. Contador
3. Basso
4. Horner
5. A. Schleck
Green Jersey: Farrar
Polka: I don't know yet...
@ Marko: agreed. I want to pick at least one outsider...and that is my man.
-He's belgian
-He's a climber (go figure from belgium)
-He's young and placed well his first showing (15th)
-the team is in support of him
-he's unmarked, so will see. He may also puss out too??
I came really close to doing Dave Zabriske, but for some reason just didn't pull the trigger, perhaps the climbing isn't his.
Farrar is a good choice on green too, no doubt. The green jersey though has to climb, and minus San Remo, Cavendouche doesn't climb well at all, even outrunning the broomwagon.
Sammy Sanchez is a very good one to put up as a dark horse too, the pyrenees will be in basque country and he will feed on that religious anger/support