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
@frank
are you referring to Bert's first burst in the Pyrenees last year to nail Lance? If so, I believe Lance may have thrown the first punch with his earlier effort in the cross-winds.
And I believe Bernie Hinault might have pulled the greatest Gadret of all when he tried to royally fuck LeMond in 1986 after pledging support for LeMelvis?
So do we call it a Mischievous Badger?
@Geof,
I think that earns Jens the Hardman of the Year award. Fractured ribs are one thing, but to ride out the rest of the tour on broken ribs? What a badass.
@frank and @roadslave,
I've been pulling for Lance to get his stage win. It would suck to see him go out without a little glory. I really wanted him to win today but it just didn't happen. I think he'll make another run for it when they hit the Tourmalet again, and maybe he'll make it this time.
Soloing to victory on the Champs Elysees would be pretty memorable, but the sprinters would never let him get away with that.
Oh, by the way, watching today's stage made me want to jump on my bike and do hill repeats like a man possessed.
So I did. Totally worth it.
@Geof
Jens' story from the fall in full - including a quality photo of him descending on a far too small replacement bike with toe clips
http://www.fyxomatosis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=403:jens-voight&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=97
Hi Frank, I think with Cadel wussing it with his fracture - I can swap him with no penalty??? Also might need a rest day swap (big gamble - I might end up with a negative total!)
Anyway:
Contador
Scheleck
Jurgen vandebrrooooook
Menchov
Sanchez (Sammy the seal)
Thanks,
Crossy
@Marcus
Thanks. That's gold. He is a legend. The photo has (temporarily) replaced one of my kids as the Background on my screen. I'll explain it to them as follows: "I don't care what you do when you grow up, so long as it is something that is worthwhile and that you like, and so long as you do it to the best of your ability - which means being like this big German man on this little yelow bike. I know that doesn't make sense to you now. But I hope one day it will."
No sleep 'til daylight...
Due to being incompetent and choosing three riders who have fallen out of contention, my revised top-5 is as:
Bert
Schlecklet
Invisible Denis
Sami the Salmon
The Tall Belgian
As another nappy change is imminent I haven;t the time to go through the discussion, but re: Chaingate, I'm sure someone else will have stated the obvious solution and that is think what Eddy would have done. Also Schlecklet needs to HTFU. Turned into a big whining pussy this tour
Viva la revolution
@Marcus
Good call, but no - referring to him motoring by Veino to grab a very minor time gain. But it's understandable and not as good as your calls anyway. Grasping at straws and all that.
Love the Badger angle. Must ruminate on this. (Second I've used this word today. Must stop.)
@crossy
Sorry mate, but Cadel didn't loose time (in fact took the MJ) the day of the crash. The VSP rules don't apply here. Sucks on Basso, too. Those are the brakes; that's racing, I guess.
@Jarvis
Christ, get those twins raised and get back here to keep us honest!
Oh, and Andy will still win this Tour!
@frank
Maybe 'Ungrateful Badger" is more appropriate as it references LeMelvis' assistance in 85 as well as Hinault's betrayal in 86.
My regular riding mates were three Ungrateful Badgers on Saturday. 40k from home got a cut in my tubeless tyre. First ungrateful badger left the scene immediately citing a wife/child imposed curfew. Hands were freezing so had to resort to using levers to get a tube in (HTFU - I know I know). Went thru two tubes and we were down to one between us. They weren't willing to risk their last tube so the fucked off and I had to catch an $80 taxi home. After all the shit I have done for them. Fucking Ungrateful Badgers.