Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France
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!
The flying Canuck has set off the howitzers!!
You can always tell a Dutchman…
…but you can’t tell him much.
Hey Frank, Farrar just abandoned.
Freakin’ Contador. :(
@Cyclops
Ugh…
Double Ugh…Although the dude just motored away. Impressive, said like Darth Vader. Very surprising to see Schleck wait when Contador went.
I guess they just traded 10 second blows on uphill finishes, huh? Sunday will be interesting.
I reckon Cunty’s been getting his shots, he hasn’t been able to get a wiggle on up the steep bits like that all season.
Has Syrup-o-figgo been doing sprint training? Has a new shampoo washed him of his mojo? everytime the road goes up he scuttles of the back like a hungry cockroach. Fucks sake.
Cyclops is that an emoticon? Lance would pissed.
@pakrat
Lance can pound sand.
@frank
Same again on Sunday, I reckon. Maybe tomorrow, too, but it will be harder to get away. Going back to an older conversation, I can really get behind a points leader who smartly picks up the intermediate points like that. Hushovd still finished ahead of Cavendouche, too.
@frank
I’ve always been puzzled at the notion that Boonen and Hushovd were sprinters. Yes: they’re hella fast, but I’ve always associated them more as classics type riders””strong, fast, and versatile””rather than out-and-out sprinters. But maybe that’s just me and me showing my hand in terms of my favorite part of the cycling season.
@all
No change in the VSP today.
@Joe
So is this what Team Sky means by “aggregation of marginal gains”? Marginal gains in his pants, maybe.
@pakrat, @Cyclops
I don’t have to tell anyone what my position on Pharmy is, but those Radioshack commercials crack me up. The emoticon one, and now the one with the yelling, “Phones can stream video from Space now. There’s not need to yell.”
The sub-plot today was almost as intriguing as Schlep’s inability to follow over the last 3kms. Cuntador screwed with Count Dracula, pay back for the stage 3 finisg into Arenberg perhaps? Love to be a fly on the wall inside the Astana team bus tonight.
@Nof Landrien
A fair point about bias, but let’s not conflate race and nationality here. I know you euros are still pissed about losing the colonies, but when it comes to race, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but…we’re you.
Also, on Bonds…wait, do you even watch baseball over there? Forget it. (He was base-stealer and a gold glove defender before 2000 when his head grew four sizes and he started hitting everything out of the park like it was a grapefruit. i.e. probably not juicing pre-2000, and then obviously juicing thereafter)
@john & @frank
Thank you for your kind words regarding my theory on Lance Armstrong’s tour victories. I salute your praise with a 22oz bottle of Stone Ruination IPA after a brutal set of intervals.
Omar great theory, I would like to put forth a theory on Adstrong loosing this tour. That is he is in about 5 advertisements and that means we know what he was doing this winter… so much for being focused on the tour.
Beginning to sound like a broken record, but it warrants repeating: I’m loving Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour performance! He’s never going to win a GT, but he’s one hell of a rider and a decent guy by the sounds of it. With Farrar out, perhaps Garmin will concentrate on keeping him in the top 10.
@Rob
I disagree with your theory on the grounds that in all of the ads, he is on his bike training save for the Michelob Ad and the one where he runs for about 30 seconds (he needed to go get something and it was faster than taking the bike). For the Radioshack commercials, he was most likely on the cooldown of a brutal set of intervals (he doesn’t sweat on camera because it would make him look like a pussy who can’t handle intervals), and in the Trek/Nike/Sporting-esque commercials he’s on his bike riding uphill, likely doing hill repeats.
With regard to the Michelob Ultra commercial: Beer is the ultimate recovery drink. Even if it’s sissy beer.
Besides, I would speculate that advertisements don’t take long to shoot, and he probably did all of the Shack ones in one day.
@Omar
You are one of us! Intervals and Stone Ruination IPA 22oz. Outstanding recovery beverage. Like a pneumatic bolt to the skull, a la No Country For Old Men.
@Kermitpunk
Ryder is doing it! The kid has no fear. He may not win a GT but he will win a Spring Classic.
That’s all I was looking for””just a little affirmation. Give him a more grizzled face and personality, and he’s the next generation of hardman waiting to emerge. Man! He works hard on those breakaways.
@Omar You know if it weren’t for your bitchin taste in brew, IPA is da bomb, I would have to take issue with your lame but hilarious run down of the ads. You only weaken your argument in two places – the possible Rule #69 infraction if he was wearing cycling shoes and the argument that ads don’t take long to shoot.
Really he is just so happy to have put all that dosh in the bank before the season and before he went backwards, that he is all smiles now and anything he might pull out of the hat is icing.
Vino vidi verci! Chapeau vino! Attack attack attack!
Sorry vino vidi vici. Darned beer messing with my latin
@Marcus
Nice one.
Q’est que c’est le fuck is happening? I’m starting to like Veino and Bertie. WTF? I guess it all comes down to great bike racing. Bertie on the stones and yesterday on the hills was impressive.
There, I’ve said it. But that doesn’t mean he’ll still be on that list if he takes any time out of Andy tomorrow. Schleck is going to set off the Guns of Navarone on the Ax tomorrow.
@all
Looks like no change in the VSP today; tomorrow should be fireworks. I’m going to be out of network; be back Sunday afternoon to get any updates out. Cheers!
@all
Please stand by for another VSP Ax-3 Domaines edition. Get your picks ready.
members of the british press don’t like it;
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/nedboulting/100010823/tour-de-france-2010-vino-he-ruined-my-lunch/
I’m not sure I like it either
@andy
He is a monster rider this year. If he was the captain of his own team he would be right up there in the standings. Seeing him ride away from Bertie and A.Grimpeur half way up the Col de La Madeleine bridging up to the break. That was scary. Next time the camera was on him he was back with Bertie so I’m not sure what happened, maybe the remote genital-cuff shocker was being fired off by the DS.”zapp…Down Veino, Down, get back there…zappp.”
He is scary strong this year and I can’t trust him. But he is fun to watch.
@Rob
Haha, I’m glad you appreciate my taste in brew and my completely scientific analysis of Lance Armstrong, his victories, and his ads. And yes, IPA is, indeed, the bomb.
@frank,
I too understand your plight in beginning to like the smell of Cunt-odor. As for Veino, I’ve always liked him despite being caught for doping. I don’t think anyone can deny that when he’s on his game, he’s a very exciting rider to watch. I’m interested to see how the Pyrenees showdown between Bertie and Grimpeur the younger. given Schleck’s at ease demeanor, he must have some sort of ace up his bibs, or he’s really good at hiding his nerves. Bertie already showed that he’s in shape and can match his attacks (save for the one where Andy won the stage). Andy really needs time on Contie, otherwise he’s gonna get rocked in the TT.
Now that Veino has gotten his stage win, I’m hoping my boy Pharmy will get one as well. If he does, I will officially be satisfied with this tour.
Oh, and Thor or Alejet in Green. Fuck Chavendouche.
@Omar, @Rob
Stone IPA is the shit when it comes to bottled beer. As for from the Beer Faucet, there are a litany of amazingly hoppy IPAs availalbe locally. Seems I find a better one every time I go out.
@Omar
This is one of the better Tours I’ve seen in a while. 2 weeks down and no clue who will win. I actually predict that Andy will pull out a TT to surprise.
@all
Head on over to the VSP Stage 14 and put in your bonus picks.
@john
Oh totally. The Madeleine ride was cool to watch, as was the last two days, and I think he would be top 3 if in another team etc etc.
HOWEVER. My major problem with the guy is that he won’t admit to doping. I’d rather my dopers were like David Millar; admit use, serve ban, come back somewhat diminished as a rider but also an advocate of clean cycling, despite cries of hypocrisy. shit, I’ve even got a tiny bit of respect back for flandis because he’s admitted using. Riders like Ricco and the Count and valverde’s dog, who continually deny they ever doped, wind me up no end. It’s gotta be a matter of face saving for them. Plus he’s come back pretty much as good as before and I really feel he’s still on something because of it.
@andy
I’m right there with ya! Vino is almost too strong and consistant? It’s crazy as guys like Ricco and Veino were strong great riders before they doped(assuming they didn’t start doping wildly as 16 year olds) it seems they never needed to. But I’m winding my self up here so I’ll stop. But yes, I agree 100%.
@andy , John
You will drive yourself mad wondering whether riders are juiced or not. You have to presume that they are all clean until proven otherwise or if they look extremely suspect. a la Ricco – he hasn’t come back nearly as strong as he was. Still very very good but his riding in that 08 Tour was extraordinary – he was finishing climbs looking muy tranquillo.
Just enjoy the racing and let the testers worry about the rest.
I say Vino isn’t that consistent in that whilst he rides like a bull, he has had big “off” days in both the Tour and the Giro.
And as to denials who gives a fuck? But you are wrong Andy in mentioning Ricco and possibly Vino as “non-deniers”.
Vino half-admitted it after LBL. And i reckon a bit of his reluctance to fully confess has to do with saving face. Some fucked crazy kazakh pride thing maybe?
Ricco has definitely admitted doping – and in his own charmless way, stated that his positive test in only two stages of the 08 Tour proved the testing was flawed as he was doped throughout. Excerpt of news article below.
Ricco, who won two Tour stages before being caught, claimed the system for drug testing on the Tour was less than comprehensive.
“They made 10 tests in about 13 legs – two were positive and in theory all the tests should have been positive. Therefore the method needs to be checked,” he said.
But the Italian maintained he had not used doping products during the Giro d’Italia in May, where he won two stages.
“After the Giro, I was mentally and physically tired,” Ricco told the tribunal.
“At the Giro I was clean, but then the Wednesday before the end of the race I doped. It was an error of youth.”
My picks:
1. Grimpeur
2. Contador
3. Cadelephant (his bones are healing!)
Aww man….that really sucks. There’s no way in the world they can say that Contador didn’t attack there. He saw the mechanical, and went for it, dragging Menchov and Sanchez along for the ride. Really couldn’t have planned for a better move. What a complete douche – Hope that yellow brings him out in hives.
Really good ride down by Schleck and I hope more than ever he skins Bertie on the Tourmalet….
that was a straight up dick move by bertie.
Sorry to say that but this Cunt-odor really sucks! Is there any less charismatic yellow jersey than this guy ever?!
@Joe, @andy, @Roberto Marques
No kidding! Terrible. What a douche. That’s just dirty racing right there. He’s been influenced by the Veino tactical plan, methinks. Yuck.
And now we’ll have to suffer through a pair of yellow bib shorts, helmet, gloves, socks, shoes, glases. Ugh.
@all
There was no dirty racing over at the VSP, however. Scott takes the honors with a host of contestants just off the pace:
1 Scott 26 points
2 Roadslave 25 points
3 Steampunk 25 points
4 Andy 25 points
5 John 25 points
6 Geof 25 points
7 Marcus 25 points
8 Hawkeye 25 points
9 Roberto Marques 19 points
10 Souleur 17 points
11 Brett 16 points
12 Ben 15 points
13 Pont 15 points
14 Crossy 15 points
15 Jarvis 15 points
16 Joe 14 points
17 Rob 11 points
18 Frank 10 points
19 Marko 2 points
20 Dan O 2 points
21 Daniel 2 points
22 Joshua 2 points
23 David 1 point
24 Cyclops 0 points
25 Houdini 0 points
26 Nathan Edwards 0 points
Green: Steampunk (aka Kermitpunk)
Dots: Joe
for those of you who haven’t seen the move from Mr. Cunt-odor http://youtu.be/HP9OR-Pz2Yk
As english is not my native language I don’t have the ability to create a new nickname to this guy that express all the dirt shown on this video
The cycling gods won’t be happy with Bertie tomorrow. Poor play. But, have to say: some pretty good riding from Grimpeur the Younger to limit the damage under the circumstances. He really is showing some good form.
@Roberto Marques
I think the nickname you’re using now does a plenty good job of expressing it.
@Kermitpunk
I actually think he’s going to win it. I think Paul Sherwin really got at the underlying reason he did this: insecurity.
Andy was really flying away, and Bertie was doing little to catch him back. It would have been the reverse deficit, if you ask me, and I think Bertie is not going to have the TT skill of years before.
Prediction: Andy will throw everything on the road, take a minute or more by the time the TT comes around, and it will turn out to be enough in the end. I see a Yellow Andy Schleck on the top step.
It’s 4 points per change now frank?
So Can I change
1. Schleck
2. A.Cuntador
3. The Boring Russian (In for Roman K)
4. Hard Cadel
5. Wiggins
Sadly 4th & 5th place is not worth gambling on frank… I mean… the other lanky dutchman
@Nathan Edwards
Cheers, done. We can’t technically do this until the rest day, but I added them now, assuming there’s no other big change tomorrow.
wow….good to be back.
When I left, i had a point…now 17!
unfortunately pharmpuss is soft pedaling to Paris’
But my Belgian is in flynn! If he top 5’s it will make my day
@frank
I’d be okay with that. He’s looked very fresh and strong on the bike, though I’m sure he’ll be disappointed at the missed opportunity today. Keep in mind that Andy was supposed to struggle on the cobbles, too. The kid’s the freakin’ TT champion of Luxembourg. How many people can claim that? The next couple of days ought to be fun.
You know who I really feel bad for? The fan on the side of the road where Grimpito came to a halt. The video Frank posted under “We Are Not Animals” shows Andy look to the fan, and in English I think I hear “What do I do?!” The Tour is running up the road and the maillot jaune is HERE and NOW and you are fumbling for words. That would haunt me if I was that dude.
A Chain-gate pallette cleanser:
http://michaelbarry.ca/wp-content/gallery/71910/bus.jpg
PRO as PRO
@ben
I have to remember this shit, or start straight-dumping it into the Lexicon.
I was once the guy who took Salvodelli to the ground (sorry, mate) and I can tell you there is nothing relaxing about being that close to the race. The only cool bit is the two dudes who pushed him back on. They get to say, “I Grimpito Tour Salvajorito once”. That would be pretty cool.
@frank
Oh yeah… I was ahead of myself thinking Tuesday had gone while I’m looking forward to it in much anticipation. Please Boring Russian… be Boring, don’t crack
This is a great race… I think I know where I am for the next 4-5 hours
@frank Grimpito is Grimpeur the Younger in the Pyrenees