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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"I talked with Lance Armstrong too today and he gave me a Livestrong bracelet, without paying," Schleck said. "He said it fitted my jersey well."
- A Grimpeur
Rule fail.
Thought it was a little ironic that Renshaw gets DQ'd for his moves which could have caused a crash and yet the stupid fucking French (I think) journo who jumped out in front of McEwen, causing a crash, was suspended for a day. Fucking French.
One thing you gotta admire are the handling skills of these blokes! You imagine trying to drive a bike at 70+kph whilst handing out Liverpool kisses to some bloke leaning on you and then continue on to execute your leadout then close the door on Farrar! Genius.
Wish Graeme Brown was racing - then we would see a real crazy Aussie sprinter.
And Frank don't get me started on Theo Bos! Fucking Dutch.
@Marcus
To judge by today, if Bos had been riding for HTC-C instead of Robberbank in Turkey there would've been a press release within seconds explaining that Impey had in fact leapt off his bike, and that Theo was actually just trying to stop him (but couldn't because he didn't have the same upper body strength as Daryl).
Its a forum. You are entitled to hold your views and to express them and I'm entitled to disagree with them. Which I do. I will also admit that my views are probably coloured by race prejudice: if I am honest, I find the idea of a seppo - esp. one who appears to be a COTH - winning the greatest race in the world (maybe) more times that the euro heroes of my youth. (In my defence, it seems that plenty of residents of USA!USA!USA! back Lance because he beats those slimy Euros at their own game.) Whatever, I am happy that the Lance Age is over. The TdF is worth watching again.
But this bit:
was a bit challenging. Surely this is credible as Basso's "I only thought about doing it"?
I thought DQ'ing Renshaw was a bit OTT. Someone needs to man up and get Cavendish off Renshaw's wheel earlier if they are going to beat him and that will involve all manner of pushing and shoving.
So, just back from 'vacation' with wife and kids by the sea... and catching up on what's where with TdF. Listened to yesterday's stage on the radio... when it came through that Renshaw had been disqualified, the Radio presenters (not cyclists or cycling fans) started pissing themselves... quote "he was trying to headbutt someone on a bike? Going 80kmh? Well done! Give him a medal. Oh, Producer saying I can't say that... errr... obviously needs to be sporting... Kids, don't try this at home... But come on, they're wearing helmets... can't he see that it isn't going to work anyway?..." Helluva week to be away. Only two paragraphs per day in shitty UK newspapers, that's it.
@Kermitpunk
You called it! Hushovd away with the points!
@john
POE and OPE!
It's quite simple really, you just connect a gigantic network of comPUUUUTTTOORS.
@Geof
Indeed. If I had his email address, I would send him a note. Very disappointing. Aside the fact that those bracelets are like a dollar, right? Aren't they a dollar?
Rule Fail. Love it.
john :@Omar
"I told you never to call me here."
@Marcus
To quote Austin Powers's's's's dad, "Two things in this world I can't stand, people who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the DUTCH!"
This kind of Dutch hatred is really just borne out of jealousy. We are such an awesome people - quick of wit, always right, dashingly good-looking. I can see how that might be frustrating for others.
The flying Canuck has set off the howitzers!!