Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de Suisse 2014

Need more cowbell! photo: Moses Mexia

The Tour de Suisse can be everyone’s warm-up for the Tour de France, including all you VSP dreamers. The big show seems to be the Critérium de Dauphanié this year, as far as Tour de France contenders go but the Tour de Suisse still has some big guns showing up. Twiggo is here, not for a Tour warm up, unless people are worried about Richie Porte’s lack of form. If Wiggins was drafted, we would have the potential for another Stephen Roche-Roberto Visentini affair. That would be the best but I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Swiss tour is a proper mix of time trialing and climbing but one might lose more time in the climbing than the time trialing. Rui Costa, the defending champion, has the need to win in his new white kit. Twiggo may have a need to win just to make Sky management sleep badly between now and July. Cancellara has won his home tour but he would need some special mojo to win this one. The racing may well be more interesting than the Critérium de Dauphiné as the eventual winner most likely won’t be decided on the very first day.

As always, look to the countdown timer to avoid a Delgado situation. Here is a start list.

Prizes, we remember the prizes don’t we?

  • First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
  • Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
  • Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.

[vsp_results id=”30094″/]

Gianni

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  • @Buck Rogers Yup, and did you see the bit where he went over the speed bump and his real wheel lifted like a foot off the ground? (@3;35 mins) That would be a Jens-like trip to the hospital for most folks.

    And to add to the craziness, I think Sagan topped out at 88kms/hr, Fabs did 113 -25 kms/hr faster.

  • @wiscot

    @Buck Rogers Yup, and did you see the bit where he went over the speed bump and his real wheel lifted like a foot off the ground? (@3;35 mins) That would be a Jens-like trip to the hospital for most folks.

    And to add to the craziness, I think Sagan topped out at 88kms/hr, Fabs did 113 -25 kms/hr faster.

    Yes.  Insane.  85 kph is my top speed that I have ever done.  I was racing and coming off the back side of Mt Mansfield (Stowe MTN) in Vermont in a race.  SCARED the shit out of me, thank you very much!

  • "...do not try this at home...do not try this at home..."  Heh heh.

    I did 97 kmph once, just to say that I had. I emphasize "once." It was on a  wider, smoother road, and I didn't have my beanbag way down on a sloping top tube. Crazy.

  • I've done about 80kms/hr on a straight downhill with a tailwind. That was plenty. What was it Kelly said he did (nonchalantly) during a Paris-Nice broadcast? 124 km/hr? That's almost 78 mph. I don't drive my car that fast.

  • @wiscot

    Were those unbranded Bonts Costa was wearing as part of the Rainbow Turd ensemble? Sure looked like it.

    yep, they were. I had seen him wearing Sidis in various team shots earlier in the year so it's cool he is sticking with the Bonts. Or he is getting a lot of money to wear them. Who knows. Frank converted me to Bonts.

  • @Gianni

    @wiscot

    Were those unbranded Bonts Costa was wearing as part of the Rainbow Turd ensemble? Sure looked like it.

    yep, they were. I had seen him wearing Sidis in various team shots earlier in the year so it's cool he is sticking with the Bonts. Or he is getting a lot of money to wear them. Who knows. Frank converted me to Bonts.

    You may think you were looking at Sidis, but you may have been looking at an elaborate disguise... (via the Inrng).  Note that he has more than one pair of these slightly odd-looking things.

  • Speaking of Sidis, I have a pair of Genius Carbons (non-vented) in blue and white that need a new home. Barely worn, size 44. The last and my right foot are not compatible. Anyone interested?

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