The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige makes an unscheduled stop this week at the Tour de Suisse. Originally left off the VSP roster, it was decided among the Keepers that the ‘fourth Grand Tour’ is indeed worthy of inclusion in our humble tipping competition. As one of the final hit-outs for many Tour de France contenders, the Swiss race shows who might be ready to step up in July, who’s needing to pull their finger out, and who might be targeting this race as a worthy addition to their palmares. With a couple of TT’s, stages that could go to the sprinters or a daring breakaway, and some of the most picturesque mountain passes in Europe, it has something for everyone, and anyone could win.
Can Motorcus find an ‘extra gear’ and back up his 09 victory? Will the EgoTesticle show signs of his old self on the bike, or just behave like his old self off it? And are the Brothers Grimpeur finally going to do something, anything?
Let us know your thoughts, and make your picks to pick up a sweet Obey The Rules bumper sticker, in the posts section on this page. For a full rundown on the competition scoring etc, visit our VSP Schedule, Rules and Results page.
Good luck!
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1. Fabian CANCELLARA
2. Luis Leon SANCHEZ
3. Roman KREUZIGER
4. Joaquin RODRIGUEZ
5. Tony MARTIN
1. A. Schleck
2. Cancellara
3. Armstrong
4. Michael Rogers
5. Cristian VDV
@Roberto Marques
And the man in Pink draws his picks. Heed this people, this dude knows his shit.
@Marko that was only beginner's luck...let's see how we all perform in this Le Tour preparation!
Tony Martin - Suisse is a good race for a future champion to win
LL Cool Sanchez - Because he can never seem to win
Mick Rogers - Going well, playing a supporting role to Martin and looking good for July (but as usual will flatter to deceive in The Big Race)
Gilbert the Great - because it's not that hard a parcours, but too hard for Motorcus
Joaquin Rodriguez - just because
Worryingly loaded with English-speakers. Might have to dump DZ for Gilbert
Schleck (A)
Rogers
Kloden
Cancellara
Kreuziger
Trying to figure out the theories behind all the picks is fun in itself! Anticipating how the race might unfold to confirm or disconfirm them is making me giddy already. Fucking exciting this Super Prestige thing is. Several of us giving no shrift whatsoever to the youngsters, Martin, Gesink, and Kreuziger. Some of us, Me, Soleur, and Marques, have all veterans on the list. I can't wait!
@ben, @Souleur, @david, @crossy
Welcome to the VSP, guys! Great to have some more contestants. Now we're going to have to really get our shit together if we're going to do anything!!
On that note:
This is not a very hard route this year, but Spartacus (I refuse to believe the motor rumors) is too fat to climb even these mountains. Christ, I have no idea what I'm doing here.
1. F. Grimpeur - Rode well in Luxemburg, the country with almost the coolest flag in Europe (with the winner being the flag they copied, the Netherlands)
2. Kreuziger - Dude is a sick climber but we don't have enough hills.
3. Pharmstrong - He insists on pissing me off by staying on the leaderboards. I suspect he'll continue to do so.
4. Lloyd - He's got potential.
5. Gesink - If he can stay upright, he can do pretty well.
Man, I miss Ullrich.
@david
They are fun. I'm completely nervous now that I've committed my choices to the archive. I'll loose at least a little sleep tonight.
The Giro was a blast - lots of strategery with whether or not to make changes on rest days, etc. Glad you joined in for this round. With a good performance from here on out, anyone could still win the shop apron at the end of the year.
1. Kreuziger. (Arrogant little prick, but can definitely ride and will be very keen to make a point vis-a-vis Vincenzo.)
2. Tony Martin. (Enormous motor, which will be required to be at the service of CavityDouche (that's a little teeth gag there for ya) come July, but which will hopefully get let off the leash a bit in Switzerland. And, as he showed on Ventoux last year, he knows how to disappear a long way into that pain cave.)
3. LL Cool Sanchez. (No particular reason. Frankly I dunno what I'm doing. But he's class. And it's time he showed it.)
4. Spartacus. (He'll defend. And he's cool. And not motorised. And it's not too hilly. And he's cool. And not motorised.)
5. Little Franky Grimpeur. (He'll be balls out for the little bro come July, so Bjarn will let him have a crack here.)
I'd like to have found a spot for Twistin Banged and Felled, but I just don't think he'll be targeting it - his focus will be to come right from his injuries (again) for July. ET (Texas) will be focussed further down the track. ET (California) just ain't got it no more. Gesink needs more hills (and traction control). Gilbert is total class - but after the start to the season he's had, and the consistency he's shown throughout it, does he have the type of form needed for a stage race like this? I'd love to say "Hell, yeah", but I don;t think he does.
Finally, since when is the Tour de Suisse the fourth GT? I'm sure I heard Andrew Messick say the Vuelta was 4th (3rd being Giro and 2nd being ToC) ....