One of the loveliest things about the Grand Tours is that you get a feel, by the nature of the route, of the country’s landscape and physical qualities. Italy is littered with mountains and coasts, France is bordered by mountains with large swaths of open landscape throughout, and Spain is like Tatooine; mostly desert with some rocky outcroppings. I might be oversimplifying here, but it seems like every edition of the Vuelta features a week or two of riders cutting through open desert on a freeway and then finishing it off with some climbs that require a buzz-saw gear to get up. Of the three Tours, this one is my least favorite, but it’s a bike race and I loves me a bike race.
The Vuelta also stands apart as being the event which generally decides the Velominati Super Prestige GC and the personalized Shop Apron that goes with it; in past editions, we’ve even had newcomers to the event debut at the Vuelta and win the overall, as was the case last year with @Nate’s performance. Unless I have that wrong, in which case I don’t really care. The important point here is that even though there is less interest in this event than others, it matters quite a bit to the year-long VSP, so you better be paying attention, corporal.
No fancy prizes on offer as we did at the Tour, but we do have our customary Symbol Pack up for grabs, in addition to second and third places winning a pair of Handlebar Cufflinks each when they come available in a few weeks. So, check the race details, get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero (5am Pacific time on Saturday), and buckle in for the ride. Regular GT VSP rules apply. Good luck.
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Bertie to win. I'm really looking forward to seeing him back and on the attack. Tom DG was great in the Giro and rested up. Gilbert as an outside bet to get me the jersey. I'm putting Froome in without confidence, I reckon he may run out of puff, then again without having to hold Wiggos hand who knows?
VSP PICKS:
1. Bertie
2. Froome
3. De gendt
4. Anton
5. Gilbert
At this point I'm just trying to nip into the top 30 overall for my rookie year. Lessons learned, a good recovery and solid base training this winter will lead me to glory next year.
VSP PICKS:
1. J-Rod
2. Contador
3. Froome
4. De Gendt
5. igor anton
Bertie for the win. I'm really looking forward to having him back and on the attack. Froome without confidence, he will probably run out of puff, then again if he does not have to hold Wiggos hand..... Tommy DG was great in the Giro and should be rested up. Anton, just coz he has to come good. Gilbert as my smokey to get me the jersery. Form is turning around and he will want something out of the year (besides the Worlds and Lombardia). Who is this Cobo you speak of?
At this point I'm just trying to nip into the top 30 in my rookie year.
My picks didn't go up for some reason, trying again.
Fucked if I know. The boxes are filled out, anyone?
VSP PICKS:
1. Uran
2. Contador
3. Froome
4. Joaquim RODRIGUEZ
5. Cobo
No Ryder. Your bitch asses are lucky. Updated picks accordingly.
VSP PICKS:
1. Alberto Contador
2. Chris Froome
3. Joaquim Rodriguez
4. Nairo Quintana
5. Thomas De Gendt
@Daccordi Rider
Happened to me too, I think Frank hates South Australians.