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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@frank
thank you, I knew there was a crass joke in there somewhere. something had to be done/said...
I'm going to throw the kiddo Talansky in there. Nothing to lose, but a lot to gain by being aggressive. Cobo? One hit wonder. Tommy DeG? Keeping his powder dry since the Giro. Will be looking for a good ride to fulfill promise and raise his value. Froome? free to go and ride without looking over his shoulder like Frandy. Contador? Up for a good showing but not enough racing in his legs to win. Rodriguez? Spanish in Spain, nuff said
VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. De Gendt
4. Rodriguez
5. Talansky
VSP PICKS:
1. well contador. duh
2. van der broek
3. j rod
4. ok, froome, for old times sake
5. gesink
Bertie has this in the bag. Froome will be up there unti the last mountain stage where he cracks and holds onto the podium. J-Rod will win a couple of stages which will secure him second place. Talanski and De Gendt will battle between each other for the final top five places.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. J-Rod
3. Froome
4. Talanski
5. De Gendt
VSP PICKS:
1. contador
2. froome
3. j rod
4. cobo
5. igor anton
VSP PICKS:
1. Vroome
2. Contador
3. van Den Broeck
4. Rodriquez
5. Gesink
VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Gesink
3. Bertie
4. Flecha
5. De Gendt
I (honestly) would probably get more points by not entering. I have watched the Vuelta in previous years aghast as favourites don't even figure in the standings, basically I have no idea, and as such have ruthelssly plagiarised the form cards of others - kind of like wheelsucking on the VSP.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vroome
2. Gesink
3. Rodriguez
4. Contador
5. Van den Broek.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cuntador
2. Froome
3. Juaquim Rodriguez
4. Cobo
5. Anto
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Joaquim Rodriguez
4. Gesink
5. Cobo