Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2014
Did everyone got tired of seeing a nearly naked Marcel Kittel on the massage table for the Tour’s VSP page? I know I didn’t. Young Kennaugh will be sporting his British road race jersey and his proper shoe/sock pairing in this Vuelta. Get used to it.
Ladies and gentleman we have a race. We have some Giro winners, we have some Tour de France winners and we have some Vuelta winners all lining up for the 2014 edition.
Quintana won the Giro but wants to prove he is the real deal. Is Malmerde working for him? Froome, he has been training in Sonoma, California. Talansky lives there, maybe they have both been training with egg timer. I think we can count out Horner to repeat or Bertie to do anything other than put some points in his jersey pocket. Carlos Alberto Betancur is here to lose some weight. David Millar is in to show he really deserved to ride the Tour de France. Boonen is here to train for the World Championships. Maybe everybody is here because their boss said get your skinny (or fat, in Betancur’s case) ass to Spain and ride the damn Vuelta.
No matter, the reason you, dear readers are here, is to show your total domination in the VSP. Stare at the start list until olive oil pops out of your tear ducts and stigmata appear on your palms. Redemption, points, the Worlds, spite or orders from the boss are all equally good reasons to get riders on the start list. How many people picked Chris Horner to win last year? Just a moment, I’ll query the VSP generator for archived results.
“Fuck off, I’m full”
The VSP generator is channeling Mr Creosote, that’s not a good sign. The point is, if there is one, this season’s VSP* is hanging in the balance on the Vuelta. Don’t consult the professional odds makers, that is like doping. Who is motivated? Who has a great team? Who does not make too many kit transgressions? Who looks fantastic on the bike? These are the questions.
Who has the answers?
*Prizes are as follows:
- 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=”30805″/]
@Gianni
Spaniards are hilarious, its like they don’t all speak the same language the way they get confused and blame each other for not racing. Damn Froome is a tough bugger, ugly on a bike but will not give up. Bertie hit him with everything, then Purito put in an attack and he just ground his way back. Bring on more hills!
@Daccordi Rider
Agreed, what a fighting performance he’s putting in. Three weeks deep in the pain cave just staring at that power meter. It’s definitely not pretty but it certainly is impressive.
@Geraint
I think the press are over egging the Spaniards not working together thing. After all they completely robbed Robert Miller of a Vuelta. This was more about tactics, Malmerde was not going to work for Bertie and JRod the same. In the end Bertie was left to work but that is cycling and looking at the interview and the leading question that was put to him he pretty much shrugged it off as race tactics.
However I do get a feeling that Vroom Vrooms diesel engine is starting to wind itself up now and it is not surprising he was a little behind after the effort he put in on Saturday. This is all about who can save themselves the most and to me Malmerde looks the most rested at the moment…JRod too but he always seems to be the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Froome could come good…but suspect in the end he will podium but not win. I think Spartacus is going to channel some of his gob in to his riding, make up the time and win by 8 seconds!
And whats with Saggy getting in to the Broom Wagon?
@Deakus I like your musings, Sparty going for it now maybe, with 2 climbs left. I don’t think he will make it but good for him just being there and playing off the front.
I’m wondering if Froome was just doing exactly what was in his plan yesterday and today he will light the torch and leave the 3 Manchegos far far behind?
I loves me a super-bantamweight tussle!
King Kelly sums it up nicely…
@Harminator Hoo-wee! Looks like Bertie threw the first “punch” but the commissaires certainly wouldn’t reprimand him,. would they? This being Spain etc, etc. Wonder what the “musettes at dawn” issue was all about?
@wiscot
My mistake, it wasn’t Bertie, but one of his teammates . . .
Every time I think maybe I could like Bertie, he does that pistol celebration. Ah well, probably for the best.
Great racing, though.
@wiscot They both got ejected it seems. Rovny from Tinkoff and Brambilla from OPQS.
Totally justified. Its this kind of stuff that muddies cycling’s clean image.
@andrew Agreed. Both ride ugly but their racing styles make compelling viewing.
@Harminator
Agreed x 2. I should read things before reaction to things on here! This kind of thing really sucks as it’s just “soundbitey” enough to fit into news/sports broadcasts and make people laugh at two skinny boys throwing punches. Interestingly, they apparently let Rovny do his job for Bertie THEN told him to quit.
Seriously pissed that Tommeke didn’t win the other day . . .
This is shaping up nicely for me to Cobo-swap Contador in for Nairo.
@Nate
Oh No You Dinnnint!
@Gianni
I dinnnint. But i’m fixn ta.
I think the best thing about yesterday’s stage was the sound of King Kelly on Eurosport clearly trying not to piss himself laughing when he was talking about the handbags at dawn moment. Classic.
As for Bertie. Sorry, not normal IMHO.
@Deakus
I can’t find a link, but I read that Contador and Valverde had a falling out at the 2013 TdF.
The story is that Contador had been trying to bully Quintana into helping him more against Froome, and Valverde got upset about it. There was a yelling match behind the buses, and then Valverde recruited JRod to help protect Quintana and in return Movistar helped him attack Contador and make it onto the podium.
@The Grande Fondue
Aah that puts a slightly different perspective on it, it also explains why yesterday he was happy to go away with Froome and is always complimenting him post stage…he did it again yesterday…shadows within shadows!
So I have 4 of the top 5 all in the wrong order and to swap in Aru will cost heavily with no guarantee of him staying there….looks like I will stick with what I have and hope for a reshuffle!
@Deakus
Well I’m so down the pan I’ll just stay there!
Blimey, it’s all been kicking off for days out in Spain!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/deignan-says-he-was-punched-full-in-the-face-by-rodriguez
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Uran
4. Rodriguez
5. Valverde
Swap Day
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Aru
4. Uran
5. Dan Martin
@Mike_P
Handbags at dawn! These boys need to get in the ring and sort it out. My money is on the Irishman!
Rest day swap.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Alberto Contador
2. Christopher Froome
3. Fabio Aru
4. Rigoberto Uran
5. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Alberto Contador
2. Chris Froome
3. Dan Martin
4. Joaquin Rodriguez
5. Alejandro Valverde
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Aru
4. Kelderman
5. Uran
@Deakus
Thanks fort posting that. Way too funny and a great way to start the day with a laugh. Kudos to Andre Previn for being a good sport too.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Rodriguez
4. Uran
5. Valverde
Quinta out, Clenbutador in.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. J Rod
4. Valverde
5. Honer
2nd rest day swaps – Contador to 1st, Froome to 2nd.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Uran
4. Dennis
5. Aru
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador, Alberto
2. FROOME
3. Rodriguez
4. Uran
5. Aru
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Valverde
4. Martin
5. JRod
Ok, since my brief, out of body like experience of being on the podium before the tour I admit to submarining my chances, Aru in #2, Kelderman #5, the other picks going to new blood… How sadly wrong!
So the old guard is nailing this down and all I can hope for with my -40 worth of rest day swaps is a miracle of reshuffling – isn’t there a final TT?? I know my logic is very very thin. Nay, piss pathetic but this race has a ways to go yet…
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Aru
3. Contador
4. Valverde
5. Rodriguez
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Derty Berty
2. Froome
3. Valverde
4. Aru
5. J Rod
What a ride by Froomedog yesterday. He’s obviously been suffering for a fortnight but found something special to drop Purito & Malmerde. Bertie’s in a different league at the moment though, chapeau to him for coming back like that after breaking his leg.
As for the rest day swaps, my main picks crashed out early in the TdF and I thought I had nothing to lose by swapping, ended up scoring f-all, so I’m sticking with my original pics. Bertie might just have a jour sans (dias sin?). Unlikely on current form, but you never know.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. A. Contador
2. C. Froome
3. R. Uran
4. J. Rodriguez
5. W. Kelderman
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Valverde
4. Pinot
5. Rodriguez
@Mike_P
Hard to believe those two guy’s crashed out of TDF with fractures…
.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. A. Contador
2. C Froome
3. J Rodriguez
4. R Uran
5. W Kelderman
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Alberto Contador
2. Joaquim Rodriguez
3. Alejandro Valverde
4. Fabio Aru
5. Wilco Kelderman
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome
3. Valverde
4. Uran
5. Kelderman
Since Quintana crashed out I am just thinking WTF…
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Valverde
3. J. Rodriguez
4. Froome
5. Martin
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Contador
2. Froome, C
3. Rodriguez, Joaquin
4. Valverde, A
5. Aru, F
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Joaquim Rodriguez
4. Uran
5. Talansky
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. contador
2. Froome
3. Uran
4. J. Rodriguez
5. Aru
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Froome
2. Bertie
3. Purito
4. Kelderman
5. Dan the Man Martin
Fabio Aru’s face in today’s sprint to the line: Kid sure looks like a bike racer.
Wow, I go dark for a week, and I come back to find out I’ve just lost the top spot. Holding out hope for Navarro to bring me back in the mix.
Nice. 26-points. Attacking from the front of the peloton and bridging to the break-away group!
Head to http://www.steephill.tv/vuelta-a-espana/ for the final climb of this years tour, this is how you suffer.