Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2015

Meanwhile in Spain...

This is the best Cycling photo in the history of time. If you’re wondering why, then we’re probably not looking at the same photo. I am pretty sure the guy playing guitar is the Dos Equis guy.

Anyway, nothing that cool will happen during this year’s Vuelta, although we’ll get to watch more lightbulb-humping, if that’s any consolation (it isn’t). But we do get to treat ourselves to the third and final Grand Tour of 2015 which is exactly as depressing as it is exciting. I’m also not going to remind anyone that I don’t really like the Vuelta because the last two times I said that, the race turned out to be terrific.

The VSP keeps on keepin’ on as well, with big points on offer for the Jaegher frame, Café Roubaix wheelset, or V-Kit. Anything can happen, and in past years we’ve seen the Vuelta be the deciding factor in winning the overall VSP; @Minnesota Expat holds a solid lead over @dancollins, a past winner. @Steampunk holds third over a tight field behind him and here’s hoping our Aussie Keeper @brett can finally put a point on the board as well, which would see him hoist himself out of the Lanterne Rouge. (I actually had to do some coding to give him his Keeper’s badge back, which is something I hadn’t anticipated when I designed the system, needless to say.)

So, study the start list, put in your picks by the time the clock goes to zero, and good luck.

Teaser shots of the Jaegher frame:

Teaser shots of the CR Wheelworks Arenbergs:

[vsp_results id=”33481″/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

wiscot says:

Aug 20 2015 at 8:52 am
@KogaLover
@wiscot

@Oli

The great Jose Manuel Fuente. Super shot.

Indeed it is Fuente. However, I think the pic was taken during the Giro. Fuente is wearing the dark green jersey of best climber which was sponsored by Plastic Screen in the early/mid 70s. Two, I think the jersey says La Gazzetta Della Sport on the left side of the chest and thirdly, the non-guitar playing spectator is wearing a SCIC hat – most likely a freebie from the sponsor of an Italian team. Italian teams rarely did the Vuelta in the 70s as it was so close to the Giro. Fuente won the Mountains classification in the Giro four times – in 71, 72, 73 and 74 .

Matching bidon to jersey, no DT shifters. You’re right on the Gazetto dello Sport tag. Also would think is rather Italian: all cars (save the Merc) are Italian and the guy below wears Bianchi cap.

VSP PICKS:
1. Nairo V-ana
2. Vroom-vroom Froome
3. Alejandro Greenvalley
4. Fabs Aruuuuhuuu
5. Vincenzo Nibbles
If I'm not mistaken, Fuente's seatpost in the top picture here is drilled out!

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Aru
3. Quintana
4. Van Garderen
5. Valverde
MangoDave says:

Aug 20 2015 at 9:43 am
Not exactly an original group in my selection, but here it is...

VSP PICKS:
1. Quintana
2. Valverde
3. Froome
4. Aru
5. Rodriguez
SamV says:

Aug 20 2015 at 10:28 am

VSP PICKS:

Quintana
SamV says:

Aug 20 2015 at 10:29 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Quintana
2. Froome
3. Nibali
4. Aru
5. Valverde
plynie says:

Aug 20 2015 at 10:37 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Vincenzo NIBALI
2. Chris FROOME
3. Nairo QUINTANA
plynie says:

Aug 20 2015 at 10:43 am
* Note to self* Don't press enter half way through selecting picks!

VSP PICKS:
1. Vincenzo NIBALI
2. Chris FROOME
3. Nairo QUINTANA
4. Mikel LANDA
5. Domenico POZZOVIVO
frank says:

Aug 20 2015 at 10:46 am
@PT
Flares are cool. Why are we not wearing more flares?

VSP PICKS:
1. Landa
2. Cold Sweat
3. Majka
Cold sweat? WTF.
Gareth Davies says:

Aug 20 2015 at 11:06 am

VSP PICKS:

Froome
quintana
Valverde
Invalid
aru
evo360 says:

Aug 20 2015 at 11:13 am
Can't wait for the last GT of the year, I'm fortunate to get over there to witness it first hand this year

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. quintana
3. Nibali
4. Valverde
5. Aru
wiscot says:

Aug 20 2015 at 11:22 am

You know, another great thing about the lead pic is the guy with the guitar. That's cool. One can only imagine what he might be singing, but it sure beats some douche in a Borat baw-hammock, or some twat with moose antlers on a football helmet. As for the flares? Those are the real deal: tight fitting through the ass and thigh then spreading wide. Who says the 70's were a black hole for fashion?

VSP PICKS:

Froome
Aru
Quintana
Van Garderen
Valverde