Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2015
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:
Café Roubaix's CR Wheelworks Arenbergs
[vsp_results id=”33481″/]
Rest day picks. Missed getting my picks in. Grr.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
Crap. Change that. Final rest day picks.
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
Soooo,
Rodriguez is back in due to TJs crash
Why do my picks have to crash? Is it me picking them that are making them crash out?
Sorry TJ…
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
Nairo Quintana
Fabio Aru
Christpher Froome
Alejandro Valverde
Joachin Rodriguez
Not many changes going on out there. Is everyone satisfied? Or have we learned that the price of the swap is great?
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
Let’s throw Tom D. in for Nibbles…
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):
At least most of us will get equally screwed when Froome DNSs tomorrow.
@Erik
No, I delgadoed and I should have changed Nibbles for Dumoulin.
Where can I see live footage from the Vuelta? I can only get liveticker and right now Dumoulin is in troubles as Chaves and V-ana are escaping.
@KogaLover
If it makes you feel any better, my VSP is, essentially over. I’ll wear my badge for the Ronde with pride but I don’t think I’ll be recovering from my risk of leaving Froome out of my Tour choices.
@KogaLover, try Steephill.tv for arguably pirated feeds.
he’s a gonner. He’s tweeted to say he needed crutches last night. Fair play to him, crashing at the start and then riding THAT stage on legs that were clearly fucked up takes some doing.
Its refreshing not be reading the usual cynical tripe one would normally be reading with Tom Dumolin being a time trial specialist mixing it up with the big boys (should that be small boys ) in the mountains . Its also refreshing not to read the usual crap about the Astana riders (namely Landa and Aru) doing so well . I wonder why this is the case ? The Astana riders copped a shit load in the giro and I was expecting to open these pages to read a bucketfull of comments condemning Tommy.
@Al__S
Really. You break a bone in your foot, at the beginning of the toughest stage in recent grand tour history, and you finish?! What was he thinking?! You don’t have to like Froome, he might ride ugly and have the personality of a cement block, but this should erase any doubts, Froome is one tough mofo. My only complaint is his timing. The day after the 5-point first rest day swap?! Really?! And now we find out Quintana has diarrhea?
Must say that I’m enjoying Sr Chaves’ work in Spain.
@rockkk
maybe you’ve just been lucky that it hasn’t been broadcast here in Aus yet & the usual online streams have been less than reliable. Rest assured that we’re now getting the last week live, we’ll return to regular programming…either that or we’re still all in disbelief at the gall shown by Fabio’s compatriot (and team directors) in trying to keep up with the escaping peloton on stage 2!
But yeah, silly us for questioning the morality of the boys in powder blue…
I would love J-Rod to take this. It’s the only outcome I can handle. Aru and the Thunderbirds leave me cold. TInkov is a COTHO. Dumoulin looks like the real but fresh meat. Might blow in the TT from sheer enthusiasm. Almost fell off the couch today when Malmerde cracked. He’s been peaking since Liege! Must be fixing for the Worlds. I dunno.
No rest day swaps but I’m rootin for J-Rod. Smart with a good dose of reckless.
@Harminator, @Mikael Liddy
Can I just say I feel a little awakening of some Dirty Schlecky Love! Its been since 2011 last time I saw one of those twigs win something! That was a cracking ride today!
Seriously? Presently seated top 10 all because I put Aru in the right spot for today? No one is doing well in this race.
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
Dumoulin
Quintana
Aru
Valverde
Nibali
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
C’mon Purito!!
Mierda! I missed the swap deadline.
Was abroad for work so delgadoed the second swap… Still some people think Nibali will return???
The 10 point penalty means it not worth swapping him unless you had him first or second place. Same reason I didn’t take Froome out.
@frank
Haha, thought you may have enjoyed that. That last climb looked fucking brutal, watching guys like Schleck & Purito just about come to a standstill gives you a fair idea of how bloody steep it was!
From a one second gap to a three second gap. Nice race.
3 seconds. Still some nasty mountains, but the finishes are all downhill. We’ve had good Grand Tours this year. But these last few days will be something else entirely
@Minnesota Expat
I know. Madness. Presumably the medical car doesn’t hand out painkillers stronger than paracetamol? He didn’t just roll in with the gruppetto, he came 32 less than 9 minutes down.
Great ride by alejandro, that’s all that needs to be said, I think
Well, I’m fucked (not that I was in the running for anything)
@ped
The less said about that COTHO the better. Every time I see that guy in the mix I curse and repeat my wish that he would go away. He’s been peaking since fucking April. Not normal. Why Movistar put up with him is a complete mystery. His tactics are bizarre. He seems to have zero interest in committing to Quintana. I don’t think I could hate him more except maybe if he moved to Astana.
the ride of the day had to be Aru’s..
@Daccordi Rider
Holy crap, Red Jersey!
Not sure if anyone has posted these previously….
Orica Greenedge has put together a series of videos covering each stage of the Vuelta. They’re really well done and offer some great behind the scenes stuff. After watching these it’s hard not to be a fan of Esteban Chavez. OGE really seem like a great bunch of fellas.
Back Stage Pass OGE
Is fucking Dumoulin going to win the Vuelta? When is the last time a Dutchman won a GT? I’ve not been this psyched over a stage race in a long time. Now, if I could only manage to watch a stage occasionally…?
Joop’s tdf, I do believe.
@frank
Aaargh, dumoulin ‘s been mapped as Sam on the VSP for all who put him in as a rest day swap. Never even crossed my mind, the little Frenchman isn’t even in the race, dammit
@Erik
And that was in 1980 after Hinault dropped out of the Tour with knee issues. I’m sure hoping big Tom Dumolin is no JJ Cobo in the dodgy “flash-in-the-pan-never=heard-of-again” scenario.
I thought it hilarious that any collusion between Giant and Lotto was deemed irregular. This is the Vuelta FFS. If Dumoulin was Spanish every damn Spanish team would be working for him against Aru. Just ask Robert Millar how things work in the Vuelta.
@frank
Probably not. But it’s nice to see the optimism of the Dutch. Much like the English at the football World Cup. Very demoralizing for national pride in the end. Better to aim low and exceed expectations than be a perennial disappointment.
Loved watching Tommy D crush the cobbles on the finish today. Better than his ITT and I loved that too. Unfortunately for him, Count Aru will eclipse him tomorrow. Fuck Astana.
PS. What was Valverde doing today? He’s a tactical twatwaffle.
@frank
You cheer for him because he’s Dutch. I cheer for him because we share the same disability – 6’1″ and 165 pounds!
Go you tall, fat bastard!