Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2017

Contador in the Red in 2014

Holy fuckballs. I’ve never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I’ve missed them entirely – which is another kind of incompetence entirely – but I’m shocked at how quickly this week blew by me. I think I have whiplash.

Be that as it may, the Vuelta is on our doorstep, and before you panic, I’ll leave the picks open until Monday so we have enough time to screw up our picks despite knowing who crashes out in the first few days.

This is actually exciting stuff. We have some serious grudge-matching going on here for the Vuelta. Chris Froome is double-talking, Bardet is trash-talking, and Contador is exit-talking. This could be interesting.

On the subject of Bardet, he is my new Schleck. I love how he looks on the bike, and he’s got a fighting spirit. And he rides a white bike, which is the color bike I’m obsessed with. And I’m equally sure he will never win a major bike race, on account that I fancy him. (Roman, if you are reading this, I ask your forgiveness.)

Alright, I’ll stop faffing about. Check the start list, get your picks in, and let’s get this party started.

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

Teocalli says:

Sep 3 2017 at 4:21 am

@Cary

@Teocalli

i just took my new Masi out for a 30k hellfest. while i was suffering like a stray dog in a gutter, i kept looking at my chrome luggs, and was duly fortified by the visage. the communication from the road, provided by Reynolds steel, an appreciated bonus. road cycling is so much more than heart rate and wattage. a GREAT day in my life, among many, provided by a finely crafted and properly equipped machine.

0

Nice
Rick says:

Sep 3 2017 at 8:38 am

I watched today's stage courtesy of Steephill. I was hoping for some fireworks on the 28k climb to the summit finish. In the end, the GC contenders finished mostly together. Zakarin attacked and gained time to move into third place overall (which screwed my VSP picks).

It seems these days everyone in Grand Tours rides to preserve their podium place rather than to win.
Randy C says:

Sep 3 2017 at 2:02 pm

@Rick

I watched today’s stage courtesy of Steephill. I was hoping for some fireworks on the 28k climb to the summit finish. In the end, the GC contenders finished mostly together. Zakarin attacked and gained time to move into third place overall (which screwed my VSP picks).

It seems these days everyone in Grand Tours rides to preserve their podium place rather than to win.

Maybe that's it... But dang, the Sky train and Froome have mastered the tempo and power meter. Attacks get out ahead and as they come back out of the red, they slowly get reeled back in with steady Sky tempo that's gotta be just near the limit. Nibali today got out front and then was pegged right at 10 sec and allowed to dangle out there. Wout Poels leads tempo in front and still finishes with lead group at end today ?!? So strong. More than a few attacks today were gobbled up and dropped out the back yes ? Lopez has looked super strong these past couple of days for sure. Cheers
Rick says:

Sep 3 2017 at 5:28 pm

@Randy C

@Rick

I watched today’s stage courtesy of Steephill. I was hoping for some fireworks on the 28k climb to the summit finish. In the end, the GC contenders finished mostly together. Zakarin attacked and gained time to move into third place overall (which screwed my VSP picks).

It seems these days everyone in Grand Tours rides to preserve their podium place rather than to win.

Maybe that’s it… But dang, the Sky train and Froome have mastered the tempo and power meter. Attacks get out ahead and as they come back out of the red, they slowly get reeled back in with steady Sky tempo that’s gotta be just near the limit. Nibali today got out front and then was pegged right at 10 sec and allowed to dangle out there. Wout Poels leads tempo in front and still finishes with lead group at end today ?!? So strong. More than a few attacks today were gobbled up and dropped out the back yes ? Lopez has looked super strong these past couple of days for sure. Cheers

0

I agree that Sky has become very skilled at riding to power numbers. I was surprised that no one attacked in the last kilometer, or 500 meters. They all just rode to the finish with Froome.
Cary says:

Sep 3 2017 at 7:56 pm

@Rick

@Randy C

@Rick

I watched today’s stage courtesy of Steephill. I was hoping for some fireworks on the 28k climb to the summit finish. In the end, the GC contenders finished mostly together. Zakarin attacked and gained time to move into third place overall (which screwed my VSP picks).

It seems these days everyone in Grand Tours rides to preserve their podium place rather than to win.

Maybe that’s it… But dang, the Sky train and Froome have mastered the tempo and power meter. Attacks get out ahead and as they come back out of the red, they slowly get reeled back in with steady Sky tempo that’s gotta be just near the limit. Nibali today got out front and then was pegged right at 10 sec and allowed to dangle out there. Wout Poels leads tempo in front and still finishes with lead group at end today ?!? So strong. More than a few attacks today were gobbled up and dropped out the back yes ? Lopez has looked super strong these past couple of days for sure. Cheers

0

I agree that Sky has become very skilled at riding to power numbers. I was surprised that no one attacked in the last kilometer, or 500 meters. They all just rode to the finish with Froome.

0

for me, excessive focus on hr and power has sucked a bit of the joy out of some group riding, and even watching certain races. i know people that cannot talk about anything else on a group ride. i have seen SO many crashes and other avoidable blunders on local rides due to lack of proper awareness and focus. indeed, the idea that made the Velominati rules, and this community so attractive to me initially, was the embrace of the ride, and the awareness and soft focus necessary to fully EXPERIENCE it. cycling on many levels, has turned into a live action SIMS game.
RobSandy says:

Sep 4 2017 at 12:44 am

@Rick

I watched today’s stage courtesy of Steephill. I was hoping for some fireworks on the 28k climb to the summit finish. In the end, the GC contenders finished mostly together. Zakarin attacked and gained time to move into third place overall (which screwed my VSP picks).

It seems these days everyone in Grand Tours rides to preserve their podium place rather than to win.

0

Suits me - I've now got the top 3 in the right order. Wont last.

I guess the reason no one launches attacks against Froome and Sky is simply that they can't. The pace is so high that to attack from it is just too much.

Unless you're Lopez and can ride away from everyone, at altitude, and cross the line on your own without seemingly needing to breathe. Hmm....
davidlhill says:

Sep 4 2017 at 3:14 am

@Cary

for me, excessive focus on hr and power has sucked a bit of the joy out of some group riding, and even watching certain races. i know people that cannot talk about anything else on a group ride. i have seen SO many crashes and other avoidable blunders on local rides due to lack of proper awareness and focus. indeed, the idea that made the Velominati rules, and this community so attractive to me initially, was the embrace of the ride, and the awareness and soft focus necessary to fully EXPERIENCE it. cycling on many levels, has turned into a live action SIMS game

Agreed. I for one have removed my bike computer. I let my phone record my ride so after I've finished I can see how far, how hard, how fast I went. During the ride I go with feel.
Cary says:

Sep 4 2017 at 4:07 am

@davidlhill

@Cary

for me, excessive focus on hr and power has sucked a bit of the joy out of some group riding, and even watching certain races. i know people that cannot talk about anything else on a group ride. i have seen SO many crashes and other avoidable blunders on local rides due to lack of proper awareness and focus. indeed, the idea that made the Velominati rules, and this community so attractive to me initially, was the embrace of the ride, and the awareness and soft focus necessary to fully EXPERIENCE it. cycling on many levels, has turned into a live action SIMS game

Agreed. I for one have removed my bike computer. I let my phone record my ride so after I’ve finished I can see how far, how hard, how fast I went. During the ride I go with feel.

0

i do the same. i turn on Strava, and shove the phone in a jersey pocket. i must say that many of the data-driven riders i know are FAR fitter than i am.
Teocalli says:

Sep 4 2017 at 4:14 am

I had to give up doing mtb navigator events when I could no longer read the map on the go as I needed to stop and get out reading glasses. I'll soon not be able to read the Garmin anyway.
Rick says:

Sep 4 2017 at 6:50 am

@RobSandy

@Rick

I watched today’s stage courtesy of Steephill. I was hoping for some fireworks on the 28k climb to the summit finish. In the end, the GC contenders finished mostly together. Zakarin attacked and gained time to move into third place overall (which screwed my VSP picks).

It seems these days everyone in Grand Tours rides to preserve their podium place rather than to win.

0

Suits me – I’ve now got the top 3 in the right order. Wont last.

I guess the reason no one launches attacks against Froome and Sky is simply that they can’t. The pace is so high that to attack from it is just too much.

Unless you’re Lopez and can ride away from everyone, at altitude, and cross the line on your own without seemingly needing to breathe. Hmm….

0

I have Zakarin in 4th, along with the first two in order on the GC. I am hoping he finishes just off the podium.

Lopez certainly did make that climb look easy while everyone else struggled. Although that shouldn't be suspicious at all since he rides for Astana. Lopez was too far down the standings to register on the Sky radar so he was allowed to go. What I wouldn't give to see some good old fashioned

What I wouldn't give to see some good old fashioned attacks and responses on summit finishes. Some good old fashioned LeMond and Hinault drama would be great.