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.

Next Velominati Super Prestige: Women's World Championship Road Race 2017 »

Previous « Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2017

View Comments

Randy C says:

Aug 20 2017 at 2:01 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. FROOME Christopher
2. NIBALI Vincenzo
3. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto
4. CHAVES RUBIO Jhoan Esteban
5. ARU Fabio
Randy C says:

Aug 20 2017 at 2:06 pm

@RobSandy

maybe because of the TT…
Cary says:

Aug 20 2017 at 2:40 pm
@RobSandy
Had a reshuffle. Not many people are tipping Bardet to do well. Not sure why.

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Bardet
4. Yates
5. Aru
0
i didn't list Bardet based on how destroyed he looked in the last Tour TT. i think he's toast.
dancollins says:

Aug 20 2017 at 5:11 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Zakarin
3. Chaves
4. Nibali
5. Adam Yates
Snowy says:

Aug 20 2017 at 7:07 pm
Lucky dip really, but I'm guessing

Froomacil will probably be near the pointy end.

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Zakarin
4. Chaves
5. Aru
oneninefiveninesix says:

Aug 20 2017 at 9:58 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. chavez
2. froome
3. nibali
4. Yates A
5. Zakarin
RobSandy says:

Aug 21 2017 at 12:36 am
Also forgot to say w

hich Yates!

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Zakarin
4. Adam Yates
5. Aru
KogaLover says:

Aug 21 2017 at 1:14 am
Slight rearrange

VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Kruijswijk
3. Nibbles
4. Zakarin
5. Poels VV
ErikdR says:

Aug 21 2017 at 2:53 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Froome
2. Nibali
3. Kruijswijk
4. Contador
5. Majka
wiscot says:

Aug 21 2017 at 6:00 am

Interesting. I've never seen a VSP where entries could be posted after the race starts. If this keeps up I'll be re-submitting in a couple of weeks!