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

Cary says:

Sep 5 2017 at 2:29 am

in the "thoroughly unrelated to the Vuelta" dept: Jobst Brandt made it onto a Clif Bar. i am a little surprised he hasn't had a writeup on this site. surely a cycling icon, maybe in no small part due to this image of him on the Gavia.
RobSandy says:

Sep 5 2017 at 5:07 am

So who's going to win the TT today, and how many minutes will Froome's lead be by the end?
Teocalli says:

Sep 5 2017 at 5:57 am

errrrr.........http://www.velonews.com/2017/09/vuelta-a-espana/video-ag2r-boots-two-riders-from-vuelta-for-car-tow_447329

Should this be termed "Taking a Nibble"?
RobSandy says:

Sep 5 2017 at 6:28 am

@Teocalli

Didn't Bardet get done for it last year? Seems AG2R don't learn.

Did you also see Taylor Phinney got DQ'd from the Tour of Britain?
Teocalli says:

Sep 5 2017 at 6:42 am

@RobSandy

Yeah did see that re Phinney. He said it was a split second decision - I guess he did not know the Highway Code re the flashing lights. I guess in the US they just keep crossing when the bells are ringing. Maybe he does not realise how fast some of our trains run over here compared to a 5 mile freight train in the US.......
RobSandy says:

Sep 5 2017 at 6:48 am

@Teocalli

@RobSandy

Yeah did see that re Phinney. He said it was a split second decision – I guess he did not know the Highway Code re the flashing lights. I guess in the US they just keep crossing when the bells are ringing. Maybe he does not realise how fast some of our trains run over here compared to a 5 mile freight train in the US…….

0

I think he was completely aware - but he was out the back in the cars so I imagine he thought he might not get back on again. Feel for him actually.
chris says:

Sep 5 2017 at 12:39 pm

@RobSandy

So who’s going to win the TT today, and how many minutes will Froome’s lead be by the end?

0

Are the organisers taking the V-line by placing the TT and hardest climbs after the second rest day swaps?

Not that it matters to me having Delgado' due rose induced lethargy.
RobSandy says:

Sep 6 2017 at 1:37 am

@chris

@RobSandy

So who’s going to win the TT today, and how many minutes will Froome’s lead be by the end?

0

Are the organisers taking the V-line by placing the TT and hardest climbs after the second rest day swaps?

Not that it matters to me having Delgado’ due rose induced lethargy.

0

Frank seems to have removed rest day swaps this year. Accident or design, it's fine by me.

Did you notice that Froome was talking about how the GC favourite wouldn't be going full gas in the TT to save themselves for the mountain days to come...then went full gas and smashed it.
ChrisO says:

Sep 6 2017 at 2:47 am

@RobSandy

@chris

@RobSandy

So who’s going to win the TT today, and how many minutes will Froome’s lead be by the end?

0

Are the organisers taking the V-line by placing the TT and hardest climbs after the second rest day swaps?

Not that it matters to me having Delgado’ due rose induced lethargy.

0

Frank seems to have removed rest day swaps this year. Accident or design, it’s fine by me.

Did you notice that Froome was talking about how the GC favourite wouldn’t be going full gas in the TT to save themselves for the mountain days to come…then went full gas and smashed it.

0

Yes I saw that... mind games !
Ron says:

Sep 6 2017 at 11:57 am

Unrelated to the Vuelta, but want to out myself for a stupid move. Riding to the library last night, heading down this big hill leading out of my neighborhood. For some reason, the world-class university has decided to not light this part of campus at all. I lean down to turn on a light mounted on my fork. The mount slips and goes down the fork, with the light pinging into the spokes. So leaning forward, half off the bike, I grab my left (front) brake way too hard. It's a v-brake and works great, but modulation is difficult as it's so smooth.

I go (insert what ass over tea kettle phrase you like here) head first over the bike, landing on my shoulder and elbow. Surprisingly, I only drew a few scrapes and blood. But today, my entire right torso is sore as heck, as is my right elbow and knee. Oh, and neck. I commuted to work today, but couldn't imagine a 200k + stage. Those bastards are HardMen.

On a brighter note, I zip tied the mount in place. Getting old sucks. I used to take an impact like that in contact sports daily and not even notice. Not today, not today my friends.