Velominati Super Prestige
The Velominati Super Prestige is a season-long competition wherein readers will be submitting their predictions for the top five finishers of each qualifying race. In order to qualify, your picks via the VSP Picks form above the posts section of the VSP Event article pertaining to the race in question by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight on the day of the race start. These articles are clearly marked and are generally posted at least 72 hours in advance of each event. The current leader of the competition has the honor of posting on the site bearing the VSP Leader’s badge; winners of select races (the monuments and Grand Tours) similarly gain the honor of posting with a dedicated badge for the remainder of the year. Prizes may be given for key events; these prizes will be announced on the associated VSP Event. Points will be tallied as the season progresses and the winner will be announced after Paris-Tours. Prizes to be determined.
Scoring (One-Day Races)
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings of each race by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on the day of the race. Regular Points Points will be scored in reverse order of finishing order: 7 points for first place, 5 points for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, and 2 for fifth. Readers will also earn 1 bonus point for every other rider named in the top five, regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice. Tie Breaking In the event of a tie, the first reader to submit their predictions will be named the winner.
Scoring (Grand Tours)
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings on General Classification of each Grand Tour by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on the day of the first stage or prologue. Points Points will be scored as follows based on the final G.C of the race: 20 points for first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 7 for fourth, and 5 for fifth; plus 3 points per rider in the top five regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice. Changing of the Picks* Contestants are allowed to make line up changes on one of the rest days of the Grand Tours but not both. These changes will come with a point penalty. You will be allotted one (1) rest day to make swaps in grand tours; you may pick either the first or second rest day. The penalties for swapping will be lower for the first rest day than the second. This will allow you to swap out a rider(s) who gets caught in some first week nervousness with a 5 point penalty for each swap. Or make some go for broke/doomed to fail break-away swap on the second rest day for a 10 point penalty for each swap. That’s it. You make one swap or five on either rest day for the corresponding 5 or 10 point penalty per swap. Additionally, if one of your riders crashes out, DNF’s, or DNS’s, you may swap them out on a rest day with corresponding penalties if you haven’t already used up your one rest day swap. Tie Breaking In the event of a tie, the first reader to submit their predictions will be named the winner. Minor Stages We will be posting VSP’s for minor stages as well. Scoring is similar to one-day racing, except no bonus points are in play for getting the rider in the wrong placing.
Scoring (Minor Stage Races)
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings on General Classification of each Minor Stage Race (less than three weeks) by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on the day of the first stage or prologue. Regular Points Points will be scored in reverse order of finishing order: 10 points for first place, 8 for second, 7 for third, 5 for fourth, and 3 for fifth; plus two bonus points per rider in the top five regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice. Tie Breaking In the event of a tie, the first reader to submit their predictions will be named the winner.
Posting Badges
The following badges will be worn by current leaders of the competition and sub-competitions:
| Overall Super Prestige Leader: |  |
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| Milano Sanremo: |  |
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| VVomen’s Ronde van Vlaanderen: |  |
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| Men’s Ronde van Vlaanderen: |  |
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| Paris-Roubaix: |  |
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| Leige-Bastogne-Liege: |  |
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| Giro d’Italia Leader: |  |
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| Giro Rosa Leader: |  |
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| Tour de France Leader: |  |
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| Vuelta a Espana Leader: |  |
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| Giro di Lombardia: |  |
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| Overal Super Prestige Lanterne Rouge: |  |
2016 Velominati Super Prestige Schedule
Les Hommes
Start |
End |
Event |
Race Website |
| 18.03.2017 | 18.03.2017 | Milano-Sanremo | www.milanosanremo.it |
| 26.03.2017 | 26.03.2017 | Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields | www.gent-wevelgem.be |
| 02.04.2017 | 02.04.2017 | Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres | www.flandersclassics.be |
| 09.04.2017 | 09.04.2017 | Paris-Roubaix | www.letour.fr |
| 16.04.2017 | 16.04.2017 | Amstel Gold Race | www.amstelgoldrace.nl |
| 19.04.2017 | 19.04.2017 | La Flèche Wallonne | www.letour.fr |
| 23.04.2017 | 23.04.2017 | Liège-Bastogne-Liège | www.letour.fr |
| 05.05.2017 | 28.05.2017 | Giro d’Italia | www.giroditalia.it |
| 04.06.2017 | 11.06.2017 | Critérium du Dauphiné | www.letour.fr |
| 10.06.2017 | 18.06.2017 | Tour de Suisse | www.tds.ch |
| 01.07.2017 | 23.07.2017 | Tour de France | www.letour.fr |
| 29.07.2017 | 29.07.2017 | Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian | www.klasikoa.net |
| 19.08.2017 | 10.09.2017 | La Vuelta ciclista a España | lavuelta.com |
| 08.09.2017 | 08.09.2017 | Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec | www.gpcqm.ca |
| 10.09.2017 | 10.09.2017 | Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal | www.gpcqm.ca |
| 20.09.2017 | 20.09.2017 | Mens World Championship Time Trial | |
| 24.09.2017 | 24.09.2017 | Mens World Championship Road Race | |
| 07.10.2017 | 07.10.2017 | Il Lombardia | www.illombardia.it |
La Femmes
Start |
End |
Event |
Race Website |
| 26.03.2017 | 26.03.2017 | Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields | www.gent-wevelgem.be |
| 02.04.2017 | 02.04.2017 | Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres | www.flandersclassics.be |
| 16.04.2017 | 16.04.2017 | Amstel Gold Race | [email protected] |
| 19.04.2017 | 19.04.2017 | La Flèche Wallonne Féminine | www.letour.fr |
| 23.04.2017 | 23.04.2017 | Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes | www.letour.fr et www.pesantliege.be |
| 30.06.2017 | 09.07.2017 | Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile | |
| 20.07.2017 | 20.07.2017 | La Course by Le Tour de France | www.letour.fr |
| 29.07.2017 | 29.07.2017 | Prudential RideLondon Classique | www.ridelondon.co.uk/events/classique |
| 17.08.2017 | 20.08.2017 | Ladies Tour of Norway | www.ladiestour.no |
| 26.08.2017 | 26.08.2017 | GP de Plouay – Lorient Agglomération | www.grandprix-plouay.com |
| 29.08.2017 | 03.09.2017 | Boels Rental Ladies Tour | www.hollandladiestour.nl |
| 10.09.2017 | 10.09.2017 | Madrid Challenge by la Vuelta | lavuelta.com/Madridchallenge |
| 19.09.2017 | 19.09.2017 | Womens World Championship Time Trial | |
| 23.09.2017 | 23.09.2017 | Womens World Championship Road Race |
Standings
[vsp_gc year=”2017″/]
Past Results
[vsp_gc year=”2016″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2015″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2014″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2013″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2012″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2011″/]
2010 VSP G.C.
*The Changing of the Picks rules are designed to promote fair play and keep the competition fun and open throughout the three-week race. Abuse of these rules will be managed through the “Piti Principle”: if we we feel you are attempting to exploit loopholes or otherwise take advantage of the Changing of the Picks rules, we will penalize you by deducting points from your total score. Much like the UCI doping suspensions, the amount of points deducted will be based on how egregious the abuse was.
1000 posts here takes almost 5 years.
Great Paris Roubaix gallery: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/retro-gallery-paris-roubaix
@rfreese888
It’s not bad, but when I first saw it one pic said it was Hinault in 1980 when it was 81 (awkward, because then they post a pic of Hinault winning in 81 in the rainbow jersey). They quickly corrected themselves, and another lists Rudy Dhaenens leading Kelly. Dhaenens was Belgian and hardly likely to be wearing the Dutch Champions jersey.Don’t know who it is, but it isn’t Dhaenens.
@wiscot
must be a rookie posting the gallery! clearly i am also one as did not see those mistakes.
Loved the picture of Fausto and Serse.
Thanks again to the Keepers and to Café Roubaix. These are stellar!
If GVA is busted will there be a recalc?
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/04/van-avermaet-to-race-on-pending-belgian-cycling-federation-anti-doping-hearing-two-year-ban-sought/
When is Fleche VSP coming on stream? Race is tomorrow right?
Worried about doing a Delgado on Fleche Wallone. Keep checking back. Productivity at work down. That’s bad ’cause I’m self employed and my boss is a slave driver.
Men & womens tomorrow. Won’t be much time to get predictions in when/if they go up on the site.
@rfreese888
THE VSP should be coming alive soon. Start to think about your good choices.
@Gianni
I always think my choices are good. Unfortunately they turn out to be, for the most part, complete shite. I’m thinking Merckx, Gimondi, Hinault, Lemond and Kelly for my picks tomorrow. That should get me back in the hunt for the prizes for sure, unless Argentin steals the show from Fignon and Coppi..
@wiscot
I’m going to just copy @xyxax from here on out. That big bastard is the most consistent picker in the business. He must have some sources in Europe and a bank of phones. Or it is just the cold calculating mind of a doctor, triaging his way through the field…no chance, no chance, fucked, maybe, flat fucked, no chance.
@Gianni
You are hilarious (and flat fucked if you can’t see how obvious Ashleigh Moolman for fourth place was in FW). But I think you’d rather win once than consistently being first or second loser and you’re a better man for it.
Hey, I’m in the top 75. I think I might have a shot at this, LOL. The VSP is more fun than the Price is Right and Family Feud combined, and with better Prizes.
@oldensteel
How’d you nab my badge for WOMEN’S RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN 2015 ??
@oldensteel
You got that right. If the Price is Right started offering Velominati-style prizes, I’d be off to a show taping faster than Frank Schleck climbs into the broom wagon.
@universio
I have no idea, it was just there one day. Did I win some sort of tiebreaker? Did wonders for my self-esteem.
@wiscot
Well said.
Ivan Basso ??
Looking forward to the VSP for the Tour de Suisse. Hope I score better than zero.
Hey. Keepers. Is the Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile going to be a grand tour or a minor stage race?
Great quote from Quintana on the Tour:
¿Sueña con el título del Tour?
Tengo el sueño amarillo y para eso me he preparado. Es como cuando la novia sueña con vestirse de blanco cuando se va a casar.
I dream of yellow and for that I have prepared. It’s like when the bride dreams of wearing a white dress when she gets married.
This looks like it could be interesting
http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/news/aso-to-deliver-real-time-data-from-tour-riders_375648
@Teocalli
That is fecking awesome. Been trying to find the app…
This good be just as interesting…
http://road.cc/content/news/155852-utrecht-police-call-plans-disrupt-tour-de-france
Send the Badger down to have a word…
@VeloJello
I suspect it will be a web/cloud service rather than an Ap. Hopefully though it will me mobile device friendly. There are a few video teasers that I found but none that actually say much about the display format(s).
Too bad for the Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile.
@unversio
how come we have not seen Giro Rosa yet on VSP? Starts tomorrow right?
@unversio
Huh?! Are they still racing? There’s nothing on the news, their website or Facebag page about a cancellation.
Giro Rosa
@unversio
Right. Read that. Researched picks. Wanted Lizzie Armistead, Prevot injured her leg and may have recovered, but it’s hard not to go with Van Der Breggen to win. She’s having a great year. What happened to the VSP?
@Minnesota Expat
Shit week; totally lost track of time. I’ll get a cap up and we’ll bend the rules on start times…too good a race to leave out!
@frank
Cool beans. I know how that goes, but you really need to reconsider employment in the public sector (insert smiley face here). It does look like a good race.
This may not be the right spot to relive a harrowing tale. I typically ride 50K every other day during my lunch hour. On tuesday I left my house to head out of town. I made it about 5 blocks. I remember hearing some barking coming from behind some houses. I then vaguely remember seeing a mid-size dog running next to my rear wheel. The next thing I remember is laying in the gutter with a dog licking my bloody arm. I don’t remember anything else until I woke up in the ER a couple of hours later. From what I can piece together I either hit the dog or fell trying to avoid it. I fractured my left scapula and my left hip. My helmet likely saved my life. I obviously had a pretty bad concussion. The left side of my helmet was badly damaged and there was even a dent on the right side. I am assuming I went down on my left side. I have a bunch of road rash from my left shoulder down to my left knee. I am grateful for a couple of things. Luckily I had a good Bell helmet. Also the fractures are hairline fractures so I won’t need surgery. Right now I can’t walk or put any weight on my left leg, but it is starting to feel better. My left arm is pretty useless right now too, but fortunately I am right handed so I am getting by. Most importantly, my wife picked up my bike from the scene of the accident and it doesn’t appear to be damaged at all. I just wanted to pass this on to remind everyone how vital our helmets are. I know I am preaching to the choir on that but a reminder once in awhile never hurts. If I was G. Thomas I’d already be out on my bike. Hopefully it won’t be long. Dan
@dancollins
Damn. Hope you feel better soon.
One place higher than last year – can I keep it up?
@the Engine
Daymn. Shake up at the top of the VSP. Now. Attacking off the front, but peaking too early? Burnt too many matches? We have at least one more HC climb (the Vuelta) and the Worlds. Take a deep breath and; 1) Don’t screw this up. 2) Don’t think too hard. Pick with the brain, not the heart, and don’t pick a rider cause his socks are the perfect height. 3) Do not. Do not. Do not Delgado anything.
Don’t know if it’s been forgotten or what-not but will the clasica san sebastian be posted up in time?
I need to make up 90 points. Need a big time gap in the mountains, Anyone sell me a bag and a coat hanger ?
1. Valverde
2. Gilbert
3. Allaphillipe
4. Majka
5. Landa
@Yagerbomb
It’s alive and ticking.
Hey, @frank – are we doing the VSP GP de Plouay-Bretagne for les femmes?
More on Velominati.com: http://bit.ly/yXsPY0
More on Velominati.com: http://bit.ly/yXsPY0
@Chica
I was also wondering, but assumed I had Delgado’d
@strathlubnaig
X3, I need some points!
I’m fucked now – thanks Nibbles you stupid bastard. If you’d only cheated in the traditional Astana way all would have been well now.
PS @frank – will we now have to wait three decades before awarding VSP prizes until WADA or whoever have definitely used up all the frozen piss samples from this year’s races in ever more Baroque juicing tests on everyone who isn’t based in what we old people used to call the Soviet Union?
Bring on worlds! Will anyone be able to hold off the Germans – Degenkolb and Greipel have had impeccible seasons and would be deserving champions. Will the motobike have recovered from it’s collision with Sagan? Sagan will be ready and perhaps his season has been building to this – despite Sagan’s efforts to have made his season by now. Will Kristoff bookend his fine season? The mix of strong individuals with less impressive teams, and solid teams with a strong chance but not packing guns quite as big as Greipels will be interesting as always.
The womens road race will also be wide open – I haven’t seen many team lists but I’m guessing a couple of potnetial contenders will be more focused on the TTT or ITT. There’ll still be plenty of riders who could take it out. Amitstead has finished the World Cup in good form and even without Vos, the Dutch team will be strong.
I won’t say the VSP’s still wide open, but nor is it a forgone conclusion just yet.
@dyalander
I don’t think it’s a Greipel course – too many repeated hills for him.
I doubt it’s suited to Degenkolb or any of the sprinters really. If it was just the one finishing circuit then yes but there are some really sharp climbs and cobbles to be done 16 times and it will take a toll.
It’s an Ardennes course really. Could be Valverde’s year, but I’m confident he will find a way to snatch defeat yet again.
I know it’s virtual, not real, but I’ve ridden it a few times on Zwift and just judging from the gradients it will be very tough going, if teams put the hammer down.
@ChrisO
Yeah I hadn’t computed the effect of 16 laps. I’m a bit of a Greipel fan and I think his endurance is underestimated – he had a crack at Milan San Remo this year and but for late misfortune I think he would have been in the mix at the finish. That said, MSR has plenty of length and climbing but you’re spot on – Amstel Gold is probably a better comparison course and the repeat efforts of 16 laps doesn’t suit him. There’ll be so many teams looking to shell sprinters it will be tough for the really big boys. I’d guess Sagan will be too fatigued to go with the smaller up-hill sprinters.
Surely Valverde will be too fatigued (famous last words with more than one historical reason to be ignored), if Matthews feels strong he’ll be tough to beat. But it could be a darkhorse – Fuglsang maybe. No reason Kwiatowski couldn’t back up – he’ll be well marked but you can’t mark everyone. Nibali could give it a shake maybe.What about Stybar? He could absorb the repeat efforts and still be strong enough to go off the front late if he’s having a good day.
@dyalander
He was impressive at the Tour of Flanders. I’m not really a fan, but he does seem to have the endurance and heart for a challenging road course.
@dyalander
How about the Norwegians? Kristoff certainly proved himself at the Tour of Flanders and Boasson Hagen has had a good year, looks to be peaking at just the right moment, without the wear and tear of the Vuelta in his legs.
Any word on when the worlds VSP will be up, or if it will be up?