Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2015

Cobblestones make the race, I’m not ruining any fantasies telling you that. Wet cobblestones, well, those make a legend. Nibbles rose in my esteem considerably when he rode the wet cobbles as well as he rides any mountain descent or climb; that is a boy with some nerves and some mad bike handling skills.

Wet cobbles are scarier to ride that dry ones, but they aren’t really that much more difficult to ride; you’re still playing the lottery that your wheels keep pointing where your bike is trying to go. But wet stones are definitely more draining; the mud and silt you ride through make it like riding through molasses. Awesome molasses, but molasses nonetheless.

The cobbles are back this year, and hopefully so will the rain. Let us pray for rain, because last year’s stage made the race.

The Tour de France needs no introduction but the VSP prizes deserve a gentle reminder. This is a Grand Tour, people, lots of points at stake. And those points are going towards amazing prizes including a Jaegher frame and a Café Roubaix wheelset. There is plenty of time for you to Delgado this thing, too, if you wait around until the last minute. So my advice is that you avoid doing that.

Give yourself enough time to enter your picks so if something has gone amuck, you have time to hit “reload” or come back V minutes later to try again before the event closes. Remember, your procrastination in this matter will not result in our emergency to enter your picks for you. All that said, if you do encounter a problem, please be so kind as to take a screenshot and upload it because the descriptor “it didn’t work” or “hm, not working” doesn’t help us debug the problem. Also, Internet Explorer is not supported and apparently only shows one Pick Entry box, so use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari instead.

The scoring for the Grand Tours is a tad more involved than the one-day races and one-week Tours, so look the guidelines over before making your prognostications.

So get your picks in before the countdown clock goes to zero, hit the go button, and good luck.

  • Café Roubaix's CR Wheelworks Arenbergs

 

[vsp_results id=”33262″/]

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520 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2015”

  1. @xyxax

    @Erik

    Going to have to pay NBC for better coverage. Just lost my pirate signal from Steephill with 200 meters left and Purito on the front. That sucked.

    Hey, get TunnelBear or your favorite VPN (a year’s worth is probably no more than the NBC thing), and route yourself through France and use the official Tour coverage stream.  It’s in French, but it’s full coverage and who understands the Pauls anyway

    I will likely do that. I hadn’t yet researched VPNs so you’ve saved me time with TunnelBear. I don’t want to listen to Paul or Phil. But I do enjoy hearing King Kelly.

  2. @RobSandy

    Something else I’ve just remembered -did anyone else think it looked like Cancellara’s thighs looked too big to get past his top tube during the prologue? Beyond Gun Envy. Gun Awe.

    Anyone else impressed that Fabian finished the stage with two fractured vertebrae? Dude. Really? How’d it feel pulling yourself up the Mur de Huy?

  3. @paolo

    I have a question. Anyone who lnows please chime in but I am guessing that Frank or maybe Chris O knows. On the TTT the time is taken when the 5th man crosses the line yes?   So what if you are left with only 4 riders by the time you get to start the TTT ?  Is the team out?  Because technically they wont have completed the stage ?    Or am I being a bit dim?  And has this ever happened ?

    Very good question and I’m afraid I don’t know – I was wondering exactly the same thing yesterday and haven’t found an answer.

    I guess that’s why TTTs are often in the early stages of a race.

  4. @ChrisO

    @paolo

    I have a question. Anyone who lnows please chime in but I am guessing that Frank or maybe Chris O knows. On the TTT the time is taken when the 5th man crosses the line yes?   So what if you are left with only 4 riders by the time you get to start the TTT ?  Is the team out?  Because technically they wont have completed the stage ?    Or am I being a bit dim?  And has this ever happened ?

    Very good question and I’m afraid I don’t know – I was wondering exactly the same thing yesterday and haven’t found an answer.

    I guess that’s why TTTs are often in the early stages of a race.

    So apparently they ride it anyway, with whatever number of team members are still left in the race.

    The time is taken on the last rider to cross the line.

  8. @Minnesota Expat

    @RobSandy

    Something else I’ve just remembered -did anyone else think it looked like Cancellara’s thighs looked too big to get past his top tube during the prologue? Beyond Gun Envy. Gun Awe.

    Anyone else impressed that Fabian finished the stage with two fractured vertebrae? Dude. Really? How’d it feel pulling yourself up the Mur de Huy?

    They don’t call him Spartacus for nothin’. I was gutted to hear he had to withdraw after that stage. Likely his last Tour eh?

    And this morning was FUCKING AWESOME.

  9. Is there anyone in the current peloton that does as much work for his team as Tony Martin does? In glad he finally found himself in yellow.

  10. @Erik

    Oh, I forgot to mention they have a way of seeing 4 feeds simultaneously.  So you can have the main feed and then 3 different feeds from the 5 moto cameras.  It cuts off the commentary, mais qui gives a fuque?

    It’s listed in Steephill as the official streaming site.

  11. Ok, that little Maillot Jaune is pretty cool, but I’ll be happy for any of you to play the role of Tony Martin here & take the responsibility off my shoulders this early in the 3 weeks.

  14. Jeez, the Cannondale riders look terrible in those goofy aero helmets and clear safety shades. Definitely NOT pro.

  17. I’m enjoying the points classification more than in the last couple of editions – not sure how much it has to do with the changes they’ve made for this year, Kittel’s absence, or just that it’s been interspersed with other things – wind, Mur, cobbles – but it’s still up for grabs, and I’m glad to see Greipel doing well – he rode with ambition, good form but limited luck early in the season so it’s nice to see him getting some results.

    Also enjoyed Sagan suggesting they rotate turns after the intermediate sprint a couple of stages back. Greipel actually considered it before he realised it was a joke – and before you say it’s because he’s German, Degenkolb seemed to get a laugh out of it straight away. Cav didn’t break his sullen scowl – having not won the sprint a clown farting a rainbow of laughing gas wouldn’t have broken Cav’s frown. Sometimes a smile is more impressive than a suffer face.

  18. Ouch. 50% of yellow jersey wearers crash out the next day.  Froome and Dennis should count their lucky stars.

  19. @John Irvine

    Ouch. 50% of yellow jersey wearers crash out the next day.  Froome and Dennis should count their lucky stars.

    Mmmm, I’m hoping the same curse doesn’t extend to the virtual version!

  20. @xyxax

    @xyxax

    @Erik

    Oh, I forgot to mention they have a way of seeing 4 feeds simultaneously.  So you can have the main feed and then 3 different feeds from the 5 moto cameras.  It cuts off the commentary, mais qui gives a fuque?

    It’s listed in Steephill as the official streaming site.

    I may never leave my screen again .

  21. I reckon Cancellara is harder than Chinese arithmetic. Martin is too but they won’t let him ride tomorrow with bits of his skeleton poking through his skin.

    I understand that fans are genuinely concerned when riders go down but I could do without the crash porn that has been ratcheted up another level with all of the gopro camera on the bikes and strapped to team staff. I love the on-bike footage of racing and the footage of mechanics changing bikes and wheels is interesting, but I don’t need to see close-up video of a rider who just hit the deck. I know use of the cameras is new and I hope they develop the judgment of what is appropriate to show.

  24. @KW

    Really Luca? Cocaine?!? And that damn beard was growing on me too.

    It beggars belief with something so easily detectable.

  25. Awesome on bike footage from TDF, @ 1.30 you can watch the lead out for the finale, amazing speed from Lotto Soudal working for Andre Griepel.

    annnnd quote of the day,

    “We’re very surprised because cocaine is not a substance that improves performance.” That was the view of Team Katusha’s spokesman after the news that Gent Wevelgem champion Luca Paolini had been suspended after a positive test.

  26. @KW

    Really Luca? Cocaine?!? And that damn beard was growing on me too.

    And I’ll miss the YSA’s (Yellow Shoes of Authority). Luca sleeps with the fishes.

  27. If you had to pick which rider was most likely to test positive for blow, I’m pretty sure Luca would be pretty high on the list, even if Tommeke was in the race. Dude looks like he’d enjoy a party.

    In other news, this could be the best auto-translate in history.

  29. @xyxax

    @KW

    Really Luca? Cocaine?!? And that damn beard was growing on me too.

    And I’ll miss the YSA’s (Yellow Shoes of Authority). Luca sleeps with the fishes.

    And the ridiculous Assos Glasses Of Awesome:

    The only rider in the peloton who could rock those bug-eyes.

  30. @KW

    Really Luca? Cocaine?!? And that damn beard was growing on me too.

    Remember those boys on the back seat of the school bus?

    Always up to no good

  31. @tessar

    @xyxax

    @KW

    Really Luca? Cocaine?!? And that damn beard was growing on me too.

    And I’ll miss the YSA’s (Yellow Shoes of Authority). Luca sleeps with the fishes.

    And the ridiculous Assos Glasses Of Awesome:

    The only rider in the peloton who could rock those bug-eyes.

    If you’re going go out Luca, do it style.

  34. VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. QUINTANA, Nairo
    2. NIBALI, Vincenzo
    3. CONTADOR, Alberto
    4. FROOME, Chris
    5. VAN GARDEREN, Tejay

  35. VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. C. Froome
    2. N. Quintana
    3. A. Contador
    4. V. Nibali
    5. R. Uran

  36. VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. C. Froome
    2. N. Quintana
    3. A. Contador
    4. V. Nibali
    5. T.Van Garderen

  39. Colombia’s premier Rolling Stones frontman impersonator has looked very good this week.

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Quintana
    2. Froome
    3. TvG
    4. Mick Jagger
    5. Contador

  40. Whoops. Did not mean to hit return on those swaps. Back to my originals until I can think about this a little more…

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Quintana
    2. Froome
    3. Contador
    4. Nibali
    5. Teejay

  42. Changing nrs 4 and 5

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Vroemvroem Froome
    2. V-ana (V=latin for Quint/5)
    3. Contador
    4. TJ van Garderen
    5. Sagan

  43. Froome managed to stay upright, so he’s in

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Froome
    2. quintana
    3. contador
    4. valverde
    5. van garderen

  44. Overall looks out of reach so making a few swaps. Still hoping Nairo does the business. Pinot and Nibbles out, TJ and Jagger in.

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nairo
    2. Froomey
    3. Bertie
    4. TJ Hooker
    5. Mick Jagger

  45. Check me out at 4th! Can only go downhill from here.

    Although, barring crashes I think my top five will likely as not be the main part of the final top 5.

  46. Best Wishes to Ivan Basso – diagnosed with Testicular Cancer today and straight to surgery by the sounds of things.

  47. VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Contador
    2. Nibali
    3. Quintana
    4. van Garderen
    5. Uran

  48. Just swapping in TJ and leaving all else the same. Quintana survived this first week in excellent shape and I think it will be party time the higher and farther they go.

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Quintana
    2. Froome
    3. Van Garderen
    4. Uran
    5. Talansky

  49. swap out Hesjedal in 3rd spot :( and replace with Tejay Van Garderen

    1. Froome

    2. Contador

    3. Van Garderen

    4. Nibali

    5. Quintana

    VSP PICKS (1st Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Froome
    2. Contador
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Nibali
    5. Quintana

  50. Afraid of making big changes or I’ll end up in the negatives!! Taking Nibali out all together and holding out hope for Purito

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