Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France Stage 19
After such an epic and, frankly, shocking (as in stunning, stupendifying and surprising) stage to the Galibier last night, it’s going to take more than a few hours to recover and get back on track for tonight’s VSP stage to the mythical L’Alpe d’Huez.
I think the semantics of Stage 18 have been covered brilliantly by the Community here, and there’s nothing left for me to say about it except, wow.
So without further ado, and with the maximum time for you to get your tips in, we present the VSP for Stage 19, the Queen of the climbs, L’Alpe d’Huez. Sit back and enjoy the spectacle, because if you though that was good, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
You know the drill. Good luck!
So hard to call. Surely no-one was bluffing yesterday? Contador looked to have truely snapped – either one Grand Tour too far after the Giro or the vegetarian lifestyle isn’t workig for him. I’d love to see Hoogerland get in there but I think the main contenders have a lot to fight for (and that what’s made this Tour so enthralling for me).
VSP PICKS:
1. SchleckF
2. Evans
3. SchleckA
4. Hoogerland
5. Voeckler
VSP PICKS:
1. CADEL
2. Frank
3. Andy
4. Ivan
5. Tommy
VSP PICKS:
1. Frank
2. Andy
3. Basso
4. Cuddles
5. Tommy V
Alpe D’Huez t-shirt – check. Flares – check. Carton of Coronas in the fridge – check. Pre-race music – check. (Orpheus/Ash, Scotty Doesn’t Know/Lustra, Only the Brave/World’s End Press, Hard act to follow/Grinspoon, Shooting Stars/Bag Raiders, Make Some Noise/Beastie Boys,Smoke & Mirrors (Ben & Lex Remix)/Atomic Hooligan, Long Road To Ruin/Foo Fighters, Crave You/Flight Facilities, I’m Shipping Up to Boston/Dropkick Murphys, Apply Some Pressure/Maxïmo Park).
Party of one – check.
I’m pumped for tonight! Whoo! WHOOO!!!! SPREAD IT ON!!!
God no Idea. I reckon a backmarker will be given a flyer for the stage while the top five mark each other. If TV can back up after last night he is officially the man
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Cunego
Late and going with the favs this time
@frank
“BOOM SHAKA LAKA”
+1
VSP PICKS:
1. A. Schleck
2. F. Schleck
3. Evans
4. Sanchez
5. Contador
Advance Australia Fair.
VSP PICKS:
1. Evans
2. F Shleck
3. bleh
4. meh
5. wha?
“What Andy Schleck did today was really something, to break from so far out, I really appreciate that,” purred five-time Tour winner Merckx. “He rode with great courage, gave a cycling lesson to everybody.”
High praise indeed
VSP PICKS:
1. Cadelephant
2. Grimpy the Elder
3. Canhego?
4. Grimpy the Younger
5. LITTLE TOMMY
Turning in my homework at the last minute. Typical.
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy
2. Cadel
3. Frank
4. Ivan
5. Tommy
VSP PICKS:
1. Schleck F
2. Basso
Sigh.
Ah man, too late. Frank, can’t you please post them a bit earlier from now on? Here in the Netherlands I need to either stay up really late or get up early to enter.
The stage hasn’t even started yet :(
Missed the entry slot, but putting in my picks as a matter of a) bragging rights when I’m proved right; b) audit trail for when they cart me away as delusionsal that I know this sport: 1. F. Schleck (he is only contender with strong legs after sitting in all yesterday); 2. Hoogerland; 3. Ten Dam (Dutch pride); 4. Cadel (the guys just doesn’t know how to give up, and thinks ITT is the key to his victory); and 5. A. Schleck (riding towards yellow after finally standing up to be counted yesterday… but guns are tired)…. sadly, the D’Oisans valley will reverberate to the loud BOOM! as Voeckler buries himself trying to keep up with the grown ups and blows up in a spectacular fashion
Roadslave just gave me a great idea:
1. F. Schleck (he’s won here before)
2. Cadel
3. A. Schleck
4. Basso
5. Mollema
@Netraam
Dude, we’re doing our best here!
The stage last night finished at 4am in NZ, I watched the delayed coverage from 630am til 8am, went to work at 8 30, and had the VSP up by 10 30 when I should’ve been doing my proper job… that was 14 hours ago. Then we have to go through and map each and every rider that has been picked…
We made an effort, it’s up to you to make yours.
and there off
thEIr off, too much anticipation to type or spell at the moment!
@brett
It was posted at 4 am here, my picks are supposed to be in around 1 pm and I had to work this morning from 6 am till 12. I barely made it yesterday, but I had a flat tire on the way home today. And I ran into the International Four Days Marches here.
No one is able to make it on time then.
@il ciclista medio
Actually its they’re off (a contraction they are). But phuck spealing and gramma, weev got a bike race to watch.
Jesus! A Saxo / Leopard duel. Cadel’s plucked if this keeps up!
It is ON!!! Wow!! So they waited a whole 5 miles before starting to beat the shite out of each other…
@brett
Great performance. That kind of endurance and ruthless prioritisation in the face of other pressing issues (family, job, life, etc.) will only strengthen your cycling skills.
I missed the entry as well. The VMH was streaming Purple Rain or something off Netflix. Ah well.
Clenbutador is going to give it a go, but the metric shit ton of steak is actually just going to make him constipated.
So tho it won’t count:
1. Cuddles
2. angry stomach
3. Bass-o-matic
4. Bertie
5. Frankster
COTHO looks like it was steak on the menu this morning
Voeckler STILL hanging in!! How long can he go??
“This is warfare!!” Say Harmon…
Throwing down the gauntlet already. Today is going to be wonderful.
@harminator
yeah I realised and then thought fuck it, as I said too much anticipation (and Friday night beers!)
Cheers!
Fireworks are starting early. Looks like someone had a nice juicy steak last night.
It’s on like Donkey Kong!
Man oh man… best tour in years! :)
Ouch, Evans cracking big time… too bad.
Hmm, looks to be a mechanical instead. That really sucks.
Glad I’m not the wrench that worked on cuddles bike last night.
Damn! Missed the VSP. Oh well. I’m gonna go with the skinny one again. He’s looking good and I can’t see the Meat-muncher taking it all the way home. Andy will finally get his revenge for the mechanical last year. Poor Evans. Bad bike sucks.
I think is was more of a phychanical…we’ve all been absolutely sure our brakes were rubbing!
@wiscot
It was real short notice. Just a lesson that you should be on here at least a thousand times a day. Just in case.
@scaler911
Oh, man, absolutely…aside from the reaming he’s probably getting from the DS, can you imagine how far his stomach is falling right now? Even if it’s a mechanical that would have nothing to do w/a mistake on his part, I bet he’s wishing he could just sink into the seat he’s sitting in right now.
Went to fix my post-ride breakfast and surprised to see things came back together at the front a bit when I returned, then remembered that Contodor and Andy would’ve had to wait up a bit due to Evans’ ‘phychanical’… (great new term Frank).
“Andy Schleck is the benefitter here” according to Harmon. Surely he means “beneficiary”?
Did Schleck sr crack or did he fall back to cover Cadel? So pissed I have to go to work before this is over.
@Netraam
x2. Man, I was on the site into the afternoon yesterday but went home form work at 4 pm and have no access at home.
Not to be too “Ron” or anything! :)
@frank
I have one of those every ride. Need to have a serious sit-down with my phychanic.
Dear God. I had never seen the profile of the Galibier from this side. What a monster. Someone is going to blow. Who will it be? I think the Swivelstick does.
@frank
I was so happy when he did this. Even the Pros have the mental crack where you are delusional enough to think your brakes that you haven’t used for kilometres and kilometres have suddenly shifted maliciously.
@Collin
fixed that for you. maybe now your prayer will get answered.
HOLY SHIT! What is it with this race – tips and tricks for 2011 Tour de France: 1. Pick the most unlikely point of the stage to attack (i.e. really early, on a descent, etc.); 2. Attack. They are going to blow themselves apart. Come on Tommy! Pedal those squares!
Faster, George, faster!
@redranger
That’s why you’re Black Order, and I am only Grey. The little details still escape me. Ha.
I feel bad for Evans, in the right move at the right time, but if it’s really a mechanical, that is complete shit. If it was a phychanical and he didn’t have the legs, then that’s just racing.