@frank

Awesome, got my points for DAN Martin. Cheers Frank.

Doing an Hour this June?

Excellent list.

I think I might be in contention to win the Contini prize at this weekend’s gravel race.  I definitely feel too fat to climb after a horrible April (lack of) training schedule.  Looks like there will be a good turnout of local Pros, even Ted King is supposed to race.  I will be off the back by mile 0.5, maybe I’ll see them at the finish line if they wait around long enough.

hi@wiscot

Great ideas! Am glad this was cancelled, I was already considering to move to Conti instead of Pirelli tires (on the car).

Ha! These other awards could also be on offer:

The Quintana Prize: for the race leader who wears the most pink gear.

The Gimondi Prize: For the most casually deliberate rider

I’m sure I can think of others . . .

Great ideas! Am glad this was cancelled, I was already considering to move to Conti instead of Pirelli tires (on the car).

Good call. The last thing RCS need during the 100th Anniversary of the Giro is some horrendous accident or death caused by an unnecessary competition. I understand the need to keep things fresh and vital and racing lively, so why not bring back (as in Giros past) the black jersey, or the Regions jersey? Maybe a combine jersey like they had in the Tour back in the 80s? A couple of other classifications could be added that would attract sponsors without putting rider’s lives at risk.

On a lighthearted note, the following prizes could be awarded at the end of the race:

The Moser Prize. For the biggest, heaviest rider to do well in the mountains.

The Ricco Prize: for the biggest douche in the peloton.

The Schepers Prize: Most loyal domestique (Gregario?)

The Freuler Prize: Best facial hair.

The Cipo Prize: Most fined rider for wearing unauthorized team kit

The Contini Prize: Fattest rider

The TJ Prize: most disappointing rider

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-cancels-best-downhill-rider-prize/

I saw that too. Stupid idea. Sure, it can be said that it’s up to the riders to go as fast on the descents as they deem prudent or capable. But we all know that once you put money on the table, riders will do crazy things and when you think that some of the better descenders are not the best climbers, it means that they are going for it through cars, other riders, etc. And, as we’ve seen (TJvG in Romandie and Hoogerland in the Tour ) not all the drivers are as skilled at driving amongst riders as they should be. Recipe for disaster IMHO.

When will the VSP for the Giro be up? Only 3 more days… Here’s my list to get things going and to avoid yet another Delgado (my VSP season’s gone already).

1. Quintano 2 Nibbles 3 DuMoulin 4 Kruijswijk 5 Thomas

You guys have to remember the auto-mapping is done by the software, not a person…basically it goes and looks to see what rider is usually associated with “Martin”, it doesn’t cross-check what you might have meant or the start list…so either get clever enough with your name so the auto-mapper has no idea what to do with it (for instance, Bretto’s “Bad Shit” which was Malmerde which is French for bad shit meaning Valverde…) so we have to do it manually, or be specific enough that the software will map to the correct rider. Best practice is always to include the first letter of first name at least in order to avoid confusion.

But you can always dispute your picks, so just go ahead and use that mechanism in order to alert us to the wrong mapping.

Thanks! Duly noted; will be adding first name or correct initial from now on.

@chuckp

 

You guys have to remember the auto-mapping is done by the software, not a person…basically it goes and looks to see what rider is usually associated with “Martin”, it doesn’t cross-check what you might have meant or the start list…so either get clever enough with your name so the auto-mapper has no idea what to do with it (for instance, Bretto’s “Bad Shit” which was Malmerde which is French for bad shit meaning Valverde…) so we have to do it manually, or be specific enough that the software will map to the correct rider. Best practice is always to include the first letter of first name at least in order to avoid confusion.

But you can always dispute your picks, so just go ahead and use that mechanism in order to alert us to the wrong mapping.

I should add to this: best practice to add first name or letter of first name is also for Keepers who are mapping something like 250 unmapped picks and really can’t be fucked to imagine which “Martin” you mean and which is or isn’t on the start list.

Word. I usually do exactly this but on this occasion confusion with the Panzerwagen didn’t even cross my mind.

FWIW I thought ‘Bad Shit’ was genius.

@frank

@ErikdR

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

@RobSandy

@ErikdR

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

I’ve just noticed the same thing has happened to me. I didn’t even know Tony Martin was riding so didn’t specify ‘Dan’!

You guys have to remember the auto-mapping is done by the software, not a person…basically it goes and looks to see what rider is usually associated with “Martin”, it doesn’t cross-check what you might have meant or the start list…so either get clever enough with your name so the auto-mapper has no idea what to do with it (for instance, Bretto’s “Bad Shit” which was Malmerde which is French for bad shit meaning Valverde…) so we have to do it manually, or be specific enough that the software will map to the correct rider. Best practice is always to include the first letter of first name at least in order to avoid confusion.

But you can always dispute your picks, so just go ahead and use that mechanism in order to alert us to the wrong mapping.

I should add to this: best practice to add first name or letter of first name is also for Keepers who are mapping something like 250 unmapped picks and really can’t be fucked to imagine which “Martin” you mean and which is or isn’t on the start list.

This happened to me last year and I learned my lesson. But yet another reason to say: F**k @frank!

Wait. There are reasons to say “Fuck Frank?” More than one?

I’m in disbelief. Please expound on this in detail.

@ErikdR

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

@RobSandy

@ErikdR

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

I’ve just noticed the same thing has happened to me. I didn’t even know Tony Martin was riding so didn’t specify ‘Dan’!

You guys have to remember the auto-mapping is done by the software, not a person…basically it goes and looks to see what rider is usually associated with “Martin”, it doesn’t cross-check what you might have meant or the start list…so either get clever enough with your name so the auto-mapper has no idea what to do with it (for instance, Bretto’s “Bad Shit” which was Malmerde which is French for bad shit meaning Valverde…) so we have to do it manually, or be specific enough that the software will map to the correct rider. Best practice is always to include the first letter of first name at least in order to avoid confusion.

But you can always dispute your picks, so just go ahead and use that mechanism in order to alert us to the wrong mapping.

This happened to me last year and I learned my lesson. But yet another reason to say: F**k @frank!

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

@RobSandy

@ErikdR

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

I’ve just noticed the same thing has happened to me. I didn’t even know Tony Martin was riding so didn’t specify ‘Dan’!

You guys have to remember the auto-mapping is done by the software, not a person…basically it goes and looks to see what rider is usually associated with “Martin”, it doesn’t cross-check what you might have meant or the start list…so either get clever enough with your name so the auto-mapper has no idea what to do with it (for instance, Bretto’s “Bad Shit” which was Malmerde which is French for bad shit meaning Valverde…) so we have to do it manually, or be specific enough that the software will map to the correct rider. Best practice is always to include the first letter of first name at least in order to avoid confusion.

But you can always dispute your picks, so just go ahead and use that mechanism in order to alert us to the wrong mapping.

@frank

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

I’ve just noticed the same thing has happened to me. I didn’t even know Tony Martin was riding so didn’t specify ‘Dan’!

@chuckp

I’ve had the same issue and used the same fix. The NBC Gold site/interface was designed by a one-eared, lobotomized chimp. Perhaps a commentary on the sport’s visibility in the U.S. Meanwhile in Texas you can get better coverage of high school football. There’s WTF for you.

Doesn’t HS Football take precedence over everything in TX?

Frank/Keepers, I’m a bit curious here (but not particularly bothered, for the record, since I’ve previously Delgado’d myself out of any real chance to make ‘the Big League’ in the VSP).

But anyway: as far as I can tell, I scored 16 points on the Women’s LBL (picking the first three finishers correctly) but only 11 points doing the same here in the Men’s LBL (See my post #45 above). Can this have something to do with the fact that I should have specified that I was referring to DAN Martin as my pick for second, by any chance – rather than merely writing ‘Martin’? Cheers!

I’ve had the same issue and used the same fix. The NBC Gold site/interface was designed by a one-eared, lobotomized chimp. Perhaps a commentary on the sport’s visibility in the U.S. Meanwhile in Texas you can get better coverage of high school football. There’s WTF for you.

I had same issue with the app on my phone when trying to watch PR at the kiddo’s last bike race… kept being rejected despite my use of correct login and pw. Yet I’m 100% fine to watch on my laptop. Squirrelly isn’t it?

@Ron 

That’s the real heartbreaker isn’t it? To see the recent photo of a very cool dude with his two young sons. Treasure every day for sure.

It ended up being a bit over 17 hours…  I could post a strava link, but in a nutshell, 300km on the dot with 10,300m of vert metres.  It almost came undone an hour in when I was descending in the dark and a wallaby crossed in front of me and tried to to take me out…  it happened so fast I didn’t  have time to react.  I’ve had a nights sleep, not feeling too bad, however I firmly believe tomorrow will be a real bitch…

I was up early this am to have breakfast a couple of hours before a bike ride. But, was raining. So, what to do? Watch the race ! I really enjoyed watching the Cannondale team at the end put forth some efforts. Henao too. Dan Martin had a great attack but just looked to have sit his butt down at the top and at the wrong time. And boom, there went Valverde. That left turn just isn’t Martin’s corner hey?

I was up early too (usually am anyway … even on the weekends). I have NBC Gold and the app loaded on my Amazon Fire Stick and Apple TV. Both kept asking me to validate with a code on my computer. I did and it kept rejecting the code (tried several different ones that the app kept putting on my TV screen) as invalid. WTF??? So I ended up streaming on my computer directly on NBC Gold website and hooked up HDMI cable to watch on my TV. Defeated the whole purpose of having the app on the TV. And I was able to watch the replay on the app no problem. Again, WTF???

Semi-long ride with a couple of my young gun riding pals afterwards. They were nice to the old guy.

#9 rain and hill ride Saturday morning.

I said “fuck Valverde” on Wednesday and I’ll say it again today. It’s just not right. Every other rider’s heaving their lungs out and the Movistar shit just crosses the line cool as a cucumber.

I’ve never cared for him but apparently he is donating all this last weeks prize money to the Scarponi family.  Class move.  Chapeau Alejandro!

Strava’s a hoot. GvA ? Very cool.

@wiscot

I agree. “Another level”…where have we heard that before?

But only a in a few races. If he’s killing it in all the Grand Tours as well then I will become very suspicious.

Also, surely he can’t be stupid enough?

I agree. “Another level”…where have we heard that before?

I was up early this am to have breakfast a couple of hours before a bike ride. But, was raining. So, what to do? Watch the race ! I really enjoyed watching the Cannondale team at the end put forth some efforts. Henao too. Dan Martin had a great attack but just looked to have sit his butt down at the top and at the wrong time. And boom, there went Valverde. That left turn just isn’t Martin’s corner hey?

I had the NBC Sports package to livestream but regret, they started to broadcast just as the ladies’ finished !? What a week for Anna and the Boehls team. Wow. Katarzyna and Annemiek have just been up against such a strong team this spring. And Pauline today ?

The spring classics and ardennes seem to have gone by so fast! Good fun. Cheers all

as much as i enjoy watching the Ronde and Paris Roubaix, i just can’t get into the Ardennes classics, from a viewer’s perspective.  as a rider, i would imagine i would like the Ardennes better than Flanders, though..

I had the NBC Sports package to livestream but regret, they started to broadcast just as the ladies’ finished !? What a week for Anna and the Boehls team. Wow. Katarzyna and Annemiek have just been up against such a strong team this spring. And Pauline today ?

The spring classics and ardennes seem to have gone by so fast! Good fun. Cheers all

Balls, delgado… anyway, I’m about to spend the better part of 16 hours in the saddle, how good is that?

That’s a long day. More details, please…

VSP PICKS:

1. Malmerde
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Henao
4. Van Avermaet
5. Barguil

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Dan Martin
3. Greg Van Avermaet
4. Michael Albasini
5. Warren Barguil

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde, Alejandro
2. Kwiatkowski, Michal
3. Martin, Daniel
4. Albasini, Michael
5. Van Avermaet, Greg

VSP PICKS:

1. Dan martin
2. Valverde
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Albasini
5. Barguil

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Martin
4. Costa
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Dan Martin
4. Sergio Henao
5. Michael Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Martin
3. Albasini
4. Kwiatkowski
5. Bardet

VSP PICKS:

1. Michal Kwiatkowski
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Greg Van Avermaet
4. Gerrans, Simon
5. Daniel Martin

VSP PICKS:

1. VALVERDE, Alejandro
2. KWIATKOWSKI, Michal
3. URAN, Rigoberto
4. VAN AVERMAET, Greg
5. MARTIN, Dan

VSP PICKS:

1. Michał Kwiatkowski
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Daniel Martin
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Lawrence Warbasse

VSP PICKS:

1. Kwiatkowski
2. Valverde
3. D. Martin
4. Rui Costa
5. Van Avermaet

VSP PICKS:

1. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro
2. MARTIN Daniel
3. KWIATKOWSKI Michal
4. ALBASINI Michael
5. BARGUIL Warren

VSP PICKS:

1. Dan Martin
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Michal Kwiatkowski
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Gianni Moscon

VSP PICKS:

1. Malmerde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Daniel Martin
4. GvA
5. Michael Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Albasini
2. Valverde
3. Kwitatkowski
4. Martin
5. Barguil

VSP PICKS:

1. Michal Kwiatkowski
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Dan Martin
4. Michael Albasini
5. Rui Costa

VSP PICKS:

1. S. Yates
2. Henao
3. Valverde
4. Kwiatkowski
5. D. Martin

VSP PICKS:

1. Van Avermaet
2. Pauwels
3. Nordhaug
4. Moscon
5. Wellens

VSP PICKS:

1. Van Avermaet
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Barguil
4. Wellens
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Dan Martin
4. Michael Albasini
5. Rui Costa

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde, Al
2. Kwiatkowski, Mike
3. Martin, Danny
4. Albasini, Mike
5. Rui Costa

VSP PICKS:

1. Dan Martin
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Valverde
4. Albasini
5. Uran

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Dan Martin
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Henao
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Van Avermaet
3. Dan Martin
4. Kwiatkowski
5. Henao

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Martin
4. Albasisni
5. Rui Costa

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Dan Martin
3. Michael Albasini
4. Simon Yates
5. Michał Kwiatkowski

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Izagirre
3. Dan Martin
4. GVA
5. Kwiatkowski

VSP PICKS:

1. Kwiatkowski
2. GVA
3. Valverde
4. Martin
5. Henao

Awful news! Just saw this. Scarponi killed this morning in a training accident.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michele-scarponi-killed-in-training/

Very sad and shocking.  RIP and thanks for the great racing…

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Rui Costa
3. Dan Martin
4. Sergio Hena
5. Michael Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Dan Martin
4. Michael Albasini
5. Rigoberto Uran

VSP PICKS:

1. Kwiatkowski
2. Martin
3. Valverde
4. Romain Bardet
5. Sergio Henao

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverdi
2. Dan Martin
3. Albasini
4. Kwiatkowski
5. Bardet

VSP PICKS:

1. Kwiatkowski
2. Dan martin
3. Van Avermaet
4. Albasini
5. Malmerde

VSP PICKS:

1. Haas
2. Martin
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Yates, S
5. Henao

Hope to get a few right!

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Martin
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Costa
5. Henao

VSP PICKS:

1. Michal Kwiatkowski
2. Sergio Henao
3. Dan Martin
4. Greg van Avermaet
5. Michael Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Martin
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Teuns
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Kwiatkowski
2. Rui Costa
3. Bardet
4. Wellens
5. Dan Martin

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michele-scarponi-killed-in-training/

VSP PICKS:

1. D. Martin
2. M. Kwiatkowski
3. R. Costa
4. M. Albasini
5. G. van Avermaet

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Daniel Martin
4. Sergio Henao
5. Greg van Avermaet

Holds nose, presses submit…

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Martin, Danny boy
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Bardet
5. GVA

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Martin
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Van Avermaet
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Don’t Dream It’s Over
2. Hungry Like The Wolf
3. Bad Shit
4. Killer Kowalski
5. Henry Mancini Albasini

Ha!  Fucking great names!  The espresso must be flowing well there, Mate!

VSP PICKS:

1. Malmerde
2. Kawasaki
3. Dan Martin
4. Bling
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Rui Costa
4. Martin
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Don’t Dream It’s Over
2. Hungry Like The Wolf
3. Bad Shit
4. Killer Kowalski
5. Henry Mancini Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Michael Kwiatkowski
3. Dan Martin
4. Rui Costa
5. Greg van Avernaet

They are aesthetically doping but the looks, for the pro cyclist, are the secondary benefit.

I hope that Malmerde gets dropped like a bad habit (which means that he’ll pro

bably win b/c it seems that no one ever drops a bad habit, eh?)

VSP PICKS:

1. Dan Martin
2. Kumquatski
3. Malmerde
4. Albasini
5. Henao

VSP PICKS:

1. Martin
2. Valverde
3. Samuel Sanchez
4. Adam Yates
5. Barguil

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Martin
3. Kwiatkowski
4. Uran
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Kwiatkowski
2. Valverde
3. Martin
4. Rui Costa
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Costa
4. Martin
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Albasini
3. Dan Martin
4. Kwiatkowski
5. Haas

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Albasini
3. Martin
4. Kwiatkowski
5. Haas

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Albasini
3. Henao
4. GVA
5. Dan Martin

VSP PICKS:

1. Malmerde
2. Albasini
3. Dan Martin
4. Kwiatkowski
5. Henao

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Izagirre
3. Kwiatkowski
4. GVA
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro
2. MARTIN Daniel
3. HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis
4. ALBASINI Michael
5. BARGUIL Warren

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Martin
4. Costa
5. Albasini

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde

VSP PICKS:

1. Alexandro Valverde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Dan Martin
4. Michael Albasini
5. Sergio Henao

VSP PICKS:

1. Alexandro Valverde
2. Michal Kwiatkowski
3. Dan Martin
4. Michael Albasini