Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France Stage 8

Contador stamps his authority on the first hilltop finish of the 2009 Tour.

The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige makes it’s first VSP Sub-Competition with Stage 8 of the Tour de France. The competition will allow contestants the opportunity to win bonus points in the VSP Tour de France by choosing the top three finishers of the stage for a chance to win 3 points for first place, 2 for second, and 1 for third.

We are expecting fireworks on the bumpy stage from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz so it’s going to be a tough one to call, given that a breakaway can go up the road while the GC contenders watch eachother and wait for the last hill. That said, some GC hopes are farther behind (or not far enough a head of) Alberto Contador to be able to afford to wait until the last hill; will the stage show a Pantaniesque ride from a rider like Sastre or Armstrong?

Make your picks by the time tomorrow’s stage starts, regular VSP Rules apply. Good luck!

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

david says:

Jul 10 2010 at 9:58 am

1. Nicolas Roche
2. Jurgen Van Den Broeck
3. Johan Van Summeren
Kermitpunk says:

Jul 10 2010 at 10:38 am

Damn! I was going to pip Eros Capecchi for this, but he went hard today and got very little for his efforts. Tomorrow will be a day for Brice Feillu, but he's not racing, so instead:

1. Cyril Gautier
2. Jean Gadret
3. Damiano Hesnotgoinganywherebuthecouldgo
frank says:

Jul 10 2010 at 1:27 pm

This is a really tough one. It's wide-open as to what could happen. I'm going to throw a hail-Mary and predict that some GC favorites are going to throw a hail-Mary of their own. What I really need is a Prognosticator Octopus, but I don't have one handy. Where's the lucky rabbit foot?

Here we go, I'm guessing Sastre and Armstrong team up for a day-long Kamakazi. It's unexpected and unlikely, but it's as good as anything else. An opportunist will come with them, and as such, I'm going to guess that Canhego was testing the waters today and has decided that yes, he Caninfactgoandwilltry. Winning the sprint, it will be:

1. Canindeedgo
2. Armstrong
3. Sastre

Even as I press "submit", I know I'll gain no points with this one.
Kermitpunk says:

Jul 10 2010 at 2:16 pm

@frank
Ha! Was wondering about the same thing. But Sastre felt pretty slighted by Armstrong's comments after the 2008 Tour, so I don't see him working with the American on anything. Probably the wrong strategy, but Contador will be tracking everything Armstrong does and won't let him go.
ben says:

Jul 10 2010 at 8:19 pm

Oh my: Armstrong not only downplays his form - but also invokes the 2003 tour in this article: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-keeps-his-cool-despite-heat-saddle-sore

KOM Crapshoot tomorrow, with Pineau's grind today and Chavanel in yellow...

1. J-ROD from the ROKKIT SKWAD
2. Egoi Martinez
3. Gesink
brett says:

Jul 10 2010 at 10:06 pm

Perfect stage for someone to do a Heinrich manouevre...

Come-and-Go; he's been talking it up, let's see him deliver.
Easy Ryder; could find himself in yella, and may be let go by Big Balls Evans so he won't have to defend it himself so early...
De La Fuente; almost Lantern Rouge, and has been known to crab his way along on a long breakaway.
Brett says:

Jul 10 2010 at 11:15 pm

@Kermitpunk

I don't think Cunty will be too worried about tracking Pharmy. It could be fatal to do that, the old fella might find things a bit tough. Cunty should be more worried about Big Balls, the Gimp and even Veino (shit, he could be a chance today too).
john says:

Jul 11 2010 at 1:02 am

I'm still in shock from seeing the BBox team actually acting like a team and riding at the front. One of the seven signs of the Apocalypse. Chavanel will lose the jersey again tomorrow. Maybe Veino will be allowed to sneak away for a win? Is Gesink still racing with a broken arm? What is going on?
I got nothin'.

1. Veino
2. Gerant Thomas
3. durty Sanchez
Geof says:

Jul 11 2010 at 1:17 am

1. Little Tommy Steal-a-Stage Voeckler
2. Wee Matty Lloyd
3. Big Bad J-Rod

However - though this is not my pick - if for some reason the GC guys decide to get it on, then it will be (i) Pistolero (ii) Remaining Grimpeur (iii) Clovenchin Cadelephant.
andy says:

Jul 11 2010 at 2:13 am

ok finally made my mind up (its taken a while)
1. Brajkovic - only guy in the SHACK who has beaten bertie (and the only guy in the SHACK whois capable of beating him)
2. Matty Lloyd - tested out the guns yesterday, didn't find them wanting (i really should have picked this guy for KoM overall)
3. Contador - after getting bored of marking a grimpeur and pharmstrong, he accelerates, blows them both to pieces and goes into yellow. the only guy capable of following him is good cadelephant