The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige makes an unscheduled stop this week at the Tour de Suisse. Originally left off the VSP roster, it was decided among the Keepers that the ‘fourth Grand Tour’ is indeed worthy of inclusion in our humble tipping competition. As one of the final hit-outs for many Tour de France contenders, the Swiss race shows who might be ready to step up in July, who’s needing to pull their finger out, and who might be targeting this race as a worthy addition to their palmares. With a couple of TT’s, stages that could go to the sprinters or a daring breakaway, and some of the most picturesque mountain passes in Europe, it has something for everyone, and anyone could win.
Can Motorcus find an ‘extra gear’ and back up his 09 victory? Will the EgoTesticle show signs of his old self on the bike, or just behave like his old self off it? And are the Brothers Grimpeur finally going to do something, anything?
Let us know your thoughts, and make your picks to pick up a sweet Obey The Rules bumper sticker, in the posts section on this page. For a full rundown on the competition scoring etc, visit our VSP Schedule, Rules and Results page.
Good luck!
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I can only hope that Lofkvist and Martin can pull something special out in the TT. Going off the Prologue times, then they're in with a chance of the top-5, but it will be a long-shot and they might end up 6th & 7th.
Hmmm - a tall skinny Rabobank rider who slays 'em in the mountains. Have we heard this story before ... ? Eck - mouth washed out. Om - bad thoughts banished.
@Souleur
This from A. Schleck: "If I compare myself to this time last year, I am ahead...I am better than I was then." Good news?
Schleck claims he wanted to try an attack early on the final climb. If he had stuck on the wheels, he would have finished with his brother, but he wanted to see how he could go. He also said that the false flat at the top gave him trouble.
We went to an Etape evening at the Rapha Cycle Club in London last night. Looks like the hardest climb is the first (Col de Marie Blanque) so get over that and you're ok.
I was quite surprised by how unprepared some of the other attendees were in terms of riding and awareness of the route. Remember the ride is 1 month today.
3 sample questions, all genuine:
1. The Marie Blanque is the first climb. How many are there. (Answer, after that you have the Col du Soulor and Col du Tourmalet)?
2. With gearing, when you're talking about 34x27, is the 34 the big one on the front?
3. What's should my heart rate be on a climb?
keep us updated Guy. How did you go about getting a ticket for that? I assume based on the questions, there were no qualifiers to get in.
To the Etape or the event last night?
Oooo - I'm a level 2!
Andy Schleck on Levi Leipheimer yesterday: "Levi was, for me, also pretty okay." Poor Levi. His career summed up in three words: "also pretty okay."
@Guy
What's the rapha cycle club like? I keep meaning to go in there everytime I'm in London and drool on stuff I can't afford. I also keep meaning to go to look mum no hands, I might make a special effort to go to watch the Tourmalet stage.
As for qu2., 34 is on the front and it would be the small ring on a compact (50/34) chainset
Burghardt might get his second win here