Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2015

This is the best Cycling photo in the history of time. If you’re wondering why, then we’re probably not looking at the same photo. I am pretty sure the guy playing guitar is the Dos Equis guy.

Anyway, nothing that cool will happen during this year’s Vuelta, although we’ll get to watch more lightbulb-humping, if that’s any consolation (it isn’t). But we do get to treat ourselves to the third and final Grand Tour of 2015 which is exactly as depressing as it is exciting. I’m also not going to remind anyone that I don’t really like the Vuelta because the last two times I said that, the race turned out to be terrific.

The VSP keeps on keepin’ on as well, with big points on offer for the Jaegher frame, Café Roubaix wheelset, or V-Kit. Anything can happen, and in past years we’ve seen the Vuelta be the deciding factor in winning the overall VSP; @Minnesota Expat holds a solid lead over @dancollins, a past winner. @Steampunk holds third over a tight field behind him and here’s hoping our Aussie Keeper @brett can finally put a point on the board as well, which would see him hoist himself out of the Lanterne Rouge. (I actually had to do some coding to give him his Keeper’s badge back, which is something I hadn’t anticipated when I designed the system, needless to say.)

So, study the start list, put in your picks by the time the clock goes to zero, and good luck.

Teaser shots of the Jaegher frame:

Teaser shots of the CR Wheelworks Arenbergs:

  • Café Roubaix's CR Wheelworks Arenbergs

[vsp_results id=”33481″/]

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315 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2015”

  1. 3rd Grand Tour already? Fuck. I’m blaming this on Velominipper-induced time dilation. I’ll get out on my bike today in penance.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Stemwatcher
    2. Nearly Nairo
    3. Arooooooooo
    4. Teeeee Jaaaaay
    5. J-Rod

  5. So the TTT is only for the stage and neutralised for the overall.  Wonder how many teams will just stroll in the beach path?

  6. @Teocalli

    This is fascinating- has it ever happened before?

    VSP PICKS:

    Lando Calrissian (Landa)
    Cold Fact
    The Bison (Majka)
    TGV
    Danny Boy (Martin)

  9. @Teocalli

    So the TTT is only for the stage and neutralised for the overall.  Wonder how many teams will just stroll in the beach path?

    Where’s the fun in that?

    Mind, I hit some sand in the road at Southerness near Dalbeattie a few months ago and 25mm slicks squirm like a bucket of worms at high speed…

  14. @Michael Heusdens

    @KogaLover

    @wiscot

    @Oli

    The great Jose Manuel Fuente. Super shot.

    Indeed it is Fuente. However, I think the pic was taken during the Giro. Fuente is wearing the dark green jersey of best climber which was sponsored by Plastic Screen in the early/mid 70s. Two, I think the jersey says La Gazzetta Della Sport on the left side of the chest and thirdly, the non-guitar playing spectator is wearing a SCIC hat – most likely a freebie from the sponsor of an Italian team. Italian teams rarely did the Vuelta in the 70s as it was so close to the Giro. Fuente won the Mountains classification in the Giro four times – in 71, 72, 73 and 74 .

    Matching bidon to jersey, no DT shifters. You’re right on the Gazetto dello Sport tag. Also would think is rather Italian: all cars (save the Merc) are Italian and the guy below wears Bianchi cap.

    VSP PICKS:

    Nairo V-ana
    Vroom-vroom Froome
    Alejandro Greenvalley
    Fabs Aruuuuhuuu
    Vincenzo Nibbles

    I believe the Prophet is right behind Fuente

    And Gimondi is behind Merckx wearing the rainbow jersey.

  15. @frank

    @wiscot, @Gareth Davies

    Please PM me with screenshots of what’s happening with your picks. They are all jacked up.

    Dear Frank,

    I would if I knew how to. I type in my picks and then it tells me to type something. Maybe it’s the VSP’s way of telling me “we’ve had enough of your crap selections all year and we’re not gonna take it any more.” FWIW my choices are Froome, Quintana, Aru, Van Garderen and Valverde in descending order.

  17. I spent so much time pondering and researching my picks for Le Tour, and I did staggeringly poorly. So, this time, I am Being Obvious (except for G, because I love him). Yawn.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Quintana
    3. Valverde
    4. G
    5. Nibs

  21. @Gianni

    Firstly, I’m relieved that the Vuelta is not available on my tv channels. The Giro was great, the Tour was pretty fun but that’s a lot of tv time in the summer. I’m a little too good at watching all that.

    Who the hell knows with this VSP. I sure don’t.

    Couldn’t agree more! I don’t watch any television, aside from cycle racing and a movie every few weeks. As it is, I’m always looking for more time to ride bikes, tune bikes, walk the dogs with the VMH, etc. I’m baffled, though don’t want to know more, about folks who watch a few hours of t.v. a day, as in…the average American.

  22. Not sure I see two sets of teammates in the top 5, but Astana and Movistar have some serious contenders.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Quintana
    2. Froome
    3. Aru
    4. Landa
    5. Valverde

  23. @Ron

    folks who watch a few hours of t.v. a day, as in…the average American.

    That would be the “72 channels and nothing on” syndrome?

  24. VSP PICKS:

    Nairo Quintana
    Fabio Aru
    Chris Froome
    Domenico Pozzovivo
    Joaquin Rodriguez

  25. VSP PICKS:

    Nairo Quintana
    Chris Froome
    Alejandro Valverde
    Vincenzo Nibali
    Fabio Aru

  26. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nairo Quintana
    2. Chris Froome
    3. Fabio Aru
    4. Alejandro Valverde
    5. Rafal Majka

  28. @wiscot

    @frank

    @wiscot, @Gareth Davies

    Please PM me with screenshots of what’s happening with your picks. They are all jacked up.

    Dear Frank,

    I would if I knew how to. I type in my picks and then it tells me to type something. Maybe it’s the VSP’s way of telling me “we’ve had enough of your crap selections all year and we’re not gonna take it any more.” FWIW my choices are Froome, Quintana, Aru, Van Garderen and Valverde in descending order.

    Browser? Operating system?

  32. The spider is strong, but I really want Nairo to come through (and then take the Tour next year)

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Quintana
    2. Lightbulb humping spider
    3. Bouhanni
    4. Valverde
    5. Degenkolb

  34. I feel like there could be some sparks between Dirty and Nairo this time. Valverde has been the consummate team player the last 2 years and might want to take one last shot on his home soil. I don’t blame him if he did I guess, as long as he doesn’t sabotage the kid. Ultimately I feel like that would tilt things back in Froome’s favor. I think he’ll be very careful not to end up in red in the first couple of weeks. I could see Landa or Nibali doing that and letting Froome ride wheels and keep it just close enough to strike in the Burgos TT. Interested to see how the Nibali/Aru dynamic plays out as well. Any first week struggles like he had in Le Tour and Nibbles might be playing second fiddle to Fabowser. Going to be a great way to end the season.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Quintana
    3. Nibali
    4. Landa
    5. Valverde

  38. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nairo Quintana
    2. Chris Froome
    3. Alejandro Valverde
    4. Fabio Aru
    5. Vincenzo Nibali

  39. When does the VSP open up for the Vårgårde? Cutting it close, no?

    VSP PICKS:

    Pozzovivo
    Aru
    Quintana
    Froome
    Rodriguez

  41. Yeah, yeah, what are the odds of three dudes from the same team finishing this way? Well as I figure it, they use the same juice…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Quintana
    3. Aru
    4. Landa
    5. Nibali

  44. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Sammy Sanchez
    3. Joaquim Rodriguez
    4. David Arroyo
    5. Joe Dombrowski

  47. VSP PICKS:

    1. The Bulb Banger
    2. Nairo Vtana
    3. Malmerde
    4. J-Rod from the rokkit squad
    5. G

  49. @John Irvine

    When does the VSP open up for the Vårgårde? Cutting it close, no?

    Oh, FFS. Always with the Friday start and the overlapping major men’s events. It’s like they are deliberately trying to undermine the VSP.

    We’ll have to cancel this one, I’m afraid…

  50. @frank

    I think you are still ok. Today was just the women’s time trial. The road race for the women is Sunday I believe.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Froome
    2. Quintana
    3. Valverde
    4. Nibali
    5. Pozzovivo

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