2008 Virtual Directeur Sportif: Giro d'Italia Competition!

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 14, 2008 3:50 PM EDT in News

First off, a couple housekeeping matters: the new spreadsheets for the last week are up. No change at the top. Also, I will award a prize of some nature to the overall leader after Liege-Bastogne-Liege, so you all have two weeks to dethrone Jered. As for the main course...

Newcomers and Fence-Sitters: Join the Action!

As announced a month ago, we will have special Virtual Directeur Sportif competitions for each of the individual Grand Tours. The first of these, the Giro d'Italia competition, begins along with the race in less than four weeks, so I'm going to open the competition now.

What the hell is it? The Podium Cafe Virtual Directeur Sportif Competition is a fantasy-sports-like event where you select a roster of riders and accumulate points based on their actual results. The team with the most points gets a prize, despite having paid nothing to enter. Last year, thanks to generous donations, winners received wool jerseys.

Can I Play? Yep. The only prerequisite is that you create a login here at the Podium Cafe (and that login doesn't really require any information, though I urge people to provide working email addresses). But! If you already have a team entered in the year-long competition, you cannot enter a team in the Giro-Only competition... for the simple reason that you already have one.

[N.b.: this is one competition, including all the teams from the yearlong comp as well as all the Giro-Only teams. The following rules should place you all on a level playing field... but if for some reason the year-longers have an advantage over the Giro-only teams, or vice versa, I will create separate prizes somehow.]

How does it work? For the Giro-only VDS competition, you select a roster of TEN riders, and you have 50 points to spend. Open this spreadsheet to see how much each rider will cost you. If a rider isn't listed, his cost is 1 point. You must pick ten riders and spend your points within that budget.

[N.b.: ten riders/50 points = 5pts per rider. In the yearlong it was 150/25 = 6 pts per rider. Fair? Probably... because the Giro-only people will be able to pick guys who are actually riding the Giro. But like I said, we'll see.]

Who Should I Pick? Well, that's for you to decide, but here's how the points will be awarded:

Final GC (top 20): 600-450-375-325-300; 275-250-225-200-175; 150-135-120-105-90; 75-60-45-30-15
Final Points Jersey (top 5): 120-90-60-40-20
Final Other Jerseys (top 3): 60-40-20
Stage placings (top 5): 80-50-35-20-10 (TTT's: each rider finishing with team gets 20%)
Jersey Holders each day: GC 20pts; others 10pts

How Do I Enter? Email me your roster by Friday, May 2, Noon Pacific. My email address is:

vdsentry2008@yahoo.com

For a variety of other information or to check in on how things are going in the yearlong comp, go here or use the VDS link in the Menu sidebar. Good luck!

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Comments

Every time I see your email, vdsentry2008

I keep thinking it's some kind of anti-spam software for venereal disease (as in VD Sentry - the newest protection against email generated herpes).

This is worse than having Peaches and Herb stuck in your head.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 14, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions

VD Sentry/Lotto

next year, mark my words.

-K-

by KevinK on Apr 14, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

thank you

I laughed out loud at work and got busted for reading.

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 14, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Is anyone

except for Gilberto Simoni and Alessando Petacchi actually riding the Giro this year?

I like a competition where even Ruslan Pidgornyy and Steffen Radochla are assigned values. Did Chris make those guys up?

Looks like a lot of bargain basement riders 2 and 4 point riders could do well with the weak competition. Vila, Bruseghin, Monfort, Pinotti, Fothen, Forster, and Usov come to mind.

by Mr 60 Percent on Apr 14, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

Don't say things like that

You will make Chris cry and he will end up staying up all night cranking out blogpost after blogpost detailing why the Giro is the greatest race on earth.

by Jens on Apr 14, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Or

I'll just keep posting links to last year's posts.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 14, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Besides... Petacchi isn't a lock on the Giro...

He's on my team... hence the large possibility that that roster spot on Motoescapism will get Leipheimered.

============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 14, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

startlist

http://startlist.cyclingfever.com/startlist.html?_p=startlijst&id=18757

by lucybears on Apr 15, 2008 6:16 AM EDT up reply actions

3132 points!!!

Just 1k points behind the Bike Game.

Now I just need a really great week by Rabo Team in the Ardennes (I have Gesink, Dekker, Ten Dam, Flecha, Posthuma and Langeveld!!!)

by King of Doping on Apr 14, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Funny thing, it kind of

is the greatest race on earth. Most beautiful anyway. But no one rides it.

I followed the 06 Giro around for four days. Amazing how many local guys of all ages just get on the back of whatever bike they have and ride up the local Cat 1 mountain to see the race. One day I got up to Pellegrino and ended up rolling cigarettes with two geriatrics who had pedaled up on mountain bikes who could not have been more than ten years younger than Fausto Coppi. That was the day Jens gifted the stage to Garate.

Much more relaxed than the Tour...twice I ended up in the same hotel as a couple teams. Since a lot of guys aren't totally committed to the race, the mood is very tranquilo. Half of AG2R was actually hanging out in the hotel bar between mountain stages.

by Mr 60 Percent on Apr 14, 2008 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

There!

take that Jens. And don't get me started about the food.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 14, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes indeed

you got me there. Half a peloton of hungover french riders surely does make for spectacular bikeracing.........

(actually I'm just messing with you, I love the Giro too)

by Jens on Apr 14, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

ever ride the Dolomiti

during the Giro?

It's not just the amazing scenery, which you can hardly take in. It's that they let anyone ride anywhere on the course until less than an hour before the riders come through. The Tour is a much bigger hassle.

by Mr 60 Percent on Apr 14, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope

I ride the Dolomites of Seattle during the Giro. 65th Street always cracks me.

Someday... Actually that dream bike vacation is second, just behind the classics. And unlike Belgium in April, I'm pretty sure I can convince my wife to come with me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 14, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey I was there too

well not rolling cigarettes but at San Pelligrino. I ended up staying at the same hotel as TMobile and yes some of the boys were at the bar. They didn't stay that late an dit sure looked like beer in those glasses but they didn't really over indulge

Froze my ass off on Plan de Corones waiting for the riders and watched the stage finish in German in the bar!

by lyne on Apr 14, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Fence-sitter?

yeah that would be me. okay I have 2 weeks to put this team together for my favorite GT.

e un bel gran Giro

by lyne on Apr 14, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Giro prizes

I'll be at the Giro this year, so I'll try to pick up some Giro schwag to add to the prize kitty.

And I agree with Mr 60 Percent, the Giro is the most beautiful race in the world. It's also a much more mellow race to experience as a fan than the Tour de France (except for riding up the climbs, which are harder in the Giro than in the Tour).

by Susie Hartigan on Apr 14, 2008 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

My VDS team has dropped 20 places...

and is now solidly behind Unibrow benchmark. But I come to praise Motoescapism presented by 30.12 not whine incessently.

I have mad love for Gasparotto in the Giro, and despite my fear of having Petacchi not actually toe the start line because he, I don't know, tied his DS' shoe laces incorrectly, I figure he's good for a couple of stage wins and maybe even the sprinters jersey. So I have GC and Jersey aspirations.

Oh... and this Discofanboy bought a full set of Race 2 Replace Trek posters on eBay. Woo-hoo!

PS: Two paragraphs up I initially misspelled "mad" as "made" and boy did that change the entire tone of the statement. Here's to proofreading!

PPS: Anyone notice Bettini's out with a cracked rib?

============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 14, 2008 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

WRT Hincapie

Was it just that he chased back too slowly after his mechanical? I checked the replay for what I thought I saw live and he was labouring back, arm waving madly like \O/ (apparently to call the team cars through!) and on the left you can Marcus Ljungqvist fly by followed by a rabo rider. Can't tell obviously how long he'd been chasing back obviously and maybe he was just getting tired, but Lungqvist especially just flew past him chasing back on.

by Rothko on Apr 14, 2008 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

oops wrong thread

multiple tab confusion!

by Rothko on Apr 14, 2008 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

game

I have a question, this game is only for Giro d'Italia or is for the all season?

I know you have a game, but i'm short of time this year. I want to know if you do here another game only for Giro dItalia or is part of that game

by semprenaroda on Apr 14, 2008 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

This game

is only for the Giro d'Italia.

We will do another game only for the Tour, and a third one only for the Vuelta. And all year, we have the season-long one.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 14, 2008 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

So, I can't make up another team just for the Giro

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Apr 14, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

Nope

and neither can mobilegoat. It's bad enough I let your invisible friend Tshawytcha enter a team.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 14, 2008 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

HAhahahaha...

You hear that you little water quality nut job... il Duce says yer a figment of my imagination... tak ethat.

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Apr 15, 2008 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions

If that's the case

it is a credit to your imagination to create such an individual as me.

Nice work. Kim says thanks as well.

It's just around the next bend. Really.

by tshawytcha on Apr 15, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, sure

'Kim'

Nice touch, giving substance to the illusion.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 15, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

track times

I bet we'd never see them both posting at the same time... :-)

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 15, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I have "real" friends...

I do, I really do... :-)

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Apr 15, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Can't comment

on Egoat's "friends" but I can assure you that I am not him, nor would I wish to be. He has a cat with one good eye that only travels in circles and he has a hole in one of his bibs--in a place better left unsaid. I saw it at close range just this evening during our Tuesday ride and I am likely scarred for life.

He has much hair.

It's just around the next bend. Really.

by tshawytcha on Apr 15, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

You guys are too much! I usually love pictures but this is not one any of us need to see... the thought is scary enough!

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 15, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm intrigued about

the cat. Are they circles in the same direction (like Nascar), concentric circles, or alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise?

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 16, 2008 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Also

If you took the cat to New Zealand, would it go in the other direction?

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2008 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

New Zealand?

What the hell have you got against Australia? I knew there was a reason you constantly slag O'Grady and fawnover Julian Dean.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 16, 2008 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

NZ , Australia whatever

Let's just say the rest of the world would appreciate if you refrained from bringing your freakishly defective pets to faraway continents to perform your weird experiments.

Anyway I thought Bart resolved this issue with his longdistance phonecalls?

by Jens on Apr 16, 2008 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, he did manage to avoid The Boot

But remember, they did drag those pesky Koalas back to the states. They've been wreaking havoc in the south for years now.

Here's evidence

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 16, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, OK People

Calm down.
Here is the official report on the cat.
Siamese, Bad left eye, Name: Otto (aka Circle Cat). Always travels to the right (clockwise) in concentric circles unless being chased by Egoat's son.

Even more intriguing is this: I also have a one-eyed siamese. Had to have his Right eye removed when he was very young. Name: Cy (yes it stands for Cyclops) and he travels relatively straight having adapted to his singular vision by cockng his head to the side.

Coincidence????
I think not.

Y'all better start trackin' post times--it'll give you something to do:-)

It's just around the next bend. Really.

by tshawytcha on Apr 16, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions