Rouleur Derby Report No. 36

Monday, May 16, 2011

In this Rouleur Derby Report:

1. Giro rest day

2. California

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1. GIRO REST DAY

Anyone who put big points on Alberto Contador probably enjoyed a good night's sleep last night. Already it looks like this Giro is a contest for second place -- which, who knows, could be a contest for first after all, depending on what the Court of Arbitration for Sport has to say.

For now, we get to enjoy our first rest-day second chance, with all the favorites whittled down to a handful of contenders. Since tomorrow is a flat stage that probably will not have any bearing on the GC, you have until tomorrow night to make your predictions:

http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-giro-ditalia-second-chance

There are also two active propositions for Saturday's highly anticipated stage up the Crostis and the Zoncolan: Predict a winner, and predict whether a top GC rider will end up in the netting coming down the Crostis.

http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-giro-ditalia-crostis
http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-giro-ditalia-monte-zoncolan/

Don't forget that the top performer during the Giro gets a cool $50 prize, thanks to Riot Minneapolis, purveyor of fine cycling fashion (http://www.riotminneapolis.com).

2. CALIFORNIA

The Tour of California gets off to a belated start this afternoon. Action was heavy to pick the winner, with Levi Leipheimer emerging as the favorite at 4.5:1.

To keep it interesting over the week, there are propositions to pick the winners of the final three stages: Friday's time trial, Saturday's race up Mt. Baldy and Sunday's relative flat stage into Thousand Oaks. Deadline for each race is midnight the night before.

http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-tour-california-time-trial
http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-tour-california-baldy
http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-tour-california-final-stage

Traditionally the time trial is the decisive stage at the Tour of California, but the yellow jersey could very well be decided up Mt. Baldy, so there's a yes/no side bet to predict what happens on that front.

http://rouleurderby.com/race/2011-tour-california-baldy-gc/

Have fun, play well, tell a friend,

Luke