Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia 2016
I turned forty last week. Nothing feels different except all my strength has gone, my memory sucks, and everything hurts now. That, and everything makes me mad because it isn’t the way it used to be. Case in point: the Giro di Lombardia is no longer the last race of the year. (I know it hasn’t been for a while but no one counts that race in Japan or the Tour of Beijing as real races.) And they moved it up so early in the season that the leaves aren’t even falling yet. We call it the race of the falling leaves for a reason, people!
At least we can count on @pedale-forchetta to be at the roadside, delivering the most badass photos on the most badass part of the route.
For those of you entering the VSP, don’t let the fact that Paris-Tours and the Words haven’t happened yet fool you. Lombardia is this weekend even though it will barely be October by the time they hit the start line. Get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero. (Countdown clock’s been fixed, by the way, just in time for the season to end – you’re welcome.)
Kick it.
[vsp_results id=”73758″/]
And more changes…
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Contador out of the race with flu.
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Falling, leaves.
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Good race! And Dan Collins nailed it!
Meatloaf said 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. I got 2 out of 5. Oh well, c’est la vie.
That was a great finale. I didn’t put Chaves in my picks because I didn’t think his season could get better. Hat tip to him.
@Erik
Just remembered that this may be my last pick with the leaf badge. I’ve had it twice. It will be missed.
Dan Collins opens up a vital gap on Bianchi Denti with another solid performance. Could there be some VSPUE manipulation?
[vsp_results id=”73758″/]
[vsp_gc year=”2016″/]
Congrats to @dancollins! A fine season-long performance. Squeeky-close for positions 2-10.
Thanks to all the sponsors for encouraging us to gaze into our crystal balls. My winter project is to scrub the inch-thick layer of shite off mine.
Stoked for the wee man Esteban! A very worthy winner indeed.
@Brett
OK, I’ll bite. What is VSPUE manipulation? Some of us old guys are a bit dense.
@Brett
I know you’re kidding, but Dan is very consistent. Especially when you check out the last few years of the VSP. Everyone would do well (especially me), to stop doing so much research and just mirror Dan’s picks!
@dancollins
TUE………..becomes……….
@Teocalli
Thank you. I was searching the Lexicon to try to find out what it means. I am one of those cycling fanboys that now completely ignores all the drug use issues. The whole Lance Armstrong thing almost ruined my love for the sport, so my answer to that has been to keep myself in blissful ignorance about all the drug use issues. I even had to look up what “TUE” really meant because I don’t read anything that discusses those issues. This year has had some of the best racing I’ve seen in years (both women and men), so I hate to see the road season end. I’ll crawl back under my rock now.