A clatter of the metal grate rolling up signals another opening of the Velominati Bookmaker’s Office. The gaggle of skinny (and not so skinny, you know who you are) jabbering cycling addicts rush the door, each with their dream of a bumper sticker dancing in their heads. Before the office opened the bookies have consulted the oracle; a garbled audio of Sean Kelly’s predictions where he maybe tipped the little known Gullaume Van Keirsbulck, or did he say Phillip Gilbert. Bettini likes Cavendish’s chances while Cavendish likes Thor’s chances and Thor likes Keirsbulck’s chances or did he say Roelandts?
Since Geelong everyone has been saying this was a sprinters course, so a sprinter won’t win. It is only 266km with no serious grades and a total of 1785m of climbing. I could finish this course, if I could ride 266km and there was no time cut. For the professional road championship it does not sound long or grueling enough but the weather could be cold, windy and wet, if so the Spanish will suffer and the Italians will have to race with neck gaiters.
Looking back this year Cancellara should have won the 2010 world title so his less-than-spectacular season could be blamed on the curse of the rainbow jersey. Gilbert cannot have another season as good as this one so he better not win on Sunday or the jersey will be blamed in 2012. I started to feel bad for Thor when the yellow jersey came off his back and went to Voeckler during the Tour de France until I remembered he had the rainbow jersey underneath it! Who needs that trashy yellow one when you are already have the rainbow? I stopped feeling bad for Thor.
It’s late in the season, many have packed it in for the year, others have ridden the Vuelta to gain form. Are they good or cooked? Will the British team work together to bring Cav to the line or go down in flames like the Italians used to? The thought of Cavendish wearing the rainbow hoops for the next year has caused some anxiety in the office. His propensity for white tube socks with black shoes would diminish the aura the rainbow jersey brings to any worthy rider. The Aussi team looks unbeatable and yet…The bottom line on bookmaking is this will be another impossible race to pick the winner, unless you choose Gilbert.
Here is a link to the start list. As always, if you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the form below. Make your picks by 5am Pacific Sunday morning, regular VSP Rules apply.
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View Comments
@Godsight
In terms of age, I think you may have left out the bloke who came second and who won MSR.
As for you imperialist pommy bastards, I think you should take a good hard look at yourselves and your "team":
- Cavendish - a fucking Manxman.
To quote the infallible Wikipedia (bolding mine) Great Britain is the largest island of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland...It does not include the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands which are not part of the United Kingdom, instead being self-governing dependent territories of that state with their own legislative and taxation systems.
So he shouldn't have been riding for you.
- Wiggins - born in fucking Belgium.
- Millar - born in fucking Malta and considers Hong Kong his home.
A great win for the homeland indeed! And as for Irishmen like Dr C getting on the British bandwagon, you should be ashamed of yourselves.
And yes, this is sour grapes.
Blah. Watched the first hour last night and the course left me quite cold, I wasn't terribly excited to check the results this morning when I got up. Not surprised cavendish won, though I agree with Fronk, and I get the feeling this wasn't the best example of a world championship ride. No way any breakaways were going to stick, not hard enough to thin out the pack fodder, they could have had the race done after 2 laps and gone to the pub.
I think the real reason I'm let down is that the rainbow jersey isn't going to animate races this year like it has for the past few years, especially with Cuddles and Thor. He's still going to go backwards uphill, clean up the easy sprints etc but, well, meh.
@Marcus
Don't worry Marcus, if ti makes you feel better Russell Crowe's too fat to fit into our country now so you can have him back.
@roadslave
Nah, that was Gianni's article and Gianni's clairvoyance. Just read your previous post, though, and you're making me come around to Cav a bit...
@Marcus
Gosh. Cheer up! You ARE a member of the Commonwealth. You can almost claim Cav as one of your own. Kind of.
@roadslave
Just thinking that Gianni put up fast Freddy, not that Frank isn't capable, just sayin. Gianni was comming up when FF was ripping up the cobbles I think Frank was still in diapers...
@roadslave
+1(sob)
A+1
It does show what an engine he has, to go the distance and make it happen, if is was to end in a sprint then he deserved it.
@frank
Oh NO! Remember:
I have a special place in my heart for the Dutch. I'm Irish by DNA, but was adopted by a Dutch dad. Nothing against the Brits, but Cav??!!?? Really??
Anyone here who thinks sprinters sit-in and don't work has never known a sprinter.
@michael
They work for something else. It has to be hard when you're a sprinter and have to be in the field for a marathon. I just prefer hardmen that can ride off the front or take a small drop to the line for the win. That said, I do like watching the 'em go left for some laps and winding it up to 70Kph too. Just different versions of the same sport.
Just watched the last 5k again. Cav was super impressive staying calm and finding that hole. A real exciting finish.