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
I think it will come down to a sprint and I do not think that they'll be able to bottle Cav. Tough race to call, though.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cav
2. EBH
3. Farrar
4. Bennati
5. Thor
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Hushovd
3. Freire
4. Gilbert
5. Sagan
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Griepel
3. Cancellara
4. Gilbert
5. Hushovd
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Cancellara
3. Boasson Hagen
4. Sagan
5. Hushovd
I think it will be a course for powerhouses. Cancellara has worked on his sprint, just look at MSR and the Champs-Elysées. Boom is looking like the man in form, winning the Tour of Britain and he is rather good at uphill sprints. EBH and Hushovd are in there as wildcards and Freire will be there as well.
No Gilbert because I think he'll be too tired to win, and I need the VSP points.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boom
3. Freire
4. Hushovd
5. EBH
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Cavendish
3. Sagan
4. Thor
5. Boasson HagenDaz
@Netraam
Man, I see your reasoning. It was soooo hard not to go with Cancellara, esp after his bronze in the ITT, he'll be going hell bent for leather.
Also, I've been burned with not picking Gilbert before but I really do not think that this will be his race (although it seems that he's made every race HIS race this season!)
Really hard not to reason Cav for this one.
VSP PICKS:
1. Rainbowdish
2. The Go-rilla
3. Thord
4. Billions and Billions
5. Renshaw
I pray Gilbert doesn't win, the world stripes are so heavy, give it to the youngster...he doesn't know any better
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan the pagan
2. Boy Edvald
3. Oskar Friere the old man
4. Kittel the skittle
5. Froome
Gilbert's arguably got a better team supporting him in Copenhagen than he does with his club; how is he going to react to real help? Spartacus is going to go off on his own with three laps to go and all hell will break loose. A very small and select group will be able to keep up, dashing Cav's chances and others. Gilbert will make the selection, then he'll tell the breakaway when he's going to drop them. If Kittel wins, he could wear a Witte Kittel with hoops around the middle.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert the Crocodile
2. Carl Sagan's eponymous nephew
3. Thor
4. German Kettle
5. Spartacus