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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I know us brits are a bit more reserved than the americans in our reverance for our country but fk me if the performance at the worlds doesn't give us a right to ram our superiority down the throats of the whole world!! Well done boys and girls.
@huffalotpuffalot
"Ramming out superiority" might possibly just be coming it a little high.But still as a Brit I have to say "good fucking job" to Cav and the entire british team
@Gianni
It's apt that you chose the picture you put with this article/VSP as that was the last Green jersey winner who also won the Rainbow jersey. They said that on the BBC News website though, it's not from my memory!
Well, I didn't think that was how it was going to go down. Great finish, but now another rainbow turd wearing the bands. Ah well..........
@Gianni
Thor's hammer
@huffalotpuffalot
GB RULED that race. Unbelievable control. And, say what you want about him, Cav finished it off perfectly. Played to perfection. Chapeau to you Brits out there.
Tough meeting tonite for the Italian Team.
Bennati couldn't even make his move in the sprint
Now I know that Sasha Modolo had a certain freedom of action and instead he was nowhere.
They don't even was able to make up a decent train...
Nevertheless I love my Squadra.
Cav takes the Worlds. What abomination of style will become the rainbow bands? I'm not sure if he's confirmed for Sky yet or not, but if he is, here's hoping they continue their streak and put him in black shorts.
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Nate continues to stand atop the VSP GC.
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Let's hope the BBC mentions this on the news a few times over the next day or two. I'm getting a bit fed up of Andy bloody Murray headlining the sports news because he beat some no name in the first round of some back of beyong tennis match.
Respect to Wiggins, he should get the 'did far more work than anyone else award'.
Puts the Isle of Man on the map too.
Quocunque jeceris stabit
Here's the final twenty minutes of the race. Great stuff. Bunch sprints for the most part simply don't interest me, but Cav did some special work there to get through and win. Said it before, it certainly is impressive how he can win with or without the train.
On another note, I'm formally filing grievances with David Cameron on account of Cav's skin suit and Wiggo's socks. Cav is too short and stocky for a skin suit, and the fact that he's balls at TTing thankfully means we don't see him in one often. That 3/4 sleeve was insulting. And speaking of 3/4, no need to be using Pippi Longstocking as your footwear role model, Bradley.