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 love that peeps are picking Sagan. He'll be legend. Sagan, Thorpedo, Gilbert, Farrar, Gorilla: That's who I'd love to see in the top 5.
VSP PICKS:
1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen
4. Mark Cavendish
5. Matthew Goss
Hard to believe it is here again! Seems like I was just staying up all night to watch this yesterday. Time flies when you are turning the cranks daily.
Happy autumn equinox, lads!
Can't wait for the race. East coasters can get up really damn early, west coasters can just keep the party goin' strong!
You'd have to be an idiot to not pick Phil Gilbert for the win.
VSP PICKS:
1. Jack Baur
2. Jeremy Vennell
3. Oscar Freire
4. Greipel
5. David Millar
Cancellara has put in some impressive sprints. I think he manages to tip Phil. Last year, everyone said the race would end in a bunch gallop. It didn't quite do so, even though the U-23 race did. I'm feeling deja-vu from the cycling rags on this one.
@roadslave
How does being from Norway yield home advantage in Denmark? Isn't there a rather imperious body of water separating them?
VSP PICKS:
1. The Man With the Golden Bearings
2. Phil's Better than You
3. The (now former) Rainbow God
4. Chavanel
5. Nick Nyugens
VSP PICKS:
1. Spartacus
2. Boss Hogg
3. Kiddie Sagan
4. Dutch Boss
5. Le jeune étalon
@Minion
Jeremy Vannell? I got nothing. An Oz porno reference? Throw a bone to man who inputs name-into-vsp-data-generator. And yes, uphill finish, Gilbert?! Hello! I agree, it seems like he will kill 'em all and look really good in the jersey.
Anybody but Cancellara or Cavendish. Especially Cancellara. I love this race. I'm so excited about Richmond in 2015! When should I book my hotel?
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Thor
4. Freire
5. Goss
Gianni, you know how to set it up and make the case for an impossible pick and using fast Freddie for your lead out man - inspired!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Haussler
4. Martin
5. Freire
He's on the New Zealand team, went for a couple of Sunday rides with him last year. He's got no fucken clue who I'd be - that fat oaf he spun past when we were trying to sprint. He raced for Bissell in the US for a couple of seasons, local favourite.
While we're name dropping, did you all know that NZ's Jack Bauer was a cycle courier in Wellington? Did you know I was also a cycle courier in Wellington? You know what that makes me? Desperate.
He did turn up at our track after work one night, got on a hired bike and set the 3k pursuit record for the track.