Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 Clasica San Sebastian
The Velominati Super Prestige continues with it’s typical post-Tour follow up, Classica San Sebastian. The race isn’t normally given much credit, though it stands out as the first major classic of the Summer season. It’s unfortunate that the race suffers from the ill effect of being overshadowed by the Tour; if it occurred anywhere else in the calendar I think it would stand out as one of the most exciting races of the year due to it’s tough route and unpredictable finish.
A race favoring the climbers, this tough parcours typically favors a strong finisher who can climb well but win from a small group. But this race is perhaps the hardest to judge because, coming so closely after the Tour, rider’s form is difficult to gauge because riders who ended the Tour coming into good form should be able to carry it for another week and factor in the finale. But freshness can’t be overrated and there is also the possibility that riders who rode the Giro and skipped the Tour will be finding themselves with good legs.
Only the race will tell. Can the Schlecks rubberneck their way to a much-needed win? Or will Canhego take his good form and fast finish to the bank? J-Rod, assuming he races (I can’t be bothered to look it up), will be on home turf and fresh after the Giro; this could be his year.
This winner of this Super Prestige edition will again earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker and all reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free Velominati Shop Apron. 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 tomorrow, regular VSP Rules apply. Good luck!
I have no idea. Anyone? Bueller. Make me change my mind before the deadline.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fränk Schleck
2. L Sanchez
3. Cunego
4. Sammy Sanchez
5. Sastre
Hum… who has had good form lately. What a stacked field…. tough call.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Van Avermaet
3. Sammy Sanchez
4. Thor
5. Cunego
VSP PICKS:
1. Sammy Sanchez
VSP PICKS:
1. Sammy Sanchez
2. J Rod
3. Gilbert
4. F Shleck
5. Cunego
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Rodriquez
3. Rojas
4. Hushovd
5. LL Sanchez
Taking my first shot at VSP
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sammy Sanchez
3. F. Schleck
4. Ryder
5. LL Sanchez
Fuck I don’t know………
VSP PICKS:
1. Richie Rich
2. Sammy Sandwhich
3. Grimpuer the elder
4. can he go
5. Steve Roche’s kid
I had a mind of putting together an all-Spanish five””and would happily watch a Sastre swansong win””but I just don’t see it. I’m likely asking too much of Gilbert (maybe Sammy should be in in his stead), but the man hasn’t finished outside the top ten in a single major day race this year, has he? Gerrans as a dark horse? Maybe Fuglsang? Bummed to be slumming on the west coast where the race will begin three hours earlier than at home (only reason to prefer Ontario over BC, mind you)…
VSP PICKS:
1. Pip Giblets
2. O Hesjedal
3. Petey V.
4. Syl Chav
5. Tommy De Gendt
VSP PICKS:
1. Sanchez
2. F Schleck
3. J-Rod
4. Gilbert
5. Random Spainard
This hasn’t been the year to bet against Fast Phil in one day races.
VSP PICKS:
1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Sammy Sanchez
3. Cunego
4. Jose Rojas
5. J-Rod
Cripes, I have absolutely no freakin’ idea and i’vereviewed the start list.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/start-list
Its spain, so a spaniard in the works
its basque, maybe a basket case!!
VSP PICKS:
1. JRod
2. Van Avermaet
3. L Sanchez
4. Chavenal
5. Sastre
@Andrew
@Paco
I noticed your picks for Hushovd and thought of slotting him into my picks after his strong TdF. A quick check on the start list told me that he’s not in the race though.
To take the guessing out of who is starting:
http://www.steephill.tv/classics/san-sebastian/
VSP PICKS:
1. Sammy Sánchez
2. Purito
3. Phil Gil
4. Luis León Sánchez
5. Thomas De Gendt
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Scrammy Sanchez
3. Cunego
4. Gerrans
5. J. Rodriguez
VSP PICKS:
1. Eddy
*He’ll make the top five if he lays of the IPA’s
VSP PICKS:
1. Eddy
2. Cyclops
3. Steampunk
4. Brett
5. F. Strack*
@Mikeweb
Yep: he’s riding a crit in Grimstad that day (no points for picking the winner).
@Cyclops
2 through 5 organized by height in reverse order?
I couldn’t find any fresh legs that I liked on the start list. If Christophe LeMevel had been on there, he’d have been my pick to click.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gilbert
2. Greg Van Avermaet
3. Damiano Cunego
4. Frank Schleck
5. Ryder Hesjedal
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Samuel
3. Rojas
4. Cunego
5. Luis Leon
I may have to miss watching this race. Spending the weekend in Tempe.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sammy Sanchez
2. Cunego
3. F Schleck
4. LL Sanchez.
5. Sastre
Cyclops – Not sure about your #4 and #5 picks…word on the street is that despite the pep he’ll get from being aboard the new steed, took a lot out Brett to have Frank fuck with him so much regarding a potential Klein purchase; Brett might get pipped by the Big Fellow at the line, he’s in his head.
VSP PICKS:
1. S. Sanchez
2. Cunego
3. F. Schleck
4. J. Rodriquez
5. Gilbert
Who has a clue – I’m purely guessing! A Spanish trifecta for the podium.
VSP PICKS:
1. S Sanchez
2. Ll cool sanchez
3. RodriGuez
4. Canhego
5. Giblets gilbert
I’d pick Hoogerland for all 5 spots if he was in the race. Tough bastard.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sanchez
3. JJRojas
4. Canhego
5. TenDam
I can’t believe its not butter…
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. S Sanchez
3. F Schleckstinator
4. Hesjedal
5. Cunego
@scaler911
Who knows – and I saw an earlier comment about Cornell earlier – yes sign says it will be closed over the weekend – I just went up Cornell and then NW 53rd Ave at lunchtime – happy days!
Basque country, I’m picking an all Spanish finish. Going to be wrong, I know, but I’m sticking with them.
Visca el PaÃs Basc!
VSP PICKS:
1. Purito
2. Sammy Sanchez
3. Juaquin Rojas
4. LL Sanchez
5. Sastre
VSP PICKS:
1. P Gilbert
2. J Rodriguez
3. S Chavanel
4. S Sanchez
5. Cunego
The little fella is going to surprise
VSP PICKS:
1. Cunego
2. Phil Gil
3. LL sanchez
4. J Rod
5. Richie Porte
VSP PICKS:
1. JJ “The Accuser” Rojas
2. “Fast Eddy” Gilbert
3. “J-Rod”
4. Damiano Couldhegobackintheday
5. Oscar “The Cat” Friere
VSP PICKS:
1. He CAN Go
2. Chav
3. JR
4. LL Cool
5. GaGa
What could possibly go wrong?
VSP PICKS:
1. Filbert
2. LL Sanchez
3. Velits
4. Van Avermaet
5. ChaVanel
But what do I know? (next to nuffink)…
VSP PICKS:
1. Allan Davis – yes!
2. Gilbert – can’t help himself
3. Gerro – overdue
4. Millar – unfinished business
5. Velits – peaking a week late
Alea jacta est.
VSP PICKS:
1. SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon
2. SCHLECK Frank
3. CUNEGO Damiano
4. GILBERT Philippe
5. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin
VSP PICKS:
1. Sammy Sanchez
2. Joaquin Rodrigez
3. Gilbert
4. Hesjedal
5. F. Schleck
VSP PICKS:
1. Elder Swivelneck
2. PhilGil
3. Samchez
4. Van Everyman
5. Roche clip
@Gerard
Cool.
Last minute to be sure, but if you’re interested, McSqueek and I are meeting between 0745-0800 tomorrow at the NW 23rd Starbutts for a easy spin up that and along Skyline.
VSP PICKS:
1. Richie Rich
2. Sammy Sandwhich
3. Grimpuer the elder
4. can he go
5. Steve Roche’s kid
At the risk of a divorce, and a trip to a free wifi cafe, here’s my picks. Hopefully I get at least a point, but this one is such a crapshoot!
VSP PICKS:
1. J-Rod
2. LL Sanchez
3. Schleck the Elder
4. Slammin’Sammy Sanchez
5. Sastre
VSP PICKS:
1. philgil
2. samsan
3. lulusan
4. purito
5. cunego
Will Versus or Universal show either this or Tour of Poland?
VSP PICKS:
1. j-rod
2. Gelly Bear
3. sammy sanchez
4. F the Schleck
5. Can he go
VSP PICKS:
1. Frank Schleck
2. Sammy Sancho
3. Phil Gilbert
.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Joachim Rodriguez
3. Cunego
4. Samuel Sanchez
5. Lulu Sanchez
Shiiit, I don’t know. Flippin’ Donald Trump? Donald Duck? Who knows?
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. J Rod
3. F Schleck
4. Sam Sanchez
5. LL cool Sanchez
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sanchez
3. Chavanel
4. Cunego
5. J Rod
@Leroy
Hey! It’s Leroy. Hi Leroy!
VSP PICKS:
1. Richie Rich
2. Sammy Sandwhich
3. Grimpuer the elder
4. can he go
5. Steve Roche’s kid
Finally, they pull it off. That is all.
VSP PICKS:
1. Grimpelder
2. Grimplette
3. Canhego
4. J-Rod
5. Jens
absolute stacked field crapshoot, but an elite break will go.
Riders coming off form post tour, riders coming into form post tour, well rested Giro-heads, classic specialists and GC contenders all in the mix.
Me-thinks the top climbers from the tour will distance Phil this time, these aren’t punchy climbs.
Ryder is in the mix, two top 10 finishes in the last 2 years and rode well in the end of the tour.
I think J-Rod will be just too motivated and quick for them. You should see the list of riders i left out!
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquin Rodriguez
2. Luis Leon Sanchez
3. Damiano Cunego
4. Frank Schleck
5. Ryder Hesjedal
@frank
only the Elder Swivel is racing this one
Jens? that would be fun to watch.