Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2014
The race of the funny hat.
Every team seems to have included one or two riders fresh off the Tour. One would either feel ruined or unbeatable a week after that slug fest, more than likely, ruined. I imagine there are a few riders dodging calls from their directors this week.
Tony Gallopin beat Malmerde in last year’s edition and the Spaniard will be hot to win something big after being relegated to fourth place in the Tour. Gallopin’s stock has gone way up, having just worn the yellow jersey, so if the legs allow he should have some confidence. Others will be tuning up for the Vuelta but it is hard to imagine the win not coming from a recent Tour finisher with the mint legs on. No amount of training will duplicate three weeks of pain bank deposits from that Tour. That being said, I dare Frandy to win it. Why do I have such a bad attitude about him? Move on Gianni, move on.
This is also when contracts are negotiated so it would be quite timely to impress everyone with a giant one-day race win.
Here is a start list for this race and a prize list the the overall 2014 VSP. The overall VSP points earned are not high this year; a strong last third of the season could win the overall. This race is on a Saturday so be wary, make picks by Friday.
- First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
- Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
- Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes. Yes, we said orange.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gallopin
2. Sagan
3. Valverde
4. Rogers
5. Rodriguez
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Valverde
4. Rogers
5. Rodriguez
VSP PICKS:
1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Romain Bardet
3. Tejay Van Garderen
4. Michael Rogers
5. Bauke Mollema
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Sagan
2. Zdenek Stybar
3. Michael Albasini
4. Philippe Gilbert
5. Bauke Mollema
Usual worthless picks. I’m hopng Phil Gil and Danny Boy have not been couch surfing over the past month or so and are fresh and ready to go. Malmerde usually has form and will be wanting to win after his late Tour drop off the podium. Rodriguez and Sagan will be trying had for leaving the Tour empty-handed. If Vos was riding, I’d put her in.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. Valverde
4. Daniel; Martin
5. Rodriguez
@wiscot Ditto! I think I’ve focussed on “non fallers” so if a bunch of my picks bite the dust on this one I’ll know it’s me.
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Sagan
2. Van Avermaet
3. Meersman
4. Valverde
5. Roche
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Valverde
4. Rodriguez
5. Gallopin
It’s a breakaway type of day. Or that’s what I’m hoping.
VSP PICKS:
1. Greg Van Avermaet
2. Ramunas Navardauskas
3. Jan Bakelants
4. Tony Gallopin
5. Michael Rogers
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gallopin
3. Rodriguez
4. Gilbert
5. Valverde
I know the word is “it’s still not over” but for me it’s over.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. Van Avermaet
4. Gallopin
5. Stybar
VSP PICKS:
1. Alejandro Valverde
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Peter Sagan
4. Zdenek Stybar
5. Tony Gallopin
VSP PICKS:
1. sagan
2. gallopin
3. valverde
4. van avermaet
5. bakelants
Great thread, man I love this site!
VSP PICKS:
1. sagan
2. valverde
3. gerrans
4. gallopin
5. gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. J-Rod
4. Stybar
5. Valverde
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Sagan
3. Gerrans
4. Gilbert
5. Van Avermaet
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gil
2. Sagan
3. Stybar
4. Garcia
5. Duran
VSP PICKS:
1. Slagter
2. Westra
3. Van Avermaet
4. Valverde
5. Gallopin
VSP PICKS:
1. tony gallopin
2. valverde
3. sagan
4. purito
5. stybar
Will not pick Malmerde!
VSP PICKS:
1. Nico Roche
2. Galloping Tony
3. Phil Gil
4. J-Rod from the Rokkit Skwad
5. Gerro
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Greg Van Avermaet
3. Simon Gerrans
4. Gallopin
5. Valverde
Now that the Race of the Falling Favorites is over, time to stick the voodoo pin into Valverde.
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Moreno
3. Bardet
4. Gerrans
5. Visconti
Lest there be any confusion
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde, Fuckface
2. Moreno, Daniel
3. Bardet, Romain
4. Gerrans, Simon
5. Visconti, Giovanni
VSP PICKS:
1. Gallopin
2. Valverde
3. Bardet
4. Gilbert
5. Stybar
UUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGHHHHHH. This race is tailor-made for two riders, Dan Martin and Peter Sagan. Which mean’s it isn’t tailor-made, exactly but close enough. We’re not talking bespoke, FFS.
So…………Pedro is tired from a Tour in which he overplayed his cards any time he had a real chance and underplayed them when he could have been an opportunist. Dan fell off when he was about to repeat the biggest win of his career and hasn’t been seen since.
I’m guessing Peter has the bigger fire, but Dan is fresher.
Fuck it. Here goes.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan Wagan
2. Dean Martin
3. Valve Cap
4. Gallopin’ Tony
5. Pilly Gilly
NFI
VSP PICKS:
1. Stybar
2. GVA
3. Albasini
4. Slagter
5. Vanendert
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Roche
3. Gerrans
4. Bardet
5. Martin
VSP PICKS:
1. sagan
2. roche
3. gilbert
4. valverde
5. visconti
VSP Picks
1. Sagan
2. Gerrans
3. GVA
4. Gallopin
5. Albasini
Phil Gil has abandoned for some reason after only 75km.
Sagan abandons.
@xyxax
I knew there was a reason I didn’t pick Gilbert or Sagan (that’s a surprise, when was the last time Sagan didn’t finish or withdrew?) to finish in the top five. Gilbert probably withdrew cause he had a chest infection last week and couldn’t train.
@Minnesota Expat
Someone wrote that they would be surprised in Sagan actually made the start. Didn’t sound promising.
[ Seinfeld voice ] Valverde!
These friggin’ men’s one day races give me the most trouble. I think I’d do just as well posting photos of 20 or so contenders to a wall and throwing 5 darts and going with those names.
At least on the women’s side my number 1 pick is pretty much automatic.
For 2015, could someone please teach Purito to TT and how to handle a sprint. You can’t lead out like that and hope to hold off the guy on your wheel. The only reason he didn’t finish off the podium was because Nieves was cooked and/or had the decency to acknowledge JRod had done the lion’s share of the work. I love watching this guy ride, but is can’t help thinking I’ve got more tactical nous than him…
El Steamelero-punk calls it.
[vsp_results id=”30510″/]
Methinks @sthilzy beat me to the line. Happy to share the podium, though…
@Steampunk
Nope, he was back talking to the team car when he should have been up front.
Bollocks! I picked the wrong spaniard to win!
@xyxax
A Garmin rider last year said this was a race where you know very early if you were doomed or not. Bad legs for Sagan.
@Gianni
We’re all doomed from the start. Throw me a beer.
@Steampunk
Fuck – schlecked my chain…
@the Engine
Rat-Packed the final corner…
I completely Delgadoed this one.
@Jay
Well at least you can say “if only” vs me being in dunce’s corner “null pointe”
Holy shit – I made the podium! Perhaps I need to say “Oh, fuck it” and just enter random names more often. It certainly never works out this well for me when I actually put some thought into it. Celebratory beer tonight!
Yates Boys. They are going to be stars, I’ve just submitted their Australian Residency applications for them.
None of us like Valverde much, but shit he knows how to win a race. That was a masterclass in pacing himself on that last climb and putting in the killer blow. Purito must spit chips when he sees him on his wheel.
@Daccordi Rider
How is the Yates that crashed, full gas into the armco? Speaking of which the Giant rider who went through the barriers in the sprint in Poland?
https://twitter.com/ORICA_GreenEDGE/status/495595319317766144