Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia 2012
Il Grillo gives it some stick in 06. Photo: actionplus sports images[/caption]
Lombardia is a beautiful race. Taking in the majestic shoreline of Lake Como and climbing past the shrine to the Madonna del Ghisallo, its stunning Italian-ness bookends the Monuments along with Milan-San Remo which started them way back in March. And it’s a coming out party, a debutantes ball for the newly crowned World Champion.
Not since Paolo Bettini in 2006 has the rainbow jersey won here, but even if the bands don’t always take the win they are usually well represented at the business end of the race. Cuddles tried out his new found attacking style in 2009 by setting up Gilbert for the first of his two wins, and now the Belgian has the perfect opportunity to show off his new kit and add a third. The betting might not be on if Gilbert wins, but how, and whether he chooses to don black shorts or goes for the full Cipo-style whiteout. Let’s hope common sense and good taste prevail, especially after Cav did such a stellar job of Looking Fantastic over the last twelve months.
The VSP overall race is also at a critical point, and could be decided this weekend. San Tonio has a nice little 13 point buffer and probably only needs to pick up minimum points, while the chasing pack may need to think outside the square and hope a roughie can deliver a la Zaugg last year. You could throw a blanket over 2nd, 3rd and 4th, so close are they to each other, with Gianni not far back tasked with upholding the Keepers’ honor and hoping for a late surge into the top 5 or even the podium.
Check out the start list, take some chances or play it safe, keep an eye on the timer and get your picks in for a chance to wear the Lombardia badge for the next year. Good Luck!
Here’s PhilGil’s last win in 2010, in some nice Rule #9 conditions…
I don’t think there will be a surprise winner this year, to many guys are in good form for worlds that would also prefer this kind of race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Contador
3. Costa
4. Gerrans
5. Nordhaug
Betting something very similar to the WC race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phast Phil Gil
2. EBH
3. Valverde
4. Sagan
5. Gerrans
VSP PICKS:
1. P. Gilbert
2. D. Martin
3. T. Voeckler
4. A. Kolobnev
5. A. Grivko
VSP PICKS:
1. Giblets
2. Valverde
3. Voeckler
4. Henao
5. Costa
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Nibali
3. Porte
4. Rodriguez
5. Valverde
@Buck Rogers
I didn’t see EBH on the start list? Please correct me if I’m wrong.
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Nibali
3. Voeckler
4. Gilbert
5. Sagan
This makes it sound like it finishes at the top of the Ghisallo but it doesn’t, it finishes about 45km later at Lecco 10km after the final climb at Villa Vergano.
@sthilzy
ahhhh, you’re probably right. I didn’t even check the start lists. Cuntador is hungry and just showed the form. He might show up pretty strong.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phast Phil Gil
2. Cuntador
3. Valverde
4. Sagan
5. Gerrans
Ah! I was just watching Phil & Scarponi duke it out in 2010 & didn’t even realize this race was this weekend, and on Saturday! Can’t wait, gonna be awesome.
Going for broke, Braddles to set up the next gen, cruises over line in fifth. Basically I have no idea. Will be nice to Ghisallo again.
VSP PICKS:
1. Richie Porte
2. Gilbert
3. Bertie
4. Valverde
5. Wiggo
Taking some gambles. I’d like to put in Kessiakoff and Dieco Ulissi too. Maybe I will. There is still time.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Wiggo
3. Valverde
4. Purito
5. Phil Gil the mighty one
VSP PICKS:
1. Fast Phil
2. Cuntador
3. Twiggo
4. Valverde
5. Purito
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Bert
3. Purito
4. Valverde
5. Nibbles
Hoping for a Rainbow Victory with some ringers in there goin for some last stabs at end of season glory!
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Uran
3. Tiralongo
4. Ryder
5. Nibali
It will be fascintaing to see the BMC take on the rainbow jersey, and how it compares with Cav’s 2011 version.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Bert
3. Duran Duran
4. Valverde
5. Nibbles
VSP PICKS:
1. Fast Phil
2. Bertie
3. Rich Port
What the hell happened there, I wasn’t finished….
VSP PICKS:
1. Fast Phil
2. Bertie
3. Rich Port
4. Valverde
5. Oofaffoo
Ryder and Chris make an early break stick. It’s a pipe dream I know, but really it is my only prayer of moving up the standings this late in the season.
VSP PICKS:
1. Ryder Hesjedal
2. Chris Horner
3. Philip Gilbert
4. Alberto Contador
5. J Rodriguez
Read ’em and weep, bitches.
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Stetina
2. Voeckler
3. Pozzato
4. Casar
5. Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilforwards
2. Urangutan
3. Bertie
4. Paolini
5. Nibbles
VSP PICKS:
1. Bertie
2. Philbert
3. Cumming Again
4. Dan Martin
5. Valverde
VSP PICKS:
1. Pinot
2. Nibali
Woops!
VSP PICKS:
1. Pinot
2. Nibali
3. Gilbert
4. Valverde
5. Porte
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilforwards
2. Clenbutador
3. Nibbles
4. Hope of a Nation
5. Voeckler
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Uran
3. Nibali
4. Contador
5. Voeckler
All eyes on Gilbert… but Nibali is likely out for a little revenge.
VSP PICKS:
1. GILBERT Philippe
2. NIBALI Vincenzo
3. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samue
4. VOECKLER Thomas
5. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto
VSP PICKS:
1. Purito
2. Gilbert
3. Betancur
4. Lars Petter Nordhaug
5. Dan Martin
I see a spanish attack coming on and sense Purito may go for broke. Gilbert may get nailed by them on the Muro di Sormano and I am not sure Wiggo will really have it to go away. Uran = tired, Dan Martin = Not quite ready yet…. Valverde = very hungry.
VSP PICKS:
1. Purito
2. Clenbutador
3. Valverde
4. Gilbert
5. Ryder
Damn you Brett. You know I can’t handle the pressure. Also, with the inclusion of that killer climb, it takes any non-climber out of contention. And we have Pedale on the scene this weekend!
Screw it. Swapping in Uran after his showing of form today.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phast Phil Gil
2. Cuntador
3. Valverde
4. Sagan
5. Uran
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibbles
2. Giblets
3. Tommy V
4. Contador
5. Uran
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Gilbert
3. Kessiakoff
4. Nibali
5. Contador
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert, Philippe
2. Contador, Alberto
3. Valverde, Alejandro
4. Rodriguez Olivier, J
5. Nibali, Vincenzo
I’ll be there, from Bergamo to Lecco!
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Uran
3. Purito Rodriguez
4. Nibali
5. Zaugg
@Pedale.Forchetta
ahhhh, wow! Man, I live in the wrong part of the world! Have a glass of vino for me while watching, okay?
@Buck Rogers don’t say that! But for sure I’ll have a glass of red wine for you…
@Oli
What language are you using, and what words does it substitute for “climbing past” that sound like “finishes in the vicinity of”?
@Franklin
@Franklin
I really must get around to fixing this “premature posting” bug…This shouldn’t be allowed to happen, but I suck too much at programming to make it stop.
@JFT
Nibbles is going to make it stick one of these times. Love that dude.
@Buck Rogers
Its amazing what he can do when he’s not being paid off to sit up.
@frank
Nibbles right now is kind of like the pre-2011 Gilbert — knows how to attack but goes to early. If Nibali can learn to wait just a bit longer, look out.
@frank
Ha! Whatever came out of that investigation anyways? Buried with all the other overwhleming evidence cases by the UCI?
VSP PICKS:
1. Fast Phil
2. Nibbles
3. Cuntador
4. Valverde
5. Purito
@Buck Rogers
Yeah, needle in the haystack. The UCI trying to keep track of all the fraud accusations is like having the autopsy tell you precisely which bullet from the gatling gun killed the mouse.
@Pedale.Forchetta
Mostly said in jest and a bit of envy for your close location to so much amazing racing. I actually LOVE my new home in the mountains of NY. Just amazing. But I would love to live in Italy for a year or two as well!
No one is picking Gadret? Seems like some lessons have been learned this year. You can’t really go past Phil although Bertie will make him work for it. Everyone else is buggered. Garmin and Greenedge can barely find a rider to front up according to the list.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gil
2. Gerro
3. Bertie
4. Valverde
5. De Gendt
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Contador
3. Nibali
4. Boasson Hagen
5. Valverde
@frank Er. Yes. Quite. Obviously I typed that stupidity prior to my morning espresso, when my comprehension is severely compromised. Apologies, Bretto.