Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia 2014

After the leaves have fallen. Photo: Pedale.Forchetta

I’m getting too old and cranky for all this race schedule changing. I know they already did this last year and presumably I had the same gripings then, but Lombardia is supposed to close out the season and I’m downright angry that Paris-Tours is closing out the books now; it only seems right that one of the most beautiful races should close out the season, not some sprinter’s classic that even The Prophet didn’t bother to win.

Speaking of the end of the year, this season has blown by; it seems only a moment ago that the cobbled classics were in full flight and the whole of the season was stretching out before us. That confirms it: Time is an asshole. On the other hand, time always provides another season so I guess that’s a redeeming quality.

Ok, the caffeine is kicking in and I’m now capable of an emotion other than resentment, so lets get more positive. There’s a beautiful race coming this weekend so get stoked! We have a newly crowned World Champion whose choice of bib shorts color to scrutinize. This is important work, people, and no one else is going to do it. His team has a strong track record for pairing leader and championship jerseys to team-issue bibs, with the glaring exception of Der Panzerwagan’s white (and bloody) skinsuit. My money is on team-issue.

Remember we have some major prizes on offer; @il muro di manayunk has a solid lead, but if he’s out of the points and Der @Steampunk has a good showing, anything can happen. (That might not be true, it might be mathematically impossible but I don’t feel like doing the math.) So prognosticate on the start list and get your picks in by midnight on Saturday Pacific Time (or when the clock goes to zero). Cheers, and good luck.

[vsp_results id=”31190″/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

View Comments

  • Stunningly unoriginal picks. Stunningly bad picks. That's been the sorry tale of my VSP this year. Here's to the 2015 season.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Dan Martin
    2. Kwiatkowski
    3. Rodriguez
    4. Bardet
    5. Gilbert

  • Edit for not reading start list...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Valverde
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. J Rodriguez
    5. Gilbert

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Dan Martin
    4. Dani Moreno
    5. Gilbert

  • remember - course changed this year

    VSP PICKS:

    1. GVA
    2. J-Rod
    3. 'Berto
    4. Bauke
    5. D Caruso

  • can't see GVA on the start list....

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tony Gallopin
    2. Dan Martin
    3. Roman Kreuziger
    4. Michal Kwaitkowski
    5. Adam Yates

  • I hope Vino is telling the boys not to win this...might look suspicious...

  • I'm not a GC guy. Topped out on the Worlds ITT and feel I can call it a good season.

    Love to see Contador win this one. Doped or not, he's a fighter, but you can't even be considered to be one of the 'Great' ones without winning the Rainbow Bands or a Classic. Yes, winning a Grand Tour is enough to call it a career, but you'll never be 'Great'.

    Unfortunately Valverde is Mr. Consistent (Tour, San Sebastian, Vuelta, Worlds). You'd think he'd be tired by now. I see this going down like San Sebastian.

    That said, Alessandro De Marchi will win from a breakaway. But breakways are too hard to predict.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde, Alejandro
    2. Rodríguez, Joaquím
    3. Gilbert, Philippe
    4. Gallopin, Tony
    5. Mollema, Bauke

  • I will be on the top of the Ghisallo to see the race !!!!!!!!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Aru
    3. Rodriguez
    4. Valverde
    5. Caruso

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Dan Martin
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Warren Barguil
    4. Joaquim Rodriguez
    5. Tony Gallopin

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