Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia 2016

Quietowski leads the remnants of the break around Lake Como. Photo: pedale.forchetta

I turned forty last week. Nothing feels different except all my strength has gone, my memory sucks, and everything hurts now. That, and everything makes me mad because it isn’t the way it used to be. Case in point: the Giro di Lombardia is no longer the last race of the year. (I know it hasn’t been for a while but no one counts that race in Japan or the Tour of Beijing as real races.) And they moved it up so early in the season that the leaves aren’t even falling yet. We call it the race of the falling leaves for a reason, people!

Christ, I miss the Cold War.

At least we can count on @pedale-forchetta to be at the roadside, delivering the most badass photos on the most badass part of the route.

For those of you entering the VSP, don’t let the fact that Paris-Tours and the Words haven’t happened yet fool you. Lombardia is this weekend even though it will barely be October by the time they hit the start line. Get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero. (Countdown clock’s been fixed, by the way, just in time for the season to end – you’re welcome.)

Kick it.

[vsp_results id=”73758″/]

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.

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View Comments

Steve Trice says:

Sep 29 2016 at 6:32 am

@RobSandy

Is it me, or are Cycling Weekly crap at counting?

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/six-riders-to-watch-at-il-lombardia-287076

???? I count six (although they're not all in the lead photos). Anyway, as we all know, there are three kinds of people; those that can count and those that can't.
KogaLover says:

Sep 29 2016 at 6:39 am
@Steve Trice

???? I count six (although they’re not all in the lead photos). Anyway, as we all know, there are three kinds of people; those that can count and those that can’t.

I thought there were 10 kinds of people; those who understand binary numbers and those who don't

VSP PICKS:
1. Daniel Martin
2. Rui Costa
3. Tim Wellens
4. Wout Poels
5. Bauke Mollema
Steve Trice says:

Sep 29 2016 at 6:44 am

@KogaLover

@Steve Trice

???? I count six (although they’re not all in the lead photos). Anyway, as we all know, there are three kinds of people; those that can count and those that can’t.

I thought there were 10 kinds of people; those who understand binary numbers and those who don’t

Ha ha yeah, that too.
Teocalli says:

Sep 29 2016 at 7:02 am

@Steve Trice

@KogaLover

@Steve Trice

???? I count six (although they’re not all in the lead photos). Anyway, as we all know, there are three kinds of people; those that can count and those that can’t.

I thought there were 10 kinds of people; those who understand binary numbers and those who don’t

Ha ha yeah, that too.

But to unravel @robsandy's point you have to read too.........
Steve Trice says:

Sep 29 2016 at 7:25 am

@Teocalli

But to unravel @robsandy‘s point you have to read too………

Ahh, all makes sense now. Never thought to read the article.
RobSandy says:

Sep 29 2016 at 7:40 am

@Steve Trice

@Teocalli

But to unravel @robsandy‘s point you have to read too………

Ahh, all makes sense now. Never thought to read the article.

Who the fuck reads articles?

Yeah, says 7. I'm in the sort of mood where that gets to me.
1860 says:

Sep 29 2016 at 7:46 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Alaphilippe
2. Poels
3. Martin
4. Aru
5. Gilbert
RobSandy says:

Sep 29 2016 at 7:59 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Alaphilippe
2. Barguil
3. Chaves
4. Bardet
5. Contador
TheVid says:

Sep 29 2016 at 9:14 am
So with the Race of the Fallen Leaves upon us, is there a date for the VVhidbey Island Cogal of the Fallen leaves yet?

VSP PICKS:
1. Alaphilippe
2. Chaves
3. Atapuma
4. Contador
5. Aru
Jansen says:

Sep 29 2016 at 11:16 am
VSP PICKS:
1. W. Poels
2. J. Alaphilippe
3. R. Costa
4. F. Aru
5. D. Martin