No event of the year is more likely to provide piles of Rule #9 in the Five and Dime than il Giro di Lombardia. A hilly circuit around Lake Como ensures lots of climbing and that the bunch is blown to bits before the finish. Add to that its position as the last classic of the season, nestled in amongst the falling leaves of mid-October, and you’re nearly certain the weather will be terrible. The fact that it is being moved from October to September is distressing on several levels, not least that I’m certain the weather will be better. Good for the riders, bad for us; the way you hear some of the race organizers and the UCI talk, you’d almost thing they actually put the riders’ well-being before the amusement of the public. That can’t be right.
But most importantly, the Giro di Lombardia represents the final edition of this year’s VSP. The results are all but buttoned up for Nate, although both Marcus and G’Phant are in with a mathematical chance of taking over the win with a perfect score and Nate pulling a Delgado.
VSP G.C.
1. Nate (120 points)
2. Marcus (109 points)
3. G’phant (107 points)
(Antipodal VSP Podium. Interesting.)
You know the drill, get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Saturday. Depending on how things go, we may be late to post the final results as the race organizers and the UCI scheduled the event in conjunction with the Seattle Cogal. Oh, and if you don’t know what time 5am Pacific is and your Google Skills are not sufficient to elucidate that for you, I suggest you simply don’t cut it too close.
Good luck.
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Is the eurosport co-broadcaster Marcus Backstedt? Not doing a bad job whoever he is.
Dunno, I'm watching the Italian coverage from Il Gazzetta.
If he has a strange half-Welsh half Scandinavian accent, then yes.
Don't think Nibali can stay away now.
Not sure why Sky are the ones doing the chasing.
Paolini I think just opened the gap accidentally on the descent.
I'm watching the Gazetta coverage muted with eurosport on for commentary. It is Magnus Backstedt.
Nibbles is gobbled up...
Now it's on. Not the whole peleton - about 30-40 riders. Hard to tell who's there - Gilbert, Sanchez, Rodriguez, Visconti, Basso, lot of Lampre and Sky.
JVS is n there as well.
Back from some morning soccer (I know, I know...but I can't ALWAYS be on a bike!) and here for the last 30k. Awesome.
Damn, didn't realize, despite what folks have been saying on here that they are moving this race up next year. That blows. No more Race of the Falling Leaves. Damn expansion of the global calendar!
For some reason I love the phrase, "Has got a good sprint on him." It's as if he wears a jacket or patch or crest that shows this ability off.
And hey, what helmets do Acqua Sapone wear? I think I kind of like them!
Katusha going hard now. Rodriguez must fancy this. Or Moreno.
Here they go up Villa Vergano.
Sanchez blown...
Cunego blown...