Categories: Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia

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.

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

Buck Rogers says:

Oct 16 2011 at 11:20 am

@Gianni
Whew, now I'll be able to sleep tonight.

Thanks!
minion says:

Oct 16 2011 at 12:18 pm

@Marcus
Four more years. If you know what that means you know more about rugby that you're letting on.
Marcus says:

Oct 16 2011 at 1:28 pm

@minion
Let me guess- 4 more years until most Australians think too hard about rugby again?

To get an idea of where rugby stands in the national psyche all you need to know is what the TV stations here pay for the telecast rights for the sport - compared to AFL, rugby league (for the Qld & NSW proletariat) cricket and soccer. Last by a looooong way.

But felicitous congratulations to you - I know it's a big thing for you people.
minion says:

Oct 16 2011 at 1:58 pm

Nup. When the Aussies beat us in the semifinal of the last world cup Aus won, after the final play of the game your halfback George Gregan yelled 'four more years' at a couple of players on the ground. We may be boring fuckers but we carry a good grudge.

Whole stadium was chanting four more years last night during the last ten minutes.
Dr C says:

Oct 16 2011 at 2:26 pm

@minion
Go the mighty Blacks!
Chris says:

Oct 16 2011 at 3:05 pm

Utter arse! Just sat down to watch the Giro di Lombardi after a good but very non-bike weekend. Sky box produced a clip of Zog crossing the line, some adverts and then some fucking indoor ladies tennis! Epic fail!

All Blacks were awesome today. Final some decent rugby this weekend! Watching the the Super 12/13/14? you could be forgiven for thinking the southern hemisphere had forgotten how to play up front but that was a properly committed performance from the forwards.

Allez les Bleus! I'll be digging out my '99 vintage top and pouring myself a glass of rouge!
Marcus says:

Oct 16 2011 at 3:47 pm

@minion
Wasn't aware of that one. But I did used to admire Gregan's play when I watched the odd game.

In related news, the Australian Government announced today that over the last few months it has suspended dole payments to over 100,000 people for not turning up to job interviews. Do you think it was coincidental that they did this after you people won? I think not.
Erik says:

Oct 16 2011 at 7:03 pm

Holy crap! I am ZAUGG!

That is, I actually took the top step for this particular VSP.

This made my day.

Clearly, I need a ride really badly.
minion says:

Oct 16 2011 at 7:29 pm

@Marcus
Kiwis can't get the dole in Straya. If you're out of work there you're fucked.

Do you find Julia slightly arousing? I do.

Red hair and power. Just saying.
minion says:

Oct 16 2011 at 7:37 pm

@Marcus
Awesome end to the Jayco Sun Herald tour too. Nice comment from Jacky Bobby that he had him beat fair and square.
Guy's a tank for a cyclist