Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia
In the 1990 Giro, a relatively unknown cyclist named Gianni Bugno lit the cycling world on fire by winning the first stage, thereby taking the Maglia Rossa. That wasn’t so surprising in itself; what was surprising was that the little bugger managed to hold the jersey all the way to Milan, a feat previously only accomplished by Binda and Merckx postwar, and prewar legend Costante Girardengo.
This all happened in the age before smartphones and social media; while these days a stealth strike on the World’s Most Wanted Dude gets live-tweeted, in 1990 it took until well after I knew Greg LeMond had won the Tour de France before I found out that Bugno had won the Giro. Reading about the feat in Winning magazine, Bugno instantly became one of my heros and went on to cast himself into a bronze statue of Rad by being one of the few riders able to challenge Indurain in the following years. (He also possessed the mental frailty that seems to be common among my favorite riders. There’s something Shakespearean about heros with flaws that I simply can’t resist.)
The Giro d’Italia is just prestigious enough to be the maker of champions. It’s isn’t made up of a downgraded field like the Vuelta, but it also ins’t as popular as the Tour where only the best riders on the best teams seem to stand a chance. Every Giro produces a revelation that goes onto great things; that’s one of the key reasons this is my favorite Grand Tour: the field is strong enough to have serious contenders, but weak enough to let an outsider play. It’s perfect.
Aside from a well-balanced field, the geography of Italy lends itself to a better three week race than do France or Spain. Many European companies are defined by natural borders such as mountains or water, which generally means the mountains and great bodies of water lie at the borders with plains in between. (Or, as is the case with the Netherlands, beneath.) Italy is unique in that it is narrow and has mountainous terrain in nearly every region. Whereas the first week(s) of the Tour and Vuelta feature mostly flat stages suited for the sprinters and little else, the Giro’s first week generally contains several mountaintop finishes. The difficulty of a typical Giro’s first week means that riders who ride strongly there typically fade towards the end, while riders who were weak on the first climbs may come on strong as the race closes down. The result is a tight race from start to finish with regular changes in leadership. Except in 1990. And whatever years those other three guys who did what Gianni did.
This year’s Giro will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy by making strong men cry. Forty major climbs, and 7 mountain top finishes, one of which involves climbing Mount Etna twice. (Welcome to Sicily, assholes. You get to ride up the most active volcano on Earth twice.) I have it on the excellent authority of a man down the pub that Contador is stocking up on extra drugs even as I write this in an attempt to quiet the rattle of his skinny little bones in his spanish boots.
With that we kick off the best Grand Tour of the year, and the first test of our Grand Tour VSP Software. The other VSP editions have been a piece of cake. Grand Tours include free “swapping of the picks” logic whenever a rider in a contestent’s pick list drops out. We have rest day swaps for 2 or 4 points each, depending on which rest day it is. Our system is supposed to handle all of this smoothly and seamlessly. We’ll see.
Read the scoring guidelines, work out your strategy, dope up on clairvoyance drugs (alcohol) and chuck your picks up. As usual, the winner of this VSP edition will earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker and all reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free personalized Velominati Shop Apron. If you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the designated area above the posts section, bearing in mind that entry/modification of picks closes at 5am Pacific time on the day of the race. You are eligible to swap picks at no penalty for your picked riders who drop out; rest day picks each come at a 2 point penalty for the first rest day, 4 points each for the second.
Good luck.
Garmin are interesting me – are they sending Farrar to the Giro and resting him for the Tour? When he’s in the team too, and you’ve got Haussler & Thor, as well as the standard token VDV tilt at a top 5 needing some good domestiques, the space for Farrar in that team drops! Le Mevel has a couple of top 10 places in some decent races – Paris Nice, Dauphine & the Tour for example. Would probably want to top 10 it this month.
This is going to be a great race! I think Italians always thrive here, so expect a few of them to be dominating. Nibali to pump The Steak Defence on the mental descents of the Giro.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Dirty Berty
3. Scarponi
4. Menchov
5. Kreuziger
I can’t see Farrar making it all the way to Milan. There are too many mountains in the last week and the chances for stages ending in sprints is almost nil. I do hope they take the TTT though.
@ramenvelo
Just right: I expect a mass exodus of sprinters before the third week. Petacchi might just be the last man standing, because a). he’s Italian and this is his home tour, and b). he might not fancy his chances in France come July.
I am really betting on Nibbles for a home tour win; he was so strong last year, and now he’s learned how to win a GT. Anton is eager to prove he can stay on his bike, and Menchov is just too reliable to ignore.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibbles
2. Rokkit
3. Munched too Much
4. Scarponi
5. Anton
I’m proud to join the ranks of those ignoring Cuntador. He can peddle his tainted VSP points elsewhere. Same with Scarponi.
Liquigas looks strong, so Nibbles has it in the bag. But I can’t wait for the shit to start flying between him and Kroozigger.
Farrar’s only in it to get some more pre-TDF practice against Cav. They’ll both pull out at the same time.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Kreuziger
3. Jo Rod
4. Arroyo
5. Porte
J Rod out because Cam Meyer will do what Richie did last year…
VSP PICKS:
1. The Spanish Steak
2. Nibbles
3. Dennis the Menace
4. Cam Meyer
5. Scarponi
What the hay, I do not see an A list Team. Its going to be a gong show.
VSP PICKS:
1. Thomas Lövkvist
2. Alberto Contador
3. Roman Kreuziger
4. Brice Feillu
5. Yaroslav Popovych
@frank
damn another Anton pick. you have me second guessing.
I’m sayin.’
VSP PICKS:
1. VinnieN – Osmosizes Basso's Cool
2. Denis d'Menace, he's a nice gu
3. Fellow Slav Kreuizger
4. Sastre VIVA OLD GUYS W/CLASS!
5. Igor. I have a thing for basques
What time are you lads thinking it will come on gazzetta.tv.com? I’ll be watching online in the eastern U.S.
Looks to me like Omega-Lotto is first out of the starting blocks at 15:40 CET, so that seems like it might be online starting at 9:40. Earlier with pre-coverage or am I completely off or does that sound about right?
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Rodriguez
3. Menchov
4. Scarponi
5. Joaquim Rodriguez
sorry…..hard returns are lame.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Contador
3. J Rodriguez
4. Menchov
5. Scarponi
Why no…
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Contador
3. Menchov
4. Anton
5. JRod
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Nibbles
3. J-Rod
4. Menchov
5. Kreuzinger
I wonder if resubmitting without the apostrophes will not drive the site’s scripting bonkers & make me look less like I was gargling while I… wait. What’s the metaphoric equivalent in writing of gargling while you speak. Whatever it is, that. Less like that.
VSP PICKS:
1. VinnieN – osmosis-es Basso suave
2. Denis d Menace, a nice guy
3. Fellow Slav Kreuizger
4. Sastre VIVA OLD GUYS WITH CLASS
5. Igor. I have a thing for Basques
Well it wasn’t retroactive.
Testing.
Just ignore me.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Menchov
3. J Rodriguez
4. Scarponi
5. Sastre
VSP PICKS:
1. Cuntador
2. Nibali
3. Menchov
4. J. Rodriguez
5. Scarponi
Etna
VSP PICKS:
1. Clenbutador
2. Menchov
3. Kreuziger
4. MaScarpone
5. Nibbles
VSP PICKS:
1. Clenbutador
2. Nibali
3. Menchov
4. Kreuziger
5. Scarponi
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodrigeuz
2. Contador
3. Anton
4. Nibali
5. Menchov
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Menchov
4. Scarponi
5. Serpa
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Menchov
3. Jaochim Rodriguez
4. Scarponi
5. Igor Anton
I’m just struggling to imagine Menchov breaking into the top 5 with the insane amount of climbing and descending this year. Still not sure about Anton but we’ll see…
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Igor Anton
5. J Rodriguez
OK, points are for losers. I hate; Contador, doper, Scarponi, doper, Menchov, must be a doper just has not been caught, DiLuca, dinna get me started.
Kreuziger is all talk, as is Lovkvist, Sastre too. Sure I don’t know what I’m talking about but that has not stopped me yet. I want the Maglia Nera!
But the course looks great and it’s the Giro so let the fun begin.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vincenzo Da Shark Nibali
2. J-Rod
3. David Arroyo
4. Peter Stetina, why not?
5. Nocentini
ok I’ve changed my mind…Menchov in for Anton and J Rod up. Might regret it but let’s see at the rest day.
Bring it on!
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. J Rodriguez
5. Menchov
VSP PICKS:
1. Cont Of The Highest Odor
2. Niblets
3. Eee-Gorrrr
4. J-R
5. No Nonsense Nocentini
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. Clenbutador
3. J-rod
4. Scarponi
5. Igor
@Gianni
@Brett Kudos for Nocentini. Not going with you, but kudos nonetheless.
Have got wobbly on Menacing Denis. He’s got the whole Papa Tiempo thing going on – and he ain’t exactly a spring chook himself. Wondering if Centurion might not pip him. Think I’ll change.
VSP PICKS:
1. Clenched Butt Odor
2. Mashi Niblick
3. Jay Rawd
4. Scared Pony
5. Roamin Crude Singer
@Steampunk
Agreed. The points jersey is going to him. He’s been working on his grimpeuring skills as of late.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Menchov
3. J-rod
4. Nibali
5. Kreuziger
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibbles
2. Spanish Steak
3. Scared Pony
4. Denis the Menace
5. Robbie McStewen
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibbles
2. Spanish Steak
3. Dennis the Meance
4. Robbie McStewen
5. Scared Pony
Saw a chat with Wegmann sounding very downbeat so I’ll switch him for Lokvist.
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. J-Rod
3. Menchov
4. Scarponi
5. Lokvist
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Anton
3. Nibalo
4. Menchov
5. Scarponi
Squeaking in under the wire….
VSP PICKS:
1. El Steakelero
2. Nibali
3. Mechnov
4. Rodriguez
5. Scarponi
Is this really what it’s coming to?
“A popular topic with sections of the Italian press was the impact that the potential of a retrospective disqualification for Contador might have on the tactics at the Giro.
Nibali was careful not to be drawn into speculation about whether riders would be tempted to compete for second place, in the hope of being declared the Giro winner if Contador is subsequently suspended.”
Bummer. Due to unconscionable violations of Rule #11, I’ve failed to make the start line. While my sensations are good, my mind is no longer tranquilo.
Keep me updated boys. I have to work all morning.
Jeff, put your picks in in the first rest day.
@Marko
Just read that. Bullshit. I hope Nibali stays true and kills it starting from day 1.
For my tifosi, I cannot begin to explain the turmoil, the grief, the embarrassment that I feel. To my fellow Velominati, I wish all of you good luck in your race to the Maglia Rosa. To my DS and my sponsors, who have selflessly and generously given me every resource to become the Velominatus that I am today, I am so very sorry.
Madonna del Ghisallo, I beseech thee, help me find peace of mind. In your honor and for your intervention, this coming week, I will put in at least 300km of self flagellation on my truly awesome Look 595, adhering ruthlessly to Rules #5, #10, and 11, as penance for my egregious failure to make my start on time. As you already know in your infinite wisdom, there are no hills that I may repeat over and over again to relieve me of my deepest shame.
While my Giro is already over, I will put in my picks at the legal time, with painful penalty, as it is the only honorable thing to do. To honor the feats of Magni, I will not quit. Quitting is forever.
A-Merckx.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
You totally pulled a Delgado, dude. You can enter on the first rest day, but you will take a 2 point loss on each pick. It hurts, but it’s better than showing up 3 minutes late to the Tour start with number the 1 as defending champ on your back.
Yeah, I know. I’m such a Delgado (lexicon for showing up late).
Ah JiPM bummer!
On another note, what feed are you guys catching this thing live on?
@pakrat
I’m trying to logon to http://www.cyclingfans.com, but it’s totally locked up. Seems I’m not the only one who thought of this brilliant idea. Man, I’m 0 for 2 this morning.
ahhhh, missed the cutoff!
I’m getting here for now. http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_giro.shtml
It’s in Italian, but at least some good video. I’m also uploading Italian straight into my brain a la Neo 10 years ago.
@RedRanger
Matthias Brandle is bringing sexy back. But he should take note of the Three-Point System. Serious props for going old-school.
@needmoreV
For you, JiPM, and anyone else who pulled a delgado, you can enter on the first rest day, May 16. But that will also close at 5am on the 17th, so keep that in mind, geniuses…