See that huge mountain over there? The one with the steep, twisty road going up it? The one that is often covered in snow this time of year? Right, race ya to the top.
I don’t know what more there is to say about this year’s Giro; four days from the end, with two of the biggest mountain stages yet to come and the G.C., Mountains, and Points competitions are all wide open. Basso is looking perhaps the freshest of the favorites, but Hope of a Nation is not looking to be weakening, either. Purito hasn’t shown weakness, though he also hasn’t really been able to show the speed he usually has on the uphill finishes; on his trademark uphill finale attacks, the slower men have (usually) been able to contain him. The Pony, on the other hand, showed his scars as he cracked on the way over the last hill on Wednesday’s stage and seems to be on the down side of his good form as we enter the final stretch.
Friday’s stage may well solidify the looks of things, but Saturday’s stage to the top of the Stelvio will be fireworks for sure. Clear your calendars for Friday and Saturday; this is going to be good.
Since this is a Tour stage, point on offer are 5 for first, 4 four second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for 5th. No bonus points for the right rider in the wrong place. Get your picks in by the time the countdown timer goes to zero. Points count towards your overall VSP total but do not effect your Giro VSP total. Good luck.
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@frank
This is the bit I don't get, 95% of the questions about the scoring in the VSP events are answered in the articles themselves...a little more reading could go a looooong way.
@frank
Thanks for that Frank. Sitting with them here in the maternity ward as we speak both are asleep .. perfect crisp Sydney morning crystal blue sky twelve degrees outside ... and all I'm thinking about is riding my bike ......................I'm a terrible human being.
BTW, did you see that Hunter, Guardini and a couple of others were disqualified for hanging on to team cars.
Talk about pointless jobsworthing... four sprinters, at the tail end of the GC after three weeks - what were they going to do, win the TT by four hours to shake up the podium ?
@RedRanger
Boy, you were way off!
@brett
Right? Fuck and I was just trying to help.
@RedRanger
Leason learned.
@Cyclops
@sgt
Woah. I might get worked up easily, I might be very excitable. BUT, I'd never insult Frank's computer skills or overlook the fact of how much time and effort he puts into this. Heck, don't really see myself insulting anyone 'round here since I think most of ya know a lot more about cycling and racing than I do.
Now, if you try to tell me faux denim bibs aren't hot gear I might tell you your fashion sense is off but I won't do much insulting beyond that...
Plus, I even used the dispute function effectively the other day & didn't even get worked up or bother Frank!
Also BTW, in the 'things we learned' category... Team Sky = Tactically Clueless.
All they had to do yesterday was stop Rodriguez taking fourth place or higher and they failed.
Henao and Uran were even helping make the pace in the chasing group at one point, using up their energy before the climb. Why ? Not to consolidate the Young Riders' jersey - Uran had 5 minutes on Brambilla, who was already dropped.
Thomas, Stannard and Eisel all finished with the gruppetto, and Flecha in between. Surely one or two of them (Thomas, Eisel) could have stayed with the front group for a while to help the climbers.
Wiggo has been doing the PR rounds about his training in the Canary Islands - but you don't win the tour without tactics as well. If Sky can't protect one jersey with no other aims, how can they launch a two-pronged attack with Wiggins and Cavendish.
And had they won the Maglia Rossa Cav might have been less worried about the Tour I suspect, but they've just made the problem worse.
Love the new Lessons Learned category: way to go Sky!
Loved that I got top points for correctly picking 4th and 5th!
Loved TDG's epic ride - yes I used the "e" word!
Loved that Big H is gurna win the Giro, just amazing!
Loved the daily, unpredictable and exciting racing for the last 3 weeks!
Love all the work that Frank and all the Keepers put into this site to make it a place for us to come and hang out!
@smithers
congrats sir...but does this now mean your weekend is free for the Sydney Convict Cogal?
Time for the first Rule #11 test