Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2012 Stage 20

The famous bends of the Stelvio

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.

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.

View Comments

  • I have a sneaky feeling that Urna will surprise us all though

    VSP PICKS:

    1. rodriguez
    2. hesjedal
    3. basso
    4. Uran
    5. pozzovivo

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Basso Ivan
    2. Scarponi Michele
    3. Hesjedal Ryder
    4. Pozzovivo Domenico
    5. Rodriguez Joaquim

  • What do a fucking know?

    Somone needs to stick that picture of the Stelvio into the meme thngy "what I think I do." Holy Merckx, I'd love to ride that.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Hesjedal
    2. Basso
    3. Rodriquez
    4. Possovivo
    5. Purito

  • an original collection...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. basso
    2. hesjedal
    3. rodriguez
    4. scarponi
    5. domenico pozzovivo

  • @Bianchi Denti

    @Roadslave525
    You out there somewhere, Roady? Is the Stelvio still on your agenda for later this year? Lucky bastard!

    I will be there sept 16 till 19

  • Nationalist Ryder pick for first. Here's to hoping.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. hesja
    2. basso
    3. scarp
    4. purito
    5. pozzo

  • @Ron

    Hey...Ballan is sometimes poked for being a bit homely but what about Uran Uran? With that hair and face he looks a bit like a Caveman to me.

    And he's so dumb they had to name him twice just so he wouldn't forget what it was.

  • Mrs. Steampunk came through the living room just now and I showed her the pic of the Stelvio, mentioning this was on tap for Saturday (which was a subtle hint that I was hoping to watch it). "It doesn't look too bad," she says. Mrs. Steampunk lives and breathes Rule V in all aspects of life. As I was about to protest, she followed up with: "I mean, it's all downhill." Ah yes: I see now. When I corrected her, she was still dismissive. "How many of them have dropped three children?" I was about to make some kind of comment about Cav and the Schlecks being fairly petulant and a number of them might have dropped all three at one time or another, but was already aware that this was not a debate I was going to win, so I let it slide...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Rodriguez
    2. Basso
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Scarponi
    5. Uran

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