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

  • Basso to go solo, Hesjedal to drop Rodriquez with his powerful climbing, Pozzovivo to pass both and Uran to make Scarponi look bad.

    Or Hesjedal and Basso do a TT up this mountains together.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Basso
    2. Pozzovivo
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Rodriquez
    5. Uran

  • I expect some way down on GC to pull off a surprise but the top guys to battle it out...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Basso
    2. U ran U ran
    3. Scarpers
    4. Hesadoll
    5. Rodyourguess

  • Ever get the feeling that the GC battle will be behind a few climbers who don't matter on the GC front? Ever wonder if you're just wasting your time with VSP and will never ever ever get your picks right?

    Yeah. Me too.

    That said, in 2005 Basso lost 42 minutes (he was sick!). Hmm.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Pozzovivo
    2. Rujano
    3. Basso
    4. Scarponi
    5. Hesjedal

  • Cause if it doesnt happen this way my entire VSP stays in the shitter. From What I have seen, Basso is riding really well as is weight of a nation. I am regretting putting Scarponi in 2nd place but didnt have a good alternative for a rest day change. I dont see J-Rod staying in pink after this one. but again WTF do I know.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Basso
    2. Hesjedal
    3. Scarponi
    4. Uran
    5. J-Rod

  • I have no idea what I'm doing here, so I'll just take a guess, based on previous stages.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Hesjedal
    2. Pozzovivo
    3. Barta
    4. Basso
    5. Scarponi

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Joaquím Rodríguez
    2. Ivan Basso
    3. Ryder Hesjedal
    4. Michele Scarponi
    5. Dominico Pozzovivo

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