Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2012 Stage 20
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.
@Mikael Liddy
You’re too generous.
Keepers Tour in Italy would be too hard to resist — riding thru (these) vineyards.
@Daccordi Rider
Chapeau my friend! Those are great photos. I guess I need to put in some serious time in Italy. I don’t even want the hardest climb, I want the spectacular one, the Stelvio. What a gas.
@Steampunk
I’m starting to believe Grimpelder has a vagina, so he could possibly drop one or two.
@versio
It will happen and it will be awesome. And it will have to include said climb too.
@Gianni
I would probably lose a year or two of my life expectancy on the descension.
I will be up both mornings
Go fucking Ryder, GO! It is only the weight of a nation….
VSP PICKS:
1. Ryder
2. Basso
3. Scarpony
4. J-Rod
5. Uran
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. JRod
3. Basso
4. Hesjedal
5. Intxausti
Pozzovivo looked so fresh at the top of that climb on Wednesday, I think he’ll lead the others again. Plus, I like that Colnago kit, that blue is spot on.
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzovivo
2. Basso
3. Hesjedal
4. Uran
5. Intxausti
@Steampunk I’m just hoping he features again later in the year, if he does I’m blatantly stealing that nickname.
@Sauterelle
Heh, heh. Nice one.
Outside bet that Kreuz missle was on a jour sans the other day.
Will no doubt live to regret this.
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Scarponi
3. Hesjedal
4. Purito
5. Kreuziger
@Daccordi Rider that kit is very familiar…looks a lot like one of the local shop kits from here in South Oz.
@Mikael Liddy
Norwood Parade Cycles.
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Hesjedal
3. Rodriguez
4. Pozzovivo
5. Scarponi
@Steampunk
That’ll be him. I read somewhere that he’s a man to watch. We’ll see..
Fuck it, I’m going diesel.
VSP PICKS:
1. Hesjedal
2. Basso
3. Scarponi
4. Rodriguez
5. Uran
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodriquez
2. Basso
3. Hesjedal
4. Uran
5. Pozzovivo
@Daccordi Rider
That would be the one. You based here then?
VSP PICKS:
1. pozzovivo
2. basso
3. jrod
4. nieve
5. uran
@Mikael Liddy
I am. Usually found riding the hills, race Hills club. Matt black Daccordi and always Norwood Parade cycle knicks
@Daccordi Rider
Top varies with what is clean and what the temp is. Say G’day if you see me. Cheers.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cunny lingers
2. Pozz
3. Bass
4. Rod
5. INXS
Kreuzburger is going to be angry after bombing out on the previous mountain stage is my pick
VSP PICKS:
1. Kreuziger
2. Basso
3. J-Rod
4. Scarponi
5. Nieve
@sthilzy
The Torygraph is a great newspaper – worth reading for the obituaries alone.
Sadly becoming more rare, but if you are lucky you’ll get some Squadron Leader / Major / Lieutenant-Commander Nigel Cholmondley-Fyffe who was thrown into WW2 with nothing more than an English public school education and a penchant for pipe-smoking, springer spaniels and hunting (possibly pipe-smoking hunting spaniels) who then proceeds to lead a commando raid where 16 men cripple an entire German tank division, get captured, escape by hiding in a sewage pipe for three weeks and make their way back to England by stealing a U-boat (underwater) before reporting for duty the next day with one eye missing. And then after the war they went back to chartered accountancy and became bank directors.
While I may exaggerate slightly it is deeply impressive to me that so many ordinary people do such extraordinary things, and it makes me reflect on whether I could do the same.
I bloody hate Frank for leaving mid-race. Bollocks to his shoulder injury
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzovivo
2. Basso
3. Hesjedal
4. Uran
5. Scarponi
SO EXCITED! Even though they will be tackling the Stelvio from the less-famous Western Ascent from Bormio, not the 48 Switchback turns of the classic route from Prato alla Stelvio, this is a cracking climb and a great stage. Ivan B is NOT going to let history repeat itself and he and Pozz are going to go head to head all the way up.
Will post later answering other questions… but yes, I am still out here lurking… work is all encompassing, yet hands still hurt from Belgium KT (is that normal?)… go figure
VSP PICKS:
1. The Bass Man
2. Pozzovivo
3. Ryder H
4. JRod
5. Uran
Will they let Rujano go? He’s at 42 mins and therefore I think they might, but he might not have the legs to stay away. J-rod knows he needs time on the leaders, but I don’t think he’ll fully escape.
VSP PICKS:
1. Rujano
2. Pozzovivo
3. Rodriguez (Joaquim)
4. Basso
5. Scarponi
VSP PICKS:
1. Rujano
2. Rodriguez (Joaquim)
3. Basso
4. Scarponi
5. Pozzivivo
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzovivo
2. Kreuziger
3. Scarponi
4. Ryder
5. Rujano
@roadslave525
Should have gone a bit slower – like I did.
When work is less encompassing, give me a shout and we’ll get a beer.
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzovivo
2. Basso
3. Amador
4. Gadret
5. Urano
No forget that, Gadret isn’t going to do anything, Rujano must be saving himself for something
Roadslapper525, are they not going up the swithcbacks of folklore?? Shame
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzovivo
2. Basso
3. Amador
4. Rujano
5. Urano
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Hesjedal
3. Scarponi
4. Rabbotini
5. Pozzovivo
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Scarponi
3. Hesjedal
4. Purito
5. Pozzovivo
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Pozzitivo
3. Uran
4. Hesjedal
5. Rodriguez (Joaquim)
Why is anyone making selections before the end of stage 19?
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodriguez, J
2. Scarponi
3. Basso
4. Hesjedal
5. Pozzivivo
Such a good race and proves again why there’s such a good argument for this being the cyclists grand tour.
VSP PICKS:
1. J-Rod
2. Basso
3. Hungry like the Wolf (Uran Uran)
4. Take Off You Hoserdal
5. Positivo
@Marcus
so I don’t forget – or if i don’t get back to my computer prior to tomorrow am
@Marcus
Shhhh… I thought the same thing, and then thought, let them go ahead – like a doomed breakaway.
Roman has been delegated to being the water bottle fetcher. Oh the tides of war, eh?
@Dr C
Doc, Rujano just abandoned the Giro. Thankfully still time to change your picks before tomorrow!
@ChrisO
Unless somebody exits the race its unlikely any of us would change our minds at least not in a meaningful way – I know I speak for many here when I say that I know fuck all – particularly about anyone’s ability to climb a big hill in a race.
@Buck Rogers
Did you see the Wookie at 77.2kms. Guns deffo needed some work. Ideal place for a Baxter concession I thought.
@taon24
Yeah, they’ll let him go alright, straight to the broomwagon! Sorry, just saw your post and had to comment!
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. My Little Pony
3. Duran Duran
4. JRod
5. Kreuziger
Well, there goes Tiralongo. Guess i will be swapping him out later today.
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. J Rod
3. Hesjedal
4. Uran
5. Scarponi
Hope of a Nation FTW!
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Hesjedal
3. J. Rodriguez
4. Kreuziger
5. Pozzovivo
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodriguez (Joaquim)
2. Hesjedal
3. Scarponi
4. Pozzivivo
5. Basso