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

  • @Adrian

    @DerHoggz

    @Adrian

    @RedRanger

    @Adrian

    Anyone seem De Gendts bar tape, very Laura Ashley......

    I have no idea what that means.

    Laura Ashley makes crap pastel colored home decorating products, must be a british thing

    That is celeste. You don't diss celeste.

    It's bloody awful. The man is doing a storming ride but is let down by his color scheme. Also a complete clash with the blue of the vacans kit

    Celeste is classic. You dont want to match to much anyway.

  • Great ride by De Gendt... the rest can fuck off.

    @Ron

    I know there was some talk about Ryder not having much style or class, not being that well liked in Canada. One thing I don't like: when the dude crosses the line he doesn't celebrate, grimace, smile...he just plays with his fucking computer. Lame.

    And Ryder's interview style? Shit. Disinterested, arrogant, rude. Don't like him at all.

    Maybe because it's 3.30am I'm a bit grumpy...

  • Holy shit...more Diamond Dave squeals and Van Halen for the podium! Gotta love the choice of music. ZZ Top and Van Halen have been rockin' the podium racers all week.

  • Tommy De Gendt? WOW, what an effort!

    Nice ride by JRod. And my boy Ryder has 30 seconds to make it happen.

  • @Steampunk

    @Ron
    The man put in one hell of a ride. He can do whatever he wants in my books. I kind of like the idea that he wanted his time. It's exactly what we would do.

    Fair enough & good counterpoint.

    However, shouldn't we ask of PROs to only read their V-meters?

  • What a race. Basso really shit the bed, eh?

    Too bad De Gendt's career will now be marked with Belgium saying he's the next Merckx. What a ride!

    [vsp_results id="20058"]
    [/vsp_results]

  • @brett

    Great ride by De Gent... the rest can fuck off.


    @Ron



    I know there was some talk about Ryder not having much style or class, not being that well liked in Canada. One thing I don't like: when the dude crosses the line he doesn't celebrate, grimace, smile...he just plays with his fucking computer. Lame.


    And Ryder's interview style? Shit. Disinterested, arrogant, rude. Don't like him at all.


    Maybe because it's 3.30am I'm a bit grumpy...

1 21 22 23 24 25 29
Share
Published by
frank

Recent Posts

Anatomy of a Photo: Sock & Shoe Game

I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s World Championship Road Race 2017

The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2017

Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2017

This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…

7 years ago

Route Finding

I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…

7 years ago