Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2012
After a winter of long training rides that offered more in the way of numb extremities than it did in acute enjoyment, I have to say that the warming of the air and brightening of the skies have served to remind me that while I love riding in bad weather, I certainly don’t have anything against riding when its nice out.
But dont think for a minute that this quells my desire to watch the Pros battle the elements as well as each other and, quite frankly, after a Spring Classics campaign that gave us only fleeting tastes of Rule #9 Glory, I welcome the arrival of the 2012 Giro d’Italia which holds the distinction of being held in the worst weather and over the worst roads. Come July, I’ll get just as wound up as anyone about the biggest racing spectacle of the year, but in my heart, the Giro d’Italia is the best Grand Tour of the three.
All that said, I’m a little disappointed to see that the Giro starts in Denmark. Not that I have anything against Denmark – lovely place – it’s just that this choice takes us away from the classical Giro opening week involving a mountaintop finish or two and gives us a Tour de France-style opening week of flat stages and crosswinds. We’ll have to wait almost two weeks before we start seeing the riders cross the highest passes and hitting the uphill finishes, though the final week does appear to set us up for considerable fireworks as the second-last stage will see the riders cross the Mortirolo and finish atop the Stelvio.
What does this mean for the VSP? Quite a bit, actually. Bearing in mind the changes we’ve made to the Rest-Day picks from the years past, it means that as the race settles out, those who have made changes to their lineup on the first rest day will not have the opportunity to do so again on the second rest day. And, those who wait for the second day will see steep penalties tallying up against their totals. But on the line is a Symbol Pack, the chance to post for the rest of year with the Maglia Rosa VSP Badge and, of course, the grand prize of the personalized Shop Apron. Check the start list and with any divine beings that you might be able to influence, and then get your picks in by the time the countdown timer goes to zero at 5am Pacific on the 5th May.
For reference, please review the new Grand Tour scoring and penalty guidelines. Also note that since these new rules required new coding and this represents the first Grand Tour, there is always the chance that there are defects in the code. Watch your picks and your points as we move through the event and alert us of any anomalies. If your points seem wrong, use the dispute function to alert us of the matter; complaints in the posts feed to this effect will be ignored. Finally, don’t leave anything to the last minute so we have time to fix any problems before its too late. Good luck.
Scoring:
Readers who wish to enter shall enter their predictions for the top five placings on General Classification of each Grand Tour by 5am on the day of the first stage or prologue.
Points
Points will be scored as follows: 20 points for first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 7 for fourth, and 5 for fifth; plus 3 points per rider in the top five regardless of the rider’s placing, but riders are not scored twice.
Changing of the Picks*
Contestants are allowed to make line up changes on one of the rest days of the Grand Tours but not both. These changes will come with a point penalty. You will be allotted one (1) rest day to make swaps in grand tours. You pick either the first or second rest day. The penalties for swapping will be lower for the first rest day than the second. This will allow you to swap out a rider(s) who gets caught in some first week nervousness with a 5 point penalty for each swap. Or make some go for broke/doomed to fail break-away swap on the second rest day for a 10 point penalty per swap. You make one swap or five on either rest day for the corresponding 5 or 10 point penalty per swap.
Additionally, if one of your riders crashes out, DNF’s, or DNS’s, you may swap them out on a rest day with corresponding penalties if you haven’t already used up your one rest day swap. The only exception to this is riders who are booted from a race for a positive test; if your rider is on the juice and gets chucked off the race, you get a free swap of that rider within 24 hours of the disqualification.
[vsp_results id=”15814″]
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I’m going to throw this out there: Nibbles is doing TOC planning on shooting for the TdF? Anyone here think he has a chance? I know Cuddles isn’t peaking yet, but he didn’t seem to have that drive when I watched his Prologue TT at the ToR. And Clenbutador isn’t going to be there, obviously. Will Cuddles rise? It seems pretty open to me this year. Discuss amongst yourselves.
I’ll agree that I have enjoyed the Giro more than the Tour for the reasons given by frank and minion. Personally I’m really looking forward to the tour de Swiss.
@scaler911
I would put Nibbles in the top spot for my VSP. He is after all a fellow Sicilian.
Bloody hell, tough picking for all the reasons above. I didn’t pick Schmuck, just can’t, whenever I see him it appears his head is on backwards. How does he see where he is going? I feel Cunego is coming into form. BMC probably have the best squad and Kreuzinger has to get it together one day. Can’t wait for the Stelvio stage, should blow it to pieces.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cunego
2. Kreuzinger
3. Uran
4. Pinotti
5. Scarponi
@scaler911 Cuddles looked pretty punchy winning Criterium Internationale so I’m not sure that Romandie should be the only measure of how he’s travelling, but that being said he doesn’t quite look as strong as he did at this stage last year.
I know there was a lot of talk about Nibbles for the tour after his L-B-L ride & Liquigas confirming that they wouldn’t be sending both he & Basso to the Giro. There’s always the Modfather to keep in mind as long as he keeps things rubber side down.
VSP PICKS:
1. Filippo Pozzato
2. Roman Kreuziger
3. Michele Scarponi
4. Ivan Basso
5. Ryder Hesjedal
VSP PICKS:
1. Hesjedal
2. Kreuziger
3. Basso
4. Belletti
5. Possovivo
OK, if Kreuzinger or Cunego make it to the podium I’ll faint. Or wet myself. Either way, change your choices now people, before it’s too late! They don’t have it.
Am I allowed to do this? Of course I haven’t begun to consult the Giro Oracle myself.
@RedRanger
You’re a Sicilian? That’s quite cool, up there with being a Viking
That said, Basso is dull, I think that is the issue – but then so is Wiggo, but at least he is a beast in the TTs
I guess we all ought to remember Wouter at some stage – was the saddest moment bar none last year, and still sends shivers down my spine
So according to the latest article over Cycling Tips way Basso has been hitting the climbing pretty hard to prep for the Giro.
66,000 metres of vertical over 17 consecutive days of training before heading to Romandie…that’s just short of 4k per day for 2 & a half weeks. No thanks!
There’s a perverse incentive to pick Judas Gadret – because if he places I’ll get points whilst others with higher standards won’t. Maybe there should be a system that removes points from those picking riders deemed unsporting in any given event – you still get points but not as many as you would if they’d not had a Dick Dastardly moment.
@ChrisO
Done.
@minion
Il Giro looks good on the outside, but when you get her home, things aren’t what they seemed from the light of the neon bar. She has that Italian thatch going on and you just can’t get past it. You try and deal with it, but the excitement is stifled time and again. Every two bit nobody stands a chance with her, and you have to mix it with these lightweights to get a look in, and when you do no-one seems to care or remember in a few more weeks.
Le Tour is well-dressed, preened and sounds great when she speaks. She attracts all the big players because she has not only the looks, the reputation but also the substance to back it up. And if she knocks you back the first time, you will keep coming back, again and again until she is yours, or at least gives you enough of a chance that if her number one choice should be revealed to be cheating on her, then you step right in. No matter how skinny you are.
@scaler911
Bruyneel.
@Gianni
Stock up on adult diapers, buddy. Roman’s bringing it home!
Cunego, however, has no hope.
@brett
Find a room!
Last years Tour was fantastic:
but the 2010 Giro rates just as highly
@frank
You need one of these…
VSP PICKS:
1. M Scarponi
2. I Basso
3. R Kreuziger
4. J Rujano
5. F Schleck
I slightly fear going with Frank for top 5 as he could possibly throw a tantrum midrace
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Basso
3. Kreuziger
4. Frank
5. Hesjedal
@scaler911
My pick for TOC would be Horner, especially with Levi out.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cunego, D
2. Schleck, F
3. Scarponi, M
4. Kreuziger, R
5. Uran, R
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Basso
3. Schleck the elder
4. Kreuziger
5. Cunego
@Marcus
You cannot really blame them, they are on the wrong side of the drapes. Nothing interesting over there, all the fun’s on the cutting side!
@scaler911
The only thing that makes me think Cuddles can do the double is that this will be his last chance. I certainly think he is on the way down whilst others are rising like rockets. The next five years of the classics and grand tours are lining up to be a true renaissance of the sport. I see a lot more long breaks coming back into the sport….or maybe I am just dreaming.
@All I dont know if any of your guys watched it but the Tour of Turkey was bloody awesome this year. The mountain stage was a killer and Gabrovski absolutely fking nailed it. Awesome grit your teeth and hang on stuff. If you have not seen the tour then watch the stage 3 mountain stage at least.
@huffalotpuffalot
Oh and the commentary is top notch as well, worth it just for that.
@brett
which (after seeing how you operate with the fairer sex on the KT) makes your reasoning and your actions contradictory. I’da pegged you for a Tour of Poland man myself.
@Bianchi Denti
and his “white lunch bags”, unless Astana stole them all?
I would actually like Grimpelder to win but I just dont think he has the team for it considering he will be a marked man but I will be happy to be proved wrong. Basso the Bastardo just looks like its going to be his, although i would be equally happy to be proved wrong there as well. Maybe MaScarponi can do something nice here and put a spanner in the mix for the others. Whatever the results I am looking forward to a great race and hopefully the chance for some real balls out solo attacks.
VSP PICKS:
1. Bastardo
2. A lod of old Poni
3. Freddy Kreuziger
4. Grimpelder
5. Hesjedalicious
All aboard the Astana bandwagon…
And as much as I want to believe that Hesjedal has a top 5 in him, I’m not buying what JV is selling. As much as it pains this Canuck to not pick that Canuck, I need a shop apron and I don’t think Weight of a Nation is going to help deliver it.
VSP PICKS:
1. Kreuziger
2. Cunego
3. Scarponi
4. Schleck
5. Rujano
@brett
TL;DR you’re single? Thought so
No big epiphany after my meditation so I’m going with my original list. Let’s hope all that training Basso has been putting in pays off.
Another reason to love the Giro is the Rai coverage. Leave it to the Italians to turn pre-race interviews and banter into a thinly veiled attempt to stall for time so the cameramen can scour the crowds for hot women to cut to.
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Scarponi
3. Schleck
4. Rujano
5. Kreuziger
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Ballan
3. Pinotti
4. Cunego
5. Visconti
Speaking of fuck, fuck meters, etc. anyone else seen “The Boys Next Door”? Saw it recently and two young lads hit the city & a street walkin’ woman tells them to “eat my fuck.” They are quite confused by this. Very funny part of a pretty solid movie.
When this page came up I let loose with a mental “fuck no.” Thought the top photo was some nonsense from rapha, the Gap of the cycling world. Thankfully I was wrong. And terrible how they’ve worked into my mind.
Bring on the Giro! Kreuziger – I’d say the 2nd most popular Czech cyclist behind Stybar! Tough act to follow. Was he the one who went under a car last year in a race? Someone on Astana did.
minion – I agree! Can’t just be postin’ picks. Gotta be arguing or at least discussing. No fun to just have a week of picks, repicks.
Basso, eh? I don’t even think I’ve seen that guy ride a bike this year. Very difficult to gauge his form & Vness.
@Ron
Good news is that Stybar will be back on the road shortly.
@minion
A-fuckin-Merckx, brother. At least we’re filtering the pure picks from the recent posts feed though, so there’s that. Maybe the tie-breakers should go to the people who get in the most arguments. If Oli ever scored points, he’d be unbeatable.
@Daccordi Rider
Are you sure you got the right Schleck? Frankieboy is usually at or off the back, while the poltergeist Schleck with his head on backwards is at the front wondering where said off-the-back brother is.
@Harminator
Case in point, excellent work. The tie-breaker goes to the muddiest, worst weather. Giro wins!
Double-excellent work on the fuck-o-meter!
@King Clydesdale
Thanks for reminding us why we don’t have the ToC in the VSP!
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Scarponi
3. Kreuziger
4. Rujano
5. Schleck
@frank
@Harminator
Those shots of Cadel (and Veino) on the strada are some of the radest Flandrian Best pics ever taken. Cadel couldn’t be more put together in those shots.
VSP PICKS:
1. The Prophet
2. The Prophet
3. Jens
4. il Pirata
5. Frank Strack
@frank
I read over on Cycling Fever that they are planning on making the TOC a ProTour event. It’s a 2.HC race now, but as more and more big names come over, who knows? I understand why it’s not a VSP event (not enough history), but it’s nice to see a decent stage race in the States that’s bringing big name Euro racing to us. I’ve seen a couple stages when I was in Carpinteria and it was fun.
@RedRanger
we saw him in Mallorca when we were there – super cool in his Quickstep gear – couple of our fast boys decided to try him out for size and he absolutely nuked them up a climb – maybe he will do something interesting? Or is this just pocket money time for him?
Okay, I’ll drop rainbow warrior and pop random astana man in along with Kreuziger – they have clearly got their hands on some quality gear in the turquoise and yellow bus this month….
VSP PICKS:
1. Astana man
2. Rigoberto Uranus
3. Kreuziger
4. Boring Basso
5. Why not, young Sagan
@Dr C
Well I’m actually just half Sicilian. The other half involves a crazy south American mix. Don’t speak much Italian but I can do
Spanish all day. Spent 6 months outside
Palermo a couple years ago. What ever Italian I picked up was via my Spanish. I certainly ID myself more with the south American part more than anything.
@Dr C
Awesome! I would hate to see him hang up the cross bike but I think for him to succeed on the road I think it’s his only option.
My favorite GT. Agree about the DK start, tho. It’s positively retarded to start a GT 1500 km from the home country.
VSP PICKS:
1. Kreuziger
2. Scarponi
3. Pozzato
4. Hesjedal
5. Visconti
@marko
Probably the best GT stage in recent memory.