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.
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@Erik
+1, but wtf is going on with his ‘shorts’? Is it a Bruyneel clause that his riders have to look like shit? Things are nearly knee warmers…
@brett
The shorts are longer because the sponsors want a bigger billboard for larger fonts.
I would love it if the coverage could show the pace they are riding up this. Any guesses?
@Skip keeps the lead, but not for long. 31 seconds is not enough to keep Ryder off J-Rod’s back. My prediction is Ryder, De Gendt, J-Rod, which means thats almost a guarantee that it won’t happen like that.
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Nice necktie…
@frank
Will actually be rooting against myself tomorrow. If JRod can hold on and Scarponi can pip Hesjedal for second overall, I could be in pink. But I’m not sure that’s how I want it to finish…
@frank
I Disagree (for what it’s worth) 2:18 is a lot to make up, and I reckon J-rod has worked on his TT for this.
1. Ryder
2. J-Rod +30″
3. De Gendt +45″
4. Scarponi +2’15”
5. Basso +3’45”
I get J-rod correct and Scarponi and Basso included in my top 5…
@Ron
That’s possibly the best photo, ever.
@Simon
+1
J-Rod is already losing makor time to Ryder. Scarponi is putting in a good TT so far. Maybe Ryder, Scarponi, Purito podium at the end with Basso 5th I hope.
Ryder purito de gendt
@Belgian Cobblestones
If only I had known that 3 weeks ago
@RedRanger
Idem thinking i got 3 points on this vsp
Well, that was the first TT I’ve seen in awhile that was worth watching. Great job Ryder, Eh!
What a ride! Lukas jumps to the top of the list! This also marks the first time a Keeper tied for first, way to go Gianni!
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Winona’s got a big brown beaver indeed. Nice work you hoser.
Wow, it was pretty close in the end… well done to Hesjedal, bad luck but good effort from Rodriguez and big respect to De Gendt.
Eh-Merckx, eh? Chapeau to The Ryder.
Congrats Ryder, thanks for a great race.
And that is why Il Giro is my favorite GT! what a great 3 weeks. For Le Tour I may need to rethink my policy of not doing rest day subs.
@RedRanger yeah ditto, ditching Grimpelder & Rujano for Ryder & Purito would have been worth it I think.
Everyone other than Ryder is retardo.
Even I got up at 3am for that one. My boy can crank it on the TT bike.
He is a mini-twiggo with his tall shoe covers. and yes, Winona does indeed have a massive brown beaver today.
This has to be the best result for Garmin/Slipstream since they started and the first north American to win since Andy Hampsten 20+ years ago. Unless I’m forgetting someone obvious.
@Gianni
Has any other North American ever won the Giro besides Hampston and now Ryder? Probably forgetting someone really obvious but cannot think of anyone.
@Gianni
Speaking of Hampsten, this morning I saw this old interview with him describing his insane ride in the ’88 Giro. Exaggeration or not, he paints an incredible picture.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/from-the-pages-of-velo-hampstens-giro-i-was-so-happy-to-survive_221346
@Bianchi Denti
You were right on one count. But Cunego and Basso both did better than I would have guessed.
Really happy with 21 points in my first Grand Tour.
Thanks to frank & the keepers for the work involved in running the VSP.
@Gianni
Nice haul of points there, buddy. Was that also your first GT win?
The disappointment that I and many velominati have in Kreuzi will be nothing compared to how Astana is feeling about him. 15th when a podium was on offer is not good. I reckon they may now force him to him to ride le Tour.
But what about de Gendt?! I’ve been a fan of his for a while (he’s on a Bianchi!), but in breakaways, not GT overall!!! Superb.
@Bianchi Denti
Yep, de Gendt kicked ass in Paris-Nice, he is a serious star, and he rides a Bianchi. I can’t believe someone was bitching about his handlebar tape. I would have been bitching if he was using any other color. jeez.
And yes, this is as good as I’ll ever do in a VSP.
@Gianni
Love the shot of him giving the Shaka.
@RedRanger
A-Merckx, brother. What a race! Down to the wire!! 16 seconds after three weeks. J-Rod has got to be wondering where he could have picked those up along the way. Wow, if there had been time bonuses…
@taon24
Nicely prophesied.
@motor city
Our absolute pleasure, glad you enjoyed it, and that’s an impressive result! Now to repeat it in the Tour and/or Vuelta and you could be well placed for the overall.
Wow. I was so close. But I have to give it up for Ryder. Great ride.
And the current VSP GC still has newcomer and @Marko’s Pedalwan The Fish leading the charge, however narrowly, over Fausto. Inaugural VSP Winner G’Phant is moving up and finds himself in third. Nicely played, ladies and gentlemen!
More fantastic Giro photos courtesy of Jakob Kristian Sørensen.
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I am just waiting for all the usual suspects (like Frank) to start ripping into the Giro winner for doing so with no panache? I mean, gee, no stage wins, no big epic effort where he put big time into his enemies? All Hesjedal seemed to do was nip a few seconds here and there and save for a few stages, followed wheels the whole time.
Disclaimer: I think the whole panache thing is a load of shit brought up by people who try to romanticise bike racing into something that it isn’t. And Hesjedal rode perfectly. However I reckon that if a Euro rider (or maybe a certain boy called Cuddles) won a Grand Tour like this you North Americans would have raised the above (completely bullshit) points a long time ago.
Ryder did what he had to, and did it well. Congrats to another mountain biker made good.
Now can we get to the real racing?
@brett
Glad you brought up the MTB aspect. Those dudes can shred. Reason enough we should all have one in our stable.
@Marcus
Panache is De Gendt on stage 20, not a marketeers invention or romantization
I was on my to do a road race with the CN ticker on my blackberry. Needless to say, I had to pull over.
I am happy with just pulling in the 20 points for 13th place. Moved up for the season too.
And if I have not been clear, I can die a happy V. The Pride of a Nation!
@frank
The Fish also holds a position at 234 with (1 points). Fish is the word!
@versio
Indeed. He entered under two email addresses. Now he has a one point bigger lead.
2012 VSP G.C.
1. The Fish (95 points)
2. Fausto (90 points)
3. G’phant (79 points)
4. ramenvelo (77 points)
5. xyxax (76 points)
6. Gianni (75 points)
7. San Tonio (75 points)
8. Blah (70 points)
9. Lukas (70 points)
10. Mikel Pearce (68 points)
11. Markp (66 points)
12. Calmante (65 points)
13. mouse (64 points)
14. pink (63 points)
15. Mason (63 points)
16. taon24 (63 points)
17. niksch (63 points)
18. Ankush (62 points)
19. R00tdown (62 points)
20. zac (62 points)
21. Noel (60 points)
22. Nate (59 points)
23. snoov (59 points)
24. blue (59 points)
25. Chris (58 points)
26. The Oracle (58 points)
27. Danger (58 points)
28. Buck Rogers (57 points)
29. Skinnyphat (57 points)
30. CanuckChuck (56 points)
31. motor city (56 points)
32. Ron (56 points)
33. wiscot (55 points)
34. scaler911 (55 points)
35. Marcus (55 points)
36. dancollins (55 points)
37. Benj (54 points)
38. Dan_R (54 points)
39. SimonH (53 points)
40. Netraam (52 points)
41. Bill (52 points)
42. gaswepass (52 points)
43. LastBoyScout (52 points)
44. Flying Crowbar (51 points)
45. napolinige (51 points)
46. Mikael Liddy (51 points)
47. Marko (51 points)
48. il ciclista medio (51 points)
49. acciaio (51 points)
50. Bianchi Denti (50 points)
51. Belgian Cobblestones (50 points)
52. Trobs (50 points)
53. 936adl (49 points)
54. LA Dave (49 points)
55. VeloVita (49 points)
56. Tartan1749 (49 points)
57. tomb (48 points)
58. Islandbike (48 points)
59. Alex (48 points)
60. Steampunk (47 points)
61. RedRanger (47 points)
62. sgraha (47 points)
63. Skip (47 points)
64. Simon (46 points)
65. Lepidopterist (46 points)
66. calves (46 points)
67. noiyce (45 points)
68. Nosyt (44 points)
69. ChrisO (44 points)
70. King Clydesdale (44 points)
71. pakrat (44 points)
72. Cyclops (43 points)
73. simonsaunders (43 points)
74. el gato (43 points)
75. RayElVis (43 points)
76. Rigid (43 points)
77. Heihachi (43 points)
78. Geordi (43 points)
79. JC Belgium (42 points)
80. Erik (42 points)
81. mcsqueak (41 points)
82. TomC (41 points)
83. Spicy McHaggis (41 points)
84. moondance (40 points)
85. ash (40 points)
86. trustnoone (40 points)
87. godsight (38 points)
88. Chappy McPappystackings (38 points)
89. diablo (38 points)
90. seemunkee (38 points)
91. Azzurri Tim (38 points)
92. TOM.NELS2120 (38 points)
93. Xponti (36 points)
94. nico (36 points)
95. Oldschooly (36 points)
96. mattd (35 points)
97. Roadslave525 (34 points)
98. paolo (33 points)
99. ajn124 (33 points)
100. Jonny (33 points)
101. Jay (33 points)
102. sprider (33 points)
103. Jarvis (33 points)
104. sthilzy (32 points)
105. MJMoquin (31 points)
106. draffenator (31 points)
107. GProsser (30 points)
108. Vin’cenza (30 points)
109. harminator (30 points)
110. Dino (30 points)
111. Two Ball Billy (30 points)
112. payaso (30 points)
113. Sam (30 points)
114. tony macaroni (29 points)
115. Louutah (29 points)
116. imakecircles (29 points)
117. Roberto Marques (28 points)
118. Adrian (26 points)
119. taylorgibson (25 points)
120. brett (25 points)
121. itburns (25 points)
122. the Engine (24 points)
123. Jeff in PetroMetro (23 points)
124. Rev.C.Mac (23 points)
125. Aidas (22 points)
126. cchern (22 points)
127. Anjin-san (20 points)
128. Souleur (20 points)
129. razmaspaz (20 points)
130. stenbak (20 points)
131. sauterelle (20 points)
132. Kyle (20 points)
133. eightzero (19 points)
134. sgt (18 points)
135. nathan (17 points)
136. Rob (17 points)
137. Pistolfromwarragul (17 points)
138. Hassan (17 points)
139. ben (17 points)
140. smithers (16 points)
141. Henrik (16 points)
142. roger (15 points)
143. Pedale.Forchetta (15 points)
144. bkwentz (14 points)
145. DerHoggz (14 points)
146. DaRCrider (14 points)
147. Deakus (14 points)
148. ZachOlson (13 points)
149. Andrew (13 points)
150. Two Ball Billy (13 points)
151. Cyclistthings (13 points)
152. Kris (12 points)
153. ThinGuy (12 points)
154. rhys (11 points)
155. Poppyseed (11 points)
156. marshy (11 points)
157. Mikeweb (11 points)
158. al (10 points)
159. Wayne Schimmelbusch (10 points)
160. olliewm (9 points)
161. wiscoerik (9 points)
162. Dr C (9 points)
163. Maximilian (9 points)
164. Lister (9 points)
165. jkennedy (9 points)
166. Sean (9 points)
167. RMK (9 points)
168. huffalotpuffalot (9 points)
169. packfiller (9 points)
170. Clydeone (9 points)
171. Lunchrider (8 points)
172. velo_ronin (8 points)
173. IcemanYVR (8 points)
174. Paco (8 points)
175. cornishlovemuscle (7 points)
176. Anais Ninja (6 points)
177. somebum (6 points)
178. BP (6 points)
179. nutellaurent (6 points)
180. Bongo (5 points)
181. BrianG (5 points)
182. imakecircles (5 points)
183. Blease (5 points)
184. bjm (4 points)
185. Simon (4 points)
186. eightace (4 points)
187. bjb (4 points)
188. igowing (4 points)
189. Jonnyp82 (4 points)
190. G’rilla (3 points)
191. Will (3 points)
192. Philip Turner (3 points)
193. Roadslave525 (3 points)
194. Matt (3 points)
195. Daccordi Rider (3 points)
196. WillB (2 points)
197. needmoreV (2 points)
198. Jamin (2 points)
199. Maximilian (2 points)
200. tjancijr (2 points)
201. themayneframe (2 points)
202. tom wojcik (2 points)
203. Harminator (2 points)
204. Papageno (2 points)
205. elewis (2 points)
206. Chris (2 points)
207. gearz (2 points)
208. Bonesx (2 points)
209. veritas_tm (2 points)
210. edukaycheon (2 points)
211. Mshengu (2 points)
212. handsOn (2 points)
213. packfiller (1 points)
214. frank (1 points)
215. fredd727 (1 points)
216. Tobin (1 points)
217. kah (1 points)
218. la Vela (1 points)
219. sam findley (1 points)
220. mike masterson (1 points)
221. Dave (1 points)
222. la Vela (1 points)
223. bdias85 (1 points)
224. TBONE (1 points)
225. GPdomestique (1 points)
226. TheCoolman (1 points)
227. Marcovelo (1 points)
228. David (1 points)
229. jimmy (1 points)
230. actor1 (1 points)
231. highball (1 points)
232. Dave R (1 points)
233. Tandjes (1 points)
234. Xyverz (1 points)
235. Bruno DN (0 points)
236. TripleEight (0 points)
237. Ryan (0 points)
238. Hammerhed (0 points)
239. calves (0 points)
240. Bianchi_Bob (0 points)
241. Erik Assum (0 points)
242. doubleespresso (0 points)
243. Lee (0 points)
244. mtnbikerfred (0 points)
245. Marcus (0 points)
246. graham d.m. (0 points)
247. minion (0 points)
248. Gerard (0 points)
The Ontario Cogal train was roughly two hours in when we heard that Hesjedal had eked it out in the TT. Much rejoicing. Got back to Domestique, where a pink and white Cervelo was already on display. They had an incredible crowd for the race””along with CBC, Sportsnet, and Steve Bauer in the house.
@Marcus
Totally disagree, of course, with everything you say. Here’s a picture of me doing my best Australian Impersonation:
@frank
Oooh visual gags. So very sophisticated Fronky.
My point was nothing to do with Australians and everything to do with people’s (and specifically, your) biases when it comes to riders, ie. if the rider is a favorite of yours (or others), people are just happy for the win. But if its a rider not on your list, the stupid lack of panache argument gets trotted out.
If say, Kreuziger had won how Hesjedal won, I reckon you and others would be talking about how he was so calculating and took the enjoyment out of the race.
Was not making a pro-Aussie call, but I will now. How about Dodger winning Bayern-Rundhfahrt (including 2 stages) and Webber winning the Monaco GP?! We punch so far above our weight in world sport. You wish you were one of us, dont you?
More fall out from the Giro
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-only-cancellara-is-assured-of-tour-de-france-spot
If he left the Schmucks out I would personally fly to France and kiss the man.
@frank
What’s funny to me, of course, is the T-shirt.
If this keeps up both Oli and I are going to start feeling redundant.
Carry on.
@Daccordi Rider
What an extraordinary outburst from Bruyneel! He has clearly decided to use the stick instead of the carrot.
“Frank and Andy Schleck have so far not lived up to the status of leaders. I was very disappointed last week that Frank left the Giro d’Italia. Hindsight is that his injury was more serious than at first sight appeared. Yet in recent years I have seen many more great riders seem more dead than alive and still pick themselves up and absolutely have to have the will to continue. I sometimes miss that a bit.
“There is Fabian Cancellara, and after him nobody is sure of a place in the squad for the Tour de France. Both Schleck brothers know that. They have no license. So far I still have no vision of my Tour cycling team with both Schleck brothers in it.”