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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Michelle Cound “@michellecound
@Tartan1749
Wow!!! What a great photo.
But, what’s up with his tape? Looks like home decor color stuff…
@minion
VB and Carlton Draught are both much better out of the tap – dont know why they just are – they drink ok in high volumes. Getting thirsty right now… As for Little Creatures, not a bad one, but Brunswick St on the wrong side of town for me. I dont own a black turtleneck, so that scene is a bit too cool.
@frank I love that they did the preso now and not at something like this year’s team presentation, I can only assume it’s cos Johan has said Andy might not get a ticket to the big show.
@minion
Where I live, beer is sacred. More breweries (big and mostly little) than anywhere in the world (I think).
Anyway, I just had a fantastic beer called 8wire from Livewire brewery (or the other way around) from NZ. Good shit.
@frank
Is he wearing fake biceps?
@Marcus
I was wondering the same thing, but no. He was wearing a long-sleeve dress shirt, which they stuffed up into the jersey. Incroyable.
@Marcus
The irony is not lost on me: your pre-emptive attack on a made-up argument shows great panache. Normally I’d expect you to wheel-suck your way into an argument, but this is new ground for you. Makes me like you a lot more.
@frank
I promise to never do it again.
@frank
When I was in the 5th grade, girls stuffed their training bras with tissue paper. Looks pretty much the same.
@Marcus
@scaler911
same with Welly, there’s a strong local boutique brewery scene in NZ, of which Welly seems to be the focal point. Am yet to find a bar in Canberra that I could get used to, which is all the more awkward given my seeming allergy to fucking public servants, but also one that stocks a decent amount of interesting beers.
I know 8 wired well
@Ron
Geez, the head badge looks like a white reflector clamped between headset nuts/spacers!
@scaler911
8 Wired is a one man operation in Blenheim, on the South Island. Danish guy who works for Renaissance brewery and hires their equipment to make his own brews. Hopwired and Tall Poppy are absolutely THE BEST beers I’ve ever tasted. He wins lots of awards for them too.
NZ beer is streets ahead of anything Aussie, and I mean the good ones like James Squire, Little Creatures and Lord Nelson, not that tasteless pisswater like VB, Tooheys or fucking XXXX. That stuff shouldn’t be allowed to be marketed as beer, but as bogan tranquilliser.
@Tartan1749
It’s also a fantastic example of The Power Of Hair.
Surprise, surprise. There was a good article in today’s Wall Street Journal about cycling. Specifically, Garmin-Barracuda. Argyle Misfits Conquer Cycling
Enjoy my friends.
More on Garmin…thought this was a pretty good Q&A with some real answers, rather than cliches. Though, he does like the word “surreal.”
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/qa-vande-velde-we-won-the-giro-with-chip-on-our-shoulders-inside-hesjedals-historic-giro-win_222184
At least he didn’t say, “It is what it is.” Or, “At the end of the day.” Man, those two sayings alone have ignoring the cool sports in American less and less and less.
Reviving an old thread but just saw that Garmin are bringing Ryder to the tdf as their top GC man. Wonder if he will have anything in the tank. I can see him somewhere in the 8 to 10th place overall, maybe, but not higher.
@Buck Rogers
It’s interesting to think how deep Garmin were last year for the spring classics, and only got bailed out at the last minute by Van Summeren. But they’re light on GT riders. Or light in a way that the same guys are likely going to be showing up at the Tour and elsewhere. Presumably Danielson might be given some freedom if Ryder doesn’t have the legs. Martin for the dotty jumper? A few options, I suppose…
I know this is a weird place to put this…but we don’t have our 2013 Giro VSP up yet.
Oh Thank You Krom.
I’m starting to hate Sky for it’s US Postal manner regarding grand tours, Wiggo not racing, just training with HRM to prepare. Boring. I like it much more last year when he just went out and won every stage race he entered all spring. But this quote warms my heart. A real shiet storm is a brewing between Wiggo and Froome.
@Gianni
Oh yeah. 1986 all over again. It sounds like it will be ugly, esp if Wiggo doesn’t win the Giro but has form at the tdf.
Also loving all the Conan references, Gianni.
@Buck Rogers and meanwhile the skyfanboys are insisting it is just sky mindgames tactics, cant accept wiggins may not be the nicest bloke around.
@Gianni, @Buck Rogers
Just a mountain of gold over here.
Yeah, uhuh. You’ll do whats “right” for the team.
That was an oddball article, Frank. Read it earlier today, not sure exactly what his goal is in talking about COTHO, etc.
Also, it’s largely personal but I don’t see anything much to like about Wiggins or Froome. Maybe it’s that they’re both tall and skinny as, while someone who knows a thing or two told me to find PROs my size & watch them. Couldn’t be more different than either of those two in the body size/shape department.
@Ron
Tall & skinny, & skinnier! Note the gap between his thigh and the leg band.
@strathlubnaig
You also have to wonder if it is not all scripted to get Sky’s name in the press and increase company name recognition. The evil part of me hopes it’s all for real. I was only 14 years old in ’86 and the coverage in the States was usually just a by-line in the sports page if you were lucky and a 30-60 min recap on Sunday of the preceeding week. It would be “fun” to see it all again for real at this age and coverage level!
At best, I think its Wiggins being slightly devious to wind Froome up and journalists filling in the gaps. He’ll end up riding for Froome and place well, so will Porte.
However, I can’t see Wiggins beating Nibali in the Giro.
　
@motor city
I hear you about the Giro. Wondering if the Italian press will pull out the helicoptor manuever during the time trials a la 1984!
The WAGs are already getting into it, this could be epic:
” data-mentions=”TeamSky”>
I look forward to @TeamSky clearing up this mess (ASAP) #fedup
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