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″]
[/vsp_results]
My gut is telling me that Basso, having recently been thinking about pulling out of the Giro entirely is not up to it mentally. Grimpelder has been two months from peaking for this whole season, and I don’t think he cares that much right now… So, because most teams are going for stage wins rather than the GC, I’m betting on local hungry talent to step up and pick up the slack.
I often wish that the VSP could be done stage to stage, as I’m convinced that Vaitkus is going to take a stage or two.
VSP PICKS:
1. Rujano
2. Pozzovivo
3. Hesjedal
4. Scarponi
5. Pinotti
@Steampunk
Hey, I read it last year. I know you’re an academic so I’ll look forward to your thoughts on it. Right now, I’ll reserve my thoughts until you’ve finished it. . .
I’m guessing Basso will find form but only have one really good day. The Pony ought to be more consistent.
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Basso
3. Gadret
4. Ryder
5. Kreuziger
In the spirit of diving into the debate, anyone who says the Giro isn’t sexy needs to have their head examined. I’m looking at you @Brett. I’m obsessed with the Tour, but in sweet, sweet, sweaty saddle kinda love with the Giro. I can standing missing a stage and catching up on it later with le Tour. The Giro keeps me wanting, waiting, needing more.
That said, I’m worried this this new organizer has made her soft. Less daring.
As for the picks, this is a tough one… another reason why I love this race. (Unlike the Tour, where barring injury I already have my picks and am set for a really boring split screen view of Wiggo and Cuddles time trialing with a clock below showing the various splits).
So…
Scarponi, because he hung with Contador and has something to prove.
Kreuziger… because J-Rod can’t time trial
J-Rod… because Basso will ultimately falter
Basso… because he knows how to win
Gadret… because he has a bad-ass trailer, because when Roche asked him for a wheel he just rode by and said, “non,” and because Roche isn’t riding this year because (and here is one for the debate) Roche is just as whiny as the Schlecks. If his dad wants to improve the sport so much, he should tell his son to Harden the Fuck Up.
No Schleck. I’ve given up on them.
VSP PICKS:
1. Michele Scarponi
2. Roman Kreuziger
3. Joaquim Rodriguez
4. Ivan Basso
5. John Gadret
@Sauterelle
OK, so the Kelly comment was the first thought I could pull out of my ass… I didn’t want to disrupt the theme. Next, Cunego has some good days left in his medicine cabinet… I mean legs!
@Skinnyphat
Are we sure he’s post-juice? I don’t have the data, impossible to tell. And post-Puerto, he still managed to win one. Against Cuddles.
I agree, though, these guys who think they can win the Tour are on crack; fast-forward two months to the pace getting upped and them dropping off the back of the group while Tommy V holds on. Oh well, if they didn’t have delusions of grandeur, they wouldn’t be Pros in the first, place, right? Gotta start with dreaming big, I suppose.
@mouse
Have you watched any Pro cycling in the last 22 years (spain) or this season (Astana)?
@Aidas
As is customary, we’ll pick a few stages to do a sub-VSP on. We generally get them more wrong than the regular VSPs.
I suspect that Schleck the elder will do well, but for some reason, I can’t stand the thought of picking him. It’s nice to be close to a grand tour, but it will be strange to have to wait so long for a definitive climb to shake out the pretenders from the contenders. I will admit a North American bias causing me to put Ryder up as the winner when his palmares suggest that is a pipe dream. Here’s to hoping that they sing O Canada at the end.
VSP PICKS:
1. Ryder Hesjedal
2. John Gadret
3. Michele Scarponi
4. Giovanni Visconti
5. Thomas De Gendt
@Erik
This goes to @Netraam’s question from earlier, as to why I’m disappointed the race starts in Denmark. Its not a beef with the Danish start to much as what it did to the opening week; the first week is all sprinters stages and they don’t hit the big hills until later in the second week. That is Tour formula, not Giro formula. The Giro is about a mountaintop finish in the first week. Battlestations for the GC from the gun. Better time your form right, because there’s a monster set of stages at the end, too, bitches.
As for bemoaning the lack of stars at the Giro, stacking the race with big names like at the Tour just means people sit around waiting for one of them to attack (they don’t) and then they all arrive at the finish together. Look at the Pyrenees in last year’s Tour if you’re wondering what I’m talking about.
Having smaller names in there means people think they have a chance, and they make bolder moves. Its more open and more fun to watch.
And I’ll tell you something else (this ones’ for the antipodes): Despite having gotten better since taking the bands, Cuddles is a boring rider to watch. No acceleration, no attacks, just diesel-engining up to whomever took a jab. Even his win on the Strade, which was the coolest stage ever, was not an attack. He just went more faster.
Wiggo appears to be the same. The Tour might really suck this year. The text live reports from CN will be more exciting than the tele coverage!
Evans and Wiggins still together, both looking like they might crack.
J-Rod attacks. Evans and Wiggins together. Evans to the front.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
They bridged up to J-Rod.
Schleck attacks.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Schleck caught.
Under the 1km to go.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Wiggins on the front. Evans looks to be in difficulty.
Evans on the front. Wiggins looks to be in difficulty.
Schleck attacks and takes 2 seconds. I will come down to the time trial.
Gold!
@frank
I think both Evans and Wiggins are going to have more difficulty than you picture. Wiggins is the better time-triallist, but Evans is a better climber. When Wiggins tries to follow attacks uphill, he cracks (Vuelta 2011). When Evans tries to follow attacks uphill, he budges (does not crack entirely)(visible every time he goes uphill).
Ad to that that Evans is the defending champion (and therefore a marked man) and that Wiggins is the race favourite like the 2011 Vuelta, and you see he has trouble doing his famous time trial when the pressure is that high.
I don’t have a lot of material, but I think that the climbers will be flying in the Tour and the diesels will crack.
What would I know – but if I was the DS of a team not called Sky or BMC in the Tour I’d be putting my guys in every break that didn’t involve the aforementioned.
Sky particularly may be a nice bunch of guys but (like the England rugby team, Andy Murray and anyone who plays golf) they’re not very interesting to watch and (it seems to me) rely on brute strength in numbers to get the job done. Surely they can be beaten by passion (as an Italian might put it).
Maybe no other team comes close to Sky in terms of strength in depth (apart from Astana when they get the formula right), but surely if others attack and chip away at them they’ll crack. I think Cavendouche is looking weak this year and Wiggo, decent bloke though he obviously is, hasn’t been truly tested in any multi-day event this year.
Just saying.
And doesn’t Roche Senior require a new handle now – Zipperhead is my two cents…
@Steampunk
Have you read Dino Buzzati’s Giro d’Italia about the 1949 Giro? Great stuff, not sure if it’s still in print.@Netraam
The climbers (read: Schlecks) will have to fly because they are going to lose epic amounts of time in the 100 kms of time trials, having done nothing at all to improve their dismal abilities contre le montre.
@frank
All I know is Basso needs to hit the sauce if he wants to have a chance this year in the giro. In Romandie he looked like Mandelbaum from Seinfield, slow and old. Something tells me he wasn’t a week away from peaking. Maybe he’ll come on strong in week 3 and grab sixth place…
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Kreuzinger
3. Guillen
4. Cunego
5. Basso
@frank
I’m curious why you rank Herr Diesel, Jan Ullrich, as one of your favorite riders in the past then. This seems to be an accurate description of his style too.
@itburns
Because come on, everything used to be better back then.
@frank
I laughed at the comment. It is so true. Barring Injury or Illness the Tour will be Wiggo v Cuddles.
I would almost be willing to put in my VSP picks for the tour de france now. I cannot see anyone else other than Wiggo or Cuddles winning, and my other picks would be Nibali and maybe Schleck, Martin (I reckon he’ll be targeting overall with that much TT distance), Mollema or Sanchez, maybe Leipheimer.
In Comparison I made my Giro picks not having any clear idea who’s going to win. This’ll make for an exciting race. The only sadness will be that whoever wins will be told it was because the field was ‘weak’. I’d rather see a good rider come top 3 at the Giro than top 10 at the tour, which seems the preference at the moment.
VSP PICKS:
1. M. Scarponi
2. I. Basso
3. R. Kreuziger
4. F. Schleck
5. J. Rujano
I’m not buying the “weak field” BS either. I do think Basso’s too old and Grimpelder needs Andy to hold his blankie. But Kreuziger’s the real deal, Red Ryder’s one to watch, and Scarponi and Cunego are a pretty potent 1-2 punch. Can’t wait!
@itburns
A character I identfied with, for one, and the battles he was involved with for another (1998-2001 and 2003 in particular), but mostly just a healthy amount of bias.
Cuddles just doesn’t inspire me; I like the guy and all that, and his Tour win was very well deserved. But he doesn’t get my dander up. Ullrich, on the other hand was always fighting; sure, he didn’t have any acceleration either and it provided many a sore throat screaming at the tele to lift that ass out of the saddle and go for it, but he wore his effort on his sleeve.
And he just looked so fucking cool. Always Rule Compliant, always Badass.
It’s now or never for Pozzato.
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzato
2. Bass-o-matic
3. Kreuziger
4. Ballan
5. Scarponi
@frank
Indeed, always Badass. That first picture with the Anguished Stare is golden. It’s a shame that the UCI wouldn’t agree because of the travesty of the unzipped jersey.
I was hoping to generate many more argument points though.
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Hesjedal
3. Cunego
4. Kreuziger
5. Basso
@frank
That time-trial frame! We’ve got an Ullrich-replica T-Mobile Giant in the family that will eventually reach me, but that frame in the last picture gives me Carbone.
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Kreuzinger
3. Rujano Guillen
4. Cunego
5. Pozzato
@frank
To be fair, that was the old LeBlanc Tour formula – Prudhomme has put lots of hilly and interesting early stages in there in recent times, stages that suit the Gilberts, Valverdes and even Riccos. Perhaps no true mountain stages like the Giro has had, but not the old first week flat sprinters stages of yore.
@Skinnyphat
Yeah, I’m rethinking my choices. Again. I just don’t think Basso’s got it in him. I can’t bring myself to pick a Schleck at all. I’ll have to look over my “long list” again.
I’m glad I’m still relatively new to Grand Tours and being a fan of pro cycling; I don’t know enough to be too pissed about a poorly scheduled set of stages, a weak field, etc.
Fuck it. The Giro starts in a few days. Italy, RAI commentators, Italian podium girls, and dreams of gnocchi. Good enough for me.
….
VSP PICKS:
1. Kreuziger
2. Scarponi
3. Cunego
4. Pozzato
5. Guillen
VSP PICKS:
1. Kreuzinger
2. Scarponi
3. Basso
4. Purito
5. Cunego
@frank
Why yes. Yes I have.
My point is that the prism we look at everything through colours our experience.
Of course, in the past few years, the Spaniards have had some suspected and proven dopers. It appears that through the Valverde saga, there was a complicity that ran to the highest levels primarily based along Nationalistic lines.
Similarly Astana and a cohort of riders from the Eastern Bloc countries have had some positive tests, both high and low profile.
So, the question is this;
Do we allow past experience to cheapen the entire sport by calling into question any result that doesn’t come from what we may describe as a “Pedigree Rider”?
I would rather be open to the idea that the Iglinskis of the world are fucking hard workers who have finally got their opportunity and taken it by the balls.
That’s the beauty of cycling to me. Everyone, if they work hard enough and has the requisite talent, has a chance. If I began to believe that every left field victory was subject to doping, I might as well start watching fucking Aussie Rules football.
@Netraam
Yep. Liquigas are saving Nibbles for le Tour. 1 week of doing his own thing at ToC must be better than riding your home tour and not trying. He’s training properly.
What will be interesting is whether Basso rides le Tour in “support” (which could be risky for Nibbles, especially Basso fails at the Giro), or whether he just goes to the beach.
For me Scarponi wants to win this on the road but will again come second to J. Rod. Basso is still going to hang on but won’t be good enough for 1st spot. Kreuziger will shine despite the team, and Elder will be too busy looking back over his shoulder to see where the younger is (yes I know he is not racing) to worry the front runners.
Rider was going in the picks, but just misses out in 6th spot.
VSP PICKS:
1. J. Rod
2. Scarponi
3. Basso
4. Kreuziger
5. Elder Schleck
@Oli
That is right, since they’ve been chucking Massif Central in there again its been much better, and the little digs they were taking in Brittany last year were awesome.
But there again, somehow even last years Tour, which was the best in ages, didn’t have the same up/down rollercoaster ride as the Giro gives. I mean, Voekler in yellow for 10 days or whatever it was was testament to that – everyone was intimidated by the terrain and raced cautiously until Schleck too the hail mary which was when the race went from good to great.
Somehow, the Giro manages to have people vying for it all the way through – people are taking chances, look to have it in the bag, and then blow their doors off and someone else takes over. The riders are of a lower caliber, but they’ve got less to lose and don’t get scared off as much.
All that aside – and as much as you’re right that Prudhomme is doing better at designing a good Tour, France is bigger and has more vast areas of flat to cover than Italy. Between France, Italy, and Spain, Spain is the worst off in this matter, but Italy is best off – they have mountains everywhere, a narrow geography with little choice other than to go over mountains and bumpy terrain, and just the right mix of talent to keep things crazy.
But who cares? @Ron is fucking onto it. Bike racing, baby! I’ll take it all!
@mouse
Ah yes, I think you and I have been down this road before. I prefer clean racing, but clean or not doesn’t really cross my mind when I’m watching the race – I just get caught up in the excitement of a great bike race and can’t get enough of it. In the end, I just want some good racing and something to get excited about.
Niether you nor I are in a position to say if they are clean, if its possible or not, or any of that – we’re not in the system so we don’t have the facts. What’s important is that you love bike racing; enjoy it however makes you happiest is what I say.
Then just be open enough about it to get into discussions about it and have a laugh.
As for doping, I’ve got my view and it’s that the sport seem(s/ed) cleaner than it has been in ages. The Spaniards, though, have through the nineties and 2000’s consistently shown to be dopers and have the most lenient position against the matter nationally; just take not only Puerto, but the Contador case. Imagine that same scenario in Germany. That doesn’t do a lot for a nation’s credibility in my view. I suspect there might be a cultural thing there.
And for Astana, they’re getting painted with the brush of suspicion possibly unfairly but not unreasonably. While I suspect they’re on the sauce, I absolutely don’t rule out the possibility that they just nailed it. If they are pure and did what they did, my hat goes off to them 100%. Fucking awesome.
But really.
Fuck it, I’ve always had a soft spot for Basso & I reckon he’ll use the first week or so to ride in to form for the last week…change up time.
VSP PICKS:
1. Count Basso
2. Grimpelder
3. Scarface
4. Roman the Cross
5. Jose Rujano
VSP PICKS:
1. Basso
2. Cunego
3. Pozzato
4. Nibali
5. Scarponi
Enrico Gimondi would be a sure pick for 20 points, alas he’s not on the start list, so I’ll go with the following:
VSP PICKS:
1. Scarponi
2. Hesjedal
3. F. Schleck
4. Uran
5. Basso
VSP PICKS:
1. JRod
2. Scarponi
3. Kreuziger
4. Hesjedal
5. De Gendt
Big hills, podium girls, fans…
@Harminator
Any more of that one on the left???
@Mikael Liddy
Like;
Name
Address
Phone Number…
@frank
We’re comprehensively failing at this arguement thing.
Wankspanner
@frank
The fact that T5 was in yellow for ten days last year made it more exciting, not boring! The first stage with Gilbert and Cadel duking it out… hardly a boring Tour. I do love the Giro though, but Basso’s win, Contador’s win, they were pretty clinical don’t you think?
This year’s Tour has the potential to be boring though, the fact that we’re talking Pippi as a possible winner is a worry in itself.
And as an aside, the French podium girls are in another class. I mean, those Italians have bigger, manlier chins than Cadel, and brows as bushy as Conty’s!
@mouse
(That sounds likemy cue right there)
Hi Mouse.
I Like you. Or at least I did. Right up until you asked for the number of my internet girlfriend,and used a word longr that 2 syllables. (That isn’t wankspanner). From now till the end of the Giro on you are my sworn enemy, and just so you know I’ll be travelling to Italy to personally sabotage your VSP picks, mostly by drinking heavily and plotting how to switch the entire team’s tubulars to clinchers without them knowing. You’ll watch your VSP picks crumble like a shortbread statue of famous spanish doctors in the rain, and you’ll know it was all down to me.
Fuck yeah.
@brett
Last year’s Giro was as boring as batshit. The Tour utterly owned it. Frank is just being a wankspanner again…
@brett
Oh FFS and as for you …
You’re right about everything. Apart from that part about the tour being an attractive woman in a bar. We all know she’s the overexposed, surgically enhanced, dusty old cougar who’s trading off her past glory and is pursued by people who historically need the equivalent of cycling viagra to get across the line.
@Oli
For me that was because of Contador. Same could be said of the tours he's won, even with the Schleckanichal.
@minion
Sign in with your proper email, tool.
I’ve just been to France, and the cougars looked pretty natural to me. Must be all the cigarettes…