Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro D’Italia 2013

Pink Ryder photo:REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Pink Ryder photo:REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Twiggo is dreaming of a Giro-Tour double. He has sent out mixed messages about his Tour ambitions. Will he use the Giro as the ultimate Tour preparation or will be burn all his matches in May and hope he can find another pack for July? He has abandoned his successful 2012 Tour run-up strategy of winning every stage race he entered the previous spring. Now it’s the seclusion of Mount Doom of Tenerife, his coach and his watt meter his only competition. Team Sky is supporting Wig with a very strong squad, including superman, Kanstantsin Siutsou and with Cav no longer a teammate, it’s all the knights of the round table for Sir Twig.

Will the curse of the god-awful Astana kit continue to haunt non-Kazahk riders? Can Vincenzo’s Italian mojo overpower its powerful pale blue and yellow aura? Roman Kreuziger was finally able to win a big race once he shed that kit and pulled on one of Bjarne’s Saxo jerseys. Maybe it was more Bjarne and less jersey that made the difference.

Ryder gets no respect as the defending champion. His little dance at the end of Liége-Bastogne-Liége showed he is fit and ready for a fight. He can time trial, he can climb. Personally I have to back the local boy. And I always hate the overpowered, overwhelming favorite (read Team Sky here) in any race, unless that racer is Fabian Cancellara. No one can say Fabs has won a race this year surrounded with a team as strong as Sky’s. The Shack is just the Shack or a shack. Once Cancellara leaves for the Swiss “I AM” team, it’s lights out in the shack. Frandy, don’t forget to turn out ’em out when you leave.

If Cavendish wins the first day’s sprinter’s stage he will be in pink. He may be out of it after stage two, a team time trial.

But this is the Giro: crazy, unexpected, beautiful things can happen. The spinning wheels of fortuna are less predictable in Italy as they are in France in July. The betting window is now open. The complete start list is not yet available, an incomplete one is here and shall be updated soon. So sleep on your picks, wait for all the teams to make it official, unless you want to go with the obvious all Sky podium. The race begins Saturday so don’t Delgado away a Grand Tour opportunity.

[vsp_results id=”23343″/]

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1,031 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Giro D’Italia 2013”

  1. taken the huge points hits. Might as well.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Uran
    2. Nibbles
    3. Cuddles
    4. SANTAMBROGIO
    5. SCARPONI

  2. Since it would be impossible to get a result with my previous selection I can’t really do any worse… can I ?

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Evans
    2. Nibbles
    3. Santambrogio
    4. Scarponi
    5. Uran

  3. Swapping out Evans for Hesjedal.  Leaving Wiggins there to stew.  Hope it all goes ugly in sky camp in july and war breaks out – could be good watching…

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Kiserlovski
    4. Sanchez
    5. Wiggins

  4. Should’ve ditched Ryder last week for the lesser penalty

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. nibali
    2. evans
    3. wiggins
    4. gesink
    5. scarponi

  5. Ouch, that 20 pt penalty stings but I feel that if I do enough hill repeats it should numb the pain.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Evans
    2. Nibbles
    3. Uran Uran
    4. Henao
    5. Betancur

  6. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Scrapsonly
    4. Gesink
    5. Ryder

  9. ..

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. NIBALI
    2. EVANS
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Scarponi
    5. Henao

  10. No swap. 10 points per rider isn’t worth it. And, bonus, if I win, I look like a genius. When I lose, which is of course, veeeeerrrrryyyyy likely, I stuck to my guns.

    But Wiggo. Oh, Wiggo. And I backed the other Colombian rider. Need Uran. Hmmm.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Good Cadel
    2. Uran
    3. Nibali
    4. Hesjedal
    5. Henao

  11. @piwakawaka

    Fucken brilliant coverage here

    http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/rai/?title=Last+7+Km+of+Stage+15&dashboard=giro-d-italia&id=d143c73f-aef5-4f28-96c4-e474c42ebfb6&yr=2013

    This is what is so special about what we do, the finish is immense , the snow , the Galibier , the solo victory, the attacks inside the final three km’s , from the top three , covered by everyone in the top five , punch counter punch, how you doin? Oh yeah? Punch counter , stalemate , the young guns allowed up the road to fight out the minor places , the relief and exhaustion shown at the line and immediately after , and the joy , the absolute joy from team mates , DS’s , there is a great scene at the end as Visconti is waiting in doping control, head in hands trying to grasp his achievement , in walks Nibali who glances over and gives a nod to the young man.

    This is an awesome link. Thanks!

  12. Somehow I threw away my fifth pick just for fun (Phinney), lost two picks to colds, and I’m leading the VSP at the rest day.  40% right ain’t bad huh?

  13. Rest day swap

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Evans Cadel
    2. Nibali
    3. Gesink
    4. Sanchez
    5. Hesjedal

  15. Twat. Should’ve swapped all except Nibali on the last rest day – so much for having faith.  Now hoping Betancur can pinch fifth place – fat chance.  And as for Dirty Sammy, I think he must be appearing as Aladdin in panto at Christmas with those golden slippers.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Sanchez
    4. Hesjedal
    5. Betancur

  16. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. evans
    2. Nibbles
    3. uran
    4. Sammy Sanchez
    5. scarponi

  17. One change only – hope i can pick up place points

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Wiggins
    2. Nibali
    3. Uran Uran
    4. Evans
    5. Gesink

  18. Not worth the penalty points to make any changes.  I already have cuddles in at 5th, moving him to 2nd would cost me 20 points.  If he does come in 2nd and whoever I put in as 5th turns out right I’ll only get 18 points or -2.  My only hope to better what I have right now is for Scarponi to bump up one place.

  19. @Gianni Disappointing my friend, It’s 3 points for picking a rider but in the wrong position for the Grand Tours!

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Uran
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Martin
    5. Evans

  20. Rest Day Swap

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Scarponi
    4. Santabrogio
    5. Heano

  21. What a disaster. Capecchi? What the hell was I thinking?! Stupid wild card pick. Got out the abacus, decided to risk it and hope for the best.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. V. NIBALI
    2. B. WIGGINS
    3. R. URAN URAN
    4. S. SANCHEZ
    5. E. CAPECCHI

  22. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Ryder
    3. Cadel
    4. Gesink
    5. Uran

  23. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Uran
    4. Pozzato
    5. Santambrogio

  24. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Evans
    5. Gesink

  25. Replacing both Ryder from 3 and Beaker from 1. Still not right but I’ll gamble on Cuddles getting better and Nibbles blowing up on stage 19…

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Cuddles
    2. Nibbles
    3. Uran
    4. Santa mbrogio
    5. Scared Pony

  26. I might be losing all my points with the swaps, but I think Scarponi is gonna crack in the final week.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Santambrogio
    4. Uran
    5. Betancur

  27. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Scarponi
    4. Hesjedahl
    5. Uran

  28. Swap one or two I end up with the same points potential. Unless gesinko kicks some ass in the last week.go long mr gesink, go long! No guts, no glory.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibbs
    2. Cuddles
    3. Uran uran
    4. R. Gesinko
    5. Sharponi

  30. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Uran
    4. Santambrogio
    5. Scarponi

  31. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Scarponi
    4. Santambrogio
    5. Gesink

  33. Good little précis on the Giro so far from Robert Millar here.

    He always writes good stuff, you should get him on board.

  35. 2 hours at or near threshold and that’s all I can pull out of my threshed brain.

    VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibbler
    2. Cuddler
    3. Uranater
    4. Scarponier
    5. Betancurryer

  36. If I make swaps I could end up with negative points…….like wiggo I will shuffle off and prepare for the Tour!

  37. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Evans
    2. Nibali
    3. Uran Uran
    4. Scarponi
    5. Santambrogio

  38. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Nibali
    2. Evans
    3. Scarponi
    4. Uran
    5. Gesink

  40. VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):

    1. Evans
    2. Nibali
    3. Hesjedal
    4. Scarponi
    5. Uran

  44. Nice pic from Stage 15 – which no-one saw coz they couldn’t get the helicopters up in the air…

  45. Big shakeup; we lost Santambrogio and after the second rest day swaps, our standings have shifted.

    Provisional Race Results

    1. NIBALI Vincenzo
    2. EVANS Cadel
    3. URAN URAN Rigoberto
    4. SCARPONI Michele
    5. NIEMIEC Przemyslaw
    Provisional VSP Standings

    1. Smithers (37 points)
    2. Blake (35 points)
    3. seemunkee (30 points)
    4. Noel (30 points)
    5. ped (28 points)
    6. RedRanger (28 points)
    7. Tobin (28 points)
    8. leadout (28 points)
    9. Donnie Bugno (27 points)
    10. taon24 (27 points)
    11. Chica (27 points)
    12. mouse (26 points)
    13. mbarston (26 points)
    14. scaler911 (26 points)
    15. Rigid (26 points)
    16. MJ Moquin (26 points)
    17. Mikael Liddy (25 points)
    18. Simon (25 points)
    19. DocBrian (25 points)
    20. moondance (25 points)
    21. strathlubnaig (25 points)
    22. Patrick (25 points)
    23. stickyjumper (25 points)
    24. razmaspaz (23 points)
    25. Nate (23 points)
    26. Mike_P (23 points)
    27. gladoe (23 points)
    28. Don Amedo (23 points)
    29. Dufferin Sportif (23 points)
    30. Dino (23 points)
    31. Daccordi Rider (23 points)
    32. Alex (23 points)
    33. il ciclista medio (23 points)
    34. frank (23 points)
    35. Mirko (23 points)
    36. Russ (23 points)
    37. dancollins (23 points)
    38. Ron (23 points)
    39. pakrat (23 points)
    40. Bat Chainpuller (22 points)
    41. DerHoggz (21 points)
    42. Gervais (21 points)
    43. torrefie (21 points)
    44. San Tonio (21 points)
    45. Bianchi Denti (20 points)
    46. Duende (20 points)
    47. CanuckChuck (20 points)
    48. napolinige (20 points)
    49. ramenvelo (20 points)
    50. sehmis (20 points)
    51. Souleur (20 points)
    52. sprider (20 points)
    53. gallilano (18 points)
    54. Deakus (18 points)
    55. Sauterelle (18 points)
    56. Vernwitha_V (18 points)
    57. King Clydesdale (18 points)
    58. tony macaroni (18 points)
    59. Skip (18 points)
    60. Heihachi (16 points)
    61. the Engine (16 points)
    62. Nosyt (13 points)
    63. Adrian (13 points)
    64. m_demartino (11 points)
    65. PeakInTwoYears (10 points)
    66. brian (10 points)
    67. Yannersan (10 points)
    68. margc (10 points)
    69. Dan_R (10 points)
    70. The Grande Fondue (10 points)
    71. Velodeluded (10 points)
    72. paolo (10 points)
    73. el gato (10 points)
    74. Jay (10 points)
    75. xyxax (10 points)
    76. Joe (9 points)
    77. anotherdownunder (9 points)
    78. VirenqueForever (9 points)
    79. Chris (9 points)
    80. sgraha (9 points)
    81. pink (9 points)
    82. Jhortua (9 points)
    83. bderw (9 points)
    84. quanyeomans (9 points)
    85. V-olcano (9 points)
    86. R00tdown (9 points)
    87. zeitzmar (8 points)
    88. freddy (8 points)
    89. ten B (8 points)
    90. Dr C (6 points)
    91. Buck Rogers (6 points)
    92. Tartan1749 (6 points)
    93. Fausto (6 points)
    94. Lukas (6 points)
    95. wiscot (6 points)
    96. roger (6 points)
    97. snoov (6 points)
    98. asyax (6 points)
    99. Cyclops (6 points)
    100. TomC (6 points)
    101. Franklin (6 points)
    102. imakecircles (6 points)
    103. blue (6 points)
    104. brad_the_dean (6 points)
    105. la plaque (6 points)
    106. Benny (6 points)
    107. girl (6 points)
    108. zalamanda (6 points)
    109. simonsaunders (6 points)
    110. Roberto Marques (6 points)
    111. Benzo (6 points)
    112. NoTubes (6 points)
    113. minion (6 points)
    114. Islandbike (6 points)
    115. PT (6 points)
    116. VeloVita (4 points)
    117. motor city (3 points)
    118. Steampunk (3 points)
    119. The Goat (3 points)
    120. kyle (3 points)
    121. TBONE (3 points)
    122. Gino (3 points)
    123. 936adl (3 points)
    124. Facetious_Jesus (3 points)
    125. El Mateo (3 points)
    126. graham d.m. (3 points)
    127. Geordi (3 points)
    128. starclimber (2 points)
    129. HeinrichHausslersHairstyle (1 points)
    130. LA Dave (1 points)
    131. eightzero (1 points)
    132. JohnB (1 points)
    133. unversio (1 points)
    134. RManneck (1 points)
    135. Harminator (0 points)
    136. Erik (0 points)
    137. TOM.NELS2120 (0 points)
    138. Dashiell (0 points)
    139. sthilzy (0 points)
    140. SimonH (0 points)
    141. Two Ball Billy (0 points)
    142. chrismurphy92 (0 points)
    143. eenies (0 points)
    144. piwakawaka (0 points)
    145. jeyrod (0 points)
    146. Blah (0 points)
    147. oneninefiveninesix (0 points)
    148. ChrisO (0 points)
    149. Al__S (0 points)
    150. brett (0 points)

  46. Hmm, looks as if Phinney has abandoned.

    Nice stage today, wanted to see Niemiec win. I wonder how many Polish Giro stage winners there have been?

  48. @Patrick

    Nice pic from Stage 15 – which no-one saw coz they couldn’t get the helicopters up in the air…

    Magnifico!

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