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. Yeah, I took a real flyer on Viviani. I wanted another EYEtalian in my top 5 and just went for him, though I highly doubt he’ll go Top 5. Early VSP points are not going to matter much in three weeks.

    What a finish in Stage 1. How much more ground did Mr. Cavendish cover going wide around the Radio Shake boys? Damn, and I don’t even think he was at his limit. Viviani banging his bars. PRO-move. Try smashing your bars that hard and staying upright. One little push on only one side can totally send you off balance. Try pushing in a loose bar plug sometime and see what it does to your balance.

    How did Green Edge blow that? Three guys with 1k to go?

    Also, Cobo. Have I ever seen this guy ride a bike?

  2. I happened to watch the finish with my housemate, then showed him a net photo or two of Ms. Peta Todd. He thought the goods looked all natural. My VMH disagrees.

    So, for two people (Cav + Peta) who make a living via their body and their physical gifts, I wonder how Cav feels about the possibly “doped” enhancements of his VMH. Isn’t that cheating and depriving other models of income?

    Is doping not confined just to the sports world?

  3. @eenies

    Stayed up late to watch the highlights after a 2100m ride mostly in the pain cave. Dozed my way thru the 4 days of Dunkirk but was wide awake for the Giro, love those grand tours. Defo worth the wait to see Cav dig deep to win and hilarious to see the bar bashing antics of the 1st loser.

    You rode just over 2kms in the pain cave? What gives?

  4. Ok, saw some pics from he team presentations. First, I hate “podium caps” and most teams were wearing them. However, to the credit of Wiggo, Ryder and Hesink they opted for bare heads. The sartorial travesty of the day went to Viini–Farnese who wore those things golfers wear – the cap without a top – you know, an enhanced visor – as worn by golfers? WTF?

  5. Well, those are some time gaps. Amazed Garmin was that far down…Provisional results updated; remember, this is just provisional, what matter is the standings on the last day and these points won’t count towards the GC until the race is over.

    Provisional Race Results

    1. PUCCIO Salvatore
    2. WIGGINS Bradley
    3. HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis
    4. CATALDO Dario
    5. URAN URAN Rigoberto
    Provisional VSP Standings

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

  6. Both Garmin & BMC put their respective leaders slightly behind the 8 ball, 22 & 37 seconds I think the gaps were…not really where you want to be after day 2.

    Pretty disappointed with Greenedge & Ham too, given they’ve won a couple of TTT’s over the past year. Comical watching the carrot bunch fall apart, especially the one guy continuing to drive the front despite his fifth man being over 500m off the back!

  9. @Mikael Liddy

    Comical watching the carrot bunch fall apart, especially the one guy continuing to drive the front despite his fifth man being over 500m off the back!

    Yes. Slamming Sammy Sanchez has some work to do to get back into many of our top 5s!

    On a positive note for this part of the world, all 3 kiwis finished with the Radeopard group. George Bennett should surprise a few people in the mountains, including Kiserlovski..

  13. I missed the deadline, but wondering what people think the odds are that Kilderman finishes ahead of Gesink this Giro?

  16. @wiscot

    @eenies

    Stayed up late to watch the highlights after a 2100m ride mostly in the pain cave. Dozed my way thru the 4 days of Dunkirk but was wide awake for the Giro, love those grand tours. Defo worth the wait to see Cav dig deep to win and hilarious to see the bar bashing antics of the 1st loser.

    You rode just over 2kms in the pain cave? What gives?

    Sorry! You’re original post wasn’t clear. I’ve done a few hioll climbs in my day and even a few hundred meters can put you in the pain cave.

  17. Google chrome is blocking velominati.com for malware.  Fortunately safari  doesn’t give a damn.  What nefarious plans do the Keepers have for this botnet?

  22. Why isn’t Dave Cameron calling it with da King?

    Also, didn’t see it answered – why isn’t Thomas De Gendt ridin’ after his performance last year? That dude looked good on a Bianchi in that busy kit with his celeste tape and determination.

  23. @pakrat

    Google chrome is blocking velominati.com for malware. Fortunately safari doesn’t give a damn. What nefarious plans do the Keepers have for this Bontet?

    Not a computer guy here, but got that malware message and got nervous. Never seen that via the site, never seen that on my new computer.

    What’s up? Anything to worry about? (Chrome/Mac OS here)

    On another note: GO RYDER. I don’t dig him all that much, but I do dig racing and sayin’ fuck off to the Power Meter Waltz.

  24. @Ron

    Why isn’t Dave Cameron calling it with da King?

    Also, didn’t see it answered – why isn’t Thomas De Gendt ridin’ after his performance last year? That dude looked good on a Bianchi in that busy kit with his celeste tape and determination.

    De Gendt is riding the Tour of California next week

  25. That fucking helmet of Paolini’s looks rediculous!!  Seriously shite.

  26. Sneaky little jump from Cuddles to nick 2nd place & get 12 of yesterday’s seconds back…lovely aggressive riding from Weight of a Nation.

  27. Nice racing, anyone who doesn’t get why downhills matter on a road bike needs to watch that stage!

    @Paolo

    You’re absolutely right, that Giro lid of Paolini’s looks bloody awful, more so with those ridiculous Assos bug-eyed sunnies. Seriously folks, he looks like he’s racing in a dirt jump piss pot lid and Victoria Beckham’s shades – call the style police immediately!!

  28. MAN!  I LOVE stage bonus seconds!!!  Talk about exciting racing!!!

  30. @paolo

    That fucking helmet of Paolini’s looks rediculous!! Seriously shite.

    Has anyone ridden one of the “new” (read 1980s butt-ugly) helmets? I really don’t see how they could be cooler than “regular” ones. But yes, they do look awful.

  31. @Fausto

    Nice racing, anyone who doesn’t get why downhills matter on a road bike needs to watch that stage!

    @Paolo

    You’re absolutely right, that Giro lid of Paolini’s looks bloody awful, more so with those ridiculous Assos bug-eyed sunnies. Seriously folks, he looks like he’s racing in a dirt jump piss pot lid and Victoria Beckham’s shades – call the style police immediately!!

    For a race held in a  country noted for style, here sure are some abominations around. See my post on Vini Farnese’s golfer  caps/visors.

  32. Great little jump by Good Cadel at the end. Let’s hope he’s got the grinta he had back on the strade bianche back in 2010 this time around. Gutsy.

  34. @wiscot

    @paolo

    That fucking helmet of Paolini’s looks rediculous!! Seriously shite.

    Has anyone ridden one of the “new” (read 1980s butt-ugly) helmets? I really don’t see how they could be cooler than “regular” ones. But yes, they do look awful.

    He is pointing at the ‘thing’ on his head as a comes over the line. Not sure if he saying “see, this fucking helmet rocks !” or perhaps “I won despite looking like a dickhead in this fucking thing” Either way, it does NOT look fantastic.

  36. Goddamn, I first saw those shades on El Gato a year or so ago. They’re fucking terrible. Belong on an old lady who has fled NYC for Miami and gets her hair done every other day.

    Did anyone see Cavendish trying to pull on his baseball hat and shades after the Saturday finish while the RAI reporter shoved a mic in his face? He told her in Italian to calm the fuck down until he got situated.

    Nice attack from Paolini, also a nice ride from Cadel, and good racing from Ryder.

  37. So the two Blanco riders crashed in front of Scarponi, one of them being Gesink. Looked to me like Scarponi was going down before/as those two crashed, but some are writing they caused his crashed. Maybe because he saw them going down and locked up his brakes?

    Anybody have a better view/take on the crash?

  38. @Ron

    So the two Blanco riders crashed in front of Scarponi, one of them being Gesink. Looked to me like Scarponi was going down before/as those two crashed, but some are writing they caused his crashed. Maybe because he saw them going down and locked up his brakes?

    Anybody have a better view/take on the crash?

    Wee Scarpo said he locked up when they went down.

  39. @Ron

    Goddamn, I first saw those shades on El Gato a year or so ago. They’re fucking terrible. Belong on an old lady who has fled NYC for Miami and gets her hair done every other day.

    Did anyone see Cavendish trying to pull on his baseball hat and shades after the Saturday finish while the RAI reporter shoved a mic in his face? He told her in Italian to calm the fuck down until he got situated.

    Nice attack from Paolini, also a nice ride from Cadel, and good racing from Ryder.

    Sounds like classic Cav to me. Not entirely unjustified I might add. I mean he’s just gone super deep to win and before he can even get his HR under any kind of control, the chick with the microphone wants his reaction/feelings. What other sports allow/demand such immediate access?

  40. I’m looking for the distribution details of VSP picks? Is there a summary of how popular the pro-riders are among the enlightened selectors on this website for the Giro and who the collective wisdom suggests is going to place well?

  41. @Frank Hey, none of the links are working for me, Macbook Pro…O SX 10.6.8

    Don’t mind the new helmets, takes me back to my early MTB racing days late 80’s early 90’s, think I still have one somewhere…?

  42. My wildcard Capecchi just lost 14 minutes, and it’s only Stage 3! Fuck you Eros – never again!

  43. I think & hope we have reached the antithesis of the sharply worn cycling cap. Garzelli at today’s sign in. Should a former Maglia Rosa winner know better? (as I always say, one reason the world is going to hell is because too few people have good friends who aren’t more honesty with them. Someone should have been willing to tell Stefano he looked like shite.)

  45. @mouse

    Yay, Good Cadel.

    Fingers crossed that he keeps it going.

    Cadel’s big test will in on the long climbs of Stage 4.?A good showing there and he moves closer to being a favorite for Le Tour. Never write him off!

  46. @Buck Rogers

    MAN! I LOVE stage bonus seconds!!! Talk about exciting racing!!!

    Hear hear, bring them back for the Big Lap this summer

  47. Anyone able to help out a pleb, what stage numbers and nmaes for the legendary climbs of this Giro? Stelvio, Mortello etc?

  48. @Beers

    Anyone able to help out a pleb, what stage numbers and nmaes for the legendary climbs of this Giro? Stelvio, Mortello etc?

    this should help…. http://inrng.com/2013/04/giro-guide/

    stage 15 on Galibier should be good but the final 3 stages 17 (Hill TT), 18 & 19 should decide the overall winner.

  49. @motor city

    @Beers

    Anyone able to help out a pleb, what stage numbers and nmaes for the legendary climbs of this Giro? Stelvio, Mortello etc?

    this should help…. http://inrng.com/2013/04/giro-guide/

    stage 15 on Galibier should be good but the final 3 stages 17 (Hill TT), 18 & 19 should decide the overall winner.

    make that 18 (Hill TT), 19 & 20 should decide the overall winner

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