Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2014
For the simple reason that the Cobbled and Ardennes Classics are behind us, I have not alternative but to get back on my soap box about the Giro being the best of the three Grand Tours. Well, usually, at least. Last year’s race sucked the big one (even if it was supremely Rule #9), but for the most part it is the race that is the most closely contested of the three. There are mountains everywhere Italy meaning there are less bunch sprints, the weather is completely unreliable, and the slightly lower calibre of rider seems hungrier. Or maybe the reduced pressure means riders aren’t quite as stressed out and are able to funnel that extra energy into the race.
My favorite Giro is a hard one to pick out, but its either the 1988 Giro when Andy Hampsten took the win after freezing himself stiff with Erik Breukink on the Gavia or when Pantani took his in 1998. I’ve been watching the ’98 Giro during my morning turbo sessions and Merckx-oh-me, that was an All-Drugs Olympics nail-biter. ’98 is also an interesting contrast to ’88; in just a decade, the technology had changed so much but more than that, the doping atmosphere in the sport transformed completely. From Hampsten’s Giro, EPO went from just being dabbled with on the fringes to being abused by leaders and domestiques alike by the time Pantani won. Hampsten wrote a nice piece about racing against dopers in Tyler Hamilton’s book, The Secret Race. He described the various side-effects that the popular drugs of his era had, such as bloating and a tendency to make the user over-estimate their abilities. Amphetamine made the riders do stupid things, cortisone made them retain water, and steroids made them heavy; a clean rider could use those factors to their advantage. A far cry from the rocket fuel that allowed humble domestiques to big ring up major alpine passes.
Why am I talking about drugs? There’s a race starting in a few days, people! This is our first Grand Tour, and the picks are worth more points, not to mention that strategy starts to play into things with the chance to swap your picks out on either of the rest days – at a certain point penalty. Remember that points are not accumulated; the standings on the last day of the race are what kinds, so keep the long game in mind.
Any points you win count towards the overall prizes plus the winner of this event also gets to post for the rest of the year in the pink jersey badge. So check the start list, review the VSP Grand Tour Scoring Guidelines and get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on Friday, May 9th. If you think we mapped one of your picks wrong, use the dispute system and we’ll review it. Also remember to be precise enough in your description so we know which rider you mean; in other words, if you enter “Martin”, we will use our discretion (read: wild guess) to decide if you mean Tony or Dan – and that choice will not be negotiable once the the countdown clock goes to zero. There has also been a recent scourge of people putting a rider in more than one place. Two words: Piti Principle, people! Don’t make me do a bunch of extra programming to keep you from being allowed to submit such an obviously unsportsmanlike set of picks. We will mercilessly clear out all your entries should we find you have attempted this.
Also don’t forget we’ve got three major prizes for the season-long VSP:
- First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
- Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
- Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.
Good luck, have fun with it, and don’t lose your Rule #43 spirit.
[vsp_results id=”29781″/]
@KW
well fuck, that leaves just 2 of my 5 picks in contention.
@Buck Rogers
Having the strength of character to be able to adjust your strategy as facts on the ground change is a sign of great maturity. Holding to your position regardless of changing circumstances is a sign of a constrained mind.
Take THAT!
@frank I take it you had both Martin & J-Rod then?
@frank
Huh??? Lost me there, Mate!
Oh, and by the way, chapeau to Matthews. Nice to see someone taking a (perhaps) once in a lifetime opportunity (pink jersey) and getting stuck in. No cruising around knowing that it’s great to have and that he’ll likely lose it, but taking a page out of the Tommy Voeckler playbook and saying to everyone else” You want it? Come and take it!” The man will ride himself into the ground to keep the pink.
@wiscot
Great quote from Cuddles teammate on cyclingnews site:
“We knew that it would be very dangerous, we knew that there was the roundabout coming up where a lot of riders would be braking and we were telling our riders every minute to stay in front and not to give up their positions,” Piva said. “I’m sure the other teams were doing that too, but we just had that bit of luck. Joaquim Rodriguez didn’t have it, Uran fell, a lot of leaders fell but that’s the race. I can’t say much more.”
Ah when the rest of the internet is spitting feathers, knew I could read some comments on here that make more sense.
I’m led to believe that waiting for crashes and mechanicals was never a given years back? It’s a nice and sporting thing to do in certain circumstances, but what if they eased up every time there was a crash in say, the classics? There’d be no point watching. Giro’s already had one go-slow anyway.
The worst thing about it though is I don’t have cuddles in my top 5.
Incidentally I went to watch La Vuelta a while back. That day Cuddles punctured. Valverde pushed on and put minutes into him. I think I was so annoyed just because it was Valverde. (a few years later he had a right hissy-fit when he crashed and teams didn’t wait, calling it ‘anti-sporting’ – non sporting! Valverde! ha ha ha)
@Rhodri
Good point my man. That particular incident was Cuddles getting shafted by Valmerde and the race organizers. Kinda like Miller getting fucked in the 80s. In this day and age, not to have someone in your team do very detailed route reconnaisance is professional negligence. As a DS, it’s your job to make sure your riders know any potential hazards are in the race and as a rider it’s your job to take that knowledge and apply it. BMC did that better than anyone today.
Oh and by the way, watch the last kilo of today’s stage. Cuddles on the front virtually the whole way. NEVER looked back, NEVER flicked an elbow. He just looked straight ahead and rode to gain time. Matthews wheel sucked, but hey, he likely knows he’s not going to win this thing so what did he have to gain by taking a turn?. Cuddles knew what the score was and did the business.
@wiscot
For my own picks this sucks. For the sake of the race it still ducks for Rodriguez, but it’s not so bad overall. In the relatively short amount of time I have followed the Pros, a very short time compared to many of you, I have been bothered by this idea of waiting for a rival to finish a wheel change our get back on after a crash. I think its nice, but when are races ever nice? There is only one winner.
2 EVANS CadelBMC Racing Team0:21
3 URAN RigobertoOmega Pharma – Quick-Step1:18
@wiscot I think he knew Mathews would beat him in a sprint and hoped to ride him off his wheel. Ballsy stuff. Chapeau!
@wiscot
but more likely…being the old pro that he is, he probably just wanted to put time in to the GC contenders…however there was a shake of the head and he did look a bit pissed of at the line…I guess he will look back on the day and smile sweetly in the end..
@Deakus
Yeah, I agree. But that’s how races are won – a few seconds here, a few seconds there. It adds up. I have to say Cuddles opened the door for Matthews to take the win: if he had stuck to the inside of the last curve, Matthews would have to have come around him on his right – as it was, Cuddles moved right and Matthews came through on his left – the shorter route to the line.
Christ , 3 Katusha riders out
Vicioso – leg fracture
Caruso – bruising
Purito – rib and thumb fractures
Jeez, VSP knackered. No gain in rest day swaps, I’ll need to reshuffle everything!
@wiscot I saw that and wondered….but he knows his stuff…I think he was cooked and the shake of the head was one of resigned capitulation not pissed off that he lost, he would have loved to have won the stage but the GC prize is greater than a stage win and he played it bang on. I suspect he knew he could not win the stage (still pissed him off). He dragged them to the line and then got stuffed. As you know, that is cycling, it is a tough world but he will be happy in his bed tonight
OMG I have podiumed in the VSP….Won’t last long with 2 of my 5 out….[shakes fist at weather god] damn you rain….
@wiscot That’s what I thought, almost like he gifted it to Matthews on the line by swinging out on the last corner. It was like Cuddles led Bling out for the win…
2 out of 5 picks are DNF. This is going well.
@therealpeel
Actually, ever since I have followed pro racing and from what know of cycling protocol, it does dictate that one should wait out a mechanical in a race leader or top contender but not a crash. This was why there was such outrage when Cuntador attacked with A Schleck’s mechanical and causing the ever-so-small belly full of anger and also why Cuddles and so many others were so upset when Malmerde attacked after he punctured and the wheel change took so long in the Vuelta. Those were classless and base acts in attacking a misfortune outside of the riders control. Crashes, on the other hand, almost always only catch out those who are poorly positioned.
Just my two cents (and probably worth about half of that!).
@Deakus
My suspicion would be that not unlike the tour in 2011, Cadel will be happy to be near the top & taking time off his rivals without having the pressure of riding in pink. It means his guys can focus on protecting him when necessary & not having to drive the bunch to bring back the break each day.
@Deakus
Correct, bigger fish to fry later on !
@Mikael Liddy
Hmm, he’s gonna have to watch he doesn’t cook his legs with all the climbing to come. Seem to remember him holding Nibbles, then struggling in the last few days last year. Better limit his time on the front! Maybe the DS was in his ear about Uran and Quint being back in the bunch…
All Evans was thinking on the way up was,
“Fuck me, so this is what it’s like to have teammates on a hill!”
He should get the lead on Saturday, and I imagine he will be very keen to offload it to someone in an unthreatening break on Tuesday.
@Marcus
Agree. Although – where was Smiling Sammy Sanchez? I’d love him to be in the mix but he’s largely MIA so far. Saving his legs?
It would have done Cuddles no harm overall if he “allowed” Matthews to take the win. Orica likely don’t have a genuine GC contender and as we all know, favors are granted an repaid in pro cycling. Maybe Cuddles was putting something in the bank for later on? Also, he knows he’s not riding the Tour this year so he has no reason to hold an ounce of energy back. Let’s face it, I’m sure Orica would prefer to see an Aussie win than a Columbian . . . .
@PT
He did an interview. It seems like he has spent almost as much time off the bike as on it!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/samuel-sanchez/im-amazed-i-didnt-break-anything
Stage 7 — 5 men off the front with 1min 10sec at 10 k
Big sprint today — gap is 20′ at 5k
Nice.
@wiscot
Possibly, but what is so great about the Giro is that there are the bonus times for finishing order. I cannot imagine that Cuddles, as savvy as he is, would ever let 5 or 10 seconds that are available be passed up if at all possible. He was dragging everyone to the line b/c he knew that he was gaining time on the GC rivals. I am sure that he would have won the stage as well if he could of and more power to him for it!
Is it just me, or does anyone else have a new favorite rider in the maglia rosa, Matthews. In pink, wins a stage, 4th in today’s sprint. He is everywhere.
@Erik
Gutsy rides but let’s see where he is on Sunday night. Cannot wait for tomorrow and Sundays stages!!!
@Buck Rogers
I don’t really expect him to survive the weekend, but he is making hay while the sun shines (in the rain, so to speak).
Chapeau to Evans, I say. He kept himself out of trouble, the race was already on, so he just stayed upright and stayed on it. It’s not like the pace was slack and he attacked after seeing the crash. No-one likes seeing crashes and injured riders, but then I don’t remember anyone criticising Faboo or Vanmarcke for not waiting for Stybar in P-R last year.
I had Martin & Purito 4 & 5, but my top three are looking good so far. Long way to go yet, can’t win it in the first week.
@Buck Rogers
When the race starts seriously going up and Evans is ahead it means he can be defensive and cover attacks as opposed to having the pressure of having to attack. Of course either position can suck depending on how one feels when the attacks start… But if he is still feeling good then cover and counter attack. I think that’s where I’d like to be (in my fantasy Giro) going into this weekend.
On the subject of Sanchez not being seen at the front, I wonder if crashes aside he is riding into form? Going in to a long race rested but not peaking the first week can be the spring board to that form and he says that Evans is in great form, does that imply that he is still getting there?
I can’t stand Evans, the way he rides or his personality. I’ve given him a chance and tried to find something to like about him but I can’t. He leaves me cold.
I hope the race improves and there is a fight to win, however I think its going to be Evans grinding out his lead over the other GC’s for the next two weeks. If that happens I’ll switch off.
@norm
Don’t you like the way Evans tilts his head when he’s laying down the V? You’re right though–that’s about as much personality as you’re going to get. He’s a good grinder and that’s the kind of race this is. But it’s the Giro. Many more unpredictable things will happen. You never know: Good Cadel may have some bad days and bingo…Uran, Basso, Scarponi, or Pozz can take advantage. Looking forward to the weekend.
Well I’ll be damned. I never thought I’d see the day when I darkened the top step of the VSP podium. I’m sure it will be fleeting, but I’ll enjoy it for now.
In other race news, I went to the start of today’s Tour of California stage and scrutinized the bikes and got a good look at some of the riders warming up. I had a brief chat with Brian Holm, who was very friendly. I know that it’s part of their job, but I was impressed by how patient the riders were with the fans right before the start of a stage. The funniest thing that I saw was Cavendish being mobbed outside the team camper and politely telling the fans that he had to go or he would be late to the start. I walked to the start and sure enough, I watched the peleton roll out and then Cavendish appeared about 20 seconds later all by himself off the back.
Gutted for Arredondo and Rolland – that was cruel.
WTF was Pozzovivo doing? His team rode their hearts out to get to the last 5 km and then… he sat in. Uncomfortable silence in the team bus I suspect.
I really thought Rolland was gonna have the stage win.
@ChrisO Arredondo is the most exciting rider Trek has in the quiver right now. he like to attack.
What a nail-biter. That almost killed me watching! Rolland is a beautiful bike rider; possibly becoming my new favorite rider.
Big changes in the provisional standings with @Mikael Liddy taking a comfortable lead!
@norm
you sound like the kind of guy who would step on his dog
Anyone know if the Giro’s got much of a publicity caravan?
@Rhodri An eight-day Giro festival, Get on yer Bike!, celebrated the Giro d’Italia from 3-11 May 2014. girostart2014.com
FUCK! And there goes Scarponi-face. Two of my top Five are dead in the water. What an unexpected (at least for me) shake up!
@Buck Rogers Rest day swap! Go on, deep down, you know you really want to. Just a couple of little ones to start with. You’ll feel dirty at first but you’ll get used to it. You’ll begin to believe yourself when you say it’s OK ’cause everyone else does it. How bad can it be, its not hurting anyone…
Can I get some clarification for swaps? I’ve got Purito at P1, so he has to go, obviously. But if bring in someone like Majka, I’m not going to put him in P1. Will I get dinged for each name I move up the list in addition to the Purito swap? So if I were to put him in P4, and then move 2-4 each up a spot, does that cost me 20 pts?
@Stephen That’s the way it has worked in the past and I assume still stands.
You swap out Purito in Position 1 for Majka – one penalty.
Swap Majka and Quintana between Positions 1 and 3 – further penalty.
It ain’t wurf it…