Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2016

Laurent Fignon - Giro

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for the Giro, 2016, starting in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands and finishing in Torino, Italy. Here is a provisional start list. The riders make the race so it should be fantastic racing, a race up the whole of the country, for three weeks, what’s not to love? The Giro usually has a crazy stage and we are unsure what this year’s edition holds in that category, maybe more racing at night, or on dirt, bring it on. The Shark, Landa, Malmerde, Uran Uran, even Red Ryder, and more, each have a decent shot at the over all.

We all know the drill, this race starts on Friday so keep your delgado monkey on a tight leash. Consult your personal oracles; there are bike frames, carbon wheels, V-kit and more for the winners of the season-long overall VSP. Further details can be found on the VSP page. Bon chance.

[vsp_results id=”42800″/]

The Keepers

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View Comments

Buck Rogers says:

May 20 2016 at 10:08 am

@Oli

@dinosaurJR

You going to let anyone tell you how to do your job?

It’s all about Worlds and/or Olympics for these guys – what’s the point in dragging themselves over all those mountains and tiring themselves out unnecessarily with little to no chance of further stage wins when they can ease off and fight battles they can win later in the season? They’re just going to get eliminated anyway, most likely…Worlds in particular will be a race for the pure sprinter for the first time since Copenhagen so good luck to them, I reckon.

Oh come on, Oli!!! You know that your statement makes way too much sense but misses the Heart of the Matter by a fucking mile! We're not here to discuss logic and they science and sense of pro racing, we;'re here for the mythos of it all.

(jeesh, if Oli isn't correcting horrible grammar then he is being too logical--maybe he's our version of Spock on the V site???)

@chris

@MangoDave

I can’t agree with the proposed Rule, though. It’s completely unenforceable. I would be way too easy to fake an injury or illness. And, as @Oli said, they would probably (certainly) be eliminated in the mountains. “Sorry mates, just had a jour sans and couldn’t make the time cut-off. Guess I’ll pack my bags and go home.”

Logic and rational thought have no place here.

If their stage wins are forfeit they’ll make it over the Cols, or their teammates will drag them over for the point.

The level of injury required for an exemption will require x-Ray’s showing visible separationor limbs dangling off and illnesses would be of a nature that require isolation. In short riding a grand tour would be preferable to faking ones way out of

Right there with you, Mate!
ChrisO says:

May 20 2016 at 10:24 am

@chris

@Buck Rogers

@dinosaurJR

@sthilzy

Same thought train as you! Enter race to finish race, unless injury takes you out. Refer to Rule #70

Good knowledge of The Rules there. Injury, crowd barrier, well meaning but over zealous spectators, poorly piloted motor vehicles, acts of God, acts of Dog, etc.

Acts of Frahnk?

But Rule #70 does not really cover this. The sprinters are there to win sprints. So, one could argue that they are honouring Rule #70 b/c they are only there to win stages and if the race does not have sprint stages left, why continue to ride.

Now I do not believe this, I think that they should honour the race by continuing until the end, but I am sure that is the thought process.

This could be wrapped up in the same rule that outlaws rest day swaps:

Rule #95 // Any rider, whether real or virtual, picked to ride a Grand Tour shall be expected to finish barring serious injury or other medical condition.

Failure to complete a Grand Tour in lesser circumstances shall result in any stage wins being struck from the record books and automatic ineligibility for the next edition of the Grand Tour in question. Teams, real or virtual, allowing a rider to retire during a Grand Tour shall receive no World Tour or VSP points for that Grand Tour.

Messrs Thomas, ten Dam and Hoogerland will be the final arbiters of whether an injury or illness qualifies for exemption

Absolutely. If any of us is selected to ride a Grand Tour we should totally be ashamed to pull out after contesting a few sprints in the first week.
Oli says:

May 20 2016 at 8:12 pm

@Teocalli

[pedantic]Upon further research I've found that Cipollini last won the Giro's points jersey in 2002, so towards the end of his Grand Tour career.[/pedantic]
Teocalli says:

May 21 2016 at 12:58 am

@Oli

OK! The Saeco train was quite a sight I have to admit.
Teocalli says:

May 22 2016 at 2:43 am

Hate to ruin some folks' day but Hesjedal isn't going to make a 3rd week comeback.
Rusty Gramm says:

May 22 2016 at 5:05 pm
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. nibali
2. Valverde
3. Zakarin
4. Chaves
5. Majka
oldensteel says:

May 22 2016 at 7:53 pm
You guys are on it!

VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Esteban Chaves
2. Nibali
3. Pozzovivo
4. Uran
5. Fuglsang
BarTapeMummy says:

May 22 2016 at 9:08 pm
VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nibali, Vincenzo
2. Chaves, Esteban
3. Majka, Rafal
4. Uran, Rigoberto
5. Kruijswijk, Steven
BarTapeMummy says:

May 22 2016 at 9:16 pm

Fellow velominati, can I please seek some clarification on the rules around rest day swaps: I was under the impression that swapping out DNF/DNS riders carries no penalty, yet I got slapped with 20 points for swapping out Landa and Dumolin. Am I in the wrong?
piwakawaka says:

May 22 2016 at 9:48 pm
Kruiswijk for Dumoulin.

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.

and one this site unless you are Dutch you are always wrong.

VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. KRUIJSWIJK
2. Mikel Landa Meana
3. Vincenzo Nibali
4. Rigoberto Uran
5. Johan Esteban Chaves Rubio