Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2017

Vincenzo Nibali won the Giro going downhill.

I spy with my little eye a certain Michele Scarponi, who sadly lost his life while out training near his home two weeks ago, in there amongst his teammates after his captain, Nibbles, won the race. I’m torn about a death like Michele’s – we subject ourselves to similar risks every time we climb aboard our bikes and we accept it as part and parcel of our craft. Yet, while every day members of our tribe lose their lives to their trade, it takes a high profile rider to remind us how real that risk is.

But onto lighter topics, Nibali won the Giro last year going downhill, and it happened on the one stage I managed to sleep through which is another way of saying I missed it. But I love waking up to a that WTF feeling only a reshuffled GS can give you.

The race starts Friday morning, which is sooner than I expected, so I’ll stop typing so you can start picking. Get them in by the time the clock goes to zero, and remember that our Grand Tour scoring rules are a little different than the smaller events. So jump on that start list and get prognosticating!

Good luck!

[vsp_results id=”104353″/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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RobSandy says:

May 18 2017 at 3:02 am

@ChrisO

@Rick

Possibly but I think he’ll more than reclaim that with his aero advantage.

I did a little experiment of my own last week on our club TT course. I’d done it the week before on my road bike with 60mm wheels and normal kit and clocked 32:36 on a 12.7 mile ‘sporting’ course at an average (normalised) of 332 watts.

The following week I did it on full TT rig, pointy helmet, speed suit, shoe covers and all and clocked 31:20 despite my normalised power being 319 watts. And I’m not a super-aero rider either.

So someone with a good position like Dumoulin who can stay in it the whole time could probably pick up a couple of percent advantage before power even comes into it.

I agree with you Chris and I think that last TT is a problem for Quintana. Could be worth, what, a minute to TD? So Quintana needs to attack on most mountain stages to claw back his time deficit and then build up a buffer. It could end up being very close. Or, if yesterday is anything to go by, Tom could stick to him like glue and it could be all over before they even get to that last TT.

I'm riding a TT tonight on my favourite (flattest) course. It'll be the first time I've ridden this course with my aero helmet and skinsuit. I also think I've added about 30w to my FTP since then. And it looks like good conditions. My time last July was 22:42. Bets for my time tonight?
wiscot says:

May 18 2017 at 5:42 am

@RobSandy

@ChrisO

@Rick

Possibly but I think he’ll more than reclaim that with his aero advantage.

I did a little experiment of my own last week on our club TT course. I’d done it the week before on my road bike with 60mm wheels and normal kit and clocked 32:36 on a 12.7 mile ‘sporting’ course at an average (normalised) of 332 watts.

The following week I did it on full TT rig, pointy helmet, speed suit, shoe covers and all and clocked 31:20 despite my normalised power being 319 watts. And I’m not a super-aero rider either.

So someone with a good position like Dumoulin who can stay in it the whole time could probably pick up a couple of percent advantage before power even comes into it.

I agree with you Chris and I think that last TT is a problem for Quintana. Could be worth, what, a minute to TD? So Quintana needs to attack on most mountain stages to claw back his time deficit and then build up a buffer. It could end up being very close. Or, if yesterday is anything to go by, Tom could stick to him like glue and it could be all over before they even get to that last TT.

I’m riding a TT tonight on my favourite (flattest) course. It’ll be the first time I’ve ridden this course with my aero helmet and skinsuit. I also think I’ve added about 30w to my FTP since then. And it looks like good conditions. My time last July was 22:42. Bets for my time tonight?

I'll offer 22:18. Good luck! (I assume it's a 10?)
Teocalli says:

May 19 2017 at 1:36 am

GT pulled out this morning.
RobSandy says:

May 19 2017 at 3:22 am

@Teocalli

GT pulled out this morning.

I noticed a reference to him losing time yesterday as well, was that more then the 6 seconds that some of the GC contenders lost due to the split in the peloton?

Bloke must be gutted. And angry!

Still don't think it's worth swapping him out, VSP-wise. I'd have to pick the 3rd placed rider exactly to break even for the swap. I'll settle for zero.
Erik says:

May 19 2017 at 6:59 am

Can we all take a moment and say, "Thank you, Tom Dumoulin, thank you, for not decking yourself out in a full pink outfit and bike. Thank you. Wear the jersey. Do your job. Thank you."
Teocalli says:

May 19 2017 at 7:05 am

@Erik

Can we all take a moment and say, “Thank you, Tom Dumoulin, thank you, for not decking yourself out in a full pink outfit and bike. Thank you. Wear the jersey. Do your job. Thank you.”

Good point, well put.
KogaLover says:

May 19 2017 at 8:29 am
@Erik

Can we all take a moment and say, “Thank you, Tom Dumoulin, thank you, for not decking yourself out in a full pink outfit and bike. Thank you. Wear the jersey. Do your job. Thank you.”

Which reminds me that I should start thinking about writing an article about another Awesome Dutch guy but the picture below cannot be unseen...

VSP PICKS (2nd Rest Day Swaps):
1. Nairo Quintano
2. Vincenzo Nibali
3. Tom Dumoulin
4. Steven Kruijswijk
5. Geraint Thomas
wiscot says:

May 19 2017 at 9:16 am

@Erik

Can we all take a moment and say, “Thank you, Tom Dumoulin, thank you, for not decking yourself out in a full pink outfit and bike. Thank you. Wear the jersey. Do your job. Thank you.”

Yes indeed. Now all he needs to do is wear a proper cap and he's all set.

Damn, that was some fine sprinting by Gaviria today. Came from way back, saw a gap on the right and shot right through. EQS might have lost Tommeke, but this fine showing in the Giro has to be helping the sponsor relations.
stooge says:

May 20 2017 at 8:05 am

Quite amazing. Heaviest dude of the bunch the fastest up the hill, thrashing specialist climbers. Is he on a seafood diet? I look forward to the next week.
stooge says:

May 20 2017 at 12:05 pm

@wiscot

What was your time?