Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile 2012

Marianne Vos in the pink.   photo©Bart Hazen

It seems a disservice to start the Women’s Giro right before the Tour de France. Even at Velominati’s main bunker HQ, the new TdF VSP sponsorship excitement has overshadowed this race. But at least it is starting (the race and the VSP), nine stages, a time trial, some sprinting, some climbing and some serious transfers. The race starts in Napoli, the next day Roma, the next day Toscana, you get the idea. It could have started in Denmark so this is better, transfer-wise. Women racing through Italy, what’s not to like?

Judith Arndt (Orica-AIS) appears to be a juggernaut of pain dispensing femininity. She gets to wear her national champion kit for both the road races and the time trial. Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-Lululemon) has been training with the big boys in Boulder, Colorado. Marianne Vos (Rabobank) is back, healed and ready to defend. She might be just off her form enough to make this all very interesting. This Giro seems like ideal preparation for the Olympic road race and there is no good reason not to go full gas. There is plenty of time to recover, unlike the TdF, so the women can hold nothing back here and be ready to rock in London.

The start list here, time is short so make your picks right now. This race starts on Friday. Daily coverage will be available via raisports for those who either need even more cycling in their daily lives or who find men in lycra riding around France and Belgium distasteful.

 

Gianni

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  • @frank

    Man, did she ever.

    Those socks make her look like she's wearing boots. Not a fan of that look at all.

  • Lady Giro results - Vos still in pink. No change in the VSP despite a change in the top V.

    Provisional Race Results

    1. VOS Marianne
    2. STEVENS Evelyn
    3. POOLEY Emma
    4. LUPERINI Fabiana
    5. CROMWELL Tiffany

    Provisional VSP Standings

    1. Nosyt (20 points)
    2. Skinnyphat (20 points)
    3. RedRanger (19 points)
    4. Fausto (19 points)
    5. Belgian Cobblestones (19 points)
    6. Blah (19 points)
    7. tony macaroni (17 points)
    8. Trobs (17 points)
    9. seemunkee (17 points)
    10. the Engine (14 points)
    11. Chappy McPappystackings (14 points)
    12. razmaspaz (14 points)
    13. Tobin (14 points)
    14. Erik (14 points)
    15. dancollins (14 points)
    16. gaswepass (14 points)
    17. Ankush (12 points)
    18. noiyce (12 points)
    19. Marko (12 points)
    20. Flying Crowbar (12 points)
    21. eightzero (12 points)
    22. LA Dave (12 points)
    23. blue (12 points)
    24. Ron (12 points)
    25. Lepidopterist (12 points)
    26. calves (12 points)
    27. el gato (12 points)
    28. Azzurri Tim (12 points)
    29. Skip (12 points)
    30. Oli (11 points)
    31. Adrian (11 points)
    32. sthilzy (11 points)
    33. versio (11 points)
    34. simonsaunders (11 points)
    35. napolinige (10 points)
    36. Lukas (10 points)
    37. itburns (10 points)
    38. Rigid (10 points)
    39. DerHoggz (10 points)
    40. Aidas (9 points)
    41. mouse (9 points)
    42. 936adl (9 points)
    43. Nate (7 points)
    44. Dan_R (7 points)
    45. VeloVita (6 points)
    46. SimonH (6 points)
    47. Bianchi Denti (6 points)
    48. The Oracle (6 points)
    49. scaler911 (6 points)
    50. San Tonio (6 points)
    51. Heihachi (6 points)
    52. Mikael Liddy (6 points)
    53. graham d.m. (6 points)
    54. TOM.NELS2120 (6 points)
    55. sprider (6 points)
    56. Simon (6 points)
    57. Marcus (6 points)
    58. brett (5 points)
    59. Deakus (4 points)
    60. taon24 (4 points)
    61. harminator (4 points)
    62. Giles (4 points)
    63. Two Ball Billy (4 points)
    64. Cyclops (4 points)
    65. snoov (4 points)
    66. hammermama (4 points)
    67. Gianni (4 points)
    68. R00tdown (2 points)
    69. il ciclista medio (2 points)
    70. King Clydesdale (2 points)
    71. frank (2 points)
    72. Chris (2 points)
    73. Sauterelle (2 points)
    74. meursault (0 points)

  • Really interesting to have three big solo breakaway wins in the women's Giro. First Evelyn Stevens with 3.35, then Vos with 2.45 and last night Tiffany Cromwell won solo taking 8.33!

    Seeing the womens race at Flèche Wallone this year was really cool. Some pics below to show their V and put some names to faces...

    Mur de Huy 200m to go - Stevens leads Vos final lap. Vos overtook, Stevens regained to win. No love lost...

    Clara Hughes wins bike races and speed skating races. 8th at La Flèche.

    Judith Arndt finished 6th but wins because she's the only rider all day to climb the Mur in the drops - man or woman.

    Tiffany Cromwell finished 17th.

    Claudia Hausler is not related to Heinrich thanks Brett. Finished 34th.

    Me and Mrs Harminator with the Greenedge riders L-R Cromwell, Hausler, Loes Gunnewijk, Amanda Spratt, Arndt

    The Mur is a lovely beast. My turn on the steepest ramp. 39x27 inhaling wasps.

    Reward for effort. Sorry - got a bit sidetracked. Fuck I wish I was back in Belgium.

  • @Harminator kudos to Mrs Harminator for blending in with the very Euro puffy jacket.

    I love how we're debating the merits of how a guy fucking celebrates decimating a top class field in one thread & at the same time completely ignoring the fact that one of the women absolutely crushed her top class field for over 100k's to win the stage last night...so much so that it didn't even rate a mention in Frank's report*.

    *This could well be down to the fact that it kinda ruins his theory on Aussies & catching wind in races.

  • @Harminator "Claudia Hausler is not related to Heinrich thanks Brett."

    Right, next you'll be telling me Kristen Armstrong isn't Lance's ex!

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