Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile 2012
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.
The Lithuanians will let Vos and Pooley on to the podium, but just for shits and giggles ;)
VSP PICKS:
1. Rasa Leleivyte
2. Vos
3. Pooley
4. Cilvinaite
5. Pauliukaite
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Pooley
3. Arndt
4. Emma Johansson
5. Tatiana Guderzo
Having a distinct lack of knowledge of the males, It isn’t going to get any better for the females. I have gone for some names I like the sound of.
VSP PICKS:
1. Baccaile
2. Bronzini
3. Cantele
4. Michal
5. Fiori
VSP PICKS:
1. Stevens
2. Vos
3. Pooley
4. Laws
5. Hausler
first one with a lame dartboard comment is a wankspanner
if you don’t know something- look it up
if you find some good info it is nice to share
e.g podium cafe has some good stuff on the women
VSP PICKS:
1. Arndt
2. Stevens
3. Vos
4. Pooley
5. Hausler
VSP PICKS:
1. Emma Pooley
2. Marianne Vos
3. Judith Arndt
4. Tutiana Guderzo
5. Emma Johnasson
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Gunnewijk
4. Stevens
5. Pooley
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Gunnewijk
4. Rossella Ratto
5. Annemiek van Vleuten
@noiyce
Consider myself told. Stick with my picks though.
VSP PICKS:
1. Arendt
2. Vos
3. Cooke
4. Johansson
5. Tuetenberg
@meursault
noooo, your picks look great
that wasn’t directed at you
VSP PICKS:
1. Arndt
2. Johansson
3. Vos
4. Pooley
5. Hausler
@noiyce
Ok no worries, I did reread my post as I thought it may have been unintentionally sexist. It’s more I just don’t know what I am doing.
VSP PICKS:
1. Arndt
2. Vos
3. Pooley
4. Stevens
5. Gunnewijk
A Cippo’s girl has to top 5!
VSP PICKS:
1. Judith Arndt
2. Marianne Vos
3. Emma Pooley
4. Evelyn Stevens
5. Tatiana Guderzo
I’m guessing Emma Pooley will be saving some matches for the Olympics.
(Picks didn’t post last time?…)
VSP PICKS:
1. Nicole Cooke
2. Judith Arndt
3. Marianne Vos
4. Evelyn Stevens
5. Katrien Van Looy
VSP PICKS:
1. Bronzini
2. Hausler
3. Vos
4. Arndt
5. Pooley
VSP PICKS:
1. Pooley
2. Cooke
3. Stevens
4. Arndt
5. Van Looy
Other than the Olympics, this could be the race to see the ladies going full gas in top form. I’d love to be standing on the side of some lovely road in Italy sipping grappa as they come flying past. Merckx knows standing on the side of the Kwaremont in Belgium sipping Malteni as they rode past was invigorating to see. It’s really too bad Armstrong won’t be in the mix.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Hausler
3. Arndt
4. Cooke
5. Pooley
cant really say this is anything but a stab in the dark.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Pooley
4. Stevens
5. Hausler
VSP PICKS:
1. Arndt
2. Johansson
3. Vos
4. Cooke
5. Bras
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Pooley
4. Cooke
5. Johansson
I did a little research and learned that I know almost nothing about women’s cycling, so I’m going with names I’ve heard before.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Cooke
4. Teutenberg
5. Pooley
Im sticking with safe(ish) picks for this one, mainly due to being away and unable to be research. Should be a good scrap between Vos and Arndt though, hopefully with Pooley in the mix too.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Pooley
4. Stevens
5. Gunnewijk
VSP PICKS:
1. Arndt
2. Vos
3. Stevens
4. Pooley
5. Gunnewijk
VSP PICKS:
1. Stevens
2. Vos
3. Arndt
4. Pooley
5. Johansson
@noiyce
Plus one badge goes to you matey. Nice application of an insult paired to excellent advice.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. TEUTENBERG
3. STEVENS
4. Pooley
5. DE GROOT
You should see if Fizik will kick in one of those clip lights for this race. Would certainly shift over some interest.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Pooley
3. Arndt
4. Cooke
5. Stevens
@razmaspaz
Got one already – seems to have stopped working after one ride but I’d be happy to test a new one…
Let’s see…put Vos first, randomize the other 4 names I recognize…and we’re done.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Stevens
3. Arndt
4. Johannson
5. Pooley
VSP PICKS:
1. Bronzini
2. Vos
3. Arndt
4. Cooke
5. Stevens
VSP PICKS:
1. STEVENS
2. ARNDT
3. POOLEY
4. VOS
5. GUNNEWIJK
So far only one VSP point from the ladies races, this time I’m on the money!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cooke
2. Vos
3. Johannson
4. Arndt
5. Pooley
I want to ride like a girl (these girls that is). What a great sight it would be to see them dancing up climbs that would leave me inhaling wasps.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Hausler
3. Johansson
4. Cantele
5. Berlato
Never thought I would be able to pick Van Looy in a race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Hausler
3. Arndt
4. Cooke
5. Van Looy
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Pooley
3. Guderzo
4. Arndt
5. Stevens
No Evie, thank you. Olympics? Sure. Go team USA, whatever. Show the world how sport in the USA works: buy yourself to the top.
And let the broadsides at @eightzero over this from the velominati commence in 3…2…1…
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. bronzini
3. Arndt
4. Pooley
5. Teutenberg
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Cooke
3. Arndt
4. Teutenberg
5. Stevens
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Pooley
4. Cooke
5. Johansson
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Johansson
4. Pooley
5. Cooke
Hmm, let’s give it a go.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Bronzini
3. Arndt
4. Johansson
5. Stevens
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Pooley
3. Bronzini
4. Cooke
5. Hausler
We’ll see. And seeing as Vos’s bike was stolen, this could all go horribly bad.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Vos
3. Vos
4. Vos
5. Vos
I don’t think that Vos has the guns to do the whole 9 days and end up on the top step. I’ll probably be proven wrong though. It’d be nice to see Stevens follow up on her outstanding ride in Idaho though.
VSP PICKS:
1. Pooley
2. Abbott
3. Vos
4. Johansson
5. Stevens
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Bronzini
3. Pooley
4. Arndt
5. Johansson
VSP PICKS:
1. Heinrich’s sister
2. Mary 5
3. Arndt she grand
4. Who Cantele?
5. Warpdrive
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Pooley