Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia, Stage 20

Col de Finestre

The fact that the Giro’s penultimate stage finishes atop the storied climb to Sestrieres is secondary to the fact that it goes over the Col de Finestre just previous to it. The Finestre is one of those fantastic climbs that seems to walk the line between “road” and “goat path” that all the best rides in the world seem to do.

Steep? Check. Hairpins? Check. Technical descent? Check. Gravel? You bet your sweet ass. Nibali is about as likely to win this Giro as the Spanish Cycling Federation is to levy a sanction against one of their star athletes, but that won’t keep me from hoping he will. The Finestre represents his best opportunity to pull the cat out of the bag as the trip down the gravel descent will play into his strengths. The bad news is that even with a masterful descent, only mechanical or some other such hardship befalling the riders ahead of him in the Classification will see him gain enough time to take a step or two up the podium, and even I don’t want to see something like that happening to Bertie.

So with that, we’re firing up the last intermediate VSP for this year’s Giro. Get your picks in by 5am Pacific tomorrow morning for the chance to win 3, 2, or 1 points for the podium spots, and 1 point for 4th and 5th places. Good luck.

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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View Comments

Ron says:

May 27 2011 at 9:35 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. S. Garzelli
2. Contador
3. Nibali
4. Rujano
5. Gadret
Nate says:

May 27 2011 at 9:38 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. The Great Sicilian Hope
2. Judas Gadret
3. Clenbutodor
4. Scarface
5. Purito
Ankush says:

May 27 2011 at 10:07 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Gadret
4. Scarponi
5. Kreuziger
Scuba Steve says:

May 27 2011 at 10:24 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Contadoe
2. Go Go Gadret
3. Nibali
4. JosÃ© Rujano
5. Menchov
frank says:

May 27 2011 at 10:37 pm

I simply won't name Bertie in my picks. Just won't do it. I feel much better putting Pedale in there, especially considering he'll be chatting with Moser later on and I can just imagine him saying, "You know who's a good chap? Frank. He put me in his VSP Picks." And then Moser would say, "Dude, that is straight DOPE. I been hopin' he be puttin' me in his pizzizzles but DAYUM - YOU DUNNIT. STRAIGHT. STRAIGHT." *Shakes head in disbelief*

VSP PICKS:

1. Garggles
2. Pedale.Forchetta
3. Nibbles
4. Rujano
5. Purito
Alex says:

May 28 2011 at 12:16 am

Here's hoping for some magical, mystical mountain-top redemption, gram slam, attacking, balls-out action! Go Nibbles!!!! (going with my heart not my head for the first time).
Will be live on SBS in Australia - Yay

VSP PICKS:

1. NIBALI
2. Contador
3. Rujano
4. Gadret
5. Scarponi
TomC says:

May 28 2011 at 12:32 am

A good selection of climbers showing their prowess with contador proving that he is the best of the best after gifting a few stages to others. Nibali will descend well and give contador a go with scarponi desperate to save some seconds.

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Rujano
4. Scarponi
5. Gadret
il ciclista medio says:

May 28 2011 at 12:49 am

Again, I refuse to name a certain current leader of the Giro as a selection. Call me crazy but Lo Sceriffo comes in the top 5 along with Pedale (thanks frank!). Great shot of the two, arms linked, taken on the OiPhone by Pedale as they cross the line together. This then becomes a topic for anatomy of a photo at a later date.

VSP PICKS:

1. Niblets
2. Rom Kruez
3. Scarface
4. Munchoff
5. Lo Sceriffo/Pedale
Mikael Liddy says:

May 28 2011 at 12:50 am

Hate having Conbutador in there but just can't see it not happening...really hope Nibbles nails the descent & gets past Scarface.

VSP PICKS:

1. Cont of the Highest Order
2. Nibbles
3. Rujano
4. Scarface
5. Gazza
Andreas says:

May 28 2011 at 1:05 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Gadret
3. Scarponi
4. Rujano
5. Anton