Velominati Super Prestige

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.

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67 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia, Stage 20”

  1. All my picks except Contador are falling apart. But Gadret is coming up strong. I’m tempted to say Rujano. I don’t know.

    I’d like to see someone put the fight to Contador. The race for second is less exciting.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Garzelli
    3. Nibali
    4. Scarponi
    5. Gadret

  2. I’m glad the Giro is almost over. The top result has been in the bag for loooong time now. I hope that Nibali can leapfrog Scarponi on GC though, he’s a classy rider and as a random aside, looks a lot like Vinny from Jersey Shore.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Nibali
    3. J Rodriguez
    4. Scarponi
    5. Menchov

  4. I’m trying to decide whether Nibali tries to close on Scarponi on Saturday or whether he just waits for the TT. Or maybe both. Regardless of how this finishes, I hope he lets it all go on the way down le Finestre. There are few things more beautiful in this sport than watching Nibali open it up on a descent.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Nibali
    3. Rodriguez
    4. Scarponi
    5. Gadret

  7. I need Nibs to leapfrog Scarponi and for J-Rod and SPQR to get into the top 5. I’ve lost hope for Kreuzinger, but I think Rodriguez can still do it. So I should be using this stage to hedge my overall picks… but, not gonna do it.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Clentador
    2. Garzelli
    3. Nibali
    4. J-Rod
    5. Scarponi

  10. Ah, a chance to make up some points after screwing the pooch on my 2nd rest day picks. I think I have the strategy figured out for rest day changes now based on points on offer vs penalties. Rujano showed some weakness today, but I think he’ll be back tomorrow, but no more favours from Steak-boy in these final stages.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. El Steakelero
    2. Rujano
    3. Nibbles
    4. Gadret
    5. Nieve

  11. Laugh all you want about Steven Kruiswijk, but bet your sorry ass he’s going to finish top 10 in the GC this Giro.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali
    2. Contador
    3. Scarponi
    4. Kruiswijk
    5. Kreuziger

  15. VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Nibbles
    3. Scarponi
    4. Gadret
    5. Rodriguez

  17. Grrr frisian iPhone – sorry for the half post above!

    I’d love to see someone beat Clenbutador here but let’s face it, he’s owned everyones asses up these climbs! I need nibbles to put time into scarponi though and I’m hoping he goes all out on the descent on this one.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Clenbutador
    2. Nibbles
    3. Scarface scarponi
    4. Gadret
    5. J rod

  18. Grrr frisian iPhone – sorry for the half post above!

    I’d love to see someone beat Clenbutador here but let’s face it, he’s owned everyones asses up these climbs! I need nibbles to put time into scarponi though and I’m hoping he goes all out on the descent on this one.

  19. Why not? I will one again miss an awesome stage.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali
    2. Gadret
    3. Conatador
    4. Menchove
    5. Scarponi

  23. VSP PICKS:

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

  26. Daddy needs a maglia rosa

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Scarponi
    2. Contador
    3. Nibali
    4. J-Rod
    5. Igor

  27. I was told I was not in the pink anymore, but it sure looks like it to me.

  28. 1. Nibbles is going to at least go for a stage win.
    2. COTHOdor won’t let him get too far.
    3. The Pocket Grimpeur will be there.
    4. Scared Pony moves a podium spot DOWN
    5. Silent Dennis gives it a go.

  30. VSP Picks.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. contador
    2. Gadret
    3. Anton
    4. Nibali
    5. Scarponi

  33. @sgt
    You figure Scarponi is going to loop back around after crossing the line in 2nd and finish 5th? You’d rack up some good points if that happened.

  34. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali (got my fingers crossed)
    2. Matador of the highest order
    3. Scarponi
    4. Popovich (1 for the old guys)
    5. Menchov

  35. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbles Will Be Ballsy
    2. Odor
    3. Scary Pony
    4. Rock ’em Rodreeeeeeeegaz
    5. Judas

  36. VSP PICKS:

    1. Where’s the Beef?
    2. Nibbles
    3. Scar-face
    4. Silent Assassin
    5. J-Rod

  38. Not really comfortable with these picks… but can’t pick against Contador.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Scarponi
    3. Nibali
    4. Rujano
    5. Menchov

  45. 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

  46. 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

  47. 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

  48. 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

  49. 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

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