Velominati Super Prestige: Giro Stage 9, Mt. Etna

There will be fireworks

There will be fireworks. It’s a phrase we often use, and one we rarely take literally. But this photo shows Mount Etna. Actually erupting. Recently. There is a non-zero chance that it will erupt tomorrow, when the Giro d’Italia riders over this brute twice.

Tomorrow’s stage will be the first real battleground for this year’s Giro, and we expect there to be fireworks. Possibly literally. And figuratively. Get your picks in by 5am Pacific time tomorrow for a chance to grab a few extra points in the VSP.

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.

Next The Experienced Mr. Hincapie »

Previous « Look Pro, Part VII: Sur la Plaque, Part Deux

View Comments

Collin says:

May 15 2011 at 7:50 am

Cracked again! Buh-bye Scarponi. But Nibbles didn't do ANYTHING to respond. Come on mna, this is your mountain.
pakrat says:

May 15 2011 at 7:52 am

A little red meat seems to go a long way.
ChrisO says:

May 15 2011 at 7:52 am

I may have to change my opinion of Contador... he does show some guts, rather than sitting and waiting.
pakrat says:

May 15 2011 at 8:03 am

Great stage!
Ron says:

May 15 2011 at 8:07 am

The photo of the BMC dude checking out the ladies is awesome!

I went to Italy to play soccer when I was younger and we dedicated a significant portion of the trip to buying racy magazines in as many shops as we could find. In the U.S. we'd have been kicked out of the store; in Italy they didn't bat an eye. My love for Italy was forged then and there.
Mikeweb says:

May 15 2011 at 8:09 am

Damn!! missed getting picks in.

Well, well. Frandy have to be sitting somewhere watching this today saying, "Ach. SheiÃŸe."
mcsqueak says:

May 15 2011 at 8:12 am

@Cyclops

Nice cyclops! Not too much longer until we get a podium out of you, methinks.
Mikeweb says:

May 15 2011 at 8:15 am

@Cyclops
Very well done! Congratulations!
mcsqueak says:

May 15 2011 at 8:16 am

@pakrat

Indeed, worth getting up really early for. Too bad I could only get the Italian feed to work. The video quality was pretty good, but I would have liked to understand the commentary!
frank says:

May 15 2011 at 8:41 am

@all
Please don't dispute your picks until I've posted the results. There is a bug, and I'm working on it, so settle down, have a glass of warm milk, and relax.