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

Marcus says:

May 15 2011 at 2:52 pm

Erik:
If I may, I think I should get a credit for John Gadret. He finished 9th, ahead of several favorites. I knew he was a badass at last years TdF when he wouldn't give up his bike to Roche the younger because he was climbing better than the captain and knew it. Watch out for him.

How did you work that one out when Roche was AHEAD of him on the road and asked for Gadret's bike when Gadret rode up to him. All that Gadret proved that day was that he is a shit teammate
Alex says:

May 15 2011 at 3:55 pm

@Marcus
Agree and it wasn't a pleasant bus ride back by all accounts. Still he did ride well last night so props to Eric for the pick.

I'm starting to wonder what J Rod is there to do at this Giro, along with Menchov and Sastre, all over 2 mins back.
sgt says:

May 15 2011 at 4:19 pm

Yo Frank... there's a ghost in the machine... no way I should be in la maglia rosa
Marcus says:

May 15 2011 at 5:42 pm

Maybe a new lexicon entry to describe Bertie's Big Teeth Grimace that he pulls when putting the sword to the rest of the field. Smiling Like A Shark perhaps?
Ron says:

May 15 2011 at 6:08 pm

Oli Brooke-White:
Freaking out about the VSP is not the life of a Velominati - it is the very antithesis of Rule 5!

Oli - as an elder Velominati (meaning you've been one far, far longer than me, not an age-specific descriptor) thank you for that. Spot on!

I had it all wrong; I shall see Rule 5 for my penance.
Oli Brooke-White says:

May 15 2011 at 6:16 pm

Good man, Ron. Remember, ABC - Always Be Cool.
pakrat says:

May 15 2011 at 8:52 pm

Well the Eggtimer used his pull and called off the TOC 1st stage today. He even made the announcement himself to the crowd. At the Giro they ride on an active volcano. Here they call it off for a few snowflakes and some damp roads. You know Der Jens would have finished with a smile on his face. This is why we don't use the TOC for the VSP.
frank says:

May 16 2011 at 6:57 am

@pakrat
...And for anyone still wondering why we don't do a TOC VSP.
frank says:

May 16 2011 at 6:59 am

@Ron

@Oli Brooke-White
Oli, spot on. Except Velominati is plural; Velominatus is singular. Remeber your fake Latin, fermerckxsakes!
frank says:

May 16 2011 at 9:01 am

@joe

Damn man. It's rides like that from Bertie that make me wish I could be convinced he's totally clean, proper attacking pair of tars on him.

It's rides like that that convince me he a doping douchenozzle. Easy to go all-in on a climb like that when you know you're gonna get your blood topped off the next day. "yeah, sure...warm 'er up, ma'am."