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.

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View Comments

Scuba Steve says:

May 14 2011 at 6:40 pm

I hope cuntador gets swallowed by the volcano! Go Scarface!
Rose City Rolleur says:

May 14 2011 at 6:47 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Scarponi
2. Contador
3. Kreuziger
4. Anton
5. Sastre
CJ says:

May 14 2011 at 6:47 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Contador
3. Anton
4. Scarponi
5. Kreuziger
Ron says:

May 14 2011 at 6:54 pm

Jeez...did they match the skinniest podium girl to the skinniest man in pink? Those two are bean poles. Look at her left arm. Not really a fan of women that PRO cyclist thin.

Alright, I'm being shunned. I guess I'll have to go track down the rules for the VSP. Not sure if this is a chance to redo picks without penalty, or we're just having fun and picking only for tomorrow's stage.
benjamin says:

May 14 2011 at 7:06 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Scarponi
2. Nibali
3. Contador
4. Le Mevel
5. Kreuizger
Collin says:

May 14 2011 at 7:18 pm

Andrew:
Not sure if its too early for the big guns to show, but El Steakelero is so insecure, as demonstrated today, he always seems to feel the need to show others that he can ride his bike fast uphill...

I don't understand Andrew. It's a bike race. If he knows he can get five seconds on the pack precisely because he rides his bike fast uphill, shouldn't he do it?
Collin says:

May 14 2011 at 7:23 pm

Unless Nibali is a lemming of fire and take a detour to the caldera, I see no way he doesn't win this stage. He wants the win baaaadddd. I do see this stage ending in a major selection amongst the big names. The "experts" are saying they'll pull their punches still, but that absolutely won't happen because Nibbles wants the win too much.

I'm anxious to hear what Not Sean Kelly has to say about the situation tomorrow.

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibbles
2. Scarponi
3. The Spanish Steak
4. Le Mevel
5. Munch Off
Collin says:

May 14 2011 at 7:27 pm

@heath
No sign of Rule 7. Too bad. With the popping veins on the forearms, I thought she might be. I think Ron had the right intuition.
Ron says:

May 14 2011 at 7:34 pm

Okay, so I re-read the rules. Tomorrow looks to be an * stage. We are just picking for tomorrow, with our original GC picks remaining the same, correct?

I just need one of you to say - yes.

Thanks.
xyxax says:

May 14 2011 at 7:34 pm

Etna, the Mount so nice, they climbed it twice.

VSP PICKS:

1. Alberto con carne
2. Niblets with gravy
3. Scarponi
4. J. Rodriguez
5. S(t)ella!!!!!