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

Ron says:

May 14 2011 at 10:07 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Cuntador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Garzelli
5. RoMAN K.
harminator says:

May 14 2011 at 10:21 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Pretend pistol finger
2. Nibbles
3. Wack een Rodriguez
4. Anton
5. Sella
Marcus says:

May 14 2011 at 10:40 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Kreziger
5. Menchov
Hawkeye says:

May 14 2011 at 11:20 pm

Should be a great stage. Hopefully Nibbles will gun it from the top of Etna to... the top of Etna... Probably a little short, too early in the race and not quite hard enough for Sastre, but I'm still top 5-ing him. Just because.

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Garzelli
3. The Steak Defence
4. Sastre
5. Le Mevel
LA Dave says:

May 15 2011 at 12:00 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Jaochim Rodriguez
3. Nibali
4. Sella
5. Menchov
Nathan Edwards says:

May 15 2011 at 1:20 am

VSP PICKS:

1. J-Rod
2. Nibbles
3. Clentador
4. Kreuzinger
5. Scarpers
Xponti says:

May 15 2011 at 2:03 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Clemenador
2. Scarponi
3. Nibali
4. Rodriguez J
5. Kreuzinger (The Kruize Missile)
Alex says:

May 15 2011 at 2:20 am

I think its amusing that people are tipping a non-CERA'd Sella, he's just not the rider he once was (this might prove to be an embarrassing statement but I'll stand by it).
Nibbles will go hard but I think LeCont will match and pip on the line al la Tourmalet last year but roles reversed. The two will ride away from the field and the rest are racing for 3rd.
Fireworks indeed!!!

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Rogriguez
5. Kreuziger
pello says:

May 15 2011 at 2:26 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Rodriguez
2. Contador
3. Scarponi
4. Nibali
5. Anton
anotherdownunder says:

May 15 2011 at 2:27 am

Every time I read John Gadret I think Inspector Gadget.

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Contador
3. Joaquim Rodriguez
4. Kreuziger
5. Scarponi