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

Nate says:

May 14 2011 at 7:37 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. vincenzo corleone
2. michele scarface
3. contador
4. kreuzinger
5. sella
xyxax says:

May 14 2011 at 7:41 pm

@Ron

You are correct.
I mean "yes'.
Ron says:

May 14 2011 at 8:33 pm

xyxax - Thank you, sir!!
ChrisO says:

May 14 2011 at 8:50 pm

Maybe I should choose Contador just to put the jinx on him.

Having dropped Gatto from my Fantasy cycling team just before his stage victory I clearly have a special touch :-(

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Rodriguez
3. Kreuziger
4. Anton
5. Tiralongo
frank says:

May 14 2011 at 9:02 pm

Absolutely no time today but this is for me the most anticipated stage of the Giro. I'm thinking Nibbles has been laying everything on this. But, a volcano can be a cruel temptress. Who knows what can happen. Chaos ensues, but Nibbles prevails. Weening manages to stay with the best, Contador falters and loses time. No one cares because he's a dooshebag, the wanker.

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibbles
2. Scarponi
3. Anton
4. Weening
5. Garzelli
pakrat says:

May 14 2011 at 9:05 pm

@Ron
Finally someone answered! That was funny, I just think nobody wanted to go on record in the event they were wrong.

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Clenbutador
3. Scarponi
4. Anton
5. J Rod
mcsqueak says:

May 14 2011 at 9:10 pm

Excited to wake up early for tomorrow's stage!

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. J. Rod
4. Scarponi
5. Kreuziger
RedRanger says:

May 14 2011 at 9:12 pm

Is there any chance some one could record this one for me and send it my way? Tried as I may I could not get out of working.
RedRanger says:

May 14 2011 at 9:12 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Scarponi
3. Conti
4. Anton
5. Sastre
Ron says:

May 14 2011 at 10:05 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Cuntador
2. Nibali
3. Le Mevel
4. Scarponi
5. RoMAN K.