The Poggio. It’s probably one of the most famous easy climbs in the world; going through old cycling photographs, I rarely come across one where the leaders haven’t moved Sur La Plaque. It has a reputation, however, for being a real leg breaker, mostly because any climb is a big climb once you cross its summit after a paltry 291 kilometers. And the descent provides one of the twistiest, most exhilarating finales in the sport.
This race stands apart as the longest on the calendar, and represents the only of the five Monuments where the sprinters have a chance at final glory. But this can have it all: the long, solo break routinely makes it to the finish uncaught. The final attacks on the Poggio regularly stick. The attack that goes away on the climb often gets caught on the descent. And, sometimes the whole thing stays together for a bunch gallop. Essentially, any ride who is on form has a chance at glory. This is a unique race.
The question on everyone’s mind is wether Cavendish can get over the Poggio in position to make it to the finish in the first group. If he does, then you can jot down the winner right now. He’s lost some significant weight in the last few weeks, so his climbing should be good; we also have it on good authority from our eyes and ears on the roads in Italy that the Manx Mouth has been spotted training in the hills of Italy with the express intention of making it over the last bump. If, on the other hand, he gets spat out the back like a rainbow turd when the road points uphill, it will be a free-for-all. The fast semi-climbers with descending skills like Nibbles are talking big about their chances. And who in their right minds would ever discount Faboo with his brommer or Gilbert once he fires the howitzers.
So rub your lucky rabbit’s foot and throw some salt over your shoulder; you’re going to need some divine intervention on this one. This year’s VSP is also the first year where we’ll be offering a special badge to the winner of the monuments. We can’t unveil the MSR Badge yet, but the winner of this VSP event will have the honor of posting with the badge until next year’s event. The winner will also receive a free Symbol Pack. Check the start list and get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Saturday morning; if timezone arithmetic isn’t your strong suit, just watch the countdown timer in the banner at the top of the site. As usual, your points go towards the overall VSP as well.
Good luck.
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View Comments
@tommeesee
Great video. Fantastic to see the whole team enjoying the victory like that. Gerro, Stevo, Whitey - anyone would think they're a bunch of Aussie's!
@Mikael Liddy
That and the fact that they will be hard pressed to get an Australian company that will see the benefits of being the major sponsor of an international (even though it is Australian) team unfortunately. They will need to get some interest from abroad if it's going to have the legs.
@il ciclista medio
If you were running an Aussie biz would you think it worthwhile to sponsor GreenEdge? Guy just wins a monument, no coverage on free to air news. So the only way your company might obtain some publicity in Australia is during the Tour (presuming mainstream Aussie media (wrongly) put more weight on a Tour stage win than a Monument.)
Unfortunately, to me, an Aussie company would be mad to sponsor a team - unless they valued Euro-based publicity... Because they get nothing in Australia.
@Marcus
Agree - if it is to be an Australian sponsor it needs to be an international type company/brand such as QANTAS or Fosters or what ever BHP is called presently.
Sad when a team like Highroad did have a lot of success and yet still folded due to lack of a sponsor.
@anotherdownunder
True, had to hunt to find any mention of the win on any Aussie news websites, which was good for me as I watched a torrented version the next day and didn't have the result spoilt for me. The one article I did find still didn't mention Gerrans as the National Champ.
@Marcus
@anotherdownunder
Agreed, that's exactly my point. There isn't any benfit to them so why would they? Unless they were planning on expanding into the Euro markets, but again, it would be short lived, a season perhaps.
First chance to check in after the race. Thank goodness I picked Cancellara at number 2! My steady march up the leaderboard continues, ten points behind the leaders!
500+ posts, wow. had no idea he was fast enough to challenge valverde. he did everything right. fabs could have slowed to risk a regroup and see if gerro would come ahead. until that were to actually happen, gerro is right to hold his advantage and sit on. fabs chose 1:1 instead. y'know, he's a winner b/c he rolls with a seat bag and pump. :)
@Pedale.Forchetta
Just had a look through the whole set, spectacular photos.
Who was the wrecked BMC rider getting ushered through the finish area? He didn't look like he was in great shape!
Sweet as, Pedale!
I was actually riding this morning & out of the air thought, "Hey, I haven't seen any great shots out of my (virtual) Italian cycling pal & photographer extraordinaire. What's goin' on?"
And I return home to see them. Incredible.
I'm only seeing the photos Pedale.Forchetta put up in the thread. Is there a link to the whole set?