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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Try again!
Chapeau to @Simon for picking Nibbles to win from a long one.
Anyone noticed how Thor is holding on to his matches so far in 2012? Faboonen are happily igniting left, right and centre, but nothing from G.O.T. Can't wait for Paris-Roubaix!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Sagan
3. Freire
4. Boonen
5. Cancellara
Okay...I'll bite...
Here is to Cav burying his face in his team mates ass for the win. Nobody remembers the glorious losers, only those giant pussy winners.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cav
2. Sagan
3. Boonen
4. Cancellara
5. Thor
VSP PICKS:
1. Gerry Thomas
2. Faboo
3. Nibbles
4. Johnny Hoo
5. Sagan
I do dig the pic of the Professor from the French Tabloid L'Equpie.
That video of Kelly and Argentin is one of my all time favorites. The body language from Argentin when Kelly pulls along side under the red kite says it all.
VSP PICKS:
1. Mark Cavendish
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Tom Boonen
4. Alessandro Ballan
5. Matt Goss
Hate to say it, but I think Gossy is a little light on his form this year - even with the team working for him
And @Bianchi_Bob ss for your continued attempts to denigrate drafting and now sprinters who do draft to great effectiveness, mate, you need to find a new sport or understand this one a bit better.
Yes, riders can attack from long ways out with great panache, but cycling is all about using one's energy most effectively. Sprinters such as Cav and Cipo use teams to get them to the spot where they can unleash their extreme top-end speed. For a sprinter to do "his" turn at the front during a race, would be extremely stupid/selfish as he would be wasting his team's efforts to preserve their sprinter. A sprinter's job is to preserve himself as much as possible during the race so his speed is highest when it counts. So yes, for 99% of the race (or more in the case of la Primavera) his job is to be as far "up the backside" of his teammates as is humanly acceptable.
Have you ever raced a bike?
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Boonen
3. Freire
4. Sagan
5. Cancellara
Here we go... under my own name this time... Cav to win (yawn)... but I put The Modfather 2nd in Paris-Nice, and look where that got me for being unpatriotic. Come on Cav - do the hoops proud, and Tommy Simpson's memory (like Brad did)
@Pedale.Forchetta
Hey what? I think you have to explain now!
Looking forward to your pics and reports mate...
No "Rainbow turds" this year, more likely a swiss or belgium "chocolate" being ejected out the back......
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Hushovd
3. Freire
4. Farrar
5. Cancellara