Velominati Super Prestige: Milano-San Remo

RDV wins La Primavera in 1973

The second annual Velominati Super Prestige kicks off with La Primavera, Milano-San Remo on March 19. The first Monument of the year, MSR is the first true showdown of the year where all the big names will be en forme and willing to sell their mothers to notch this prestigious win. Although known for its famous climbs including the Cipressa and the Poggio, it isn’t the terrain that poses the greatest challenge in this race, but it’s distance. At almost 300km, this race is a monster. Without having ever ridden it, I can tell you with zero confidence that the Poggio is not a steep or difficult climb, but with a big pile of kilometers already ridden, even its moderate gradient will weigh heavy in the legs.

MSR often finishes in a bunch sprint, but not always. With a well-timed attack on the Poggio and more than a handful of seconds buffer before starting the descent, riders with technical descending skills (sorry, Les Freres Grimpeur, never gonna happen) can stay away and spoil the day for the fast men.

We find ourselves with a pile of data gleaned from watching Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, but La Primavera happens to be enough of a wild-card that all that data will only serve to cloud judgement. Our advice? Take out the radio earpiece to and vote on feel.

The winner of this VSP edition will earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker and all reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free personalized Velominati Shop Apron. This year we’ve enhanced the entry mechanism; if you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the designated area above the posts section, bearing in mind that entry/modification of picks closes at 5am Pacific time on the day of the race. Check the Super-Prestige main page for rules and scoring information.

Good luck.

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

Cyclops says:

Mar 19 2011 at 11:28 am

Hey! I'm in first place of all the 0 points people.
Steampunk says:

Mar 19 2011 at 1:08 pm

@frank
Had meant to ask: how long do I get to wear this YJA? Until this year's Tour? Or are you going to clean the deck for the new season?
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 19 2011 at 1:34 pm

xyxax :
Great job with the new VSP software.

Frank: I TOTALLY agree!!! Man, 73 players this morning, what an awesome site this is and what a super job with the VSP! Now if I could just pick half decently things would be perfect!
minion says:

Mar 19 2011 at 1:35 pm

Yuss! Ahead of Bretto at this early stage of proceedings is as good as I was hoping for. Got up this morning hoping to catch the end but just missed it, well done Goss! That's your name up on lights now bet the Aussies are gonna be all over it.
Steampunk says:

Mar 19 2011 at 1:42 pm

@minion
This puts him at the top of the UCI rankings, no? Wins at TDU and Paris-Nice. Kid's got skills.
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 19 2011 at 1:54 pm

So, not that I am looking too far ahead or anything, but ... is there a VSP for Ghent - Wevelgem next week?
Nate says:

Mar 19 2011 at 3:03 pm

@CanuckChuck
That's where I found my Eurosport feed, and I had Sean Kelly and the other guy. Kelly's commentary is pure gold.
Jamin says:

Mar 19 2011 at 3:22 pm

Got a text msg in the middle of the night from my punting partner. I'd backed up my VSP pick with my hard earned and got Gossy at $13 for the win!
So stoked for him though. I read a quote, "It's not just that he won, it's who he beat to win".
Legend.

And since this is the closest I've come to a cycling podium, is there some kind of presentation for the leaders jersey?
il ciclista medio says:

Mar 19 2011 at 3:33 pm

congrats to Goss. Brilliant ride. And Faboo sprinting woohoo. Nicely played Jamin....but, to quote that song by The Carpenter's "we've only just begun...."

May I be the one of the first Aussie's to gloat as well. Looks like it's shaping up to be one hell of a year for Antipodean cyclists.
ken says:

Mar 19 2011 at 3:43 pm

Great race. Though if I'd spent more time studying Goss's form this year and less time musing on his former life as one half of the 80's British boy band Bros (thanks to Andy for clarifying) I might just have picked him for the win....!