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

Tony Macaroni says:

Mar 17 2011 at 7:45 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Oscar Freire again
2. Robbie 'wild card' McEwen
3. Third Hushovd
4. Tyler Farrar 'force'
5. Eddie 'not merckx' Boasson Hagen
CanuckChuck says:

Mar 17 2011 at 7:52 am

Now that it counts, let's see if I can keep the streak alive.

VSP PICKS:

1. Heinrich Hauler
2. Mark Crashvendish
3. Friar Oscar
4. God of Thunder
5. Spartacus
Erik says:

Mar 17 2011 at 7:52 am

I just really want to see Garmin deliver Haussler to the line with Farrar and Thor giving it everything for teammate. Then we know that the team really is going to work for each other in the classics.

Of course, truth be told it will probably be Cavendish.

VSP PICKS:

1. Haussler
2. Freire
3. Mighty Thor
4. Farrar
5. Bennati
TomC says:

Mar 17 2011 at 8:23 am

First post from a short time follower of the V.

Gilbert to do another cheeky run down the barriers and profit from the Garmvelo Lead Out.

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Haussler
3. Hushovd
4. Freire
5. Cancellara
packfiller says:

Mar 17 2011 at 8:33 am

I think that Garmin/Cervelo has their shit together, and it's time to show such. Thor has been putting the hammer down in the sprints as the lead out guy, but this will be his time in the Rainbow. He and Tyler can make it over the climbs and the distance, and the fifth place rider is simply for props...

VSP PICKS:

1. Thor: The God of Thunder
2. Gibby Gilbert
3. Ty Ty Farrrrarrrrr
4. Spartacus
5. Pat Bulger
eightzero says:

Mar 17 2011 at 8:39 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Hausler
2. Renshaw
3. Hushovd
4. Farrar
5. Cavendish
frank says:

Mar 17 2011 at 8:42 am

Boy am I psyched! I'll be up early, awaiting messages from our boy riding bitch in the team car; maybe he'll even tease us with some photos. He'll also be doing a post-race retrospective. Awesome.

Some great photos over at Cycling News.
xyxax says:

Mar 17 2011 at 8:46 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Hushovd
2. Ballan
3. Gilbert
4. Freire
5. Boonen
mcsqueak says:

Mar 17 2011 at 9:04 am

Alright, here we go! Again, pulled out of my ass... but I'm hoping Tyler will be in good form and surprise folks with a first-place win.

VSP PICKS:

1. Tyler Farrar
2. Mark Cavendish
3. Thor Hushovd
4. Fabian Cancellara
5. Tom Boonen
MikeyEyesore says:

Mar 17 2011 at 9:23 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Haussler
2. cavendish
3. freire
4. hushovd
5. boonen