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

packfiller says:

Mar 17 2011 at 2:02 pm

@Steampunk
I was just about to ridicule the chances of Fabio winning, and then I saw the yellow jersey on your icon.

Nevermind.

VSP PICKS:

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

Mar 17 2011 at 2:38 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Hushovd
4. Caven-can he-dish?
5. McEwen
Leroy says:

Mar 17 2011 at 2:44 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Tyler Farrar
2. Peter Sagan
3. Lars Boom
4. Spartacus
5. Big 'Hoss'ler
CanuckChuck says:

Mar 17 2011 at 2:51 pm

@mcsqueak

Thanks, will check it out.
dqdev says:

Mar 17 2011 at 2:52 pm

Where can I pick up the Leader's jersey on Saturday please? :)

VSP PICKS:

1. Thor Hushovd
2. Tyler Farrar
3. Alessandro Petacchi
4. Fabian Cancellara
5. Philippe Gilbert
il ciclista medio says:

Mar 17 2011 at 3:16 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Faboo
2. Thor de Rainbow
3. CavenitsabouttimeIpullmyfingerou
4. Tomeke
5. Friar Gomez
Marcus says:

Mar 17 2011 at 3:29 pm

Just about the hardest classic to pick a winner because you know every sprinter wants it (along with many a puncheur) - so many options to pick from - but stupid patriotism has influenced my picks once again...

My dream finish:
Too many strong and motivated sprint teams control the early attackers and a big bunch hits the finishing straight that isn't the via Roma anymore.
Cookie revives his career by firing the afterburners - but a touch too early, gets passed by a few and hangs on for fifth.
As Cav has stopped to buy some cannoli on a certain hill (CavwontgetoverthePoggiodish?), Goss is riding the Reckshaw to the line and is right in the mix, coming past Cookie ends up snagging a 4th.
And the Howitzer is firing cannons next to Alby Davis both going neck, neck and neck with Gossy edging him as the get closer to the line.
Then out of the afternoon sun we suddenly see a Radioshack jersey for the first time since Hincrappie snapped his forks on the Cipressa - that's right, the Little Bogan has his one last day in the sun and takes it on the line with no team supporting him.

VSP PICKS:

1. Oscar Freire
2. Thor Hushovd
3. Heiney Howitzer
4. Alby Davis
5. Matthew Goss
Steampunk says:

Mar 17 2011 at 3:36 pm

packfiller:
@Steampunk
I was just about to ridicule the chances of Fabio winning, and then I saw the yellow jersey on your icon.

What can I say: I did some research on Clenbuterol last year. To steal a line from that old Monkees song, "I'm a believer." Yellow jersey be damned, though. This was the big prize.
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 17 2011 at 4:24 pm

Awesome! Time to have some REAL fun!!!

VSP PICKS:

1. Heinrich Hustler
2. Thor Thunder Shorts
3. Cavendouch
4. Tomeke
5. Philip "Hard as nails" Gilbert
Xponti says:

Mar 17 2011 at 4:27 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. THOR
2. Matty 'The Aussie' Goss
3. The Hussler
4. FarRRRRRar
5. Ballan