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.
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As we don't have Murilo Fischer on Garmin squad for this race...I will go with the following.
And just to inform you guys...this year I will get the Rainbow Jersey!
VSP PICKS:
1. Thor
2. Freire
3. Cancellara
4. Gilbert
5. Hausler
Hello, my old friend...we meet again. Do I vote sensibly, or do I vote with my heart? My heart says Farrar takes it, or Saucedler, or Fignon again? That would be quite the upset. My semi-heart (the one that listens to my brain enough to know T-Bone won't win but not enough to be smart) says Gilbert finally makes one stick on the Poggio. But reality says that fucking Brother Oscar will dive around some poor sod who thinks he's won.
What my heart says
1. Farrar
2. Thor his legs off
3. Haussler
4. Boonen
5. Gesink
But come on. So here's the best I can do:
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Farrar
3. Boonen
4. Frere
5. The Gorrila
Back when I had cable, Versus would only show the TdF, nothing else. Not even any of the other major grand tours. Pretty worthless, really. You'd be better off ordering the Universal Sports feed, connecting your computer to a TV, and watching that way.
VSP PICKS:
1. Hausslerhoff
2. Haedo
3. Freire
4. Cavendouche
5. Hushovd
@Hawkeye
Hausslerhoff! Love it! He is a bit of a prettyboy, isn't he?
The audio on this video is a bit funny sounding, but here's a good preview of what can happen if the sprinter's teams lose control. A load of the riders named here that I looked at and said, "DREAM ON, SNOOZE TOOZE!" are figuring into it. The hair on the back of my neck stands up at the thought of a break getting clear, and I feel like it could happen this year.
And, of course, there's this one.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Farrar
3. Benatti
4. Goss
5. Petacchi
Gilbert and Sagan make a leap for it on the Poggio, but they don't get the tailwind they need and get nipped at the line as Cancellera comes flying by as they pass under the flamme rouge. Thor wins the depressed bunch gallop on the coattails of escape. Robbie McEwen gets close just because he feels like it.
VSP PICKS:
1. The Man With The Golden Bearings
2. The Hilltop Attacker
3. Billions and Billions
4. The God of Sunder
5. Old Guy From Down Under
And this and this.
I am sad for those of you who don't speak Dutch; when the motor bike gets in the way in the first of these two, the commentators have a word or 20 to say about precisely what brand of idiot the motorcycle pilot is.
Cebollito says "THOR" and I say Cebollito knows his MSR. Garmin is coming stacked and The Mighty gapped FarRAWR in Tirreno. Dude is riding high on the rainbow. Barbie is headed for a peak at the Ronde, and is along as a flashbang that JV can throw to distract others.
...which is exactly what happens. Ballan launches an attack that Flecha follows on the Cipressa. The Sparrow flutters in from behind, being the biggest fan of Flecha in the bunch. "What are we gonna do today, boss?" he asks (but in Spanish) JV Haussler follows at the bottom, catching them on the Poggio. Meanwhile, Ballan is looking nicely on form after his Monty-Pashy performance. PS - Have you looked at Flecha's MSR results? He's been in the Top 40 every time he's raced, save for once. He's also looking to avenge, so he'll go early, Ballan chasing. Flecha's diesel engine runs low and THOR SMASH.
...but all of those were already taken, so I'm going to go EXXXTRA VIRGIN on this and say it's a day for an Italian breakaway...
VSP PICKS:
1. Visconti
2. Nibali
3. Ballan
4. Sagan
5. Angel Madrazo
Long time stalker of the V here... and I want IN, IN, IN!!!
VSP PICKS:
1. Haus
2. Alby Davis
3. Thor
4. Freire
5. Gilbert