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

rufio says:

Mar 19 2011 at 5:01 am

@andy

First time poster, long time reader.

Here goes nothing:
rufio says:

Mar 19 2011 at 5:03 am

@rufio

Dammit, missed the cut off. Oh well, good luck to everyone today.
frank says:

Mar 19 2011 at 5:35 am

@rufio
Missed it by three minutes...oh, that hurts...on another note, we proved that the timing on the cutoff logic works. That's nice.

@Jarvis

Fat-fingers on the keyboard and the double-post is equivalent of *rolls up quietly to the start line then fails to stop and skittles half the peloton*

Along with all the little limb movements that go on when you're trying not to fall.

@ken

40-something woman who liked naff 80"²s British boy bands

I'm none of those things. You'll have to help me out on that one.
frank says:

Mar 19 2011 at 5:53 am

via @Pedale.Forchetta:

Official Statement:

MILANO -SANREMO: THE MAYOR OF MILAN GAVED THE START AT THE RACE

Milan, March 19th 2011 - 198 riders has started regularly at 9.35 this morning from Piazza Castello in Milan to Lungomare Italo Calvino in Sanremo.
In the first line, Japan Champion, Miyazawa (Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli), with national flag in the hands to remember heartquake victims.
Milan Mayor, Letizia Moratti, gaved the start. At her side, La Gazzetta dello Sport director, Andrea Monti, the Italian Cycling Federation President, Antonio di Rocco and the Milan Sport Councillor, Alan Rizzi
frank says:

Mar 19 2011 at 5:55 am

vai @Pedale.Forchetta

At campo ligure first rifornimento and a 3 men breakaway one androni no major news....
Steampunk says:

Mar 19 2011 at 6:14 am

frank:
via @Pedale.Forchetta:

In the first line, Japan Champion, Miyazawa (Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli), with national flag in the hands to remember heartquake victims.

Classy!
RedRanger says:

Mar 19 2011 at 6:27 am

kinda pissed I have to work this morning and wont get to catch any of the race. good luck to every one.
CanuckChuck says:

Mar 19 2011 at 6:56 am

Thor in trouble! Friar Oscar in trouble! What a race!
andy says:

Mar 19 2011 at 7:23 am

@frank
Bros = matt goss
a classic of the eighties
I would like to make it plain I am not a mid 40s lady...
Sam says:

Mar 19 2011 at 7:27 am

@CanuckChuck
i recon it's setting up for a non-sprinters type finish, but there's still some big names killing it up front, katwsha are looking dominating, but it never seems to work oput for them