Velominati Super Prestige: Milano-San Remo
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: Where are your picks? Are you not playing or just holding out?
VSP PICKS:
1. Matt Goss
2. Thor
3. Haussler
4. McEwan
5. Oscar Freire
First crack at this hope I look good in the apron
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Tyler
3. Thor
4. Robbie mc
5. Matthew Harley Goss
Outsider time. Fabulous and Weylandt to lead out Bennati. Garmin sending 3 hot faves doesn’t make sense to me – too much to go wrong. Michael Matthews for top 10. Cavendish to sit up when he loses Goss’s wheel.
VSP PICKS:
1. Bennati
2. Farrarrrrrrrrrrr
3. Freire Oscar, dorme vous?
4. Matt Gaussie
5. Greg van Transit Mart
Here comes MSR!!
VSP PICKS:
1. Spartucu
2. God of Thunder
3. Tyler
4. Boasson-Hagen
5. Haussler
VSP PICKS:
1. Spartucus
2. God of Thunder
3. Tyler
4. Boasson-Hagen
5. Haussler
That’s actually pretty cool. For $1.99 it
may bewould mos def be worth it, especially if it’s Kelly commentating. However, I’d sort of miss finding some shitty Flemish or Italian station and following along on the c.n. ticker when needed. Does anyone know if it’ll be on Versus? I may have access to someone’s pad with t.v. and cable.VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Friere
3. Sauceler
4. Thor
5. Carl Sagan
Bearing in mind Spartacus is down at 5 cos it’s an unknown how well his team will work in the classics. Lot of good riders all saying good things, but time will tell…
VSP PICKS:
1. Boom Boom Boonen!
2. Freire Cat
3. Hushovd
4. Gilbear
5. Spartacus
@Bianchi Denti
Ha! That’s why I didn’t pick CAvendish. and too much road to crash on in this race.
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
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Ballan
Not sure what I did, but only two of my picks saved…. so here’s the full set:
1- Gilbert
2- Ballan
3- Thor
4- Di Luca
5- Boasson Hagen
Frank. Work computers seem to have blocked all your fancy gewgaws. Is it okay if I just crayon my picks in here? Not like they’ll be remotely close anyways.
Haussler
Freire
A. Davis
McEwen
Bozic.
@Marko
I see that Eurosport is broadcasting it live (2hrs) at 1:00am EST Australia. Not sure if you get that over there? but is one of our cable channels here
Man, the nickname game is getting serious! I hope you can work out who some of these fuckers are, frank…
And whoever tipped Di Luca, genius!
So, because I don’t qualify for The Apron and I went shite last year, I’m going for an Aussie top 5… just ridiculous enough to work. Or not.
VSP PICKS:
1. Heiny
2. Alby
3. Gossy
4. Robbie
5. Ricky Shaw
@brett
What about Cookey And Bling?
@frank
Sean Kelly… Beast
1982 MSR, that’s what happens when the sprinters take their eye of the ball… the early break
@ Frank – yep, saw those photos at cycling news. Some really great shots in there.
Also enjoyed reading what Cipo had to say about each of the racers he thinks has a shot. Seems like he has a pretty solid idea of what is going on in the pro ranks still.
Can’t wait for the race! I’m still in the Czech Republic and for some reason being in the same time zone, and this close to Italy, makes the race just a little bit more exciting. I’m scheduled to head back to the U.S. in a few weeks, just before Ronde and P-R. Hmm, should I delay my flights?
Enjoy MSR fellow Followers! (and Keepers)
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Freire
Uh oh, I only have two entered and the picks boxes are only showing two. Did I break the software?
Damnit.
I’ll wait a bit, hope to see all five boxes, as I see the note to NOT add them here…
@Marcus
Bling?
@brett
This guy
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Freire
3. Davis
4. Mcewen
5. Bozic
Can’t tell they are coming from Australia can you
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Goss
3. Bling
4. Petacchi
5. McEwen
Cavendish cos i recon he’s sandbagging, Modolo finished 4th last year and he’s young and fast, Farrar needs no explanation, you’d be an idiot not to have someone from BMC after the way they were riding in Tirreno-Adriatico and Gilbert cos he’s the man….
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Sacha Modolo
3. Farrar
4. Ballan
5. Gilbert
So, I really have no idea. But I am ridiculously excited nonetheless.I was wondering this morning why I was so excited. I decided that it’s not just because the season is about to properly start. It’s also because the VSP is about to start. If there is one thing better than following a sport you love it is talking loads of bollocks about the sport you love. And the VSP provides the perfect vehicle for talking (via the interweb) an enormous amount of bollocks. So, best of luck to you all and to the riders, let the racing and the bollocks-talk begin in earnest, and a huge shout out to Frank and the other keepers for making this all possible.
VSP PICKS:
1. Thunder God
2. Gibbletbert
3. Daniele Been Naughty
4. Oscar Fryer
5. H2
An international TOP 5. I would have added Roger but he doesn’t ride anymore, allthough he still thinks he can win from these amateurs
Go Phil, he wants to win all classics in his career
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Bennati
3. Frere
4. Haussler
5. Farrar
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert, because the weather will be bad and he’s good
2. Hushovd, rainbow will represent
3. Haussler, will just miss again
4. Goss, on form
5. Boonen, not quite there
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Hushovd
3. Haussler
4. Goss
5. Boonen
Gilbert will wheelsuck Fabian all the way then jump him like a stinky schoolboy
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sparty
3. Hors-leur
4. Al B Davo
5. Thor
@brett
There have been a couple that really had wondering, but I think I figured it out. As a side-note, if you nickname is so far off that I have no clue who you’re talking about, you’re kind of taking a chance.
When the scoring comes out and you think I buggered it up, just let me know. Piti Principle applies, so don’t go being so vague you get to change it to the winning pick every time. G’Phant is watching you.
@Ron
I was in NL once over the weekend of de Ronde. I didn’t make the trip down and still regret it. You have time, you have a good rail system. Go watch the race, mate.
@all
For those of you who have truncated results (only the top two picks getting entered) please email us with any information you can provide that might help us track down what went wrong.
Hmm… Thunder God in for White Line Fever
VSP PICKS:
1. Heinrich HouseOnFire
2. Oscar Fryer
3. CavenDish
4. Gilbert
5. I ain’t no HushPuppy
VSP PICKS:
1. Ballan
2. Pozzato
3. Boonen
4. Scarponi
5. Cancellara
@Harminator
Alright, you got me. First one I really can’t get. Al B Davo?
He would have been referring to Allan Davis – a nice dark horse
@all
Here are some time conversions for those of you on the side of the planet that matters:
Start Time:
5am EDT (USA)
4am CDT (USA)
3am MDT (USA)
2am PDT (USA)
Earliest Coverage (SteepHill.tv):
9:15am PDT (USA)
8:15am PDT (USA)
7:15am PDT (USA)
6:15am PDT (USA)
@Marcus
He’s been there before, just off the mark! Could happen any time…
I’m giving Faboo a wildcard, he can win it if he’s good, but I think that Freire seizes the day once again for two reasons: He’s in good shape and the Rabobank has all their riders rolling.
VSP PICKS:
1. Freire
2. Hushovd
3. Boonen
4. Ale-Jet
5. Faboo
Correction: had forgotten I kinda liked Davis in a sprint.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cantchapartacus
2. God of Thunder Rainbows
3. Giblets
4. Double H
5. Allan Davis
I think the sprinters will have at it, and if that’s the case, Cav is going to win it again.
VSP PICKS:
1. CavenCAN, AGAIN, PLEASE, Dish
2. Farrar
3. God of Thunder
4. Haussler
5. Friere
I have no idea how this will play out but can’t wait to see it. I have such tranquil sensations when I see the riders make the sharp left onto the descent of the Poggio.
VSP PICKS:
1. Thor
2. Boonen
3. Gilbert
4. Haussler
5. Pfaffs About With Extra Sunnies
Slight change, Haussler will probably be faster than Ale-Jet.
VSP PICKS:
1. Freire
2. Haussler
3. Boonen
4. Hushovd
5. Faboo