Het Volk (it will always be Het Volk to me) and now the Strade Bianche may well mark the sentimental beginning to the season, but those are specialized, pre-season races that appeal mostly to riders who are preparing for bigger objectives later in the year, such as the Cobbled or Ardennes Classics. Same goes for Tirreno Adriatico and Paris-Nice; there are preparatory events – none of the marquee names have these events in their programme as primary objectives.
The season doesn’t really start until Milano Sanremo, the first Monument and the first race of the year that any Pro would proudly define their career by winning, and so that’s where we start the fifth installment of the Velominati Super Prestige. Last year saw our biggest turnout yet, with sponsors kicking in some serious prizes for the Tour de France VSP. This year we’ve built on that momentum to offer three major prizes for the season-long VSP:
So, without further ado, check the start list, review the VSP Scoring Guidelines and get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on Sunday the 24th. If you think we mapped one of your picks wrong, use the dispute system and we’ll review it. Also remember to be precise enough in your description so we know which rider you mean; in other words, if you enter “Martin”, we will use our discretion (read: wild guess) to decide if you mean Tony or Dan – and that choice will not be negotiable once the the countdown clock goes to zero, so be sure to give yourself enough time.
Good luck, and don’t let these awesome prizes ruin your Rule #43 spirit.
[vsp_results id=”29200″/]
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/VSP Prizes/”/]
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View Comments
holy shhiitte..where did the year go?
its race times again. guess i need to dust off the ol steed...
thanks for the masterful swag bag keepers; that is some swag to kill for...
my guesses submitted, no delgado for me, yet.
VSP PICKS:
1. ManxMissile
2. alejet
3. saganator
4. miniphinney
5. faboo
oh yes, sad news for Tommke and Lore
condolences and prayers.
VSP PICKS:
1. Michael Kwiatkowski
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Peter Sagan
4. Taylor Phinney
5. Mark Cavendish
VSP PICKS:
1. SAGAN Peter
2. KWIATKOWSKI Michal
3. MOLLEMA Bauke
4. VAN AVERMAET Greg
5. CANCELLARA Fabian
VSP PICKS:
1. CANCELLARA, Fabian
2. GILBERT, Philippe
3. NIBALI, Vincenzo
4. SAGAN, Peter
5. STANNARD, Ian
Although that said the chances of all five crossing the line in the first five are zero - I'm just saying these are the guys likely to feature and I think Sagan's had enough of coming second (I technique I've never personally mastered).
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Caveman Sagan
2. Cavendouche
3. Degenkolb
4. Griepel
5. Faboo
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Gerrans
3. Gilbert
4. Offredo
5. CANCELLARA
@Shlumpen
Me too, hello all.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Degenkolb
3. Cancellara
4. Gilbert
5. Modolo
@frank
Wow, that is an interesting way to think about Boonen - that he has the chance to do something really magical, has it right in his hands. That must be exciting.
On another note, as people who regularly subject their bodies to pretty crazy stuff (Rule 9 riding, eating while climbing a mountain, drinking Heed, riding rollers for months on end), I've always found those taking issue with his dust use strange. It's a goddamn party drug!
Then again, those espousing Malted Recovery Drinks aren't exactly the same as the rest of those folks who ride bikes. Many of them would rather talk PowerTap numbers than do a lil' partyin', so I can understand their fear of fun substance with a Bad Reputation.
VSP PICKS:
1. cav
2. sagan
3. petacchi
4. faboo
5. gerrans