Velominati Super Prestige: Milano Sanremo 2014

Merckx takes his first of seven MSRs.

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:

First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.

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/”/]

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.

Next The Dig »

Previous « The Janus of Suffering

View Comments

Steampunk says:

Mar 22 2014 at 1:51 pm

@RedRanger

Of course, pre-race, it's a bit like noticing you have a puncture before the start, but deciding that's the tube you brought, so why mess with it.
Island Bike says:

Mar 22 2014 at 2:10 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Sagan
2. Cancellara
3. Simon Clarke
4. Kristoff
5. Cav
RedRanger says:

Mar 22 2014 at 2:24 pm

@Steampunk right, but in this case, I assume, if I wake changes I void the advantage of an early pick in the off chance I can actually pick the right person for a single spot.
el gato says:

Mar 22 2014 at 2:25 pm

I won La Primavera last year and it was my only decent set of picks all season. Here's to a better GC this year.

VSP PICKS:

1. P. SAGAN
2. F. CANCELLARA
3. M. CAVENDISH
4. J. DEGENKOLB
5. S. CHAVANEL
LeoTea says:

Mar 22 2014 at 2:29 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Degenkolb
2. Sagan
3. Cavendish
4. Cancellara
5. Boassen Hagen
unversio says:

Mar 22 2014 at 2:32 pm

@Buck Rogers

So, playing by heart and what I have been seeing in the races, not by oddschecker for this year. I am sure that I will not place as high overall but I am also pretty sure that I will have a lot more fun with it!

[ Old Ben voice ] "Trust your feelings... let go... look at last year's results... or the year before..."
unversio says:

Mar 22 2014 at 2:39 pm

@RedRanger

@Steampunk right, but in this case, I assume, if I wake changes I void the advantage of an early pick in the off chance I can actually pick the right person for a single spot.

Don't updates only effect the one position being changed?
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 22 2014 at 3:08 pm

@unversio

@Buck Rogers

So, playing by heart and what I have been seeing in the races, not by oddschecker for this year. I am sure that I will not place as high overall but I am also pretty sure that I will have a lot more fun with it!

[ Old Ben voice ] "Trust your feelings... let go... look at last year's results... or the year before..."

Ha! Perfect!!!
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 22 2014 at 3:09 pm

DAMN!!! I just realized that you are giving away some SERIOUS prizes for this race! Now where's that oddschecker site tab again???
James Turner says:

Mar 22 2014 at 3:19 pm

So many riders are on form and capable of wining , this year more than any in recent times. Can't wait!

VSP PICKS:

1. Degenkolb
2. Cancellara
3. Matthews
4. Demare
5. Sagan