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.

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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

Buck Rogers says:

Mar 23 2014 at 9:52 am

Awesome race! Is this the second or third time that Sparty has come second at MSR? I know that he has won once but damn he has owned the podium of this race for the last 7 or 8 years. What a race!
Rob says:

Mar 23 2014 at 10:03 am

Damm, a bit grumpy at Sagan, does he not understand that now is the time to get serious and lay down a base for his Palmeres?

I only followed on the live feed so I can't wait to see it. Nibals sounded like he committed too early and Kristoff sounded unstoppable. Cancellara, what is he still 3 weeks from his peak?
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 23 2014 at 10:12 am

@Rob

Damm, a bit grumpy at Sagan, does he not understand that now is the time to get serious and lay down a base for his Palmeres?

I only followed on the live feed so I can't wait to see it. Nibals sounded like he committed too early and Kristoff sounded unstoppable. Cancellara, what is he still 3 weeks from his peak?

DAMN! Scary but good point about Sparty. He might still be a few weeks short of peaking. I bet he would rather have another RVV or PR win tying him with the all time wins than another MSR win.

Sagan might be a few weeks short as well. IT is going to be INCREDIBLE at RVV and PR this Spring!!!
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 23 2014 at 10:14 am

@Rob

Damm, a bit grumpy at Sagan, does he not understand that now is the time to get serious and lay down a base for his Palmeres?

I only followed on the live feed so I can't wait to see it. Nibals sounded like he committed too early and Kristoff sounded unstoppable. Cancellara, what is he still 3 weeks from his peak?

BTW, is this the "Rob" that I rode hand in hand a la LeMan and Hinault into North Adams??? If so, new avatar for you, eh?
Rob says:

Mar 23 2014 at 10:23 am

@Buck Rogers hey Bucko, the avatar thing is bugging me I think I lost my pass word... God I can't wait for this stage of puter pass word to be over - scan my eyeballs with lazers, scan my brain with radiation, anything but this!

@Buck Rogers

DAMN! Scary but good point about Sparty. He might still be a few weeks short of peaking. I bet he would rather have another RVV or PR win tying him with the all time wins than another MSR win.

Sagan might be a few weeks short as well. IT is going to be INCREDIBLE at RVV and PR this Spring!!!

You are so right about the next month of racing! There are finally a half dozen that could win PR and make the rest of the classics edge of the seat stuff or just a ride for the ages, can't wait.
Deakus says:

Mar 23 2014 at 10:25 am

I struggled to watch the last 10 of the race, I think I was vomiting through most of it. Can someone kick Belkin off their UCI ticket? Riding that snot green strip on a celeste bike is an abomination...and as for the helmets, don't even get me started!

All this is obviously a misdirection away from my appalling picks...but hey I am aiming to peak in 6 months right?!

It was a great race though...
simonsaunders says:

Mar 23 2014 at 11:22 am

The helmets in the peloton are becoming freakish in the extreme- i'm sorry but this just looks silly!
Owen says:

Mar 23 2014 at 11:33 am

@simonsaunders @Deakus If to look fantastic is to already go fast, is the corollary that to look awful is to already go slow?
Teocalli says:

Mar 23 2014 at 11:35 am

@Deakus

I struggled to watch the last 10 of the race, I think I was vomiting through most of it. Can someone kick Belkin off their UCI ticket? Riding that snot green strip on a celeste bike is an abomination...and as for the helmets, don't even get me started!

All this is obviously a misdirection away from my appalling picks...but hey I am aiming to peak in 6 months right?!

It was a great race though...

Bianchi / Belkin should swap bikes with Astana?
Chris says:

Mar 23 2014 at 11:39 am

@Deakus Have to say I hardly noticed the color of Tjallingii's kit. That was a fucking strong ride.