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:

  1. First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
  2. 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.)
  3. 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.

View Comments

  • Haven't seen the race yet, but Kristoff!!

    I thought he'd be good, but not THAT good. Can I get bonus points for tipping him for Flanders now? ;)

  • So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters.  Great race.

  • @simonsaunders  agreed, what the hell is going on with helmet design at the moment?! Must admit that those POC shades are slowly growing on me though. Cracking race in tough conditions, although as has already been mentioned, wish Cancellara had gone with Nibbles as that would have been very interesting.

  • @simonsaunders

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

    Its fucking awful. Looks more like a ski helmet and goggles than cycling gear.

    The only one that even remotely looks good is the Specialized.

  • @Nate

    So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters. Great race.

    I really feel he should be relegated to the back of the group for (a) riding in that kit and (b) failing to keep his lid on straight.

    It is so unsightly it makes it hard to enjoy seeing the finish line photos.

    Nibbles is one of my favorites, were it not for his similarly shit kit. I really like how he rides, the only rider willing to gamble on long moves. Who gives a shit that they don't work? He's giving it the berries and gambling.

  • @simonsaunders

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

    It looks like a toddler helmet to me.  He might as well be wearing this:

  • @frank

    @Nate

    So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters. Great race.

    I really feel he should be relegated to the back of the group for (a) riding in that kit and (b) failing to keep his lid on straight.

    It is so unsightly it makes it hard to enjoy seeing the finish line photos.

    Nibbles is one of my favorites, were it not for his similarly shit kit. I really like how he rides, the only rider willing to gamble on long moves. Who gives a shit that they don't work? He's giving it the berries and gambling.

    Hasn't anyone told him that GC riders are meant to ride as boring as fuck? JRod rides like that too, but I saw Cadelephant attack in Strada Bianchi! It must be catching.

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