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

  • @sthilzy

    @simonsaunders @frank Don't mind Yoann's set up;

    Found here.

    And what the hell is that "brim"? Is that a hipster capt he's wearing? Where's the big shiny silver sticker . . . I have to say, I'll be hanging onto my current helmets as the new models coming out really don't appeal at all. Looks like POC are going for maximum efficiency: one helmet for all sports.

  • @Chris

    @Dr C His wife suffered a miscarriage in the lead up to the race.

    Technical, I know, but not his "wife".  She's actually his partner. 

    But man, my two favorite professional sporting figures have both had their wife/partner miscarry in the last two weeks.  Iniesta's wife also had a miscarriage.

    As a father of five I cannot imagine how awful that must be.

  • @Buck Rogers I stand corrected. Doesn't make it any less shit.

    Hopefully they will be given the time and space they need by his team, the press and public.

  • @G'rilla

    Stybar finishes 7th! Solid.

    Agreed! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what he can do this year in P-R (if he can stay clear of the spectators!)

  • @Buck Rogers

    @wiscot

    @Buck Rogers

    Fuck me! Anyone check out the BRR pics over the last week? Pure GOLD.

    http://bigringriding.com/

    Whoa! In the words of Hot Chocolate, "Everyone's a winner." Great piox! I want Kreuzinger's legs.

    I want the legs that are in the background of the Merckx picture ... in bed!

    Interesting, big Gert Jan's helmet only has a single chip strap instead of two - the one that goes behind the ear isn't there. Maybe the fucking enormous headband is taking its place?

    What is the road sign behind the Prophet supposed to mean/signify?

    The Cofidis and QS riders are wearing my helmet - BBB. Way better looking than most of the shit out there right now. POC take note.

  • @wiscot He's wearing a Belgian hairnet, same as Johan (I wonder if those are Testosterone patches on his knees???) and I think that they only come with one strap.  They were pretty fuckin useless anyways so who really cares if they fall off in the crash?

    As for the sign behind the Prophet, all I got is possible schlong length of the before mentioned?

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