Velominati Super Prestige: Milano Sanremo 2017

Dare we be so bold as to hope for Rule #9?

Well, that didn’t go as expected. It was over a month ago the last time I wrote an article and every day since then, I’ve thought a thought something along the lines of, “Tomorrow, I write.” The funny thing about Tomorrow is that it never comes. My favorite band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, even wrote a song about it back when I was still impressionable and even then I didn’t catch onto the whole “Today, I write” concept.

Daylight Savings happened over here. That’s always a big deal for me because now I’m officially able to ride after work without headlights. Which, if I was riding as much as I should, would be very important to me. Which I’m not. Although I have to say I’m stunned by how strong I am every time I do manage to ride my bike. And how incredible it feels to hurt. Afterwards, my legs remind me of this life. It is an important voyage back to the mothership, even when I’m not able to make as many visits as I’d like.

Like family.

Milano Sanremo is on Saturday, and I’m ashamed to say we haven’t sorted out the prizes yet for this year’s edition, though there certainly will be some. As it turns out, a free frame to the winner is not always a welcome thing in terms of cash outlay to get the bike up and running so we’re looking at some other options this go around. In any case, we have a cracking edition on our hands. Based on the racing so far this year, either everyone is clean or everyone is on the next thing – either way, the racing is spot-the-fuck-on. Can’t wait to see what the riders are going to pull out.

I’m behind on updating the schedule but will do any day now. Keep on holding your breath. Rest assured, get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero and you’ll get your points. Good luck and more than anything – have fun! And now for some regularity on the whole writing bit. Not that that’s why you lot come around here.

VLVV.
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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

KogaLover says:

Mar 20 2017 at 2:48 am

Perfect V
RobSandy says:

Mar 20 2017 at 3:02 am

@KogaLover

This Alaphillipe guy...I like.
chuckp says:

Mar 20 2017 at 7:50 am

@dyalander

Couldn't agree more. Kwiat-Krush earned the win. Even Sagz acknowledges that MSR is the "easiest" Monument to race but the "hardest" to win. More than anything, I think what Sagan has working against him is that his team just isn't as strong and doesn't have the depth of the likes of Sky and Quickstep. So he is left having to do more work than riders on other teams and doesn't have the luxury of a Plan B (Viviani in the case of Sky and Gaviria in the case of Quickstep) card that the team can play. For him, he's all in and it's all or nothing.

Also, notice in the pic posted by @KogaLover that Sagan's chain is halfway off the big ring. Perhaps a bit of bad luck that was just enough to cost him the few inches difference?
Mark says:

Mar 20 2017 at 8:47 am

@chuckp

I noticed live in the final sprint that Sagans chain was bouncing all over the place and Kwat's by comparison looked static. Looked like it had too many links (unlikely) or it has been stretched by the massive guns of Sagan (more likely!).

Either way it can't have helped?
chuckp says:

Mar 20 2017 at 9:50 am

This.
chuckp says:

Mar 20 2017 at 10:02 am

And this is why Sagz is such a class act. Kwiat-Krush too.
Randy C says:

Mar 20 2017 at 10:57 am

@RobSandy

@KogaLover

This Alaphillipe guy…I like.

Me too ! And in rewind/review of the finish there was a point that Kwiatkowski need Mr Alaphillip to help bridge the gap. These three studs just provided some real fireworks for a finish that was a blast to watch. Love it.

BTW all: apparently there is some big annual college basketball tourney going on here in the states ? Would be news to me. Between the spring classics, the monuments and our HS mtn bike team and the better weather and longer days I'm 100% loving this time of year for cycling.

Cheers all !
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 21 2017 at 12:11 am

God DAMN if that doesn't give you a warm, fuzzy, I-want-to-go-crush-the-fucking-Pave'-on-a-damp-morning feeling I don't know what will!

Just awesome!
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 21 2017 at 3:14 am

@chuckp

And this is why Sagz is such a class act. Kwiat-Krush too.

My above post was in reply to this photo. God, what a great time to be a cycling fan!
RobSandy says:

Mar 21 2017 at 3:54 am

@Buck Rogers

@chuckp

And this is why Sagz is such a class act. Kwiat-Krush too.

My above post was in reply to this photo. God, what a great time to be a cycling fan!

Anyone else who can't wait for the Belgian classics?

Also, how savage was Sagan's attack on the Poggio? They all must have known it was coming but only 2 had the legs to follow.