Velominati Super Prestige: Strade Bianche 2012
The Monte Paschi Strade Bianchi is happening this Saturday and it is such an interesting race we are putting it into the VSP. The route is a mix of pavement and white marble sectors that roam through the hilly Tuscan country and finishes in the middle of beautiful Sienna. It seems early to me but that is because the Giro had an epic stage on the Strade Bianche in May 2010. The word epic is overused but the wet, grimy Giro stage was compelling, awesome, everything you would want in a race. It was epic.
This race grew out of the immensely popular Eroica retro-sportive. Goggles, mustaches, heavy old bikes, I don’t understand it. It must be like the Civil War enactments in the USA: people are compelled to recreate something, and participate in it to understand it. I’m never going to participate in the Eroica sportive, so I’m never going to understand it. Sweet Merckx a mighty, I’m old enough to never want to ride a bike with a five speed Regina cluster again. Give me Campa 11 with electronic shifting if you must, I’m riding into the future.
Phillipe Gilbert started his reign of terror in 2011 by winning the Strade Bianche and he never stopped. I would not want to bet against him and yet, perhaps he is saving himself for a month from now. His team is stacked with possible winners (a phrase we are going to be over-using this year). Judging from past results the Italians have not had any home road advantage but if Vinny “da shark” Nibali can ride away from everyone in Oman, surely he can do it here. This year’s incomplete start list includes past winners, potential Spring Classic stars and Mark Cavendish. Did I imagine this, the World Champion on the crushed marble roads of Tuscany? Please stay tuned for a more accurate start list.
I will stop further skewing the odds at Lotto, they are all winners aren’t they? Put on your aluminum foil thinking caps, consult the awesome countdown timer which will stop on Saturday morning and be thankful there is not a women’s edition of this race to show the world how little you all know about women’s racing (@cyclops excluded somehow).
I just can’t stop myself from including a bit of wet strade from the Giro.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jCHawi9II[/youtube]
@motor city
Just testing
I still don’t know who Hope of a Nation is….
@Chris
Sounds like an operating list for a Plastic Surgeon
@Dr C
Just thought I’d test @frönk‘s name extracting/mapping code after being told off for using defunct riders last night.
Going to ride our local white roads today as a warm up!
I’m guessing the finish will be around 10-10:30 EST tomorrow?
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Sagan
2. Ballan
3. Nibali
4. Johan VS
5. Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Visconti
4. Nibali
5. Hincapie
@frank
Hmmm it was supposed to show the last 7 seconds only where the guy says “I know something most don’t” It works when you click from the side bar here showing recent posts, but at least on my comp. it does not work from the main post.
Computers are cool…but not if you’re a tool (like me).
VSP PICKS:
1. Vinny Shark Nibbles
2. Ballan
3. Cuddles
4. Visconti
5. Ryder Hope of Canada Hesjedal
@Ron
Don’t forget to check back for the Paris Nice VSP before it starts….
Ok, just saw this on steephill. Thought others might like to know:
Start time: Saturday 11:00 CET (5:00:00 AM EST); Current Weather in Gaiole in Chianti
Earliest live video: 14:30 CET (8:30:00 AM EST); Live video, audio and text options
Approximate finish: 15:45 CET (9:45:00 AM EST); Current Weather in Siena
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Cancellara
3. Sagan
4. Visconti
5. Hesjedal
Check check. Gravatar upgrade.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fast Phil Gil
2. Roman Kreuziger
3. JV it’s Summertime
4. G Visconti
5. Spartacus
@Dr C
It’s Red Ryder H. who was the only Canadian in the Tour and felt the weight of a Nation on his wee cyclist shoulders. I think that was his original moniker, “weight of a nation”
OK, time to man up. Normally I do put ‘weight of a nation’ in the running but he has been messing about here on Maui too much. At some point his teammate Peter Stetina will start placing in this kind of race. Betting against Gilbert again, why do I do these things?
VSP PICKS:
1. Nibali
2. spartacus
3. Visconti
4. Van Avermat
5. peter stetina
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Nibali
3. Gilbert
4. Spartacus
5. Van Avermaet
VSP Picks
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. Visconti
4. Cancellara
5. Vansummeren
@Dr C
You funny.
When is Paris Nice going up? Hitting the road to head to the Cogal this avro.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Visconti
4. Spartacus
5. The other Fabian (Wegmann)
@frank
where do I put up my VSP picks for Paris – Nice?
I have to pick the GC before it starts or before it ends on the last day?
i love this race!
VSP PICKS:
1. sagan
2. Van Avermaet
3. spartacus
4. johan vansummeryet
5. nibali nibbles
@Nate
@San Tonio
Wait for it no more. Frankestien has done it.
VSP PICKS:
1. PhilGil
2. Spartacus
3. Visconti
4. Hesjedal
5. Cuddles
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Nibali
4. Hesjdal
5. Ballan
@Gianni
Grazie mille!
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Giovanni Visconti
4. Spartacus
5. The other Fabian (Wegmann)
@paolo
Ah – that’s because I’ve yet to update my ebedder to recognize the “start from” tag…I’ll add that at some point. Sorry, you’ll just have to suck it up for now…thanks for explaining, though – I’ve been meaning to get that, and knowing others would like to see it (and not just me) helps me prioritize it.
@paolo
Do you know that Maaskant used to be not only a good cobblestone rider, but also a good sprinter and someone who could ride on hills? Because if you did know that, than you’re late to the party: he hasn’t been training that for a solid 2 years.
@Dr C
Ryder Hesjedal. He nicknamed himself this when he was doing well at the Tour and he had the hopes of his entire nation (Canada) on his shoulders.
@Gianni
I think you might be right…sorry – didn’t see your response previously.
@frank
It’s not even a real nation…
@Netraam
We’ll see in about 18 hours eh?
From the start list, Evans is riding it. I wouldn’t bet against him, given his giro strade bianche performances…
VSP PICKS:
1. evans
2. gilbert
3. nibali
4. fabiano
5. hesjedal
Oh please, oh please let it rain tomorrow!
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. Visconti
4. Ballan
5. Nibali
VSP PICKS:
1. Popovych
2. Fast Phil
3. Pozzato
4. Kreuziger
5. Nibbles
VSP PICKS:
1. Alessandro Ballan
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Vincenzo Nibali
4. Filippo Pozzato
5. Roman Kreuziger
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Nibali
4. Visconti
5. Battaglin
On further thought…
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Ballan
3. Giovanni Visconti
4. Spartacus
5. Wegmann, the other Fabian
Gotta go with the emotional favorite. The VMH loves Georgie. And when he wins, so do I!
VSP PICKS:
1. Hincapie
2. Cancellara
3. Gilbert
4. Popovych
5. Evans
@Bill
You don’t win much then Bill…
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Ballan
3. Kreuziger
4. Cancellara
5. Stetina
@paolo
yes it is
VSP PICKS:
1. Ballan Alessandro
2. Cunego Damiano
3. Gatto Oscar
4. Van Avermaet Greg
5. Visconti Giovanni
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Ballan
3. Cancellara
4. Nibali
5. Sagan
Gilbert again. Sagan looking strong too. Bit early to see who’s on form.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. Cancellara
4. Van Avermaet
5. Nibali
VSP PICKS:
1. gilbert
2. sagan
3. cancellara
4. pozzato
5. boonen
VSP PICKS:
1. Ballan
2. Gilbert
3. Iglinski
4. Van Avermaet
5. Cancellara
VSP PICKS:
1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Peter Sagan
3. Cadel Evans
4. Maxim Iglinsky
5. Fabian Cancellara
@paolo
+1, well played
I haven’t the slightest idea what I am doing.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Spartacus
3. Nibali
4. Hincapie
5. Millar
VSP PICKS:
1. Ballan
2. Cancellara
3. Hesjedal
4. Gilbert
5. Pozzato
VSP PICKS:
1. Van Avermaet
2. Cancellara
3. Gilbert
4. Sagan
5. Ballan