This is the kick off of the VSP for women’s racing, though the women have already kicked it off with the Ronde van Drenthe in the Netherlands. Now it’s down to Northern Italy, Varese, by Lago Maggiore, but this is a climbers course, more in the mountains than by the lake. And yes, Sunday is also Gent-Wevelgem for women but Trofeo is part of the women’s World Cup so it is the race of choice (unless you are a sprinter who likes cobbles and wet Belgian weather).
If you fancy doing well in this year’s VSP then you had better be studying up on the women’s racing. Podiumcafé always has some well informed articles on women’s racing, in addition, velofocus is worth a visit. Last year’s winner was Elisa Longo Borghini. This year’s winner will have to be a strong climber, descender and if last week’s Milan-Sanremo’s weather was any indicator of anything, tough as nails.
If any well informed individual would like to submit a guest article on women’s professional racing in 2014, we, in the Velominati Super Bunker would be open to that. Lastly, we hate whiners, so if you get confused about your time zones and nap schedule, and miss placing your picks, Rule #5. Start list is here.
[vsp_results id=”29361″/]
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@UptheTrossachs
First of all, the lads who really put in the work here, both physically and creatively, are the true chaps deserving of a thanks and all the credit. They could very easily tell me I'm not a welcome member and to go get F.ed. Big Frank, Gianni, Marko, Bretto, they're the ones perpetually riding with their noses in the wind.
Let us picture it this way - say you are a member of a cycling club. Most members ride every Sunday, rain or shine, winter or summer. A few riders show up at the Cabin Fever party, where there are free Hot Toddies on offer after the rider. (an elitist drink, for an elitist club, right?) The next time you see them is the Giro kick off ride, where there is free Grappa for post-ride recovery. You don't hear from them the rest of the year, unless they need to borrow your BB30 tool.
I don't know enough in comparison to the true resident experts here, the ones who been riding and racing and wrenching for years and years, to be shutting the door on anyone. New riders in the pack is always cool, but if they only contribute when there are prizes on offer, it makes their participation seem a little less noble, eh?
As for this demands on your time in "Real Life" I'd say, see Rule 11. Then consider that for most of us, there is no real life without cycling, as they're impossible to delineate.
That is just how I see things. Other community members might feel wholly different. But, I've never been one to bite my tongue when I feel like something fucky is going on.
scaler911 & Barracuda - thank you for what I'd call gettin' a B. (getting a pal's back when he's about to be blindsided) I appreciate you having the wisdom to discern my intent.
@UptheTrossachs
First of all, the lads who really put in the work here, both physically and creatively, are the true chaps deserving of a thanks and all the credit. They could very easily tell me I'm not a welcome member and to go get F.ed. Big Frank, Gianni, Marko, Bretto, they're the ones perpetually riding with their noses in the wind.
Let us picture it this way - say you are a member of a cycling club. Most members ride every Sunday, rain or shine, winter or summer. A few riders show up at the Cabin Fever party, where there are free Hot Toddies on offer after the rider. (an elitist drink, for an elitist club, right?) The next time you see them is the Giro kick off ride, where there is free Grappa for post-ride recovery. You don't hear from them the rest of the year, unless they need to borrow your BB30 tool.
I don't know enough in comparison to the true resident experts here, the ones who been riding and racing and wrenching for years and years, to be shutting the door on anyone. New riders in the pack is always cool, but if they only contribute when there are prizes on offer, it makes their participation seem a little less noble, eh?
As for this demands on your time in "Real Life," I'd say see Rule 11. Then consider that for most of us, there is no real life without cycling, as they're impossible to delineate. Plus, it's easily the most incredible VSP of all time!
That is just how I see things. Other community members might feel wholly different. But, I've never been one to bite my tongue when I feel like something fucky is going on.
scaler911 & Barracuda - thank you for what I'd call gettin' a B. (getting a pal's back when he's about to be blindsided) I appreciate you having the wisdom to discern my intent.
@Ron I see where you are coming from - it's very understandable and I agree, it grates a little.
However I think its fair to say that we i.e. the regular 'community' don't come here for prizes or even for the VSP.
It's shit and giggles on the internet innit, and as long as the community continues to be what it is and contribute in the same spirit then who gives a toss if some people want to do a smash and grab raid.
To take your analogy, if you had 52 weeks of great riding with those people in your cycling club and someone on a mailing list turns up twice a year for a drink, well who got the better end of the deal, and did you lose anything by it ?
Having said that I would support a return to simpler prizes as a way to avoid or at least mitigate this issue.
It was more in the spirit of the thing and the place when we were competing for token souvenirs than for real swag.
There are plenty of 'real' fantasy cycling competitions out there if sponsors want to get promotion.
ChrisO - a very intelligent response. Thanks for that! A smart way to look at things, and to go through life - nope, I'm not losing anything, so why worry? Right, I'll happily get worked up over just a shop apron and the fun is all in the community energy. Thank you for re-indexing my mental shifter.
@ChrisO
Wow! I thought that I was the only one who felt this way (and perhaps I am misreading you, ChrisO!). With huge kuddos to the sponsors and their amazing generosity (and never having won anything and not having fuck alls chance of ever doing so with my murky, cloudy crsytal ball) I do not like the feel of prizes. Seems to sully the overall feel of the competetion. Makes it too materialist.
But then again, I am a weird fuck with REALLY weird ideas so what the fuck do I know???
Besides, it's play if you want to, don't if you don't and I have no problem if someone stumbles by, wins the whole thing outright and never posts once.
@Buck Rogers
Buck, ChrisO, this ^ the interweb has no rules but this site has a vibe that keeps the boil down to a simmer so that great discussion and fun times roll out almost every day. There is no bad in the sometime/onetime poster coming just for the big Magilla (Vagilla?)... In fact now that I have squeaked on to the leader board I'm hoping to pass BoomBoom84 and Xyxax by the grand tours. I need a new N-1!
Just a note to those not Cogally exposed to Buck - He is NOT weird, just the opposite, probably the most normal of human beings to ride amongst us and that includes the totally warped sense of humor!
@Rob
[ Nacho Libre voice ] "All those things you just said (about Buck) are all the same things I would say about me (unversio). Normal and warped..."
@unversio
Si Se̱or, does this not apply most here?@Rob
Yaaesss
@ChrisO
I wouldn't describe the VSP Champions Shop Apron as a token souvenir more like highly sought after trophy and in my case prized possession.
That being said I don't disagree with you but damn that Veloforma is one sweet ride.