Velominati Super Prestige:
Giro D'Italia 2013
Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: Jamin

Order: Level 4 Velominatus

I used to surf heaps, now I ride heaps.

@Jamin's activity:

Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2013

It looks so easy on the television. Well, no, actually it looks pretty bloody hard. We think we have some understanding of how they suffer, how their bodies can take the continual beating. But we don’t really know. Not even by riding these abominations they call roads twice in the space of a few days can we understand the scale of the thing...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Hoping Heiny gets up. Paying a motza with the bookies »

  2. Hoping Heiny gets up. Worth a fortune with the bookies VSP PICKS: 1. Faboo 2. Haussler 3. Chavanel 4. Van Avermaet 5. EBH »

Velominati Super Prestige: Milan-Sanremo 2013

Finally, we have Milan-Sanremo. I hope pedale.forcetta is ready to shoot some pictures, especially black and white because it will be cold and possibly wet. Throw in a little wind and a race of this distance will weed out the less hardy. Recently, but not too recently, this race would be won out of a decent size field sprint. And yet, besides Fabs...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Picked Goss for the win on the nose 2011. Have Faboo each way this time. Sagan just needs to finish and will win. Phil Gil will do well as usual. VSP PICKS: 1. Sagan 2. Gilbert 3. Goss 4. Cancellara 5. Pippo »

Strack to Lead New V-Studies Initiative at McMaster University

La Vie Velominatus is set to become the subject of intense scholarly analysis next week, as Frank Strack will receive an honorary PhV from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario (chapeau to @ten B for the PhV). It’s been a heady week for the cycling types around these parts; Strack will close out festivities that included the Bike Snob and Mari...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Frank, for someone so fastidious about appearance, does the text on the invite/flyer not grate on your senses? I’m certainly not the one to do it, but someone should explain the finer points of typography. Hyphenation & widows everywhere. Oh, please! »

Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012

I’m quite upset about it, actually, all this racing that’s been going on in perfectly good weather. Vlaanderen, dry. Roubaix, dry. We were nearly guaranteed shit weather with the Olympics in London, but even then, only the women got to get all Rule #9 on our asses – and only for one race. Damnit, I want Epic, and if we keep insis...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Want Gerro to do it but I can’t look past Sagan (neither can the ladies). Valverde will nip Gerro at the post as usual. Phil Gil will blow. Nibbles will be there for the Azzuri VSP PICKS: 1. Sagan 2. Valverde 3. Gerro 4. Gilbert 5. Nibali »

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Olympic Road Race 2012

You can all wave “goodbye” to your Post GT Depression Syndrome, because the Men’s Olympic Road Race is only three days yonder. I don’t typically give two shits about this particular event; while contested by national teams, unlike the Worlds it appears as just another one-day race on a calendar filled with events that carry...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Just picked the 5 fastest guys I reckon could do it. Too much at stake and too many strong teams to let a break stay away. Gossy gets the jump but fades. VSP PICKS: 1. Cav 2. Goss 3. Griepel 4. Sagan 5. Boonen »

Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race 2012

When people think of the The Netherlands, they generally think of flat lands, windmills, and a topography where people claim to “live at elevation” when their home on the third floor of a building. Never the less, this is not entirely true as The Motherland does, in its most southern reaches, boast quite hilly terrain; the province of...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. I sense Cadel & Gerro going toe-to-toe in the finale VSP PICKS: 1. Gerro 2. Cadel 3. Valverde 4. Nibali 5. J-Rod »

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

The 2012 Velominati Super Prestige kicks off in proper form this season with the debut of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as part of the series. I’m tempted to stubbornly refer to this race as Het Volk, but I’ll toe the line and refer to the race by its bewildering new(ish) name.This is a tricky race to predict because the big races in April ar...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Just worked it out from everyone else’s picks… VSP PICKS: 1. Gilbert 2. Cooke 3. Boonen 4. Flecha 5. Devolder »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia

No event of the year is more likely to provide piles of Rule #9 in the Five and Dime than il Giro di Lombardia. A hilly circuit around Lake Como ensures lots of climbing and that the bunch is blown to bits before the finish. Add to that its position as the last classic of the season, nestled in amongst the falling leaves of mid-October, and you...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. @minion Love this race. Wish I could be there. Buuuut, absolutely salivating over the RWC semi’s. Wallabies all the way. The Kiwi’s play in black because it takes less time to look like their mourning VSP PICKS: 1. Gilbo 2. Gerro 3. Roche 4. Rodrigue… »

Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 La Vuelta a España

Spain is an awesome country. It has amazing scenery, culture, cities and chicas… oh, the chicas. Its football competition features the world’s best players, their national team are the reigning World Cup holders, and they boast world champions in tennis, Moto GP, Superbikes and Formula 1. They regularly kick the collective asses of Fran...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. I’m getting on Wiggins. Everyone was putting Cadel into the “almost good enough but not a winner, always in the mix” pre-Tour. He’s a chance so why not. I still know nuthin’ and can’t say I’m too fussed by this GT either. VSP PICKS: 1. Wiggins 2. Nibal… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Le Tour de France, Stage 20

Reach for your recovery drink of choice, grab a little massage if you can, load up on carbs tonight, and get ready for the ultimate showdown for final Tour glory tomorrow to be contested in 41 kilometers contra la montre. I’m talking about the fans, not the riders, obviously. Because these last two days have nearly killed us.This is anyone&#...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. @Leroy You’re out of your brain. Cadel has taken responsibility for his own race this year and let the Schleckette do the whinging. Lead them in from the front waaaaay back at the TTT. Stage victory, chasing down breaks (up hill) mostly on his lonesome. H… »

Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 Le Tour de France

While a good number of Velominati get all uppity around May and make rash statements like their preferred Grand Tour is the Giro d’Italia, because it has more and bigger climbs, beautiful white roads and crazy tifosi, there’s no denying that Le Tour de France is the real grandaddy of them all.Admit it, July trumps May every time. Conti...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Cadel looks the goods. Every little Aussie cycling fan is holding their breath and willing Cadel’s luck to hold out. No jinxing him please. He’s really biding his time well. He is super strong. His team is holding up well. He took it upon himself to lead … »

  2. I actually like Contador – just wish he wasn’t riding. Punters across the world are scratching their heads as to how he’s starting after being found positive. Even if it was 0.0000005 concentration. I reckon Cadel is in good shape. Andy might be dogging … »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia

In the 1990 Giro, a relatively unknown cyclist named Gianni Bugno lit the cycling world on fire by winning the first stage, thereby taking the Maglia Rossa. That wasn’t so surprising in itself; what was surprising was that the little bugger managed to hold the jersey all the way to Milan, a feat previously only accomplished by Binda and M...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Yep Contador goes back on top. VSP PICKS: 1. Contador 2. Nibali 3. Kreuzinger 4. Rodriguez 5. Scarponi »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro Stage 9, Mt. Etna

There will be fireworks. It’s a phrase we often use, and one we rarely take literally. But this photo shows Mount Etna. Actually erupting. Recently. There is a non-zero chance that it will erupt tomorrow, when the Giro d’Italia riders over this brute twice.Tomorrow’s stage will be the first real battleground for this year’s...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Oh, that’s right, the Giro is a bike race. Imagine picking a winner based on the fact he ‘lives in the area’ vs the best stage racer around. “First with the head, then with the heart” Gonna smash myself as penance »

  2. Nibali will just go mental and pip Contador on the line. Will be a ripper stage. Going to bed to wake up at midnight to catch some of it VSP PICKS: 1. Nibali 2. Contador 3. J-Rod 4. Anton 5. Sastre »

Triumph and Tragedy

Balance. It can be achieved by never deviating from the middle, or it can be achieved by violent swings to and fro. It is said, however, that the great peaks can’t be reached without crossing through deep valleys. Tragically, we were reminded today that our sport is one of great peaks and deep, deep valleys.Cycling is a sport of risk and dang...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. I got up real early Tuesday morning to get the overnight Giro news and was shocked and saddened like all have been across the globe. It was a tough start to the day – only made better by a solid rouleur style hit-out (into the wind) with my cycling sens… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia

In the 1990 Giro, a relatively unknown cyclist named Gianni Bugno lit the cycling world on fire by winning the first stage, thereby taking the Maglia Rossa. That wasn’t so surprising in itself; what was surprising was that the little bugger managed to hold the jersey all the way to Milan, a feat previously only accomplished by Binda and M...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Richie Porte will fly a little under the radar and they may do a switcheroo like Goss/Cav earlier this year. Rodriguez is likely to be stuffed from a hectic early season. He’ll be thereabouts but a couple of minutes down. Menchov – done nuthin’ yet. Won’… »

Velominati Super Prestige: La Fléche Wallonne

La Fléche would perhaps be my least favorite classic, were it not for Gent-Wevelgem’s ill-timed bike-throw in their race for last place. It isn’t anything to do with the quality of these races themselves, but more to do with the company they travel in. Gent used to be sandwiched between de Ronde and Roubaix, just as La Fléche is betwe...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Schlecko is going well. Alberto is too. Gerro didn’t have enough to go with Gilbo Sunday. Gilbo will be too knackered by now. Sanchez is Spanish and can climb. VD Broek just might ’cause he’s from around there? VSP PICKS: 1. Andy Schlecker 2. Contadorey… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race

Holland. Not known as a hilly country, this. I have relatives who live “at elevation” near the Kinderdijk, where I took this photo. They live at 3m above sea level. Right. Known more for wind than we are for hills, then. In fact, one of the many (many) interesting things about the Netherlands is that while most countries use windmills...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Still know nuthin’. Having a roughy in Gerro for my picks. That fella has gotta do something soon’ish. Hope it’s as good a race as we’ve had these last few weeks! VSP PICKS: 1. Gilbert 2. Veino 3. Cunego 4. Gesink 5. Gerrans »

Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix

Let us pray for rain.The Sunday after Ronde Van Vlaanderen brings us to Paris-Roubaix. The Holiest of Holies. There are no bergs to ride over, instead, accelerate to maximum speed to be in the top 20 to start each cobbled section, bring power up to flank to float over broken treacherous farm path crown, gutter or ditch or all three at the same time...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. I certainly don’t know much but I do know to pick Cancellara. If, (as many suspect) Faboo’s legs are leaden, I’d love to see a repeat of 2007 and watch his mate Stuey the Freckle slay ‘em all again. However I can see Stuey setting it up for his room-mate … »

Velominati Super Prestige: Ronde van Vlaanderen

Ok, ok, settle down now people.  Take your seats please.  You’re all a little bit on edge, like some cycling Gamblers Anonymous group that’s been let out for the weekend with a pocket full of bills and the name of the nearest bookie.  But in your excitement, you managed to crash our server, delaying the fix you so desperately crave.B...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. I went basic picks. Cancellara will become Can-Can-Cancellara when he backs up with 3 wins in 3 weeks. The others are pack fillers like myself. It’ll have to be a breakaway, so I’m leaving my boy Gossy on the bench this week. Hope he makes me look (more) … »

Guest Article: 24 hours of The V

Most 24 hour bike rides consist of teams of riders who trade off shifts and ride, as a group, for 24 hours. As far as 24 hour competitions go, that’s the smart way to handle it. It seems kind of weak, though, doesn’t it? Why bother with getting off the bike every few hours?  Sounds complicated and like it might be a waste of energy, al...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. @il ciclista medio You can just see the sly glance between them, the raised eyebrow and the gesture motioning, “out the back” the party would be a hoot. »

  2. I’m not really sure the Queen would be pulling bongs or straight from the bottle of scotch/beer? If she did the English from her mouth would be quite garbled to say the least. Though the mental image of her doing either or “punching a cone/pulling a bong”… »

Anatomy of a Photo: The Bowels of Spectating

Perusing the Velominati Archives of Cycling Photos Liberated from the Interwebs (VACPLI), I stumbled across this little gem. I’m sure they are lovely people on the inside, but this photo showcases one of the most unflattering examples of spectators we find along the roadside of the Great Races. I’m not sure how you can be at the Queen S...

@Jamin's posts:

  1. Thankyou all for another fabulous read. I’d typed out a tirade against all low-rent bogan’s with no teeth and fashion clone/victims, then stopped as the thought struck; “What would Jens wear?” »