Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2014

Win a Hat! photo:Steephill
Win a Hat! photo:Steephill/Sirotti

The race of the funny hat.

Every team seems to have included one or two riders fresh off the Tour. One would either feel ruined or unbeatable a week after that slug fest, more than likely, ruined. I imagine there are a few riders dodging calls from their directors this week.

Tony Gallopin beat Malmerde in last year’s edition and the Spaniard will be hot to win something big after being relegated to fourth place in the Tour. Gallopin’s stock has gone way up, having just worn the yellow jersey, so if the legs allow he should have some confidence. Others will be tuning up for the Vuelta but it is hard to imagine the win not coming from a recent Tour finisher with the mint legs on. No amount of training will duplicate three weeks of pain bank deposits from that Tour. That being said, I dare Frandy to win it. Why do I have such a bad attitude about him? Move on Gianni, move on.

This is also when contracts are negotiated so it would be quite timely to impress everyone with a giant one-day race win.

Here is a start list for this race and a prize list the the overall 2014 VSP. The overall VSP points earned are not high this year; a strong last third of the season could win the overall. This race is on a Saturday so be wary, make picks by Friday.

  • First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
  • 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.)
  • Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes. Yes, we said orange.

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100 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2014”

  1. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Romain Bardet
    3. Tejay Van Garderen
    4. Michael Rogers
    5. Bauke Mollema

  2. VSP PICKS:

    1. Peter Sagan
    2. Zdenek Stybar
    3. Michael Albasini
    4. Philippe Gilbert
    5. Bauke Mollema

  3. Usual worthless picks. I’m hopng Phil Gil and Danny Boy have not been couch surfing over the past month or so and are fresh and ready to go. Malmerde usually has form and will be wanting to win after his late Tour drop off the podium. Rodriguez and Sagan will be trying had for leaving the Tour empty-handed. If Vos was riding, I’d put her in.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Valverde
    4. Daniel; Martin
    5. Rodriguez

  4. @wiscot   Ditto!  I think I’ve focussed on “non fallers” so if a bunch of my picks bite the dust on this one I’ll know it’s me.

  5. It’s a breakaway type of day. Or that’s what I’m hoping.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Greg Van Avermaet
    2. Ramunas Navardauskas
    3. Jan Bakelants
    4. Tony Gallopin
    5. Michael Rogers

  6. I know the word is “it’s still not over” but for me it’s over.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Van Avermaet
    4. Gallopin
    5. Stybar

  7. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Peter Sagan
    4. Zdenek Stybar
    5. Tony Gallopin

  8. VSP PICKS:

    1. sagan
    2. gallopin
    3. valverde
    4. van avermaet
    5. bakelants

  9. Great thread, man I love this site!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. sagan
    2. valverde
    3. gerrans
    4. gallopin
    5. gilbert

  10. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Sagan
    3. Gerrans
    4. Gilbert
    5. Van Avermaet

  11. VSP PICKS:

    1. Phil Gil
    2. Sagan
    3. Stybar
    4. Garcia
    5. Duran

  12. VSP PICKS:

    1. Slagter
    2. Westra
    3. Van Avermaet
    4. Valverde
    5. Gallopin

  13. VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Greg Van Avermaet
    3. Simon Gerrans
    4. Gallopin
    5. Valverde

  14. Now that the Race of the Falling Favorites is over, time to stick the voodoo pin into Valverde.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Moreno
    3. Bardet
    4. Gerrans
    5. Visconti

  15. Lest there be any confusion

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde, Fuckface
    2. Moreno, Daniel
    3. Bardet, Romain
    4. Gerrans, Simon
    5. Visconti, Giovanni

  16. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gallopin
    2. Valverde
    3. Bardet
    4. Gilbert
    5. Stybar

  17. UUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGHHHHHH. This race is tailor-made for two riders, Dan Martin and Peter Sagan. Which mean’s it isn’t tailor-made, exactly but close enough. We’re not talking bespoke, FFS.

    So…………Pedro is tired from a Tour in which he overplayed his cards any time he had a real chance and underplayed them when he could have been an opportunist. Dan fell off when he was about to repeat the biggest win of his career and hasn’t been seen since.

    I’m guessing Peter has the bigger fire, but Dan is fresher.

    Fuck it. Here goes.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan Wagan
    2. Dean Martin
    3. Valve Cap
    4. Gallopin’ Tony
    5. Pilly Gilly

  18. @xyxax

    Phil Gil has abandoned for some reason after only 75km.

    I knew there was a reason I didn’t pick Gilbert or Sagan (that’s a surprise, when was the last time Sagan didn’t finish or withdrew?) to finish in the top five. Gilbert probably withdrew cause he had a chest infection last week and couldn’t train.

  19. These friggin’ men’s one day races give me the most trouble. I think I’d do just as well posting photos of 20 or so contenders to a wall and throwing 5 darts and going with those names.

    At least on the women’s side my number 1 pick is pretty much automatic.

  20. For 2015, could someone please teach Purito to TT and how to handle a sprint. You can’t lead out like that and hope to hold off the guy on your wheel. The only reason he didn’t finish off the podium was because Nieves was cooked and/or had the decency to acknowledge JRod had done the lion’s share of the work. I love watching this guy ride, but is can’t help thinking I’ve got more tactical nous than him…

  21. @xyxax

    @Minnesota Expat

    Someone wrote that they would be surprised in Sagan actually made the start. Didn’t sound promising.

    A Garmin rider last year said this was a race where you know very early if you were doomed or not. Bad legs for Sagan.

  22. @Gianni

    @xyxax

    @Minnesota Expat

    Someone wrote that they would be surprised in Sagan actually made the start. Didn’t sound promising.

    A Garmin rider last year said this was a race where you know very early if you were doomed or not. Bad legs for Sagan.

    We’re all doomed from the start. Throw me a beer.

  23. @Jay

    I completely Delgadoed this one.

    Well at least you can say “if only” vs me being in dunce’s corner “null pointe”

  24. Holy shit – I made the podium! Perhaps I need to say “Oh, fuck it” and just enter random names more often.  It certainly never works out this well for me when I actually put some thought into it.  Celebratory beer tonight!

  25. Yates Boys. They are going to be stars, I’ve just submitted their Australian Residency applications for them.

    None of us like Valverde much, but shit he knows how to win a race. That was a masterclass in pacing himself on that last climb and putting in the killer blow. Purito must spit chips when he sees him on his wheel.

  26. @Daccordi Rider

    Yates Boys. They are going to be stars, I’ve just submitted their Australian Residency applications for them.

    None of us like Valverde much, but shit he knows how to win a race. That was a masterclass in pacing himself on that last climb and putting in the killer blow. Purito must spit chips when he sees him on his wheel.

    How is the Yates that crashed, full gas into the armco? Speaking of which the Giant rider who went through the barriers in the sprint in Poland?

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