Velominati Super Prestige: Milano Sanremo 2014

Merckx takes his first of seven MSRs.
Merckx takes his first of seven MSRs.

Het Volk (it will always be Het Volk to me) and now the Strade Bianche may well mark the sentimental beginning to the season, but those are specialized, pre-season races that appeal mostly to riders who are preparing for bigger objectives later in the year, such as the Cobbled or Ardennes Classics. Same goes for Tirreno Adriatico and Paris-Nice; there are preparatory events – none of the marquee names have these events in their programme as primary objectives.

The season doesn’t really start until Milano Sanremo, the first Monument and the first race of the year that any Pro would proudly define their career by winning, and so that’s where we start the fifth installment of the Velominati Super Prestige. Last year saw our biggest turnout yet, with sponsors kicking in some serious prizes for the Tour de France VSP. This year we’ve built on that momentum to offer three major prizes for the season-long VSP:

  1. First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
  2. 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.)
  3. Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.

So, without further ado, check the start list, review the VSP Scoring Guidelines and get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on Sunday the 24th. If you think we mapped one of your picks wrong, use the dispute system and we’ll review it. Also remember to be precise enough in your description so we know which rider you mean; in other words, if you enter “Martin”, we will use our discretion (read: wild guess) to decide if you mean Tony or Dan – and that choice will not be negotiable once the the countdown clock goes to zero, so be sure to give yourself enough time.

Good luck, and don’t let these awesome prizes ruin your Rule #43 spirit.

[vsp_results id=”29200″/]

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VSP Prizes/”/]

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528 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Milano Sanremo 2014”

  1. Great race, great ride, Fab’s warming up nicely for the coming events.   Ill take top 10 in a solid start to trying to snatch some 50mm wheels off of @Dan_R.

    Sagan the dissappointment for me.  Says the Monday expert.

  2. @frank The Specialized looks ok from the front but the profile is kinda silly looking to me, way to long in the back and wierd angular shapes. That Poc helmet is the worst though.

  3. @frank

    @Nate

    So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters. Great race.

    I really feel he should be relegated to the back of the group for (a) riding in that kit and (b) failing to keep his lid on straight.

    It is so unsightly it makes it hard to enjoy seeing the finish line photos.

    Nibbles is one of my favorites, were it not for his similarly shit kit. I really like how he rides, the only rider willing to gamble on long moves. Who gives a shit that they don’t work? He’s giving it the berries and gambling.

    That helmet was tilted because it has an embedded microchip with an algorithm that is supposed to automatically compensate for crosswinds.  I’m told the algorithm was developed by a Dutch computer engineer who raced kermesses when he was younger.

  4. Q: What’s this: 1,1,2,3,2,2,3,1,1,2?

    A: Cancellara’s position in the last 10 monuments he has finished.

    (via his Twitter).

  5. @frank

    @Nate

    So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters. Great race.

    I really feel he should be relegated to the back of the group for (a) riding in that kit and (b) failing to keep his lid on straight.

    It is so unsightly it makes it hard to enjoy seeing the finish line photos.

    Nibbles is one of my favorites, were it not for his similarly shit kit. I really like how he rides, the only rider willing to gamble on long moves. Who gives a shit that they don’t work? He’s giving it the berries and gambling.

    Er….Dirty Bertie is not frightened of the occasionally demonstration of how the sherbert have not affected the size of his berries….he has already been at it this year.  I am looking forward to some fireworks this year.

  6. @Nate

    @frank

    @Nate

    So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters. Great race.

    I really feel he should be relegated to the back of the group for (a) riding in that kit and (b) failing to keep his lid on straight.

    It is so unsightly it makes it hard to enjoy seeing the finish line photos.

    Nibbles is one of my favorites, were it not for his similarly shit kit. I really like how he rides, the only rider willing to gamble on long moves. Who gives a shit that they don’t work? He’s giving it the berries and gambling.

    That helmet was tilted because it has an embedded microchip with an algorithm that is supposed to automatically compensate for crosswinds. I’m told the algorithm was developed by a Dutch computer engineer who raced kermesses when he was younger.

    Bravo!

  7. Yow! What a race!  Loving Nibbles, just knew he would try to blow things up but when Luca Paolini didn’t jump with him I started thinking that Kristoff was strong and they were holding their cards.  Got another race win with my knack for picking the 5th place guy, thanks Cav!  Early season VSP form, a little better understanding of the ladies race scene and a great prize package should be enough motivation for me to get my picks in on time this year!  Cheers to the V crew for running this contest, way better than filling out an NCAA bracket!

  8. @sthilzy

    @simonsaunders @frank Don’t mind Yoann’s set up;

    Found here.

    And what the hell is that “brim”? Is that a hipster capt he’s wearing? Where’s the big shiny silver sticker . . . I have to say, I’ll be hanging onto my current helmets as the new models coming out really don’t appeal at all. Looks like POC are going for maximum efficiency: one helmet for all sports.

  9. @Chris

    @Dr C His wife suffered a miscarriage in the lead up to the race.

    Technical, I know, but not his “wife”.  She’s actually his partner. 

    But man, my two favorite professional sporting figures have both had their wife/partner miscarry in the last two weeks.  Iniesta’s wife also had a miscarriage.

    As a father of five I cannot imagine how awful that must be.

  10. @Buck Rogers I stand corrected. Doesn’t make it any less shit.

    Hopefully they will be given the time and space they need by his team, the press and public.

  11. @G’rilla

    Stybar finishes 7th! Solid.

    Agreed! I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what he can do this year in P-R (if he can stay clear of the spectators!)

  12. @wiscot

    @Buck Rogers

    Fuck me! Anyone check out the BRR pics over the last week? Pure GOLD.

    http://bigringriding.com/

    Whoa! In the words of Hot Chocolate, “Everyone’s a winner.” Great piox! I want Kreuzinger’s legs.

    I want the legs that are in the background of the Merckx picture … in bed!

  13. @Buck Rogers

    @wiscot

    @Buck Rogers

    Fuck me! Anyone check out the BRR pics over the last week? Pure GOLD.

    http://bigringriding.com/

    Whoa! In the words of Hot Chocolate, “Everyone’s a winner.” Great piox! I want Kreuzinger’s legs.

    I want the legs that are in the background of the Merckx picture … in bed!

    Interesting, big Gert Jan’s helmet only has a single chip strap instead of two – the one that goes behind the ear isn’t there. Maybe the fucking enormous headband is taking its place?

    What is the road sign behind the Prophet supposed to mean/signify?

    The Cofidis and QS riders are wearing my helmet – BBB. Way better looking than most of the shit out there right now. POC take note.

  14. @wiscot He’s wearing a Belgian hairnet, same as Johan (I wonder if those are Testosterone patches on his knees???) and I think that they only come with one strap.  They were pretty fuckin useless anyways so who really cares if they fall off in the crash?

    As for the sign behind the Prophet, all I got is possible schlong length of the before mentioned?

  15. @Buck Rogers

    @wiscot He’s wearing a Belgian hairnet, same as Johan (I wonder if those are Testosterone patches on his knees???) and I think that they only come with one strap. They were pretty fuckin useless anyways so who really cares if they fall off in the crash?

    As for the sign behind The Prophet, all I got is possible schlong length of the before mentioned?

    Nah, they usually had two straps – one in front of the ear, the other behind. I know, I had one. But maybe the pros just did one to save weight.

    The Eddy sign? Big schlong coming through.

  16. @moondance

    @Minnesota Expat

    @scaler911

    http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131025/vv526a3905a529d4.11605989-670321.html (try this)

    Got it. Tanks! Norton Utilities is going crazy, warning me about Russian hackers and Bulgarian malware, but I can deal with that later, this is the final 30k of MSR!

    Which of the stupid “Watch Now” buttons did you select that are not merely adverts for movie sites?

    Those were advertisements?! Wow, maybe that explains why I’m now getting all these pop-ups with female porn stars on bikes and ads for Cycling Friend Finder?

    So, anyone else see the highlights on beIN Sports? In HD no less? 30 minutes. Is it too much to ask for 2-3 hours of live feed faster than 360p?

  17. @wiscot

    Can’t believe cyclingnews and velonews didn’t report thgis on the homepage:

    http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/140324_MSR_regenfotos

    “Oh, FUCK OFF rain.” Too funny. Not great photography, but that’s a good picture of Cav in the rain. Did he ride the distance without leg warmers? Daymnnnnn. Cav might be prickly on a good day and a jerk the rest of the time, but he’s always there and goes the distance.  You got to like him for Ghent Wevelgem.

  18. I like the fact that Matti Breshcel took that photo of Roman’s legs. Who knew that after his cycling days he can apprentice for Pedale!

    Also, what in fact happened to Greg VA and Gilbert. Did Greg drop his chain there at the end? If so, damn, that guy just cannot make it happen. So close many times.

  19. I can’t resist this but having been trawling through the stories on the site, I came across this quote from Frank.

    “Besides, pro’s don’t wear jeans, and they don’t wear white helmets that look like hollowed-out bowling balls”

    Quite apposite I thought for last weekends race.

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