Velominati Super Prestige: Milano Sanremo 2014
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:
- 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.
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.
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[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VSP Prizes/”/]
Wet and wild from the Parcours, https://www.facebook.com/jacob.bauer.927
VSP Picks:
1. Cavendish
2. Sagan
3. Cancellara
4. Kwiatowski
5. Bennati
Better forecast at Turchino this year –
23 Mar will be with moderate temperatures and the weather will be stable, thunderstorms not likely.
There is a 52% probability of light rainfall and showers.
The sky will be cloudy:
The highest temperature will reach 12 degrees Celsius, while the the lowest temperature will drop to 5 degrees Celsius. The wind will be a gentle breeze, fog will form, and the mean air pressure will be 1001 mb. Relative humidity will be very high.
15 minutes until start time. We’ve got ourselves a season!!
1. Sagan
2. Thomas
3. Faboo
4. Stannard
5. Gilbert
Hmmm. Is Stannard not riding?
Now I’ve gone and completely second-guessed my leaving out of anybody on OPQ. Cav won’t be there but with Stybar and Kwiotowski et. al. they’ve got a strong team. Hmmmm.
Apparently the Turchino has toned it down a little this year & is only hailing on the riders, meanwhile it’s sunny & warm in San Remo…
@Marko seems both you & I have decided to entirely ignore the form team of the season so far, we’ll soon know if it was brave or stupid!
@Mikael Liddy
Now with the weather the way it is I fear we’ve doubly fucked ourselves.
@Marko speak for yourself, I’ve got a couple of cold weather specialists in there in Heinrich & Eddy Boss along with two of last year’s podium in Sagz & Faboo.
@Mikael Liddy Word, I was referring to OPQ exclusion, you know, Belgians and all. But yes, those are some good Rule #9 riders. I too have Degenkolb and Van Avermat who aren’t afraid of the wind and rain. Can’t think of how well Billions and Billions goes when it’s wet though.
any real action yet? Haven’t been able to get a feed loaded.
@paolo
Alright, this isn’t working. I’m trying to follow the race from text updates on Cyclingnews.com on one screen and Google Maps on another screen. Bein TV is running highlights Monday night? Didn’t they broadcast 2-3 hours live last year?!
@Minnesota Expat
http://www.sportlemon.tv/20131025/vv526a3905a529d4.11605989-670321.html (try this)
@Nate
break 5 mins up with 40k to go.
http://www.cyclingfans.com is your friend.
@Marko
Sagz would’ve won last year if he wasn’t so dumb in chasing down every single move, so maybe it just stops him thinking.
@Nate
Nothing yet. All about to happen. Lots of links to try for MSN so hopefully one works.
http://www.procyclinglive.com/livestream/
http://www.steephill.tv/classics/milan-san-remo/
Thanks lads. Problem is new hardware on my end. Should have it sorted by the time they hit e cipressa.
@scaler911
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!
@Minnesota Expat
Which of the stupid “Watch Now” buttons did you select that are not merely adverts for movie sites?
these new helmets are hideous.
sean just said terty. Drink.
Nibali’s got a gap between his jersey and arm warmers. Aesthetics dictate that he can’t stay clear for the win…
@moondance wait I’m not supposed to update my Flash player?
@Steampunk does he get a pass as an Italian? Why oh why didn’t I go with Nibbles? Dude is flying.
Nibs form ain’t fully there…now that slick descent….
@starclimber I officially withdraw my statement, even if he is fully Rule #85 compliant.
Fantastic finale! I really should stop picking the favourites in the VSP, but a brilliant last 30k.
Congrats to Kristoff. Cancellara put in some good work though.
AWESOME RACE!!
@Island Bike takes MSR and an early lead in the VSP! Congrats!
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What was BMC’s plan for the finale there? Looked like Phillipe waited for GVA to hit the front & then lead him out but as soon as he went to wind it up GVA had nothing left…
Awesome race! Is this the second or third time that Sparty has come second at MSR? I know that he has won once but damn he has owned the podium of this race for the last 7 or 8 years. What a race!
Damm, a bit grumpy at Sagan, does he not understand that now is the time to get serious and lay down a base for his Palmeres?
I only followed on the live feed so I can’t wait to see it. Nibals sounded like he committed too early and Kristoff sounded unstoppable. Cancellara, what is he still 3 weeks from his peak?
@Rob
DAMN! Scary but good point about Sparty. He might still be a few weeks short of peaking. I bet he would rather have another RVV or PR win tying him with the all time wins than another MSR win.
Sagan might be a few weeks short as well. IT is going to be INCREDIBLE at RVV and PR this Spring!!!
@Rob
BTW, is this the “Rob” that I rode hand in hand a la LeMan and Hinault into North Adams??? If so, new avatar for you, eh?
@Buck Rogers hey Bucko, the avatar thing is bugging me I think I lost my pass word… God I can’t wait for this stage of puter pass word to be over – scan my eyeballs with lazers, scan my brain with radiation, anything but this!
@Buck Rogers
You are so right about the next month of racing! There are finally a half dozen that could win PR and make the rest of the classics edge of the seat stuff or just a ride for the ages, can’t wait.
I struggled to watch the last 10 of the race, I think I was vomiting through most of it. Can someone kick Belkin off their UCI ticket? Riding that snot green strip on a celeste bike is an abomination…and as for the helmets, don’t even get me started!
All this is obviously a misdirection away from my appalling picks…but hey I am aiming to peak in 6 months right?!
It was a great race though…
The helmets in the peloton are becoming freakish in the extreme- i’m sorry but this just looks silly!
@simonsaunders @Deakus If to look fantastic is to already go fast, is the corollary that to look awful is to already go slow?
@Deakus
Bianchi / Belkin should swap bikes with Astana?
@Deakus Have to say I hardly noticed the color of Tjallingii’s kit. That was a fucking strong ride.
Haven’t seen the race yet, but Kristoff!!
I thought he’d be good, but not THAT good. Can I get bonus points for tipping him for Flanders now? ;)
So much like last year, I did not here the announcers mention the eventual winner until the last 50 meters. Great race.
@simonsaunders agreed, what the hell is going on with helmet design at the moment?! Must admit that those POC shades are slowly growing on me though. Cracking race in tough conditions, although as has already been mentioned, wish Cancellara had gone with Nibbles as that would have been very interesting.
@simonsaunders yes… Certainly looks like the wrong decade. Is it acceptable to imitate this particular look? He is pro…
@simonsaunders
Its fucking awful. Looks more like a ski helmet and goggles than cycling gear.
The only one that even remotely looks good is the Specialized.
@Nate
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.
@simonsaunders @frank Don’t mind Yoann’s set up;
Found here.
@simonsaunders
It looks like a toddler helmet to me. He might as well be wearing this:
@Optimiste Agreed. And those Elvis specs do not help one iota.
@frank
Hasn’t anyone told him that GC riders are meant to ride as boring as fuck? JRod rides like that too, but I saw Cadelephant attack in Strada Bianchi! It must be catching.