Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia 2016

Quietowski leads the remnants of the break around Lake Como. Photo: pedale.forchetta

I turned forty last week. Nothing feels different except all my strength has gone, my memory sucks, and everything hurts now. That, and everything makes me mad because it isn’t the way it used to be. Case in point: the Giro di Lombardia is no longer the last race of the year. (I know it hasn’t been for a while but no one counts that race in Japan or the Tour of Beijing as real races.) And they moved it up so early in the season that the leaves aren’t even falling yet. We call it the race of the falling leaves for a reason, people!

Christ, I miss the Cold War.

At least we can count on @pedale-forchetta to be at the roadside, delivering the most badass photos on the most badass part of the route.

For those of you entering the VSP, don’t let the fact that Paris-Tours and the Words haven’t happened yet fool you. Lombardia is this weekend even though it will barely be October by the time they hit the start line. Get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero. (Countdown clock’s been fixed, by the way, just in time for the season to end – you’re welcome.)

Kick it.

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frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Quasar says:

Oct 1 2016 at 1:36 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Dan Martin
2. Warren Barguil
3. Julian Alaphilippe
4. Fabio Aru
5. Gianluca Brambilla
LeoTea says:

Oct 1 2016 at 1:53 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Dan martin
2. Wout poels
3. Allaphillipe
4. Golden Greg van A
5. Nico Roche
xyxax says:

Oct 1 2016 at 3:20 am
Falling, leaves.

VSP PICKS:
1. Uran Rigs
2. Moreno Danny
3. D. Martin
4. Not built in a Bardet
5. Valverde AJ
Minnesota Expat says:

Oct 1 2016 at 8:26 am

Good race! And Dan Collins nailed it!
chuckp says:

Oct 1 2016 at 9:22 am

Meatloaf said 2 out of 3 ain't bad. I got 2 out of 5. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Erik says:

Oct 1 2016 at 9:31 am

That was a great finale. I didn't put Chaves in my picks because I didn't think his season could get better. Hat tip to him.
Erik says:

Oct 1 2016 at 9:37 am

@Erik

That was a great finale. I didn’t put Chaves in my picks because I didn’t think his season could get better. Hat tip to him.

Just remembered that this may be my last pick with the leaf badge. I've had it twice. It will be missed.
Brett says:

Oct 1 2016 at 2:23 pm

Dan Collins opens up a vital gap on Bianchi Denti with another solid performance. Could there be some VSPUE manipulation?

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wiscot says:

Oct 1 2016 at 4:13 pm

Congrats to @dancollins! A fine season-long performance. Squeeky-close for positions 2-10.

Thanks to all the sponsors for encouraging us to gaze into our crystal balls. My winter project is to scrub the inch-thick layer of shite off mine.

Stoked for the wee man Esteban! A very worthy winner indeed.
dancollins says:

Oct 1 2016 at 4:25 pm

@Brett

OK, I'll bite. What is VSPUE manipulation? Some of us old guys are a bit dense.