Velominati Super Prestige: Giro D’Italia 2013

Pink Ryder photo:REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Twiggo is dreaming of a Giro-Tour double. He has sent out mixed messages about his Tour ambitions. Will he use the Giro as the ultimate Tour preparation or will be burn all his matches in May and hope he can find another pack for July? He has abandoned his successful 2012 Tour run-up strategy of winning every stage race he entered the previous spring. Now it’s the seclusion of Mount Doom of Tenerife, his coach and his watt meter his only competition. Team Sky is supporting Wig with a very strong squad, including superman, Kanstantsin Siutsou and with Cav no longer a teammate, it’s all the knights of the round table for Sir Twig.

Will the curse of the god-awful Astana kit continue to haunt non-Kazahk riders? Can Vincenzo’s Italian mojo overpower its powerful pale blue and yellow aura? Roman Kreuziger was finally able to win a big race once he shed that kit and pulled on one of Bjarne’s Saxo jerseys. Maybe it was more Bjarne and less jersey that made the difference.

Ryder gets no respect as the defending champion. His little dance at the end of Liége-Bastogne-Liége showed he is fit and ready for a fight. He can time trial, he can climb. Personally I have to back the local boy. And I always hate the overpowered, overwhelming favorite (read Team Sky here) in any race, unless that racer is Fabian Cancellara. No one can say Fabs has won a race this year surrounded with a team as strong as Sky’s. The Shack is just the Shack or a shack. Once Cancellara leaves for the Swiss “I AM” team, it’s lights out in the shack. Frandy, don’t forget to turn out ’em out when you leave.

If Cavendish wins the first day’s sprinter’s stage he will be in pink. He may be out of it after stage two, a team time trial.

But this is the Giro: crazy, unexpected, beautiful things can happen. The spinning wheels of fortuna are less predictable in Italy as they are in France in July. The betting window is now open. The complete start list is not yet available, an incomplete one is here and shall be updated soon. So sleep on your picks, wait for all the teams to make it official, unless you want to go with the obvious all Sky podium. The race begins Saturday so don’t Delgado away a Grand Tour opportunity.

[vsp_results id=”23343″/]

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

Next Sur La Plaque: Rule #33 »

Previous « Velominati Kit Redesign: Half Turbine, Half Hazard

View Comments

frank says:

May 10 2013 at 4:09 pm

@motor city

@Mikael Liddy

Jeez you'd think being a Pom, Wiggo would know a little more about handling a bike in Rule #9 conditions...

All the roads in the UK are grippy chip seal or worse, you couldn't slide off in the rain even if you tried.

Cue your next rain ride and subsequent fall. It will hurt, that grippy stuff really tears.

@motor city

@Tobin

The TDF is going to have to come up with some pretty fucking amazing stages to take the shine from the Giro!

I read that Chris Froome (doped up) has beaten Iban Mayo's (doped up) record of 55 mins up Mt Ventoux on his first training ride there. That should make for some good viewing in July.

Fixed your post.
piwakawaka says:

May 10 2013 at 4:34 pm

@frank

@motor city

@Mikael Liddy

Jeez you'd think being a Pom, Wiggo would know a little more about handling a bike in Rule #9 conditions...

All the roads in the UK are grippy chip seal or worse, you couldn't slide off in the rain even if you tried.

Cue your next rain ride and subsequent fall. It will hurt, that grippy stuff really tears.

@motor city

@Tobin

The TDF is going to have to come up with some pretty fucking amazing stages to take the shine from the Giro!

I read that Chris Froome (doped up) has beaten Iban Mayo's (doped up) record of 55 mins up Mt Ventoux on his first training ride there. That should make for some good viewing in July.

Fixed your post.

Yeah he looked juiced to the eyeballs at last years TDF, great stage yesterday, shapes up really well for the ITT, Nibali and Hesjedal have more than 1.20 in the bank on Wiggans even Evans has 1.16, I'm sure that's not quite where Sky wanted to be but it's gonna be great to see how Wiggans responds looks like it could rain!
Tobin says:

May 10 2013 at 7:38 pm

@piwakawaka

@frank

@motor city

@Mikael Liddy

Jeez you'd think being a Pom, Wiggo would know a little more about handling a bike in Rule #9 conditions...

All the roads in the UK are grippy chip seal or worse, you couldn't slide off in the rain even if you tried.

Cue your next rain ride and subsequent fall. It will hurt, that grippy stuff really tears.

@motor city

@Tobin

The TDF is going to have to come up with some pretty fucking amazing stages to take the shine from the Giro!

I read that Chris Froome (doped up) has beaten Iban Mayo's (doped up) record of 55 mins up Mt Ventoux on his first training ride there. That should make for some good viewing in July.

Fixed your post.

Yeah he looked juiced to the eyeballs at last years TDF, great stage yesterday, shapes up really well for the ITT, Nibali and Hesjedal have more than 1.20 in the bank on Wiggans even Evans has 1.16, I'm sure that's not quite where Sky wanted to be but it's gonna be great to see how Wiggans responds looks like it could rain!

Not only that but Uran burned a whole pile of time bringing Wiggo back...where is the Columbian Conspiracy now??
Mikael Liddy says:

May 11 2013 at 4:02 am

Whisper it quietly, but has Cuddles been looking a little like the 2011 TDF vintage? Looking forward to how it goes over the next couple of weeks.
xyxax says:

May 11 2013 at 4:56 am

@Mikael Liddy

Whisper it quietly, but has Cuddles been looking a little like the 2011 TDF vintage? Looking forward to how it goes over the next couple of weeks.

Yes, and though I didn't select him, I'm glad to see him making a showing. Those of us who picked Wiggo, who has been a little too Schlecktacular, for the win might consider Cuddles for the top step on a rest day swap flyer. Today's TT to confirm.
scaler911 says:

May 11 2013 at 8:22 am

Nibbles! Nibbles! Nibbles!
frank says:

May 11 2013 at 8:26 am

Forget Nibbles. When was the last time a Keeper led a VSP event?

Provisional Race Results
1. NIBALI Vincenzo

2. EVANS Cadel

3. GESINK Robert

4. WIGGINS Bradley

5. SCARPONI Michele

Provisional VSP Standings
1. frank (42 points)

2. Blake (38 points)

3. V-olcano (38 points)

4. Duende (37 points)

5. Dufferin Sportif (32 points)

6. mouse (31 points)

7. ped (31 points)

8. mbarston (31 points)

9. scaler911 (31 points)

10. MJ Moquin (31 points)

11. leadout (31 points)

12. Mirko (30 points)

13. seemunkee (29 points)

14. Noel (29 points)

15. Rigid (29 points)

16. King Clydesdale (29 points)

17. razmaspaz (28 points)

18. Mikael Liddy (26 points)

19. Smithers (26 points)

20. RedRanger (26 points)

21. Nate (26 points)

22. gladoe (26 points)

23. Don Amedo (26 points)

24. strathlubnaig (26 points)

25. Donnie Bugno (26 points)

26. Daccordi Rider (26 points)

27. Alex (26 points)

28. il ciclista medio (26 points)

29. taon24 (26 points)

30. Russ (26 points)

31. dancollins (26 points)

32. sprider (26 points)

33. stickyjumper (26 points)

34. Chica (26 points)

35. Heihachi (25 points)

36. DocBrian (24 points)

37. Simon (23 points)

38. Mike_P (23 points)

39. Bianchi Denti (23 points)

40. moondance (23 points)

41. napolinige (23 points)

42. Dino (23 points)

43. Patrick (23 points)

44. sehmis (23 points)

45. Dashiell (23 points)

46. San Tonio (23 points)

47. Souleur (23 points)

48. Skip (23 points)

49. Ron (23 points)

50. gallilano (21 points)

51. Deakus (20 points)

52. Yannersan (19 points)

53. jeyrod (19 points)

54. Gervais (18 points)

55. Two Ball Billy (16 points)

56. Geordi (16 points)

57. Joe (14 points)

58. TomC (14 points)

59. anotherdownunder (14 points)

60. bderw (14 points)

61. R00tdown (14 points)

62. girl (13 points)

63. sthilzy (12 points)

64. TOM.NELS2120 (12 points)

65. asyax (12 points)

66. Franklin (12 points)

67. RManneck (12 points)

68. VeloVita (12 points)

69. chrismurphy92 (12 points)

70. margc (12 points)

71. Dan_R (12 points)

72. CanuckChuck (12 points)

73. The Grande Fondue (12 points)

74. sgraha (12 points)

75. pink (12 points)

76. Adrian (12 points)

77. quanyeomans (12 points)

78. tony macaroni (12 points)

79. ten B (12 points)

80. Lukas (11 points)

81. wiscot (11 points)

82. DerHoggz (11 points)

83. Harminator (11 points)

84. Sauterelle (11 points)

85. VirenqueForever (11 points)

86. imakecircles (11 points)

87. blue (11 points)

88. simonsaunders (11 points)

89. NoTubes (11 points)

90. Islandbike (11 points)

91. The Goat (10 points)

92. Bat Chainpuller (9 points)

93. HeinrichHausslersHairstyle (9 points)

94. Buck Rogers (9 points)

95. SimonH (9 points)

96. Tartan1749 (9 points)

97. Fausto (9 points)

98. PeakInTwoYears (9 points)

99. LA Dave (9 points)

100. kyle (9 points)

101. Al__S (9 points)

102. roger (9 points)

103. Nosyt (9 points)

104. eightzero (9 points)

105. snoov (9 points)

106. zeitzmar (9 points)

107. brian (9 points)

108. unversio (9 points)

109. Blah (9 points)

110. Tobin (9 points)

111. piwakawaka (9 points)

112. torrefie (9 points)

113. Erik (9 points)

114. Chris (9 points)

115. brad_the_dean (9 points)

116. the Engine (9 points)

117. Facetious_Jesus (9 points)

118. freddy (9 points)

119. ramenvelo (9 points)

120. Benny (9 points)

121. Jhortua (9 points)

122. Vernwitha_V (9 points)

123. ChrisO (9 points)

124. Roberto Marques (9 points)

125. Velodeluded (9 points)

126. m_demartino (9 points)

127. Benzo (9 points)

128. El Mateo (9 points)

129. graham d.m. (9 points)

130. paolo (9 points)

131. minion (9 points)

132. Jay (9 points)

133. xyxax (9 points)

134. starclimber (9 points)

135. pakrat (9 points)

136. TBONE (8 points)

137. motor city (6 points)

138. Dr C (6 points)

139. Steampunk (6 points)

140. JohnB (6 points)

141. Cyclops (6 points)

142. Gino (6 points)

143. 936adl (6 points)

144. la plaque (6 points)

145. zalamanda (6 points)

146. eenies (6 points)

147. el gato (6 points)

148. PT (6 points)

149. oneninefiveninesix (3 points)

150. brett (0 points)

I have four of the top five in the right position. We all know Gesink won't stay in third, so surely I'll fall back down the standings.
ped says:

May 11 2013 at 8:38 am

@frank

@motor city

@Mikael Liddy

Jeez you'd think being a Pom, Wiggo would know a little more about handling a bike in Rule #9 conditions...

All the roads in the UK are grippy chip seal or worse, you couldn't slide off in the rain even if you tried.

Cue your next rain ride and subsequent fall. It will hurt, that grippy stuff really tears.

@motor city

@Tobin

The TDF is going to have to come up with some pretty fucking amazing stages to take the shine from the Giro!

I read that Chris Froome (doped up) has beaten Iban Mayo's (doped up) record of 55 mins up Mt Ventoux on his first training ride there. That should make for some good viewing in July.

Fixed your post.

Legs like this help
strathlubnaig says:

May 11 2013 at 9:03 am

@motor city

@Mikael Liddy

Jeez you'd think being a Pom, Wiggo would know a little more about handling a bike in Rule #9 conditions...

All the roads in the UK are grippy chip seal or worse, you couldn't slide off in the rain even if you tried.

er, I beg to differ.... at least in Scotland, dont know about that shitehole further south though.
strathlubnaig says:

May 11 2013 at 9:04 am

@ped holy mackinaw, those legs on Froome are more alien looking than his ugly puss.