Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia, Stage 20

Col de Finestre

The fact that the Giro’s penultimate stage finishes atop the storied climb to Sestrieres is secondary to the fact that it goes over the Col de Finestre just previous to it. The Finestre is one of those fantastic climbs that seems to walk the line between “road” and “goat path” that all the best rides in the world seem to do.

Steep? Check. Hairpins? Check. Technical descent? Check. Gravel? You bet your sweet ass. Nibali is about as likely to win this Giro as the Spanish Cycling Federation is to levy a sanction against one of their star athletes, but that won’t keep me from hoping he will. The Finestre represents his best opportunity to pull the cat out of the bag as the trip down the gravel descent will play into his strengths. The bad news is that even with a masterful descent, only mechanical or some other such hardship befalling the riders ahead of him in the Classification will see him gain enough time to take a step or two up the podium, and even I don’t want to see something like that happening to Bertie.

So with that, we’re firing up the last intermediate VSP for this year’s Giro. Get your picks in by 5am Pacific tomorrow morning for the chance to win 3, 2, or 1 points for the podium spots, and 1 point for 4th and 5th places. Good luck.

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

sprider says:

May 27 2011 at 4:46 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Nibali
2. Scarponi
3. Kreuziger
4. Anton
5. Rodriguez
ZachOlson says:

May 27 2011 at 4:48 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Anton
4. Rodriguez
5. Rujano
anotherdownunder says:

May 27 2011 at 4:57 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Gadret
5. Rujano
Marcus says:

May 27 2011 at 5:00 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Contador
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Gadret
5. J-rod
xyxax says:

May 27 2011 at 5:00 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Conmantidor
2. Nibali
3. Scarponi
4. Gadret
5. Garzelli
MikeyEyesore says:

May 27 2011 at 5:02 pm

Daddy needs a maglia rosa

VSP PICKS:

1. Scarponi
2. Contador
3. Nibali
4. J-Rod
5. Igor
MikeyEyesore says:

May 27 2011 at 5:04 pm

I was told I was not in the pink anymore, but it sure looks like it to me.
Marko says:

May 27 2011 at 5:35 pm

1. Nibbles is going to at least go for a stage win.
2. COTHOdor won't let him get too far.
3. The Pocket Grimpeur will be there.
4. Scared Pony moves a podium spot DOWN
5. Silent Dennis gives it a go.
ben says:

May 27 2011 at 5:37 pm

Gravel climb? Sheeeeeit, that's got my man GADRET written all over it!

VSP PICKS:

1. Judas Gadret
2. Nibbles
3. Berto
4. Le Mevel
5. Igor Anton
R00td0wn says:

May 27 2011 at 5:57 pm

VSP Picks.

VSP PICKS:

1. contador
2. Gadret
3. Anton
4. Nibali
5. Scarponi