Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia
The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige continues the with Giro d’Italia, on Saturday May 8 in Amsterdam. This will be the first Grand Tour of the series, and while we have a set of rules established for the competition, we’ll be modifying them as we go if we notice any problems with them.
Personally, I feel the Giro is the Cyclist’s Grand Tour; it’s not as main-stream or commercial as the Tour de France, but the race generally makes for a more exciting three weeks. There is something about the topography and geography of Italy that seems to lend itself to unpredictable and aggressive racing where several riders typically stay in contention until the final stages of the race.
With this being the first Grand Tour of the series, we’ve set up a scoring system that we think will be fair but will also help to close down the competition and afford newcomers the ability to catch up with some good picks. Jump over to the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page for a full explanation of the rules and the standings, but here is the ten-second overview:
Every contestant is to choose their top five General Classification picks of the race. The final podium of the Giro is worth 15 points to the winner, 10 points for second, 5 points for third, 3 points for fourth, and 2 point for fifth. Given the effect crashes can have on a tour, we’ve set up some guidelines around making changes to your lineup during the race: you’re allowed to change your lineup if any rider in your pick list drops out for any reason without any penalty; rest days will allow contestants to make changes to their lineup, however those changes will come at a point penalty. (Visit the VSP Schedule, Rules, & Results page for a complete breakdown of these points.)
Every day, the leader in the points standings will have the honor of wearing the Pink Jersey when commenting on the site; the overall winner will wear the Pink Jersey for the remainder of the season, and will also earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker. All reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free Velominati Shop Apron. As always, if you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the comment section.
Sub-competitions will be conducted while the Giro is underway for specific stages. These stages will be chosen a few days prior to the stage being held and will be selected based on the current race conditions with the aim of choosing the most decisive and exciting stages of the race, so check back often to make sure you don’t miss out.
Good luck!
What a crazy (and slightly depressing) day. I can’t remember seeing so many crashes. Team Sky…..oops.
@Roberto Marques
Welcome Roberto, did anyone see Garzelli’s Bottechia in the Huang photos in Cyclingnews?
Instant Carbone. Daddy want. I’d pick Garzelli just because I like his bike so much. It’s good to see Bottechia in the Giro.
@Joe
Yeah, this is crazy stuff; I hate how much these GT’s can be decided in the opening stages due to this type of thing. But, that’s bike racing.
@john
That is some crazy awesome paint!! Is it just me, or are those curved carbon tubes getting a bit used up?
Those silver bars are slick, if questionable in terms of Rule #8.
@Roberto Marques
Strong list. If another one of mine goes down I may be going for a Karpet ride as well. Garzelli would be hard to pass over though too. Oh the drama, I love the drama of a good GT, especially the Giro.
Problem is, I’m headed out into the field for 6 days, leaving Wed. Next Wednesday will have to be spent reading six days of Giro updates.
@frank
@john
Looks like something you’d see some New Jersey Goombah riding after stealing it from Anthony Soprano Jr.
@frank
3rd stage of the Giro… again!?!
So revised
1. Cadel
2. Wiggo
3.
VDVSastre4. Garzelli
5. Cunego
I will not put Veino down…
Just ignore the VDV… I tried to cross it out, got the code wrong
@Nathan Edwards
Edited it for you; nice pick! I’m tempted to make a change, but I think I’ll wait it out for now and not take the point penalty…
Poor old CVV…newly added to the brand-spankin’ new Velominati Lexicon. Reminds me of T-Bone Hamilton (lets hope he doesn’t fall into the same snare)…
@Marko
“ahhhooooooooooooooooo” to quote Sylvio Dante. I know, I’m a twisted up fuck. That silver metallic paint got me. I must have some Southern Italian DNA hiding in me. And are people signing on for Karpets just for the mullett? He is going nowhere. Garzelli must be almost as old as Simoni, they are just racing for the road groupie sex and to get out of the house.
@frank
I agree, the curved top tube is getting a little old but man the paint job. Madonne!
@all
I have to say, I’m diggin’ Good Cadel. Going to the front and taking the initiative to bring the group back (however unsuccessfully) and then not bing a little bitch like he would have been last year when quizzed about it by the press.
And he looked plain badass rolling into the finish:
@frank
that is certainly badass. Even the grey-haired fan chillin in the wheelchair in the background is cool, good on that lady!
@frank
I say, I say…Cadel’s socks are an affront to all civility, despite being within Rule #28. I have problems with that Rule. Sure, if he was about to go mountain biking at night but this is the Giro! He should be held to a higher standard. He could have rocked pink socks, he had the jersey.
No man should be forced (or expected to voluntarily) to wear pink. Its just not sport.
fixed your post
@john
I hear you. With the black and red Bowel Movement Cadel kit he kind of looks like a valentines card from Hot Topic.
@frank
I’m wondering whether I should take the point penalty and swap Can-he-be-bothered-to-go out
Then again, Wiggo has already lost 4 minutes… owch.
@Nathan Edwards
Your call, mate. I think it’s a crap shoot at this point. As long as you’re unwilling to put Veino on the list, I figure Can-he-go is as likely as anyone else to make up that time…
It really hurts to see Vino back…I feel Specialized is very shy (or should be) to explore all the marketing behind having him on the pink jersey. It is like when that Filip Meirhaege made his come back to the XC competitions…
Anyhow…Garzelli’s bike is cool but not as cool as the Scott from Greipel
@Roberto Marques
It’s so complicated, it makes my head hurt. I mean, I guess we can’t blame him for coming back because the rules allow him to, so why shouldn’t he? For me, it’s his lack of confession or acknowledgement of what he’s done and now – according to his open letter – his apparent feeling of entitlement he feels towards the publics acceptance of his honesty.
For me, I can’t accept him unless he confronts the issue with the fans. Even the Basso “It was just attempted doping” works better for me than what he’s trying to pull.
Can someone explain the points system to a thick Welshman, how does Marko end up 13pts ahead of everyone else?
Rest day re-shuffle:
Out with Wiggins and in with Nibali
@frank
I really liked Veino before the bust. His riding style, scrappiness, vigor, he’s really fun to watch. Before he got caught and was riding out of his mind all bandaged and scraped up was impressive. It seriously bummed me out when he was busted the day after the 07 TT he “won”. And at the same time it bummed me out it didn’t suprise me. That’s just cycling sometimes, well, a lot.
I hear what you’re saying about his approach, attitude, letter, and all. I guess I don’t care as long as he’s clean. Lot’s of cyclists are douchebags. I’d prefer the dopers to all be cool like Millar and more riders to have attitudes like Spartacus, Farrar, Horner, etc. But if they make racing more interesting and raise the competetive bar cleanly then ultimately that’s what I care about. I may not want to go for a ride or have a beer with Vino (Cunt-odor, Cavendouche) but I love watching him race. I’d like to like them but would rather see good bike racing. To that end, may the strongest rider win.
@Jarvis
Here is the point breakdown:
1. 15 points
2. 10 points
3. 5 points
4. 3 points
5. 2 points
We also award 1 point to any rider named in the top five, but in the wrong placing. Basically, Marko picked Veino to win and since the little pig is in the pink jersey right now, that gives Marko 15 points, provisionally. He’s the leader “on the road”, as it were. The day after tomorrow, when he tests positive, he’ll be back in the bunch with the rest of us.
@frank
You’ll never get a positive on my B sample dude.
@Marko
That’s the other bit of it, isn’t it? We all just want to see good bike racing and really when it’s all out there, I want to see the riders lay it all out on the road. Ultimately, I don’t care if they’re doping or not; what I care about is that it’s a level playing field.
I suspect if we want clean racing, then we as fans should settle for one-day races and stage races that are seven days long, have five stages, and the stages are all under 200km. Do you want to watch that race? I sure don’t. I want to see these guys race for three weeks, day in, day out, over the biggest mountains and over the worst roads, in all conditions. So, I suppose we’re at the heart of the problem, because ultimately there is money in the sport because it attracts fans.
But, I’m with you – Veino was a riot before his suspension. I was also a huge fan of Hamilton and of Basso, not to mention Der Kaiser. Ullrich is still one of my all-time favorites, and Basso is certainly back on the Frank A-List.
But Hamilton is not. During Hamiltongate, I habitually checked his blog, waiting for updates of any kind. At some point, months went by with no word from him and that cut the cord for me; I never went back to him. He rejected his fans, and that was very disappointing.
I suppose part of the complicating issue is that it’s not so much the drugs as it is treating the fans with dignity. I think as much as a full confession, I might feel differently about it if Veino’s letter said, “I never doped in my career. I was framed; I’ve always been clean and I’m a casualty of the system. But I served my suspension, and have managed to come back to the top, so suck it, bitches.” It would be lies, but it would be consistent. It really gets me that he denied, denied, denied, and now is partially admitting that he indeed doped in the past but now he’s clean. In order to move on, I need something more than what I’m getting.
And, if you’re seeing inconsistencies in all my comments and posts about doping throughout the years, it’s because it’s fucking complicated and it makes me crazy.
@frank ta, understand now. Thought somehow he’d gained 15pts already, not that it was “on the road”.
But don’t go down the “level playing field” debate on doping. It’ll get me annoyed and I won’t sleep. But I know the deal with the inconsistent approach. Been there myself. Back in the 90’s when Pantani and Riis were being hypocrites and leading the protests against police raids and dope testing it annoyed me hugely. How dare they insult my intelligence to that extent, it was fucking obvious what they were up to. But then a year or so later, I was thinking that at least they are all on a level playing field and fuck it, at least it looks good.
But then…you get more info, you read more, and you realise they were taking the fans for idiots. For some reason I couldn’t stop watching cycling, but when I did I didn’t believe in any of what I saw. Does it help that I’m British and the only really conflicting character we have is Brother Millar? Probably. The three other British riders who have ridden significantly on the PRO scene in those years were Boardman, Hammond and Hunt.
Doping and dopers aside, Gazzetta dello Sport has some interesting remarks about the contenders, especially Veino. Those like Marko are looking especially wise right now, maybe not in a few weeks but on the road, today, Marko is no Nancy-boy.
@Jarvis
@frank
I’m with you both, it’s confusing and we have all sparred about doping in 2010. I have to assume Vino is clean and he sort of did his time so he has the right to race. And he is one tough monkey, the scary Andrei Tchmil of the 2010 peloton.
@john
Ohhh geeez, you’re too kind. I’ll take it, for now, as you say.
Dude, I’m seriously considering breaking out the chrome bar tape again after I saw that!
@brett
A wise man once said:
@all
Updated Standings after Stage 4:
1 Joe: 10 points
2 Frank: 2 points
3 Marko: 1 point
4 Geof: 1 point
5 Robert Marques: 1 point
6 Brett: 0 points
7 Rob: 0 points
8 John: 0 points
9 Nathan Edwards: 0 points
10 Jarvis: 0 points
Robert Marques maintains leadership by virtue of choosing a higher-placed rider among bonus point riders (his Nibali in third beats Geof’s Basso in fifth).
Damn. Liquigas were good…2nd consecutive disappointment for Sky.
Veino looked worryingly good on the front for Astana, though he blew it apart in the last K – oops. Good Cadel again today, looks like the team just didn’t have the legs. Most importantly, POINTS. phew.
God! Garmin performance today was horrible! Fischer performance was also very disapointing…Garzelli will have to fly on the mountains to be a top 5.
By the way Veino…you sucks!
@Roberto Marques
In true Giro form, it’s shaking up to be a pretty cool race! It’s not as bad as it looks, with the bodium being within reach of a number of good climbers – and lets not forget how much climbing will be a factor!
1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:00:13
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:00:33
7 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:39
27 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:59
32 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:02:13
41 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 0:02:49
44 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:03:45
50 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:04:36
Looks like that pink jersey is a curse… at this rate Dave Millar will be the one left in it on the last day!
Man….Good Cadel is going to have to pack extra heavy in the man-sack department to put some hurt on in the mountains…Ugly to say it, but Count Drac looks good right now. Hopefully Basso can play himself into form through the race, Ullrich-style…
A top-secret bike manufacturer meeting somewhere in Italy:
Someone: “We all should present exclusive cool bikes for the Giro TT stages!”
Scott: “hmmm…OK…that a look if this one fits your needs…”
Everybody: “silence…”
kick ass detail:
Source Cyclingnews.com
Self-employed and procrastinating with the Giro stage 5… it’s a global village – Japanese rider Yukiya Arashiro in the break going through Coppi’s village.
Hey Frank we need an article on Biagio Cavanna, “a keen former cyclist and all-round sportsman who had been struck down by blindness” the Zatoichi of masseuses’ and the man who made Coppi, your not busy are you?
Waiting for the sprint…
Holy moly – Oh wait i won’t give it away – he, he.
Ahh…poor Arashiro. What an amazing blast in the last K to get pipped at the line. They would definitely have got swallowed up if not for that…
Rule #5 Joe, its all about tactics, no matter that he was blind by the breakaway effort, that there was no gas in the tank beyond that effort that won him 3rd, he had choices and in the split seconds of that moment he made the weak choice – his effort was admirable but not what Miyamoto Musashi would have done…
@Joe, @Rob
So, how do we think his countrymen would have felt if he won the first ever Japanese GT stage aboard a Campy-equipped bike? Rather than commit Seppuku by framepump, he probably just bagged the sprint and led it out like a dillweed.
Had he won, we would have had to add a new entry to The Lexicon for Arash-Hero.
@all
No changes to the standings today:
Standings after Stage 5:
1 Joe: 10 points
2 Frank: 2 points
3 Marko: 1 point
4 Geof: 1 point
5 Robert Marques: 1 point
6 Brett: 0 points
7 Rob: 0 points
8 John: 0 points
9 Nathan Edwards: 0 points
10 Jarvis: 0 points
Robert Marques maintains leadership by virtue of choosing a higher-placed rider among bonus point riders (his Nibali in third beats Geof’s Basso in fifth).
@frank It was a good ride and if I was of the rising sun just to have him there is awesome. Remember when folks like Boyer were doing it for us? Plus they love Campy some guy told me I could sell my derailleur for $500 in Japan.
@Rob
Well, that’s still a losing game, because they are selling US THEIR dérailleurs for $900.
That groupset on your Raleigh, by the way, is art.
@frank
You know what I really like about old school is that it is so minimalist. When you look at them head on you’re just on some skinney tubes and wires and a patch of rubber. The track bike is even better!
I would love a $10,000 bike but until I win the lottery, even if I had the money now it would not be so much better than my old girls.
@Rob
It was only a matter of time before Toshiro Mifune graced this website. Well done. And a perfect lesson for young Arashiro, poor bastard, trapped on the B-Box team. But good on him for getting in a long break and staying away, even for 3rd, despite being on B-Box.
@john
Konichi wa John-o san. I am shocked, never before? – the ultimate Hardman…(and Toshiro Mifune does him so well).
I was sad but happy for Arashiro san.
Crazy day of racing (which I watched on my iPhone – streaming live from Italy). With Veino and Karpets on the leaderboard, we have updated standings with Joe taking the lead:
1 Joe: 10 points
2 Frank: 5 points
3 Brett: 5 points
4 Geof: 4 points
5 Jarvis: 3 points
6 Marko: 1 point
7 Robert Marques: 1 point
8 Rob: 0 points
9 John: 0 points
10 Nathan Edwards: 0 points