Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro Stage 9, Mt. Etna

There will be fireworks

There will be fireworks. It’s a phrase we often use, and one we rarely take literally. But this photo shows Mount Etna. Actually erupting. Recently. There is a non-zero chance that it will erupt tomorrow, when the Giro d’Italia riders over this brute twice.

Tomorrow’s stage will be the first real battleground for this year’s Giro, and we expect there to be fireworks. Possibly literally. And figuratively. Get your picks in by 5am Pacific time tomorrow for a chance to grab a few extra points in the VSP.

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132 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Giro Stage 9, Mt. Etna”

  1. Not sure if its too early for the big guns to show, but El Steakelero is so insecure, as demonstrated today, he always seems to feel the need to show others that he can ride his bike fast uphill…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbles
    2. El Steakelero
    3. Kreuziger
    4. Rodríguez
    5. Menchov

  2. I just happen to like John Gadret. He’s a badass in an ugly kit. I think I’m going to be moving Garzelli from my Giro VSP so I gotta throw him a bone.

    Nibali et al will be up there but it is too early to defend, unless Contador feels like it. In which case, he’ll probably win the stage.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Stefano Garzelli
    2. John Gadret
    3. Emanuele Sella
    4. Michele Scarponi
    5. Alberto Contador

  5. My real pick is that Etna wins this. Not that I’m wishing anyone any harm, but that would be a bit funny. Contador went today to scare others into action on Sunday. Nibali and Liquigas will give it their all in order to win on home turf. Hell: why not stack my picks with locals?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbly
    2. Jokey Roadie
    3. Scarred Pony
    4. Paolo Tiramisu (Tiralongo)
    5. Singin’ like Caruso (Giampaolo)

  7. Fireworks! I thought today’s finish was pretty cool.

    Just to check – this is one of the single stages where we are entering picks as well, right? It doesn’t change the overall GC picks we made for the entire Giro, right? Sorry, I did read the rules before the Giro started, but wanted to check.

    Oh…just picked up a CX bike from a friend. He’s selling it, I’m test riding it for a bit. Hmm, my first CX ride, my first proper ride on SRAM. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

  9. Ok, if I change a rider but keep all others in the original pick position, am I penalized for all my picks or only the changed rider position?

  10. This is just a cool bonus stage VSP. To bad I will be working.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali
    2. Scarponi
    3. Conti
    4. Sastre
    5. Anton

  14. Isn’t Etna Nibbles’ home turf? He’s had to have earmarked this stage for a win.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbles
    2. Clenbutador
    3. Kreuziger
    4. Scarponi
    5. J-rod

  15. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbles
    2. Anyone but contador
    3. Scarponi
    4. Garzelli
    5. Sastre

  17. Me thinks Nibbles will win or lose the Giro on this stage. It is going to be a fun one to watch.

  19. Bamm…mis-fired

    here they are

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Scarponi
    2. Nibali
    3. Garzelli
    4. Contador
    5. Rodriguez

  24. Not sure, but when one goes (very likely to be Contador) they will ALL go.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Joa-Clean
    3. Anton
    4. Nibali
    5. Kreuziger

  25. @RedRanger
    A bit early for that, don’t you think? But he’ll be under some pressure to perform””and he’ll want to have a good showing. The safer claim might be that we’re likely to see whether he’ll be in the running a couple of weeks from now (answer: yes).

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbly
    2. Jokey Roadie
    3. Scarred Pony
    4. Paolo Tiramisu (Tiralongo)
    5. Singin’ like Caruso (Giampaolo)

  26. Wow. I made it to a start line on time.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Nibali
    3. J. Rodriguez
    4. Scarponi
    5. Le Mevel

  28. Everyone under pressure to perform and get up that mountain, or risk being swept away by molten lava.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Niblets
    2. Scarface
    3. J-Ro
    4. (Tom) Kreuz
    5. Sella

  32. VSP PICKS:

    1. Scarponi
    2. Contador
    3. Kreuziger
    4. Anton
    5. Sastre

  34. Jeez…did they match the skinniest podium girl to the skinniest man in pink? Those two are bean poles. Look at her left arm. Not really a fan of women that PRO cyclist thin.

    Alright, I’m being shunned. I guess I’ll have to go track down the rules for the VSP. Not sure if this is a chance to redo picks without penalty, or we’re just having fun and picking only for tomorrow’s stage.

  36. Andrew:
    Not sure if its too early for the big guns to show, but El Steakelero is so insecure, as demonstrated today, he always seems to feel the need to show others that he can ride his bike fast uphill…

    I don’t understand Andrew. It’s a bike race. If he knows he can get five seconds on the pack precisely because he rides his bike fast uphill, shouldn’t he do it?

  37. Unless Nibali is a lemming of fire and take a detour to the caldera, I see no way he doesn’t win this stage. He wants the win baaaadddd. I do see this stage ending in a major selection amongst the big names. The “experts” are saying they’ll pull their punches still, but that absolutely won’t happen because Nibbles wants the win too much.

    I’m anxious to hear what Not Sean Kelly has to say about the situation tomorrow.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbles
    2. Scarponi
    3. The Spanish Steak
    4. Le Mevel
    5. Munch Off

  39. Okay, so I re-read the rules. Tomorrow looks to be an * stage. We are just picking for tomorrow, with our original GC picks remaining the same, correct?

    I just need one of you to say – yes.

    Thanks.

  40. Etna, the Mount so nice, they climbed it twice.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Alberto con carne
    2. Niblets with gravy
    3. Scarponi
    4. J. Rodriguez
    5. S(t)ella!!!!!

  41. VSP PICKS:

    1. vincenzo corleone
    2. michele scarface
    3. contador
    4. kreuzinger
    5. sella

  44. Maybe I should choose Contador just to put the jinx on him.

    Having dropped Gatto from my Fantasy cycling team just before his stage victory I clearly have a special touch :-(

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Kreuziger
    4. Anton
    5. Tiralongo

  45. Absolutely no time today but this is for me the most anticipated stage of the Giro. I’m thinking Nibbles has been laying everything on this. But, a volcano can be a cruel temptress. Who knows what can happen. Chaos ensues, but Nibbles prevails. Weening manages to stay with the best, Contador falters and loses time. No one cares because he’s a dooshebag, the wanker.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibbles
    2. Scarponi
    3. Anton
    4. Weening
    5. Garzelli

  46. @Ron
    Finally someone answered! That was funny, I just think nobody wanted to go on record in the event they were wrong.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali
    2. Clenbutador
    3. Scarponi
    4. Anton
    5. J Rod

  47. Excited to wake up early for tomorrow’s stage!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Nibali
    3. J. Rod
    4. Scarponi
    5. Kreuziger

  48. Is there any chance some one could record this one for me and send it my way? Tried as I may I could not get out of working.

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