Who Will Wear the Pants at Vint Hill?

Saturday's 540Cycling Vint Hill Classic kicks off the MABRA season, and also the GamJams Cat 3 Cup p/b Mountain Khakis. The winner of the Cat 3/4 event at 1pm will take the lead in the season-long series, and be awarded with the series leaders khakis from the presenting sponsor.

But who will it be? While Greipel is favored in Milan - San Remo, Europe's betting houses haven't yet reached their tentacles into amateur Mid-Atlantic cycling. That leaves GamJams to handicap the Cup opener. If you think you know better, say so in the comments:

• Matthew Latyszonek (Fat Frogs Racing) won at RIR a couple weekends ago, on a course similarly  suited for sprinters. 
• Bike Doctor / Bayside Velo's Todd Bickling was fast in Richmond as well - will he be the point man for the red and black this weekend?
• Did the winter that Sigberto Garcia (NCVC / United Health Group) spent schooling his teammates on city limit sprints sharpen him enough for early season game day glory?
• CJ Congrove (GamJams / Pre-Reg.com p/b Cutaway Clothing) notched an early training race win and a podium at Richmond. But is his squad a leadout help, or a lotta hype?
• Joe Dombrowski (Haymarket / Homevisit) has logged more winter miles than Cavendish Hincapie. Can he escape the pack's greedy clutches?
• Joe Molloy (NCVC / United Health Group) laid down some serious hurt in the GamJams CompuTrainer TT Throwdown. Will the engine be firing at Vint Hill?
• You District Velocity dudes always seem to be out riding with each other and nobody else, so we don't know how fast you are right now. Let us know before Saturday though, mkay?
• The Vint Hill course could be well suited to a Route 1 Velo / Arrow Bicycle fast finisher like Jose Nunez. Is the leadout train coupled and ready?

Cat 3 Cup official Rules and Scoring are here, so plan your strategy and suffering accordingly.

The Cat 3/4 event is full. So is the 4/5 and 5. But the women's 3/4, Masters 35+ and Men's 1/2/3 have plenty of room left, so pre-reg on Pre-Reg.com and save yourself the $5 late fee. (It's going to be sunny and 60 degrees, for all you anti-Belgians).

Comments

[thewrob]

Jose will have done the 7am and 10am that day already so I'm thinking his legs might be tired.

I forgot all about this race this weekend. Saturday or Sunday?

[Greg]

I'm sure all these guys appreciate the extra target you decided to place on their backs.

[Mike May]

Isn't that the cost of being fast?

[Chuck Hutch]

If there is a hill, my money is on Joe. If there is not, Jose is pretty damn fast. I can't believe these dudes are still 2s.

[Cliph]

crap; I had better get a visual on these dudes before I go and try and have my teammate beat them.

for better targeting, can you please post photos of the favorites (as they will look in a race) so I can target them in on my bikedar?

My money is on the red and black attack, jack.

[Lance Lacy]

I got $50,000 dollars and a half eatin snickers bar that says jumpin Joe D will take it,anyone wanna bet?

[Dave Kirkpatrick]

Hey Lance I'll take that bet. But don't be bitter when Joe and I show up at the next race with Di2 on our bikes. And our other bikes. And our other bikes. Time honored tradition in cycling, ya know?

You can keep the Snickers.

[Jesse]

Jose!

[wdropu]

CJ Congrove crossed the finish line with a top speed of 324 mph at the RIR NASCAR track, on a bike.