Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012

Camenzind barely had the energy to celebrate in ’98. Photo: Bettini Photo

I’m quite upset about it, actually, all this racing that’s been going on in perfectly good weather. Vlaanderen, dry. Roubaix, dry. We were nearly guaranteed shit weather with the Olympics in London, but even then, only the women got to get all Rule #9 on our asses – and only for one race. Damnit, I want Epic, and if we keep insisting on riders getting off the juice, all the Epic is going to have to come from other places like pouring rain and freezing cold.

Its a good thing, then, that Valkenburg was picked for the Worlds, because that almost guarantees bad weather. Last time it hosted the race the weather was complete crap. Its also just hilly enough that I think any of those sprinters who are pretending like they’re going to finish at the front are huffing too much DuMonde Tech. Boonen might be able to hang with the leaders into the finish, but I’d hardly call him a sprinter anymore, now that it dawned on him that people get hurt and seasons ruined in those big bunch gallops.

My money’s on good weather though, because the weather is forecast to be good here in Seattle and assuming it will be the same halfway around the world in Dutchland seems easier than looking up the local forecast.

You know the drill, picks close at 5am on Sunday in Pacific time, and if you can’t figure out what that means, just put your picks in before the countdown timer goes to zero. Also note that the spam filter is feeling a bit peckish these days and has a tendency to gobble up people’s VSP Picks; don’t be alarmed, your picks are getting into the system nevertheless and The Keepers are monitoring the queue for posts to approve everyone to disagree with.

Good luck.

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237 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012”

  1. Purito subs in for Valverde after a fainting spell reportedly caused by “eating too fast”.

    If it was Cipo, I woulda left him in there…

  2. So I’m thinking it will be a Belgian or a Spaniard… Which one and in what order is not so clear.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Joaquim Rodriguez
    2. Gilbert
    3. Valverde
    4. Boonen
    5. Freire

  3. So question is was Valverde eating a double whopper with cheese meal with chilli cheese bites when he got dizzy…not a good sign, swapped him out for TJ..

     

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Bertie
    2. Wiggo
    3. TJ van Gernderen
    4. Gilbert
    5. purito

  4. @Deakus

    So question is was Valverde eating a double whopper with cheese meal with chilli cheese bites when he got dizzy…not a good sign, swapped him out for TJ..

     

    Maybe he stole one of Contador’s steaks…..

  5. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Boasson Hagen
    3. Sanchez
    4. Phinney
    5. Some australian

  6. @Adrian

    @Deakus

    So question is was Valverde eating a double whopper with cheese meal with chilli cheese bites when he got dizzy…not a good sign, swapped him out for TJ..

     

    Maybe he stole one of Contador’s steaks…..

    Ha!  That was my first thought as well!  Too funny!

  7. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert Philippe
    2. Kolobnev Aleksandr Viktorovitch
    3. Gerrans Simon
    4. Freire Gomez Oscar
    5. Van Avermaet Greg

  8. For those believing in omens, the littlest Steampunk just brought out her stuffed crocodile for the first time in months…

  9. Let’s go USA!!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tejay VanGarderen
    2. Taylor Phinney
    3. Phillipe Gilbert
    4. Tom Boonen
    5. Alberto Contador

  10. VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Gilbert
    3. Voeckler
    4. Boassen Hagen
    5. Gerrans

  11. The crocodile is never wrong.  Be the crocodile.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Edvald BH
    3. Valverde
    4. Gerrans
    5. Sanchez

  12. Gianni Meersman!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Meersman
    2. Phinney
    3. Froome
    4. Boonen
    5. Contador

  13. awwww jeeeze, this is going to be tough. Usually the finishers are riders who have ridden most of the Vuelta. And I’m thinking Sagan is toast. So I have to go with Gilbert, even thought he has sucked all season.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. gilbert
    2. boss hog
    3. voeckler
    4. mollema
    5. stannard

  14. @Gianni At least he has been showing some form late in the season. And as a team on paper, the Belgians and the Spanish have to be the strongest teams. 

  15. Tough one… Amstel Gold is at the wrong end of the season to be a good form guide.

    Gerro seems to have form at the right time, as does the TVG, and I think Gilbert may go back to his old ways of being a little too quick to pull the trigger.  Sagan and EBH will suffer from lack of team.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gerrans
    2. Gilbert
    3. Van Garderen
    4. Sagan
    5. Boassen Hagen

  16. @ChrisO

    Despite having Boonen in the #1 spot (more of a man crush than anything else) my gut’s telling me Gerro’s got a really good chance. Cunning as a sh*thouse rat, I think is the phrase. 

  17. As usual it’s a wild ol’open race. Anything can happen out there and other clichés. Tommy is fainting outsider so he’s feeling on, watch for a long ish escape and ultimate glory. Gerro to lead in the best of the rest who will catch Tommy’s breakaway companions on the last climb. Gilbert not quite good enough, Kolobnev thereabouts as usual and young Moser sparkling on debut. Where are the spaniards? Good question: marking each other out of the race – they can only win if they’re all riding for Freire, just ask him about it. Going to be a late night so for those down under make sure you get your pre-worlds nap happening and see you all after midnight!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Voeckler
    2. Gerrans
    3. Gilbert
    4. Kolobnev
    5. Moser

  18. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Peter Sagan
    3. Philippe Gilbert
    4. Vincenzo Nibali
    5. Simon Gerrans

  19. Well it rarely goes the way of the favourite, so… Of course i’ll now get proven completely wrong.

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