Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2017

I was called a Boonen sycophant today by one of my editors, which didn’t feel as good as it sounds. But the fact is, I am. And the fact is also that I’m not ashamed of being such. It certainly feels cleaner than my Dirty Schlecky love from a few years ago.

Last year’s Boonen heartbreak (I’m talking about mine, not his) was bittersweet because Matty Hayman put in such a great ride to win, not to mention that Boonen was such a great sportsman. But with that near miss in the rear view mirror – the bad luck that many favorites had last week at Flanders, I’m probably more nervous about crashes and mechanicals than the racers are themselves. I’m a bit of a wreck, to be honest.

Last week took its pound of flesh from Vanmarke, who is out, and Sagan, who is battle-damaged. No Cancellara and a lackluster season from Degencobble puts a lot of pressure on my in-form boy Tomeke to make a run at his fifth and record-breaking Roubaix cobble. He rode today’s Scheldeprijs on the front and showing great strength, and then disappeared down the bunch to coast into the finish of his last race in Belgium as a Pro. Merckx, I’ll miss having him to watch.

But as cool as he is, he’ll never be RdV-fixing-his-fucked-up-leggings-on-the-bike Cool. Contemplate the startlist and get your picks in by the time the countdown timer turns into a pumpkin and good luck!

[vsp_results id=”104209″/]

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155 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2017”

  1. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. GVA
    3. Christ-off
    4. gummy bear without glasses
    5. Ed Bassoon Hog-ing

  3. I’m assuming someone informed Peter that there may be cobbles and other hazards

    to look out for on this course, so…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Terpstra
    3. GVA
    4. Degenkolb
    5. Boonen

  4. Tony Martin for the WIN!!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tony Martin
    2. Luke Durbridge
    3. Tom Boonen
    4. Peter Sagan
    5. Greg Van Avermaet

  6. VSP PICKS:

    1. Peter Sagan
    2. John Degenkolb
    3. Tom Boonen
    4. Sep Vanmarcke
    5. Greg Van Avermaet

  7. @frank

    Probably because they are flat out fucking awesome. I like how retrogrouch elitist they are. I can imagine the pure smug joy that would overcome me while pulling that awkward, heavy instrument out of my jersey pocket to explain to other cyclists how bike technology should have stopped at fillet brazing and the only sensible way to measure your tire pressure is in kg/cm2. Actually, I may be on to something with that first one.

  8. @wiscot

    You know, as much as Tommeke wants to win this, he’s such a team player that if Terpstra did go off the front and win, I think he’d be ok with that. If it did come down to a Tommeke/Sagan/GvA sprint, I hope Tommeke doesn’t balls it up like last year. He coulda, shoulda beaten Heyman but got boxed in.

    He seemed really overgeared for the sprint, too. I got the impression he didn’t account for how fried his guns were.

  9. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Peter Sagan
    3. Greg Van Avermaet
    4. Oliver Naesen
    5. Niki Terpstra

  10. @Snowy

    Rock cobbler!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Boonen
    3. Degenkolb
    4. van Avermaet
    5. Terpstra

    I may never get that earworm out of my head now.

  14. Complete change. I’m going to improve Senechal’s chances by not picking him this year.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Kristoff
    2. van Avermaet
    3. Naesen
    4. Durbridge
    5. Degenkolb

  15. F@ck. Must include a QuickStepper.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Kristoff
    2. van Avermaet
    3. Naesen
    4. Stybar
    5. Durbridge

  17. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alexander Kristoff
    2. Peter Sagan
    3. John Degenkolb
    4. Oliver Naesen
    5. Tom Boonen

  19. @Jason

    @frank

    Probably because they are flat out fucking awesome. I like how retrogrouch elitist they are. I can imagine the pure smug joy that would overcome me while pulling that awkward, heavy instrument out of my jersey pocket to explain to other cyclists how bike technology should have stopped at fillet brazing and the only sensible way to measure your tire pressure is in kg/cm2. Actually, I may be on to something with that first one.

    Or because they tell you that your tyre pressure was probably OK before you let out enough to fill a pressure gauge.  So now you have to put a wee bit back in to get them just right.  They you recheck.  Return to start…..

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Stannard
    2. GVA
    3. Naesen
    4. Boonen
    5. Sagan

  21. As long as no cunt picks their bike up at the finish…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. One more Tom with feeling
    2. Sagwagon
    3. 3bar Stybar
    4. Matty
    5. GVA

  22. @Teocalli

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Stannard
    2. GVA
    3. Naesen
    4. Boonen
    5. Sagan

    I would be absolutely over the moon if this happened.

    Go Yogi!

  23. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Dylan van Baarle
    3. Greg van Avermaet
    4. Oliver Naesen
    5. Ian Stannard

  24. @frank

    Because they’re lovely. And they don’t run out of batteries. And because they’re made of metal, not cheap-a@@ plastic. And because they’re heavy so you can more easily find them in a jacket pocket when you’re looking for them. And did I mention they’re lovely?

  26. VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Greg van Avermaet
    3. Oliver Naesen
    4. Phil Gilbert
    5. Tom Boonen

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Greg van Avemaert
    3. Peter Sagan
    4. Oliver Naesen
    5. Tony Martin

  29. @MangoDave

    I’m assuming someone informed Peter that there may be cobbles and other hazards

    to look out for on this course, so…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Terpstra
    3. GVA
    4. Degenkolb
    5. Boonen

    He may recall some cobbles from last year.

  34. VSP PICKS:

    1. Peter Sagan
    2. Tom Boonen
    3. Niki Terpstra
    4. Greg Van Avermaet
    5. Oliver Naesen

  35. Stybar out after his recon tumble. Boonen in.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Kristoff
    2. van Avermaet
    3. Naesen
    4. Boonen
    5. Durbridge

  37. @Rick

    @MangoDave

    I’m assuming someone informed Peter that there may be cobbles and other hazards

    to look out for on this course, so…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Terpstra
    3. GVA
    4. Degenkolb
    5. Boonen

    He may recall some cobbles from last year.

    Yes, he rode that one out quite nicely last year.  With his handling skills, it makes me wonder if that jacket or a fan obscured his view in RVV last week.  I can only assume if he saw that hazard (was it a cobble?) he could have easily hopped over it.

  38. @frank

    Beat me to it. Word. Still not enough to put Stybar or Boonan in there.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Stannard
    3. Erviti
    4. Nassen
    5. van Avermaet

  40. Maybe Peter finally gets it right

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Peter Sagan
    2. Greg Van Avermaet
    3. Sep Vanmarcke
    4. Tom Boonen
    5. Ian Stannard

  42. 2012: Big screen HDTV television coverage and Tommeke gone off the front. Just may have been my all time fave viewing pleasure of a cycling race. I just really was digging that race that day. Our Mtn Bike team races Sunday so my day will be full on from early am. I’m debating saving race and finish for view later that eve when return home and keeping finish a suprise but I suspect that it’ll be impossible for me to wait. I’d have to settle for watching live on the phone I guess.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. SAGAN Peter
    2. Van AVERMAET Greg
    3. KRISTOFF Alexander
    4. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
    5. STANNARD Ian

  44. Since I have been kicking back, way back this year with the VSP I’ll go completely rogue except for GVA who seems on fire. I know Peetie is the odds on fav but shit happens in this race… If he wins I will be thrilled. I love the humble “come on it’s just a bike race” style combined with inhuman strength.

    on a different subject why is the Polish K sitting this one out, injured or does he not do cobbles, any one know. Milan San Remo was pure guts!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Van Laundrymat
    2. Luck Underthebridge
    3. Tony the Martian
    4. Mythrough Hymen
    5. Bernard Deisel

  46. Go Tom, go!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen, Tom
    2. Sagan, Peter
    3. Van Avermaet, Greg
    4. Naesen, Oliver
    5. Stuyven, Jasper

  47. Fairytales do come true!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tommeke
    2. Saggy
    3. GvA
    4. Naesen
    5. Turbo Durbo

  49. Cobble Gobbla

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Stannard
    2. Sagan
    3. Durbridge
    4. Boonen
    5. Terpstra

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