Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012

Simpson leads Gimondi and Poggiali in 1965

I just had to use this pic of Tom Simpson in 1965 wearing the Peugeot kit as the title pic for this year’s VSP for La Fleche Wallonne. Rigid hooked himself up on the Keepers Tour with the same kit he purchased at the Flanders Cycling Museum and it’s Grade A nipple lube. Although victory eluded Simpson in this Classic he still looked damn good in the kit and gave it the berries, taking third that year behind the two Italians on his wheel in the photo.

With that, the VSP returns to Belgium after a short and exciting few days in the hilly parts of Dutchland. We’re not sure yet if Brett, Rigid, or Harminator will be drinking beer and harassing the fairer sex on the slopes of the Mur de Huy but the racing promises to be no less exciting, if almost totally unpredictable. There was a lot of talk about the Spaniards getting it right for Amstel Gold. Although they had two riders in the top 10, neither was able to reach the podium. Interestingly enough, PhilGil seems to have at least put the brakes on going Gilbackwards, Billions and Billions is still tantalizingly close to getting it perfect, and little Tommy V may be timing his peak just about right for either La Fleche or L-B-L this weekend.

So put that Dutch pisswater down and settle in with some more proper Belgian beer as Ardennes classics week continues with La Fleche Wallonne. We’re steaming full speed ahead to the end of the Spring Classics in the VSP and there’s only a couple chances left to slot your picks for your favorite rouleur or puncheur as from here on out the conversation will change largely to the G.C. men in the Grand Tours. Check out the start list and watch the timer, good luck!

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221 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012”

  1. With bad weather on the forecast, I’ll hedge my bets and hope for a successful Tommy V breakaway.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sanchez
    3. Cunego
    4. Vanendert
    5. Voeckler

  2. Hertog Jan isn’t even half bad Dutch beer, you just need to steer clear from Amstel, Heineken and Bavaria. Those are piss. (Brand and Grolsch are piss too, I’m told, but I don’t drink those)

    I have no idea who will win (╯°â–¡°ï¼‰â•¯ï¸µ ┻━┻
    Of course the weather will be a great factor again.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Fränk Schleck
    2. Joaquim Rodriquez
    3. Jelle Vanendert
    4. Daniel Moreno
    5. Igor Anton

  3. I agree about Tommy V’s form, however it appears Europcar didn’t get an invite…

    Picks likely to change, as always…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Uran
    2. Schleck, F
    3. Valverde
    4. Vanendert
    5. Valverde

  4. Steampunk I believe Cunego is out, accoriding to Steephill.tv right now.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. J Rodriguez
    3. Sanchez
    4. Gilbert
    5. Nibbly nibbly nibbly

  5. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Van Avermaet
    3. Fedrigo
    4. Nibali
    5. Appollonio

  6. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Gilbert
    3. Frank Schleck
    4. J. Rodriguez
    5. Voeckler

  7. @Netraam
    Mate, we drank more Amstel than is safe (or tolerable) for human consumption yesterday. But it was cheap, cold, the only choice, but most importantly just 2 metres away.

  8. VSP PICKS:

    1. J. Vanendert
    2. A. Valverde
    3. V. Nibali
    4. J. Rodriguez
    5. B. Mollema

  9. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Voeckler
    3. Frank Schleck
    4. Sagan
    5. Cunego

  10. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Gilbert
    3. Frank Schleck
    4. J. Rodriguez
    5. Ferrigno

  11. Ugh, that second to last line makes me woozy – not many more races on the VSP calendar where the field is a wide-open one. This time of year is much more fun than when only a small handful have any real chance of winning. Oh well, I’ll enjoy it while it lasts!

    As for piss beer – I was invited to a pre-wedding party given for me and the VelomiBrideToBe the other week. It was nice for the people to do that. However, the only beer they had to offer was Michelob Ultra & Natural Light. Yikes.

  12. @Ron
    Speaking of piss beer…Maes Pils is an anagram of Male Piss. I’ll stick to Chimay. LOL

  13. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. J. Rodrguez
    3. Peter Sagan
    4. Frank Schleck
    5. Alejandro Valverde

  14. Horner!! ( slaps forehead) Of course!! Horner!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Horner
    2. J Rodriguez
    3. Valverde
    4. Gilbert
    5. Sammy Sanchez

  15. VSP PICKS:

    1. ALBASINI Michael
    2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin
    3. NIBALI Vincenzo
    4. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro
    5. NOCENTINI Rinaldo

  16. VSP PICKS:

    1. Jelle Vanendert
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Oscar Freire
    4. Sammy Sanchez
    5. Frank Schleck

  17. VSP PICKS:

    1. Phillipe Gilbert
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Nibali
    4. Gasparotto
    5. Lovquist

  18. Vincenzo!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. NIBALI Vincenzo
    2. ALBASINI Michael
    3. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin
    4. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro
    5. NOCENTINI Rinaldo

  19. Vincenzo! Vincenzo!!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. NIBALI
    2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER
    3. FREIRE GOMEZ
    4. VALVERDE BELMONTE
    5. ALBASINI

  20. Would it be wrong to name an American kid Jelle? I like that name a lot, but it could bring on some pretty bad teasing. I guess I’ll stick with Seven.

    Sauterelle – Chimay? It’s good, but it would ruin my Bike Parts fund. The only time I drink that is when someone else is buying. I’ve actually found a pretty good beer though for when I tire of inexpensive pilsners. Not too costly, tastes pretty good & huge bang for the buck. Black Boss, from Poland, $2.49USD for a big bottle & it’s quite strong. Two of ’em has me sittin’ pretty after a ride.

    No Europcar, eh? Hmm, they seem like a regular for the big races. What’s going on there?

    And while we tend to ignore such talk for the most part, in case ya missed it, Denny G. of Katusha is in trouble over an EPO positive. Not good at all for an early career.

  21. @Ron

    Would it be wrong to name an American kid Jelle? I like that name a lot, but it could bring on some pretty bad teasing. I guess I’ll stick with Seven.

    Sauterelle – Chimay? It’s good, but it would ruin my Bike Parts fund. The only time I drink that is when someone else is buying. I’ve actually found a pretty good beer though for when I tire of inexpensive pilsners. Not too costly, tastes pretty good & huge bang for the buck. Black Boss, from Poland, $2.49USD for a big bottle & it’s quite strong. Two of ’em has me sittin’ pretty after a ride.

    No Europcar, eh? Hmm, they seem like a regular for the big races. What’s going on there?

    And while we tend to ignore such talk for the most part, in case ya missed it, Denny G. of Katusha is in trouble over an EPO positive. Not good at all for an early career.

    Might be ok, but you’d have to make sure the kid is never “too fat to climb” or he’ll be known as Jelly . . .

  22. I’m not sure that picking riders who are actually racing will have any bearing on my VSP results…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Nibali
    4. Vanendert
    5. Martens

  23. Simple equation, if Steampunk is choosing Gilbert in first it means the crocodile has made its way back to the Velomitoddler’s bed, which in turn results in a return to last year’s form.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Phast Phil
    2. Valverde
    3. Vanendert
    4. Gasparotto
    5. Grimpelder

  24. @draffenator
    Hah! Thought you might have meant Lou Ferrigno. His skin colour would suggest an obvious match to Liquigas , but his physiology would seem better suited to the track than the Muur …

  25. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gib-forwards
    2. Purito
    3. Oscarito
    4. Jelly V
    5. valv.Piti

  26. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Sagan
    4. Schleck, F
    5. Vanendert

  27. @G’phant

    @draffenator
    Hah! Thought you might have meant Lou Ferrigno. His skin colour would suggest an obvious match to Liquigas , but his physiology would seem better suited to the track than the Muur …

    Imagine the UCI Passport for Ferrigno!! McQuaid would have a heart attack

  28. Anyone’s race, as Amstel proved.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Jelle Vanendert
    2. Igor Anton
    3. Michael Albasini
    4. Purito Rodriguez
    5. Frank Schleck

  29. VSP PICKS:

    1. HOWES Alex
    2. URAN URAN Rigoberto
    3. GESINK Robert
    4. GASPAROTTO Enrico
    5. CASAR Sandy

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