Velominati Super Prestige: Gent-Wevelgem 2012

Tom Steels takes his second G-W victory in 1999

Gent conjures up images of the quintessential Flemish city. Age-old medieval architecture rising from the river’s edge is classically Belgian. Gent is also firmly tied to Belgium’s greatest gift to the world, cycling tradition. Many a pro-expat cyclist has relocated to Gent with the hope of testing their mettle in the seat of cycling’s soul. Brad Wiggins and Tyler Farrar are two current stars who come to mind who emigrated to Gent. It is where Wouter Wylant hailed from and I believe it’s where Andrei Tmchil calls home. Wevelgem, while I’m sure a very fine place, boasts only an old German airport constructed in WW1 and a pair of Miss Belgiums (2007 and 2011). But the countryside in between is the ideal place to hold one of cycling’s classics, Gent-Wevelgem.

Some may see it as a semi-classic. That argument held more water when the race was placed in between The Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix in April. Now that it’s been given it’s own weekend on the calendar leading up to Cycling Week, I think it’s fair to say that, while not a Monument, it deserves full classic status. Just look at the list of winners – Van Looy, Merckx, Van Springel, Godefroot, Maertens, Steels, and Boonen. And those are just a smattering of the Belgians. Throw in a few Cipollinis, Mosers, Kellys, and Hinaults and the winners list is a who’s who of hardmen.

That is all well and good but what is really getting me excited about Gent-Wevelgem this year is the Kemmelberg. The Kemmelberg factors virtually every year in the race but what’s different for me this year is the Keepers Tour is staying in Kemmel, very near the fabled climb. I imagine striking out on a morning ride just days after the race to have a go at the climb myself with the other blokes on the tour. I just hope I don’t have to unclip and walk up the damn thing and thank Merckx I don’t have to do it twice if I don’t want to (The racers will complete the climb twice).

There is no such thing as a VSP that is easy to forecast but this one can be particularly tricky. It’s usually one for the sprinters but rather than ending in a bunch gallop it often ends with a sprint from a small selection of riders who make it over the Kemmelberg intact. What does this mean for Mark Cavendish after his dismal day last weekend? Additionally, riding a bloc in this race could risk a premature peak for The Ronde the following week. In which case, maybe you look to guys like Sagan, Haussler, and EBH who are strong and likely to factor in the Monuments but may (and have) lay it all out for a day of Flandrian glory as they plot their up-and-comer status.

Here’s some great footage of the Kemmelberg and many of the other climbs being contested in 2010. It’s all good but if you want to skip to the Kemmelberg it’s featured at 7:30.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvaghC3Qhzg[/youtube]

There are many dudes who seem to be going well right now so get your picks in before 5am PST. Here’s the challenge – think for yourself this time, don’t follow the herd, and you just might put yourself in position to increase your tally for the Shop Apron awarded at the end of the season. Start list here.

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329 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Gent-Wevelgem 2012”

  1. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boasson Hagen
    2. Degenkolb
    3. Van Avermaet
    4. Oss
    5. Ballan

  2. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen (Bel)
    2. Stuart O’Grady (Aus)
    3. Lars Boom (Ned)
    4. Baden Cooke (Aus)
    5. George Hincapie (USA)

  3. VSP PICKS:

    1. Ramunas Navardauskas
    2. Bennati
    3. Boasson Hagen
    4. Boonen
    5. Vansummeren

  4. I have no strategy, just pick a few guys that i reckon are there or thereabouts with a bit of added Cav wishful thinking.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Cav
    2. Boonen
    3. Boss Hog
    4. Dengelkob
    5. Pozzato

  5. Cav wins the sprint if the bunch makes it. Others are my guesses for any late selection.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. mr todd (sky)
    2. boonen
    3. sagan
    4. spartacus
    5. freire

  6. I got to watch the final 35 kms of racing yesterday. Love watching Niki Terpstra ride. He looks super smooth, remember his ride at the end of the Worlds last year in Australia, thought he might pull it off.

    Belgium must be like heaven this time of year for cycling fans. Three races just this week alone, then Paris-Roubaix coming up.

    Oh, and Pozzato was in the mix near the end yesterday. Jeez, and he just raced MSR. It’s almost like he’s scared he lost his HardMan status or something and wants to prove his mettle. Impressive riding after his double chicken bone work!

  7. Faboo figures it out this week.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Spartacus
    2. Boonen
    3. Freire
    4. Boom
    5. Big George

  8. Went to look at the Bikes section, and it seems to have been nicked too – what is the world coming too!

  9. You’ll know it when it happens. Fifth last year. On form this year. Daniel Oss. I’m starting a breakaway with this. More fun that way.

    Cancellara because it is now a better bet that he will finish second than first. This sucks but is true. I hope he proves me wrong.

    Boonen, because he needs to be behind Cancellara to get his shit together for P-R.

    Farrar because I want him there but I’m not holding my breathe.

    Thor, because, well, I like him and should pick him.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Daniel Oss
    2. Cancellara
    3. Boonen
    4. Farrar
    5. Thor

  10. I’m going with Klier for the surprise win when Farrar can’t hold his wheel on the lead out.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Herr Klierheimer
    2. Boonenheimer
    3. Andre the Greipelheimer
    4. Boss Hogenheimer
    5. Farrarenheimer

  11. VSP PICKS:

    1. Edvald’s back
    2. Boonen
    3. Degenkolb
    4. Johan Vansummer
    5. Visconti

  12. I’m really enjoying the videos that are going along with the VSP posts. I would love that sticker to put on my Rule #25 wagon or tool box.

    By the way. Some of you guys may want to take a look at the start list.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. EBH
    2. Boonen
    3. Bak
    4. Cooke
    5. Pazzato

  13. @Cyclops

    I’m going with Klier for the surprise win when Farrar can’t hold his wheel on the lead out.
    VSP PICKS:
    1. Herr Klierheimer2. Boonenheimer3. Andre the Greipelheimer4. Boss Hogenheimer5. Farrarenheimer

    +1 Cyclops
    Why the UCI ‘has concerns’ on this non-sense is beyond me
    They need to go stick their dick where it really counts, not ‘tab filing’

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Edvald's back
    2. Boonen
    3. Degenkolb
    4. Johan Vansummer
    5. Visconti

  14. Before I make my picks is there another start list that people are making the picks from? Cuz I’m not seeing Faboo or Gilbert, yet the team websites list them as starting. What gives?

  15. Is that big George in 3rd in that photo? Rocking the US National Champ jersey! And if my eyes don’t fail me, NO SHOECOVERS!!!

  16. Cancellara not starting. Hmmmm. Must replace him, which throws off all of my advanced calculations.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Daniel Oss
    2. Friere
    3. Boonen
    4. Farrar
    5. Thor

  17. ok here goes nothing. All B’s this time.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. T. Boonen
    2. D. Bennati
    3. L. Boom
    4. E. Boasson Hagen
    5. A. Ballan

  18. VSP PICKS:

    1. Andre Greipel
    2. Alessandro Ballan
    3. Tom Boonen
    4. Edvald Boasson Hagen
    5. Alessandro Petacchi

  19. @tomb

    Is that big George in 3rd in that photo? Rocking the US National Champ jersey! And if my eyes don’t fail me, NO SHOECOVERS!!!

    That’s our George alright. And your eyes do fail you, those look like blue booties to me…

  20. And Steels is demonstrating one of the rare occasions that team shorts with national champ jersey is the poorer alternative…

  21. @scaler911

    @Cyclops

    More reasons for the UCI to go away.

    The UCI is continuing its crackdown on non-standard and modified equipment, with a number of common modifications deemed illegal for 2012, including filing off fork dropout safety tabs

    When I read this I thought it was a article from “The Onion”. Who leaves on their “lawyer tabs” anyway. Next thing, we’ll have to leave on the dork disc and reflectors.

    Yeah, last time I checked, PRO teams were not having a lot of problems with front wheels suddenly falling out of the dropouts and face-planting the rider on their face. Seriously, do Fat Pat and his trolls just sit around thinking what non-existent problem they can identify and fuck with? What next? UCI approved lawyer tabs? Are riders going to be DQ’d if they ride a bike without tabs? UCI= UnCommonly Idiotic.

  22. @Flying Crowbar
    …and apparently not being listed on the start list means they aren’t starting, either. Sheesh. Reading comprehension failure on my part…

  23. Updated.

    And @RedRanger, never mind. I’m in full-on stupid mode right now. Grey text indicates I clicked that link.

    I must learn more about this internets you guys speak of.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Van Summeren
    2. Boonen
    3. Freire
    4. Boom
    5. Big George

  24. @Cyclops

    More reasons for the UCI to go away.

    The UCI is continuing its crackdown on non-standard and modified equipment, with a number of common modifications deemed illegal for 2012, including filing off fork dropout safety tabs

    “Moreover, removing the tabs cancels the warranty of the fork in case of crash.” WTF has that got to do with racing?! Maybe making the rule is the UCI’s way of avoiding liability in case of an accident, but they will never actually enforce it.

  25. @Bianchi Denti

    Do PROs warranty out their broken frames? And if so, do they go to the manufacturer and say, “I was just riding along and it broke.”?

  26. First looks, placeholders, until the startlist gets settled out. I’m still confused if Faboo, P Sagan and others will be attending…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Freire
    2. Degenkolb
    3. Boonen
    4. Gatto
    5. Oss

  27. Frank maybe you should auto route “Gatto” to Oscar?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Freire
    2. Degenkolb
    3. Boonen
    4. Gatto The Oscar One
    5. Oss

  28. Disappointed in you frank. There is one compelling reason why G-W is “only” a semi-classic: Big George has won one.

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