Velominati Super Prestige

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”

  2. God I hope Gilbert Wins

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilforwards
    2. Tourminator
    3. Eddy Boss
    4. Sammy Sanchez
    5. Tiernan Locke

  3. I’m wishing for Gilbert to take it, but think Sagan is too strong…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. SAGAN Peter
    2. GILBERT Philippe
    3. BOONEN Tom
    4. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel
    5. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro

  4. Sagan, PhilGil drag race to the finish.  Would love to see Boonen win it but just do not think it will happen.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Phil Gilbert
    3. Valverde
    4. Gerrans
    5. Boonen

  5. Got to be a good Belgian (Flandrien) and go for Mr. Bean. Te weather is supposed to be dry but we know that can cange in a minute.

    Watched the big boys and girls prqctice their TTT in my neighborhood racetrack last Friday……

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Friere
    3. Sagan
    4. Gilbert
    5. Valverde

  6. I’m really interested to see how this one pans out.  I think everyone is going to be marking the Belgians, however, they do have a two-pronged attack with Boonen and Gilbert as co-leaders so they may be able to overcome that to some extent.  I have a feeling that Gilbert is the stronger rider right now for this type of course, but my sentimental favourite is definitely Tommeke.

  7. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Boassan Hagen
    4. Sagan
    5. Boonen

  9. If I just keep picking the same riders..eventually the results will come.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Voeckler
    2. Boonen
    3. Kolobnev
    4. Da Costa
    5. Sagan

  10. The Belgians and Spanish look so strong that one or both may just tie themselves in knots. I’m picking it will be the Spaniards. So everyone else should put their money on Freire…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Boonen
    4. Boom
    5. Kolobnev

  11. @VeloVita

    I’m really interested to see how this one pans out.  I think everyone is going to be marking the Belgians, however, they do have a two-pronged attack with Boonen and Gilbert as co-leaders so they may be able to overcome that to some extent.  I have a feeling that Gilbert is the stronger rider right now for this type of course, but my sentimental favourite is definitely Tommeke.

    Don’t forget GvA, who has had some great results in the past month. He may be the secret Belgian weapon.

  12. So, after cruising the startlist and NARROWING down my picks, I still come up with:

    Gerrans, Haussler, Boonen, Gilbert, Contador, Valverde, Voekler, Frome, Nibali, Boom, and Sagan.

    What to do? What to do?  Contador breaks away.  It could happen. And if I’m right, I’m a genius.

    Everyone else in a small bunch.  But I really want Boonen or Gilbert to wear the stripes.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Contador
    2. Sagan
    3. Valverde
    4. Nibali
    5. Gilbert

  13. @Trobs

    I was going to pick Tiernan-Locke, in an attempt to look clever if he won. But now that he has won the GB Tour, I have abandoned the idea – judging that my subsequent delusions of genius would no longer justify the risk.

    T’is a good call though – he’s built for this kind of profile. The only problem is that he has been suspiciously calamity free for a while now. So one can only assume that, should victory be within his grasp, he will be suddenly set upon and savaged by a rabid gnu. Which will be a shame.

  16. Want Gerro to do it but I can’t look past Sagan (neither can the ladies).

    Valverde will nip Gerro at the post as usual.

    Phil Gil will blow. Nibbles will be there for the Azzuri

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Valverde
    3. Gerro
    4. Gilbert
    5. Nibali

  18. Not sure what happened above. Try again.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Gilbert
    3. Gerrans
    4. Boonen
    5. Contador

  21. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde Belmonte
    2. Kreuziger
    3. Gerrans
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. Moser

  25. VSP PICKS:

    1. NIBALI
    2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER
    3. FARIA DA COSTA
    4. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ
    5. MOLLEMA

  31. Hey…it could happen…

    going to have to hope something turns up if I’m going to improve my appalling standing…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. cavendish
    2. boonen
    3. sagan
    4. gilbert
    5. valverde

  35. Just waiting to watch Sagan smoke others for the World title. Only Boonen could upset him.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Boonen
    3. Gerrans
    4. Nibali
    5. Valverde

  40. @Steampunk

    VSP PICKS:

    1. P. Gilbert
    2. T. Voeckler
    3. J. Rodriguez
    4. S. Sanchez
    5. V. Nibali

    Damn, Steamy.  Going for the grimpeurs, eh?  I was reaaallllly tempted to do the same.  Should be an awesome day!

  44. can’t wait for the Cauberg fireworks. really hoping for Gilbert and JRod to light it up! Phinney will be gunning for Olympics/TTT/ITT redemption, but won’t get it.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Purito
    3. Nibali
    4. Gerrans
    5. Phinney

  45. I can’t wait! Going to be an awesome Sunday, an awesome race!

    Regarding the weather – when just a lil’ guy I used to mock my father when he’d shush me to hear the weather on the radio. “Dad, who cares about the weather! You nerd!” I now know exactly what the weather is predicted to do for the next few days at all times & it’s the first thing I check out in the morning. Ah, how naive of me. I didn’t quite see my inner Velominatus at that point…

  48. Tough choices here. Go with head or heart? The heart says Tommeke. The head says PhilGil. The heart also goes to Cav, but the head says Sagan.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Nibali
    4. Sanchez
    5. Boonen

  50. Rain baby. Rain.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gerrans
    2. Gilbert
    3. Sagan
    4. Contador
    5. Valverde

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