Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 Eneco Tour
“The what Tour?” The question sounds less like a question and a bit more like an accusation. We’re sitting in Gianni’s home on Maui and I’ve just answered a query as to what I’m doing with a computer on my lap when the weather is too nice to justify such a thing.
Even a man as familiar with cycling as Gianni can be forgiven for not knowing the race by it’s new name, the Eneco Tour. The race used to be the Tour of the Netherlands and like the Amstel Gold Race, has enjoyed considerably more success than did the Eindhoven Team Time Trial which boasted a field of least one team each year it was held.
Originally the Tour of the Netherlands, the race now features a parcours through the Netherlands as well as Belgium. As far as preparation races go, it serves as a sort of bizarro preparation for the Vuelta, in the sense that racing in the lowlands would be good way to get ready for a mountainous Grand Tour. Never mind all that, we’re back racing in the VSP and we’re in Dutch-speaking country and I love it. I hope you enjoy lots of helpful translations of Dutch phrases you don’t care about (and probably didn’t hear) from yours truly, because that’s what you’ll be getting for a full week. And I hope you like the color orange.
With that we kick off into the last minor-stage VSP of 2011 for the Eneco Tour. Being a week-long stage race, the points on offer are 7 for first, 5 for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth, with the usual allotment of bonus points for getting the rider right but the place wrong. Also, there are no rest days, so no rest day swaps, but we will have our usual approach for riders who drop out. And, all you Rule #5 apologists out there will be happy to know that we now officially have abolished the 10-minute rule. Piti Principle applies as always. Also review the guide, being careful to note that the rules have changes a bit this year, and we may not have completely updated the guide yet, so if there’s a question, ask.
Best of luck to all.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gil
2. Boasson Hagen
3. Van Avermaet
4. Lars Boom
5. Dries Devenyns
VSP PICKS:
1. E Boasson Hagen
2. Allan Davis
3. Lars Boom
4. Gerdus Lineamann
5. KR Van Hummel
Good to see Richie Porte & Gerro flying in Denmark!
VSP PICKS:
1. EBH
2. Philgil
3. Geraint thomas
4. Greg van avermaet
5. Thomas de gendt
The what Tour of what now?
Fuck if I know.
VSP PICKS:
1. David Millar
2. Sebastian Langeveld
3. Edwald Boasson Hagen
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Lars Bak
@brett
Enema and Co
VSP PICKS:
1. Greg hasamate
2. Phil Gil
3. Hondo
4. Fed Ex for himself this time
5. Stybar
VSP PICKS:
1. EBH
2. De Gendt
3. Nuyens
4. Flecha
5. VanAvermaet
Damn your black heart Frank… making us take the time to study the form of a bike race that sounds more like a corporate event.
I’m guessing that whoever wins will need some TT ability and be able to hold their own in sprints.
However my exhaustive analysis (i.e. the link on Cycling News) has also revealed that 50% of winners in the last six years have had triple-barrelled names… something subliminal to do with the Dutch and Belgian fashion for Van and De, I imagine.
So I submit a list of Tri-nominal veloists, safe in the knowledge that if the VSP was a stage race I would be safely allowed into a breakaway with a gap of 20 minutes.
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvald Boassen Hagen
2. Matthew Harley Goss
3. Johan Van Summeren
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvald Boassen Van Den Hagen
2. Philippe Van Gilbert
3. Tony De Martin
4. Thomas De Gendt
5. Geraint Van Der Thomas
Holy shit, Frank! In Haw’aii again? I want to visit Gianni & have him serve as my DS, though I want it on a 10k cruise on a beach bike, not up the mountain.
Are you doing that ride again? If so, you are indeed crazy. But then again, I know how alluring a big climb can be; it makes you hate yourself, your legs, your bike, but you just can’t resist climbing it again…
I actually just thought yesterday how pointless & empty my life was feeling without a VSP to follow. Back on again! Must study up before I make my picks.
Disappointed not to see Cy Van Den Clops among the starters…
And wow, really curious to see how many teammates Cav is able to bring along. This could be a big shift in the progress of his career.
Sagan wins Pologne. Damn, he’s one fast lad!
VSP PICKS:
1. EB Hagen
2. Fast Phil
3. van Avermaet
4. JellyRoll Vanendert
5. Lars Boom
Doesn’t look like Tony de Martin is starting either, Steampunk.
Thanks, Ron. Curious that he’s not in the lineup””you’d think that HTC would want to get to 500 wins as quickly as possible, and Martin seems a good bet in a TT. Curious, too, that I can’t give any Dutch love in this race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvald Boassen Van Den Hagen
2. Philippe Van Gilbert
3. Dries Van Devenyns
4. Thomas De Gendt
5. Geraint Van Der Thomas
Looking to solidify my mid-pack position with these picks. I guess that the name Gilbert must be on any pick list, even if he’s not racing.
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Thomas De Gendt
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Theo Bos
I’ve learnt not to bet against Phil this year.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gilbert
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen
3. Greg Van Avermaet
4. Stijn Devolder
5. Murilo Antonio Fischer
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvald Boss Hagen
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Greg Van Avermaet
4. Bjørn Leukemans
5. Johan Van Summeren
VSP PICKS:
1. Boss Hog
2. Ratpack
3. L’ours des ardennes
4. Theo bos
5. Matt goss
Gonna have to miss the entire race I think but I look forward to reading about it over here.
VSP PICKS:
1. The Boss
2. Boom Boom
3. Nuyens
4. GVA
5. Goss
@Ron
damm, look like i have to swith ratpack for someone.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boss Hog
2. Theo Bos
3. L’ours des ardennes
4. Lars boom
5. Matt goss
Have learned to not ever bet against Philpe, and am going to go with some cx’ers as the leaves begin to turn. But as before, I’d pick Hoogerland for all 5 spots if he was in the race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Boom
3. Stybar
4. Leukemans
5. Edvald
@eightzero
I like that Stybar pick. I expect him to do some great things on the road.
@Steampunk
Of course, now that he’s state champion, no more racing in shit small races for him!
VSP PICKS:
1. Tony Martin
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen
VSP PICKS:
1. Tony Martin
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen
3. Geraint Thomas
4. Phillipe Gilbert
5. Bjorn Leukemans
What is an enoco?
VSP PICKS:
1. eddie boss hagen
2. phil giblets
3. greg van avermart
4. lars boom
5. tyler farrar
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Bossan Hagen
3. Van Avermaet
4. Boonan
5. Van Summeren
VSP PICKS:
1. ebh
2. philbert
3. david millar
4. de gent
5. boom
And that concludes the voting of the Irish jury – picking two from each of two teams should end in nul pwants again as frigging usual
Merckx I was glad of my V-toptube-decal today – 8500 feet in 125km Hilly 125 (aptly named, with about 125 bastard climbs) – I can get upstairs still, but I can’t get back down – lost the will to climb at 90km, but hardened the fuck up and made it home in time for tea
VSP PICKS:
1. Fast Philly Willy
2. Hwan Antonio Idontneedastretcha
3. Bosenevaldvanhaagendas
4. Jelly Funnyface Van Vanenvandart
5. Maartin Rubberdinghy
VSP PICKS:
1. Andre the Giant
2. Boss Hog
3. Boom Boom
4. Gilbert Grape
5. Alby Davis
Actually, I think Geraint Thomas will win
I my Christ, I’ve got a grey sea urchin – huzzah!
All the pain has suddenly left me
Apart from EBH, I have no idea. But I’m guessing that Gilbert Phillips won’t feature (his 2012 contract must be signed by now!).
VSP PICKS:
1. Eddy BH
2. Lars Bak
3. Tjallingii
4. Devenyns
5. Leukemans
VSP PICKS:
1. Lower the Boom
2. Jacky Bobby
3. Swivelneck Stybar
4. Davis Phinney II
5. Blaireau, Jr.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. EBH
3. Van Avermaet
4. Geraint Thomas
5. De Gendt
VSP PICKS:
1. Eddy Boss Hog
2. GigabyteofVbert
3. Go-Good Boy-Oh Thomas
4. Van Diesel Avermaet
5. Thomas the de Gendt Engine
Tbf, I’ve no idea…so thanks for the help @all
VSP PICKS:
1. EBH
2. Lars “tick tick” Boom
3. Beau Bridges
4. Phil Gil
5. Millarcopter
VSP PICKS:
1. EBH
2. Sebastian Langeveld
3. Mad Thomas De Gendt
4. Van Avermaet
5. Geraint that some shit
If Lars Boom decides to finish this tour, it’ll be his first this year.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
You understand my love of Langeveld, even if these other chumps don’t.
I say that Phil Gil rides for Greipel, saves himself for the World Champs and, of course, his triple Lombary.
I have no Idea so put a roughy as my no. 5 pick.
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvard the Boss hagendas
2. Philly Gilly
3. Greg Van Hasamerc
4. Geraint Thomas
5. Hertz Van Rental (Roughy)
You heard it here first, Stybar will emerge on the road. Oh yes, yes, he will.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phil Gilbert
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen
3. Lars Boom
4. Zdenek Stybar
5. De Gendt
VSP PICKS:
1. Andre the Giant
2. Boss Hog
3. Alby Davis
4. Greg VA
5. Gerry Tommy
Okay, you didn’t hear it first from me. I should have read the other comments first. Still, Stybar.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen
3. Thomas De Gendt
4. David Millar
5. Greg Van Avermaet
@Steampunk
+1 @Steampunk for the double-topical reference. That’s some quality posting.
How the hell am I supposed to make informed picks with no info about this race. When in doubt, Choose Phil.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Boasson Hagan
3. D. Millar
4. M. Tjallingii
5. S. Devolder
Pourquoi pas?
VSP PICKS:
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Geraint Thomas
4. Maarten Tjallingii
5. T Farrar
Bah, who knows?
Suspect Giblets will be saving himself for le Arc en Ciel.
That is all…
VSP PICKS:
1. EBH
2. Greg Van Avermaet
3. T De Ghent
4. Jacky Bobby
5. P Giblets
@Dr C
Well done Dr C!
Love your work.
VSP PICKS:
1. EBH
2. Phil Gil
3. De Gent
4. Boom
5. Van Avermaet