Categories: Belgian AffirmationsKeepers TourVelominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2013

Photo via Slipstream Sports

Outside my window, its pouring rain. My bike is leaning agains the wall in my office, covered in grim and grit from the ride in, which was characterized by equal parts cold, wind, and rain. The spot in the locker room where I changed before my shower was marked by sand and mud, and when I walked to the shower, I left a trail of dirty footprints.

It doesn’t bother me one bit, however. My mind is already cast ahead to Vlaanderen and the Cobbled Classics which kick off this weekend with Omloop Het Neiuwsblad. I still want to call it Omloop Het Volk, and people more brazen than me would call it Gent-Gent and people even more stubborn than that would call it “Feburacing”. (I made that last part up.)

Most importantly, this is when we kick off the third installment of the Velominati Super Prestige. We Keepers are all about the Spring Classics in general and the Cobbled Classics in particular – going so far as to host the second annual Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics in April. (Sign up now, by the way, as we are looking at other projects for Keepers Tour next year and there is no guarantee we’ll hold it on the cobblestones again in 2014.)

With that, we kick off the season-long 2013 Velominati Super Prestige with the first major race on the berggen and Kasseien of VVest Vlaanderen. Name your picks in the boxes below; 7 points for naming the winner correctly, 5 for second place, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, and 2 for fifth. One point for naming a rider to the top five, but getting the place wrong. Points will be amassed over the course of the season, and the winner will win a personalized Velominati Shop Apron. Full Rules and Scoring Guidelines on the VSP Main Page. Starting roster is over on CyclingNews.com. The ladies event will go up later today or first thing tomorrow.

Good luck, and Merckxspeed.

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frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Matt says:

Feb 21 2013 at 1:03 pm

I definitely screwed up my first picks. I thought this was a worldtour event and all the teams would be there.

VSP PICKS:

1. Eisel
2. Nuyens
3. Hushovd
4. Vansummern
5. Terpstra
Buck Rogers says:

Feb 21 2013 at 1:07 pm

@Matt

VSP PICKS:

1. Peter Sagan
2. Fabian Canceralla
3. Nick Nyuens
4. Tom Boonen
5. Bernie Eisel

While I totally think that SaGUN is going to rule the Spring Classics, I do not think that even he can win without starting! Love the enthusiasm, though!
moondance says:

Feb 21 2013 at 1:38 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Terpstra
2. Roelandts
3. Phinney
4. Van Avermaet
5. Van Marcke
skagitteam says:

Feb 21 2013 at 1:45 pm

I wish I felt better about this.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Hushovd
3. Pozzato
4. Phinney
5. Haussler
Skip says:

Feb 21 2013 at 1:47 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Lars Boom
2. Terpstra
3. Roelandts
4. Pozzatto
5. Flecha
The Oracle says:

Feb 21 2013 at 1:58 pm

The recent settlement of the case that has sucked up 60 hours of every week since November suddenly leaves me with vast amounts of unallocated cranial capacity.

Thank fuckin' Merckx it was just in time for the VSP.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boss Hog
2. Van Avermaet
3. Boonen
4. Faboo
5. Boom Boom Mancini
strathlubnaig says:

Feb 21 2013 at 2:02 pm

With 54 Belgian past winners I should just pick 5 Belgians, but I am going with the flow instead.

VSP PICKS:

1. Terpstra
2. Van Avermaet
3. Hushovd
4. Van Marcke
5. Boonen
Fausto says:

Feb 21 2013 at 2:10 pm

...and so the fun begins again. I'm a much happier man now that the racing has begun again, both for these guys and me. It means that the weather is going to improve, the sun will be higher in the sky and all will be right with the world. My first proper off season of training as given me a tiny insight into what these guys go through, so it'll be interesting to see who's been putting in the hard miles - my money is on Thor to make amends for a very forgettable 2012; just pipping Boonen and his gammy arm.

VSP PICKS:

1. Hushovd
2. Boonen
3. Vanmarcke
4. Phinney
5. Stybar
the Engine says:

Feb 21 2013 at 2:14 pm

I mean really - what do I know?

VSP PICKS:

1. Norman Stanley Flecha
2. Sebastian Langeveld
3. Heinrich Haussler
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Mathieu Ladagnous
Lukas says:

Feb 21 2013 at 2:15 pm

Let the racing begin!

VSP PICKS:

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen
2. Lars Boom
3. Sep Vanmarcke
4. Heinrich Haussler
5. Nick Nuyens