Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race 2012

Joop and Steven break clear in Amstel Gold

When people think of the The Netherlands, they generally think of flat lands, windmills, and a topography where people claim to “live at elevation” when their home on the third floor of a building. Never the less, this is not entirely true as The Motherland does, in its most southern reaches, boast quite hilly terrain; the province of Limburg juts out into the Ardennes region which is famous in Belgium for the short, steep climbs typical of a geography hewn from high plains by flowing water. Its the perfect place for a bike race.

This Sunday marks the official end of the Cobbled Classics, and the begging of the Ardennes Classics. The big, heavy riders who go well on the cobbles will take a back seat to lighter but powerful rouleurs who can go uphill quickly for a few kilometers. A Grimpeur may be able to gain the upper hand, but only if they go climb quickly enough to shed the stronger riders with fast finishes. Last year we saw Philippe Gilbert use the Amstel Gold Race to start his astonishing streak of wins, finishing off all the Ardennes races with his fast finish. However, if a Lexicon entry is enough to condemn a rider’s chances, then the recent addition of Gilbackwards should seal his fate. Valverde is back from suspension and going as well as ever, and he could well be the man for this season.

The Ardennes Classics also serve as an indicator for the Grand Tours. The Giro is just around the corner, and the Tour de France only a few months away. Riders will be eager to measure themselves against one another and see who is ahead and who is behind schedule (I’m looking at you, Grimplette). Then there are the upsets and the kamikaze breakaways to consider; Jens Voigt has been close in these hills before, can he close the sale this year?

Check the start list and watch the countdown timer as picks close at 5am Pacific on Sunday; up for grabs is the personalized Velominati Shop Apron to the contestent who wins the season-long competition. Check the Main VSP page for scoring guidelines and rules. Also don’t be alarmed if your post doesn’t show up in the sidebar; in an effort go cut down on the noise caused by the VSP, we’re now filtering out the posts that only contain someone’s picks and no further content; don’t worry – they still count and they’ll still show up in the main feed; they’re just being filtered out of the “Recent Posts” feed.

Good luck.

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262 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race 2012”

  5. My VSP hopes are slipping further and further. Might as well just fall on the sword……

    VSP PICKS:

    1. J Rod
    2. Valverde
    3. Giblets
    4. Sammy Sandwich
    5. Sagan

  6. VSP PICKS:

    1. Thomas Voeckler
    2. Peter Sagan
    3. Oscar Freire Gomez
    4. Edvald Boasson Hagen
    5. Sylvain Chavanel

  7. @mouse
    Try logging in with the pull-down at the top rather than at the bottom. That made the difference for me after struggling with the mobile site.

  9. VSP PICKS:

    1. S. Sanchez
    2. J. Rodriguez
    3. S. Gerrans
    4. A. Valverde
    5. O. Freire

  10. Sigh…Like a blind Bambi…no idea.

    VSP PICKS:

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

  14. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Van Marcke
    3. Sylvain Chavanel
    4. Gerrans
    5. Sagan

  17. This is a tough one. Can I pick 10?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Peter Sagan
    3. Joaquin Rodriguez
    4. Philipe Gilbert
    5. Simon Gerrans

  18. @frank
    Ah yes.
    I’ve just realised that I’ve done the Internet equivalent of taking a crap on your front porch.
    Apologies.
    Just that for some reason when I try to post from the mobile site, my login won’t remain current.
    Took @steamy’s advice and tried to login from the top login tab, but for some reason I can’t seen to find the “go” button to finish the login.
    I am generally considered an idiot, but not certifiably so.
    Your assistance in this matter would be most appreciated.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Evans
    2. Gerrans
    3. Valverde
    4. Purito
    5. Chavanel

  20. VSP PICKS:

    1. Joaquin Rodriguez
    2. Peter Sagan
    3. Alejandro Valverde
    4. Simon Gerrans
    5. Philip Gilbert

  21. VSP PICKS:

    1. Rodriguez
    2. Voeckler
    3. Phil Gil
    4. F Schleck
    5. Chavanel

  22. VSP PICKS:

    1. Thomas Voeckler
    2. Lars Boom
    3. Vincenzo Nibali
    4. Chris Horner
    5. Philippe Gilbert

  26. I accidentally Delgado’d the RVV VSP (how does one do that when they’re they one running the damn thing and they’re over there watching the race live, I wonder) and then I had such great luck with that approach that I deliberately Delgado’d Roubaix in the hopes that it would help Boonen double the double. It worked. I don’t give a shit who wins Amstel, so I’m back in the running.

    Valve cap still has the good drugs, so he is likely to win it, but JRod will (again) pull a solid performance. Nibbles will go on the second-last climb and almost make it. Canhego and Grimpelder waddle in a few seconds back.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Piti
    2. JRod
    3. Nibbles
    4. Cunego
    5. Grimpelder

  29. @frank

    how does one do that when they’re they one running the damn thing and they’re over there watching the race live, I wonder)

  30. @Nate

    @frank

    how does one do that when they’re they one running the damn thing and they’re over there watching the race live, I wonder)

    Effin preview fail, thanks New Belgian Trippel. More to the point, you Delgado like that by perpetrating 10 days of Awesomeness all over Northern France and the Vlaamse Ardennes. Well done.

    Of course you’re nearly hors delai on VSP GC and will need a time machine powered by EPO to get back in the season long race, but I’m glad you did what you could to show Boonen the way to another double.

  31. VSP PICKS:

    1. Rodriguez
    2. Lars Boom
    3. Simon Gerrans
    4. valverde
    5. Andy Schleck

  32. Well, hopefully my fever-addled picks will prove superior to my previous ones.

    BTW, if this is the crap that Gianni had in the gite, I’m amazed he did as well as he did.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Chavenal
    3. Billions and Billions
    4. Friere
    5. Gerrans

  33. Pave, Punctures and Pain have led me to a deep dark corner of the VSP GC basement. May a brighter day shine upon the cellar dwellers!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gerrans
    2. Chavanel
    3. Sanchez
    4. Friere
    5. Valverde

  41. This one is hard. Cuddles is saving himself in hopes of salvaging BMCs spring on the Huy tho.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Nippali
    2. J Rod and the Rokkit Skwad
    3. Oh me so Horner
    4. Valverdissimo
    5. Shaved-in-hell

  43. VSP PICKS:

    1. Chavanel
    2. Gerrans
    3. gilbert
    4. Voeckler
    5. Boasson Hagen

  44. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Simon Gerrans
    3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez
    4. Vincenzo Nibali
    5. Oscar Freire Gomez

  45. I have a vision. And must obey that vision.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Simon Gerrans
    3. Vincenzo Nibali
    4. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez
    5. Oscar Freire Gomez

  48. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Gerrans
    3. Nibbles
    4. Frankenschleck
    5. Chavanel

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