Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race 2014

Jan Raas, 5 time winner, not drinking Amstel Gold. photo-Peters, Hans / Anefo
Jan Raas, 5 time winner of Amstel, not drinking Amstel Gold. photo-Peters, Hans / Anefo

The Amstel Gold Race, 251 km from Maastricht to Valkenburg, the hard way. There appears to be no flat sections longer than ten meters. There are thirty-four mean little climbs to ruin the legs. We have moved on from the real Spring Classics. There is no rest in this VSP; The Ronde and Roubaix were amazing but we must continue. Legs that are smoked from those races are not lining up for Amstel. We are moving into Phil Gil territory. Regard the former winners from 2004 to 2008.

  • 2008 | CUNEGO Damiano
  • 2007 | SCHUMACHER Stefan
  • 2006 | SCHLECK Fränk
  • 2005 | DI LUCA Danilo
  • 2004 | REBELLIN Davide

Obviously, having the right pot belge mix working for these climbs paid off back then, especially for Schumacher, not a rider who would have been an obvious pick for any race. I’m not implying Phil Gil is on the juice but I am implying this is a race for the powerhouse speed climbers, like him or Valverde. Again, not implying, just saying.

For those who wished to squander a pick on Gesink (I’m looking at you Strack), you have been saved. He is out. Maybe Laurens ten Dam, Velominati Rules reader will represent the home country and win it all, or not. Here is the start list. Veel succes!

The points from the Amstel Gold VSP count towards the overall prizes. So check the start list, review the VSP Scoring Guidelines and get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on Sunday the 20th. If you think we mapped one of your picks wrong, use the dispute system and we’ll review it. Also remember to be precise enough in your description so we know which rider you mean; in other words, if you enter “Martin”, we will use our discretion (read: wild guess) to decide if you mean Tony or Dan – and that choice will not be negotiable once the the countdown clock goes to zero, so be sure to give yourself enough time.

Don’t forget we’ve got three major prizes for the season-long VSP:

First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron

Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)

Third place is you’re fired or overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.

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252 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race 2014”

  1. Here’s to hoping I get some points considering I barely got any last week…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Michal Kwiatkowski
    3. Philippe Gilbert
    4. Simon Gerrans
    5. Roman Kreuziger

  3. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Gerrans
    3. Jelte-Slagter
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. Cunego

  4. Another unsuccessful roll of the dice right there…..

    VSP PICKS:

    1. valverde
    2. Gilbert
    3. Chavanel
    4. Rodriguez
    5. Gerrans

  5. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gerrans
    2. gilbert
    3. slagter
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. Gallopin

  6. Little change up once I realised I’d just broken my own rule of never picking Malmerde!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Phast Phil
    2. Kwiatkowski
    3. Bling
    4. Nate Avocado
    5. J-Rod

  7. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Simon Gerrans
    3. Michal Kwiatkowski
    4. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
    5. Joaquim Rodríguez

  8. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Michal Kwiatkowski
    4. Carlos Betancur
    5. Rui Alberto Faria da Costa

  10. Too bad there is no Contador. That would give Saxo a great combination. I hope he races LBL.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Alejandro Valverde
    3. Simon Gerrans
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. J Rodríguez

  11. God I suck at this even more than going fast on a bike.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Kwaiatkowski
    4. Valverde
    5. Slagter

  15. VSP PICKS:

    1. Diego Ulissi
    2. Michal Kwiatkowski
    3. Tom Jelte Slagter
    4. Romain Bardet
    5. Philippe Gilbert

  17. VSP PICKS:

    1. Rodriguez
    2. Gilbert
    3. Kwiatowski
    4. Valverde
    5. Rui Costa

  18. VSP PICKS:

    1. Kwiatowski
    2. Valverde
    3. Gerrans
    4. Rodriguez
    5. Gilbert

  19. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Michael Kwiatkowskli
    3. Philippe Gilbert
    4. Simon Gerrans
    5. Juaquim Rodriguez

  20. VSP PICKS:

    1. Rodriguez
    2. Kwiatkowski
    3. Gilbert
    4. Valverde
    5. Chavanel

  21. VSP PICKS:

    1. Alejandro Valverde
    2. Michael Kwiatkowskli
    3. Simon Gerrans
    4. Philippe Gilbert
    5. Tom Dumoulin

  23. Provisional

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Andy Schleck
    2. Jos Kiddink
    3. Nadi Van Klose
    4. Will D. Enev
    5. Poor Bastard

  25. With the entire Lotto Belisol team needing training wheels I suppose sneaking two dutchees in can’t hurt. Who agrees with sports commentators that this race is a performance indicator for Le Tour?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Mollema
    5. Dumoulin

  27. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde (Malmerde)
    2. Gilbert
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Dan Martin
    5. D Rebellin

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. J Rodriguez
    2. Valverde (urgh)
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Gilbert
    5. Gerrans

  29. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Rodriguez
    5. Nibali

  30. @Buck Rogers

    VSP PICKS:

    5. D Rebellin

    Bold. Unconscionable. But bold. He went well midweek. I guess the peloton needs the love child of Paracelsus and Methuselah to make it whole…

  31. @xyxax

    Provisional

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Andy Schleck
    2. Jos Kiddink
    3. Nadi Van Klose
    4. Will D. Enev
    5. Poor Bastard

    I haven’t heard of any of these guys (and I didn’t get the first joke).

  32. @Steampunk

    As with most of my “contributions” here, there applies the political dictum, “if you’re explaining, you’re losing.”

  33. @Steampunk

    @Buck Rogers

    VSP PICKS:

    5. D Rebellin

    Bold. Unconscionable. But bold. He went well midweek. I guess the peloton needs the love child of Paracelsus and Methuselah to make it whole…

    Exactly.  I saw his results from earlier and thought that he must be back on the juice but hell, he’s lining up and showing some form so I actually will not be surprised to see him make the final selection.  Should be interesting!  What I am VERY curious of is how the Schlecks will do.  They have been creeping around this Spring and have actually been there a few times.
    And thanks for the Paracelsus reference.  I learned something today.  Should he be the true Pariah of doping history and not Ferrari???

  34. @xyxax

    @Steampunk

    As with most of my “contributions” here, there applies the political dictum, “if you’re explaining, you’re losing.”

    Frahnk and Gianni are going to kick your a$$ when they see these monikers and try to figure them out.  But, if I am not mistaken, picks 2-5 are explaining your pick 1 and you will repost your real picks when Oddschecker finalizes the odds???  (Smiley face here)

  37. @unversio

    @Buck Rogers Fränk SCHLECK Victory (2006), 2nd (2008), 7th (2010), 10th (2007), 12th (2012)

    Yeah, as Paul Simon said, he’s Slip Sliding Away but this year the UnWonder Twins seem to have been on the shrink’s couch enough and might just have their heads together for this.  They have the form, I think,  a lot like Farrar, their bigest problem is the mental game which they have been disaterous at the last few years.

  38. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. J Rodriguez
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Valverde
    5. Betancur

  39. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nico Roche
    2. A Valverde
    3. G Thomas
    4. S Gerrans
    5. P Gilbert

  40. @Buck

    No ass-kickings please.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Michal Kwiatkowski
    2. Gilbert, Phil
    3. Gerrans, Simon
    4. Valverde, Alejandro
    5. Swift, Ben

  41. VSP PICKS:

    1. Kwiatkowski
    2. Valverde
    3. Gilbert
    4. Van Avermaet
    5. Rodriguez

  42. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Rui Costa
    3. Valverde
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. Van Avermaet

  43. ‘Cause why the hell not Thomas Dekker? And I’d like Phil Gilbert (pronounced Fill Gill-bert) to prove me wrong.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Purito
    2. Nibali
    3. Valverde
    4. Voeckler
    5. Thomas Dekker

  44. I might well head over to Valkenburg to have a butcher’s at this; if anyone else is going to be hanging around the Cauberg, give us a shout.

  45. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Nibali
    3. Rodriguez
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. Valverde

  46. This is a ridiculous line-up. What am I thinking?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Mollema
    4. Gerrans
    5. Riblon

  47. VSP PICKS:

    1. P. Gilbert
    2. A. Valverde
    3. J. Rodriguez
    4. D. Martin
    5. M. Kwiatkowski

  48. VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Gilbert
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Nibali
    5. Rodriguez

  49. VSP PICKS:

    1. A Valverde
    2. M Kwiatkowski
    3. T Slagter
    4. P Gilbert
    5. J Rodriguez

  50. VSP PICKS:

    1. A Valverde
    2. Kwiatkowski
    3. Gilbert
    4. Gerrans
    5. Kreuziger

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