Velominati Super Prestige: Gent Wevelgem 2017

Boom boom shake the room!

Well shit. Our new book, The Hardmen, which is due to go to print any day now, has us so tangled up we forgot there’s a racing season going on with, well, hardmen! I’ll keep this brief: get the picks in and hurry, because the window will be very small!
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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

chuckp says:

Mar 26 2017 at 4:44 pm

WTF? How did I Delgado this? FFS!
Randy C says:

Mar 26 2017 at 6:04 pm

Oh man were Van Avermaet and Keukeleire so strong today and for GvA to lead out and still take it... These two were super strong to the finish. And what in the world were Sagan and Terpstra thinking when they let 'em open the gap ?! It just takes but a second doesn't it? How a couple of meters turns in to 10+ seconds like that. I know what Sagan is saying on IG but I'm not buying it. They both just missed it. I dig not seeing these races end up as bunch finishes that's for sure. Cheers all...
Harminator says:

Mar 26 2017 at 11:34 pm

@Randy C

Oh man were Van Avermaet and Keukeleire so strong today and for GvA to lead out and still take it… These two were super strong to the finish. And what in the world were Sagan and Terpstra thinking when they let ’em open the gap ?! It just takes but a second doesn’t it? How a couple of meters turns in to 10+ seconds like that. I know what Sagan is saying on IG but I’m not buying it. They both just missed it. I dig not seeing these races end up as bunch finishes that’s for sure. Cheers all…

Just as I was about ready to start liking Terpstra again...although it was most likely he's following orders. Watch it again at 16.5k to go. Sagan takes a turn and rolls off, GVA just maintains the pace and Terpstra freewheels. Sagan's attempts to bridge are countered but not matched. The QS tactics are just embarrassing at times. I don't think it helps having a superstar like Boonen who is clearly in decline. They have to ride for him but nobody seems to be able to call the right shots on the road.
KogaLover says:

Mar 27 2017 at 12:11 am

@chuckp

WTF? How did I Delgado this? FFS!

I know how! @Frank did not put it up on time. So while I was watching the review of E3 Harelbeke, Delgado paid an unexpected visit...
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 27 2017 at 3:35 am

Hell FUUUUCK! That'll teach me to walk away from the V site for a couple of hours without checking it.

While it is a bit addicting around here it is not quite like heroin, I do not need a fix every few hours you know???

(it's all good, though. I have the full fucking 237 km RVV in 5 days and I am crashing with Alex and William so nothing but fucking roses in my life, Baby!!!)
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 27 2017 at 3:39 am

As for the race, Sagan is just too fucking strong and everyone knows it.

No one will work with him and it is hard to blame them. Just like Sparty for the last 5 years. The other races are there to win, not pull Sagan to the finish to win.

Sagan is my favorite rider right now but he just has to make every fucking move and be willing to work more or he will not be winning.

I see a lot of 2nd and 3rd places for Sagan in this year's future (even though I am routing for him in every race!).
Randy C says:

Mar 27 2017 at 4:42 am

@Harminator

Isn't that the fact yes… And was Het Nieuwsblad a few years back where it all started? I still watch that from time to time. Stannard had such a stud win. Still, anyone that has won PR is a cool cat. Both of these dudes completely missed this one playing games with each other. Sagan just doing a little more whining about it.

@Buck Rogers

Yea baby ! It's all blue skies and sunshine and I'm with ya on Sagan. Oh to see him crush PR will be highlight of year.
Rick says:

Mar 27 2017 at 7:54 am

@Harminator

@Randy C

Oh man were Van Avermaet and Keukeleire so strong today and for GvA to lead out and still take it… These two were super strong to the finish. And what in the world were Sagan and Terpstra thinking when they let ’em open the gap ?! It just takes but a second doesn’t it? How a couple of meters turns in to 10+ seconds like that. I know what Sagan is saying on IG but I’m not buying it. They both just missed it. I dig not seeing these races end up as bunch finishes that’s for sure. Cheers all…

Just as I was about ready to start liking Terpstra again…although it was most likely he’s following orders. Watch it again at 16.5k to go. Sagan takes a turn and rolls off, GVA just maintains the pace and Terpstra freewheels. Sagan’s attempts to bridge are countered but not matched. The QS tactics are just embarrassing at times. I don’t think it helps having a superstar like Boonen who is clearly in decline. They have to ride for him but nobody seems to be able to call the right shots on the road.

Following orders or not, I find the tactic curious. I can understand not wanting to work when the QS sprinters are behind in the bunch. What I find curious is letting two riders get away for the win. This is especially curious when one of the riders is named van Avermaet. I have to agree with Peter the Great here, the tactics were curious at best.
wiscot says:

Mar 27 2017 at 8:06 am

I really don't see Tommeke winning Flanders, but I think P-R being a much more tactical race that relies heavily on experience, might see him go out on a high. (I really, really hope so!) He clearly has form as we've seen lately. All credit to GvA and Keukelaire yesterday however They took the opportunity and it paid off. I see a solo win for Sagan at De Ronde.
the Engine says:

Mar 27 2017 at 8:34 am

Well there's a first - Delgadoed because (wait for it) I was riding my bike and Training Properly