The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige continues with La Fleche Wallone on Wednesday, April 21. This will be the third race in the season-long series and presents another opportunity to jump up the rankings and unseat current series leader and rainbow cog wearer, Rob, who consolidated his lead Sunday at Amstel Gold. The competition remains very close and leadership can belong to anyone who makes a good race prediction Wednesday.
La Fleche is sure to be as unpredictable as Amstel, as the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull continues to wreak havoc on the start list, with riders who can not pronounce the volcano’s name being rendered unable to travel to the races. Add to that the ferocity of the finishing climb – the Muur de Huy with it’s 26% ramps – and we have an other unpredictable race on our hands. Is this a year for a solo breakaway to finally succeed, or will itagain feature a large group who contests the finale in a brutish uphill sprint?
This edition’s winner will again earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker and all reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free Velominati Shop Apron. If you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the comment section. Good luck.
Rules and results are posted Velominati Super Prestige page.
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Someone's got to stick their neck out and start the tyre rolling, so here goes:
Frank Schleck - sentimental choice for all cycling fathers, but also a realistic contender
Good Cadel (i.e. the Cadel which isn't Bad Cadel) - by way of apology to Brett
Ryder Hesejdal - he's in good form, and he's pretty cool
Kolobnev - ditto (and he's got a point to prove)
Piti - I am not prepared to write his real name, for reasons related to, but different from, those attributed to Dr Fuentes (and I hope to be deeply wrong on this pick)
Thought about also picking Pistolero - a rather random choice, but he's in good nick and may feel like a bit of a hit out (and so long as he doesn't win he won't insult us with the ridiculous salute) - but had already got to 5.
These are all subject to any intervention by Icelandic volcanoes, actual start lists, WADA and/or me coming to my senses and realising what a dumbass I've been.
Disturbing thought: recent winners - Rebellin, Di Luca, Valverde. Almost makes me hope the Schleckster doesn't make it...
@Geof
As a lawyer, I suppose you're used to apologising...
Another lottery this one, but a power climber will be the one. Hmmm, Cadel, power?
1. Cuntador... in form, and might just want to prove he's not just a stage race pony.
2. Cadel... warming up for Liege, but will find himself leading out Kroon and KK will be unable to bring it home. Will later state if he hadn't been working for KK, he would've won.
3. Valverde... who cares if he's doped, who isn't? He's suited to this, and I'm just gonna load my 5 with guns and hope for some points.
4. Is Gilbert racing? If he is, he'll be in the mix for sure.
5. Sanchez. He's dirty.
@Geof....I like the way you're thinking. Might mix it up a bit this week. Gilbert would be in there but I'm tipping him for LBL. Equally a crapshoot though.
1.Contador...gaining a grudging respect for him, think he might light this one up.
2.A Schleck.
3.Sanchez
4.Valverde
5.Rodriguez
Might have to do the same loop as last time for this but just take it easier on the refreshments.
The variables are upping the pressure... new course, effed travel, babies - god this is tough.
1.) A. Schleck
2.) D. Cunego
3.) S. Vandeburgh
4.) C. Knees
5.) C. Evens
This one is gonna come down to team support, combativeness on the Huy and controling break-a-ways. Which, upon second thought, sounds like every race. That said, if some Russian guy with the legs starts to roll untested it throws my whole scheme off. Too many variables to be confident but here goes:
1. Contador. He's combative, in form, has Pereiro there for him, and is racing against the Schlecks, Evans and Wiggins. He's not gonna want to let his tour rivals best him. He's going to scare them now and make them nervous until July.
2. Valverde. He's got Dirty Sanchez at his back and wants to win something before his upcoming two-year ban which will start before the Giro.
3. F. Schleck. The Brothers Grimpeur showed some of their punch last week and will step it up tomorrow. They're saving Andy for La Doyenne.
4. Evans. BMC has to get something rolling this year and Evans will have the support up to the Huy. His mangina will sieze up though and he'll finish off the podium.
5. Cunego. He's got to be a favorite and the little bugger can ride a bike but I just don't see him going it alone without anyone to cover attacks.
Hard not to go with Wiggins or Gilbert mixing things up. Phillipe says he wants LBL this weekend but that could be a bluff. Wiggo and Sky have been impressive this year but I couldn't possibly get all the tour favorites in there. It just didn't seem right.
This is again a really tough call. Oh, how I long for the simplicity of calling a race like Roubaix where there are only a handful of favorites. Would that it were so easy.
I am afraid the Turquoise Terror will take the win with Valverde, the Brothers Grimpeur, Gilbert, Cunego, and the Good Evans all figuring in. But who would discount former winner Kim Kirchen or tactical genius Dirty Sanches? I need about 15 places in order to feel anywhere near comfortable with my selections. What about a Kamakazi Voigt fluke breakaway success? It's all possible and tickles the imagination.
So, without further ado, I will list my predictions
1. Cuntador. His acceleration is unstoppable, and although he normally doesn't really do these Cotes, he will be able to jump away on the right hander just between the steep sections where Armstrong jumped in '96 and ride away from the rest. He will offend our sensibilities both by displaying his head-to-toe ugly turquoise kit and make that stupid-ass pistol salute.
2. Andy Schleck. Frank will set him up, but the proud father lacks the explosiveness that his junior does.
3. Valverde. He will lead out the sprint a bit too early and fade on the steep slopes, accustomed to going against the Tour Strongmen.
4. Kirchen. I don't think he's done jack shit this year, but I'm tipping him anyway; the dude can deliver when the road goes up.
5. Cadel. He will be good, good, good, and then someone will pass him and he will be bad, bad, bad. Then his dog will take a whiz on a reporter's foot and there will be another t-shirt epidemic.
@brett
Yeah, I know they're all doping, but shit, the guy and his federation are flying in the face of every pretext of fairness. Basso and Ulrich both went down, why does he get to keep flying free?
It's not the doping, it's the blatant nature of him stepping around the process.
@Geof
Ack!! There are a couple guys that will truly break my heart if they are ever caught, and the Brothers Grimpeur are two of 'em. Tom "But I Didn't Inhale" Boonen, and Spartacus are two of the others.
*Touch wood*
@Rob
The tighter you close your grip, the closer we all come to taking that cog from off your back!
If you come through with those picks, you can count on another out-of-competition clairvoyance test between now and Liege!
@Joe
I think you might have a winner there...that's a fine looking line-up.
@brett
Looks like you just coined a new phrase, mate. But I'm taking credit for Cuntador.