Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Liége-Bastogne-Liége

We’ve all watched bike races, that’s a given, but how many of us actually listen to a bike race? It’s at this time every year that I’m reminded of something;

The Ardennes Classics sound different.

How does a bike race sound exactly? In the case of L-B-L, it’s the low buzz of the TV helicopter that is ingrained in my psyche. The subliminal hum of the rotors, droning away, overlaid with the monologue of Phil and Paul (or some Dutch or Spanish guy), also droning away, is a trance-inducing concoction not even the likes of Ken Kesey ever experienced.

Be warned, if you’re a Vietnam Veteran watching (and listening to) this clip of Argentin taking his fourth Doyenne may lead to flashbacks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzAntXH46p0&feature=related

While the cobbled northern Classics elucidate a mien that takes hold of our hearts and can’t really be explained, the hillier races in the last week of the Spring campaign offer their own charms for us to appreciate. The fragile climbers, who’ve avoided the rough and dirty roads in weeks previous, mix it up alongside a smattering of the Big Men of the Stones who make the crossover to give it one last crack, or to simply help their grimpeur buddies get a slice of their own pie. These are races that can go to any number of riders who are having an on day.

Which doesn’t make picking a winner in this, the final Spring edition of the Velominati Super Prestige any easier. Will a Schleck, any Schleck, stand up (or be countered). What will the reactions be if Veino repeats, will he still be the villain, or is a year a long time in cycling and he’ll be forgiven, cheered and revered?  PhilGil could make his own history and take not only the triple crown of Amstel, Fleche and Liége, but the quadruple with his Brabanste Pijl win thrown in for good measure. Whichever way the cards fall, or whoever plays them right, it’s always a worthy winner who rolls across the line first in Ans.

All that’s left to do is take a look at the start list, use your Powers of Deductionâ„¢ to decide your Top V, fill in the blanks and pick up an Obey The Rules bumper sticker for your trouble. It’s a prize older and more coveted than any other cycling-based-website-race-tipping-competition-bumper-sticker-giveaway.

Maybe listening to your heart is the way to go on this one.

Best of Belgian to you.

Related Posts

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Sep 21 2017

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Sep 21 2017

257 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Liége-Bastogne-Liége”

  2. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. J. Rodriguez
    3. S. Sanchez
    4. Vino
    5. A. Schleck

  3. – Dopers always win Liege
    – I am rubbish at race predictions
    – Everyone thinks Phil will win. So if I pick him for the win everyone else will lose
    – On the other hand, I want Phil to win as I have a man-crush on him and have wanted him to be able to do this ever since some journo wrote about him being outspoken against doping. If he wins he will show Rebellin and Valv Piti the new cycling reality that they will return to:

    1. Phil
    2. Phil
    3. Phil
    4. Phil
    5. Phil

    P’tang. Bang. Kipperbang.

  5. Yeah, I know 3 isn’t racing but that’s what I think of Gilbert’s chances. It’s hilly folks.

    Vino could be there but he’s a fugitive.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. A Schleck
    2. Who Cares
    3. F Cancellara
    4. P Gilbert
    5. everyone else

  7. Switching Sammy Sanchez to Igor Anton, because I feel Anton will be the better rider tomorrow.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Veino
    2. Joa-Clean?
    3. A. Schleck
    4. Gilbert
    5. Igor Anton

  15. Ok you nuts, some of these names have me stumped. Who the fack is Truck Rental? Purito I should probably know, but my mind is numb with all the Gilberts, Vinos and Schlecks I’ve logged.

    And tipping Alexi Grewal? Genius!

    Too many Gilbert picks, and while I think he should win, I need points and am going for a Katusha ploy of getting Kolobnev up the road and having J Rod marking out PG and Vino…

    Never gonna happen.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Kolobnev
    2. A rich Vein of form
    3. SamSan
    4. QuadCrownPhil
    5. J R

  20. @Steampunk
    Agreed, not my nickname. I’m just the interpreter.

    @Rob
    I was close to tipping Nibs on the first step. Wise choice. He’ll win the jeeroh.

  24. @Jarvis–

    Dopers always win Liege

    Ha! You are so right, the last 12 or so editions features someone who was busted except for Bettini and Grimpeurtito. What does that say about Paulo? Anything?

    I too am skeptical of Gilbert winning again but he is a strongman, no? I dare not bet against him. I still refuse to put down Vieno. Gesink? I think not. Ryder, I’d like him to fucking win this but unlike jesus in da cave, I don’t think he will roll away the stone and ascend to the top of the podium. A-Merckx

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Nibali-thanks Rob
    3. Kolobnev-thanks Bretto
    4. Brajkovic
    5. Grimpeur the lesser

  25. @Brett
    Yeah: Weight of a Nation = O Hesjedal. I don’t like it, but Garmin (and now Garvelo) have been selling the t-shirts for a couple of years (Hesjedal was the lone Canuck in the TdF a couple of years ago).

    @Gianni
    Wow! Just wow: I’m in awe.

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. P. Gilbert
    2. Vino
    3. Joachim Rodriguez
    4. A. Schleck
    5. Kolobnev

  30. @Gianni
    Bettini? Well you tell me what it says about him, given the era he raced and was amazingly successful in…

    @Brett
    ‘Purito’ is the “official” nickname of J-rod

  31. Wanted to pick Gerro because it will be ANZAC day back here but I just couldn’t. Aussie quinella at Bells Besch today was reward enough anyway!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. S sanchez
    3. A schleck
    4. J-rod
    5. Vino

  32. Crazy? Yes. Dumb? Maybem Desperate for points? Definitely.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Fuglsang
    2. Gilbert
    3. Jo Rodriguez
    4. Chavanel
    5. Sammy Sanchez

  33. @Jarvis
    Bettini, he was a stud. I’m just saying he stands out in that list of winners. Maybe he stands out for a good reason. I hope so.

    @Steampunk
    In awe at my ability to inject pseudo-Easter symbolism into Liege-Bastogne-Liege? Or my bad picks…again?

  34. Lets out a bit of reality on this

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. J-Rod
    3. Vino
    4. Schlecklette
    5. Hay-sink

  36. all complete guesses (apart from phil)

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. schleck elder
    3. ryder
    4. sammy sanchez
    5. gerrans

  39. Been thinking too much about this… Surely the teams will have to negate the Gilbert finish – his conditioning has been timed perfectly eh? So the break will be on – preferably a group of 10+ and Lotto will send cover. But who? I’m betting the break will stick but if it doesn’t, the Gilbert show will take over…And maybe Sky or BMC will get something right…It’s way open – where’s the dartboard?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert Grape
    2. Van den Broeck
    3. Gerry Gerrans
    4. Pinner Pineau
    5. Santambrogio

  40. @Steampunk
    Weight of a Nation is a name Ryder gave himself in the ’09 Tour. Hilariously hubristic statement, which the bastard then backed up! Got to love his work.

  47. If the break sticks together till the end then I’m all for JP getting a good result even though I didnt pick him.

  49. Gianni:
    @Jarvis-

    Ryder, I’d like him to fucking win this but unlike jesus in da cave, I don’t think he will roll away the stone and ascend to the top of the podium. A-Merckx

    John Boy you da man when it comes to making me just blow my cookies and on the day too – tooo fricking much ++1!
    P.S. Like your Brajkovic pick… good luck

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.