Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
The 2012 Velominati Super Prestige kicks off in proper form this season with the debut of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as part of the series. I’m tempted to stubbornly refer to this race as Het Volk, but I’ll toe the line and refer to the race by its bewildering new(ish) name.
This is a tricky race to predict because the big races in April are a funny distance away; they are close enough that riders wanting to do well there should be in good enough form to be competitive now, but far enough off that a win here could indicate a rider hitting their peak too soon.
In fact, the latter seems to be the case: riders who show brilliance here rarely shine in April when the Monuments of Vlaanderen and Roubaix are contested. De Vlaeminck, Museeuw, Van Petegem, Vandenbroucke – all champions of the Cobbled Classics and all men who never succeeded to win Het Volk/Het Nieuwsblad in the same year as either of the big cobbled classics; in fact, a cursory study of past results lists reveals only Merckx and Ballerini as being able to pull this particular double.
This timing makes Het Nieuwsblad a particularly difficult race to predict; in addition to the wily nature of any cobbled classic, the big names may not quite have the eye of the tiger while riders with an outside chance at victory in April may be focusing their early season on glory in this minor classic which covers many of the sacred roads as de Ronde.
With that we kick off the first event of the 2012 VSP; 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. As a sidebar, we’ve also made lots of changes to the VSP engine; despite my usual nonchalant approach to production-testing, I’ve actually done my best to test the system this time around. There are, however, too many scenarios to be sure I covered them all, so I strongly encourage you to enter your picks early, knowing that you can make changes all the way up until the VSP closes. If you notice something behaving strangely, please let us know and we’ll have time to resolve the issue or let you know precisely why you’re crazy.
Picks close at 5am Pacific time on Saturday, and since last year’s VSP taught us that our readership sucks at time zone calculations (I’m looking at you, Bretto), we’ve introduced a countdown clock which should make even the most bone-headed of contestants aware of how much time they’ve got left to enter their losing picks (now I’m looking at you, Ron).
Good luck, and stand by for the VVomen’s Het Nieuwsblad VSP, scheduled to go live tomorrow.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Boom
3. Ballan
4. Flecha
5. Avery
Langeveld isn’t competing either, just like Terpstra. I don’t think anyone will list Terpstra anyway.
@Buck Rogers
Bedeep Bedeep Bedeep Bedeep, thanks for the Boss Hog heads up. Bedeep.
@fredd727
You screwed it up man; Don’t add your list to the box… And they’re in different orders, to boot,
VSP PICKS:
1. Thor Hushovd
2. Tom Boonen
3. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni
4. Lars Boom
5. Taylor Phinney
VSP PICKS:
1. Boom
2. Flecha
3. Millar
4. Leukemans
5. Hoste
Jeez, the VSP is sure bringin’ out a lot of new folks. This race, and the VSP, seem wide-open this year!
There are a lot of good cyclists, and there are always a few who you don’t expect as well.
This will be a very interesting season.
http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/579/original/Deelnemerslijst%2016022012.pdf?1329305521
here is the unofficial starting list of the Omloop’s website…
VSP PICKS:
1. Leukemans Bjorn
2. Flecha Juan Antonio
3. Vantomme Maxime
4. Bak Lars
5. Vanavermaet Greg
@Chappy McPappystackings
Shame Eddy the Boss isn’t lining up. Big year for that young man.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boom
2. Boonen
3. Gilbert
4. Thor Hushovd
5. Laurent Pichon
here is the unofficial starting list of the Omloop’s website
http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/579/original/Deelnemerslijst%2016022012.pdf?1329305521
Pure speculation. It all went to pot when my number one choice (Boss Hog) got man ‘flu.
VSP PICKS:
1. Tom Boonen
2. Juan Antonio Flecha
3. Lars Boom
4. Phillipe Gilbert
5. Sylvain Chavanel
@JC Belgium
Thanks for that. Potato isn’t on the start list, so I’ll go with the Amusing Man in his place.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boss Hogg
2. Boom
3. Leukemans
4. Boonen
5. Hushovd
@Ron
A lot of noobs out there (like me) who need a shop apron, I guess.
@frank
Also don’t forget to change out Boss Hog, Fronk!
VSP PICKS:
1. Tomeke
2. Gilbert
3. Heinrich Hustler
4. Flecha
5. Thor
@Netraam
Thanks man, hadn’t seen that.
@JC Belgium
Nice pics! I did not have the guts to go with as many “outsiders” as you but I bet they’ll be the real players on Saturday. (except, of course, Flecha, still would not call him an outsider)
@Buck Rogers
langeveld will start, but with ‘question marks’ (dont really know a proper english translation and I am too lazy right now)
@Buck Rogers
Seriously? Bugger. Oh, well. I’ll go with the Saussedler for this one then. I’ve seen me some picks of that dude riding to cobbles already this year, so he’s as good a bet as any. Provided he doesn’t pull an Ullrich and plow his Porche into a rack of bikes!
VSP PICKS:
1. Saussler
2. Boom
3. Leukemans
4. Boonen
5. Hushovd
@JC Belgium
Well dammn, guess I need to read a bit and try to figure out what is going on with him.
@Buck Rogers
He fell and though he is going to ride Saturday, he isn’t going to compete.
VSP PICKS:
1. Heinrich Haussler
2. Allesandro Ballan
3. Taylor Phinney
4. Tom Boonen
5. Vlad Gusev
They have an IPhone and Android app.
http://www.appmiral.com/
@Buck Rogers
like to gamble a bit, but well-considered… wouldn t it be more fun if there were limits on picking Cancellara-Gilbert-Hushovd types?
Sauceler going to have to show me the money before I pick that dude in anything this year. Too bad about EBH, he’d a been solid. Lucky Billions and Billions isn’t riding either. That leaves BMC, Boonen and Flecha- whoop whoop.
VSP PICKS:
1. Flecha
2. Van Avermet
3. Boonen
4. Boom
5. Gilbert
Kills me to not be able to pick any of my boys from Spidertech (eh!).
VSP PICKS:
1. BOOM Lars
2. GILBERT Philippe
3. HAUSSLER Heinrich
4. FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio
5. HUSHOVD Thor
Seeing as how Boss Hogg is out, I’ll move the other guys up, and follow @Cyclops’ lead and stick Farrar in at 5.
Now, @Cyclops, you better be right, OR ELSE!
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Thor
3. Flecha
4. Van Avermaet
5. Farrar
VSP PICKS:
1. HUSHOVD Thor
2. BOOM Lars
3. FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio
4. BOONEN Tom
5. GILBERT Philippe
VSP PICKS:
1. Tomeke
2. Giblets
3. BOOM
4. Leukymans
5. Flecha
@JC Belgium
Wow, interesting thought. Definitely would play to the “game” aspects of the VSP but not necessarily the true rooting for the ones we love and follow closely in the sport of cycling. Still, really intriguing thought.
@Nosyt
Not me. I yearn for the miniature digitized jersey next to my name that means nothing to anyone except this group of wack-jobs.
Wouldn’t it be cool if we actually had a finale featuring all the big favorites and past winners?
Maybe I’ll get a point or two.
Probably not.
I’d also like to see Spidertech, Netapp and Accent Jobs-Willems Verandas sweep the podium.
VSP PICKS:
1. Tom Boonen
2. Stijn Devolder
3. Phillipe Gilbert
4. Juan Antonia Flecha
5. Heinrich Haussler
Here is a link to the women starters, you know, for those of you who have already given up on work for the rest of the day and need time to research.
http://women.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjI5NDY=
Seems fair to have Emma Johansson as a pick.
@Erik
Johansson indeed did win a couple of times.
@Buck Rogers
@Buck Rogers
we follow them closely cause they are winners. their faces appear in news papers, they are getting all the glory and fame. not that they don’t deserve it, in the contrary! to make it short, if you look beyond the podium, there are some fantastic riders, just not winner types.
and this is why you can t skip Flecha for de Omloop. Look at the V on the poster!
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Flecha
3. Hushovd
4. Millar
5. Phinney
VSP PICKS:
1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Boonen, Tom
3. Flecha, Juan Antonio
4. Farrar, Tyler
5. Hushovd, Thor
VSP PICKS:
1. tom boonen
2. Thor Hushovd
3. Lars Boom
4. Johan Vansummeren
5. Baden Cooke
Well, I don’t want any of the favourites to feature, as they need to be on form for the Keepers Tour races!
Boonen, GaGa, GoT, Saucy all should do a bit of work early for My Favourite Martins then pull the fuck out…
VSP PICKS:
1. Martyn Maaskant
2. Maarten Tjallingii
3. Martin Elmiger
4. Maarten Neyens
5. Maarten Wynants
Bjorn if only because I like hearing how the european announcers pronounce his name. “Pronounce it correctly.”
VSP PICKS:
1. Leukemans
2. Ballan
3. Haussler
4. Boom
5. Phinney
First time at this –
VSP PICKS:
1. tommy b
2. tommy v
3. John Anthony Fletcher
4. Gert Steegmans
5. Haussler Henrich
Damn, really wanted to pick The Boss Hog for the win.
VSP PICKS:
1. Flecha
2. Boom
3. Boonen
4. Phinney
5. Double H
VSP PICKS:
1. Stijn Devolder
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Tom Boonen
4. Thor Hushovd
5. Lars Boom
Guess no one got the TWIKI reference for Buck Rogers… Oh well.
@eightzero
Good one! I was thinking Phinney earlier – I may yet switch him out. Could really be a good time for him to shine – or another budding hardman!
VSP PICKS:
1. Matt Hayman
2. Boonen
3. De Gendt
4. Cooke
5. Bak
@Calmante
I saw it, but don’t understand it… explain?
Boonen has never won this race but he was looking real good in Qatar and in San Luis. I say this year he takes another Monument. Sep is going to sneak into the top 5.
VSP PICKS:
1. Tom Boonen
2. Phillipe Gilbert
3. Juan Antonio Flecha
4. Sep Vanmarcke
5. Lars Boom
@Calmante
I’m still cringing on that one. Three foot tall robots have haunted my dreams since I was 7 years old (1979–I think that was the first year of the most recent incarnation of the Buck rogers in the 25th Century series).
@ramenvelo
To split hairs, and hopefully not sound like too much of an ass, it’s not a Monument (there are only the five of those) it’s a semi-classic.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sebo Langeveld
2. She’s legal in Amsterdam
3. Lars Boom-Boom
4. Phil Gilabert
5. God of Thunder
@frank
Phinney’s new at this game, but not knowing how tough it is could propel him to the finish. Might be in the mix at the end. Wanted to go with some ‘crossers like Boom. Haussler is gearing (!) for a classics season.
I, OTOH, will be taking on the dreaded cobbles of the Chilly Hilly this weekend, Merckx willing. Might be a Rule #9 ride by the looks of the weather forcast. But like they can predict the weather? heh. Please.