Velominati Super Prestige: Ronde van Vlaanderen 2013
Imagine a world without the little things we take for granted; a house without a roof, a pub with no beer, a Keepers Tour without any clothes. The last one is a reality for me at the moment, five days in and still no trace of where the hell between Wellington and Paris my bag (filled with V-Kit, shoes, helmet, everything) is. The other thing that has me perturbed again this trip is that there is no Muur de Grammont/Kapelmuur in the Ronde. To me, the race feels naked without it.
That won’t stop us from riding it next weekend though, and although there will be no crowds, no pros, there will still be the magical spirit of the great battles past on these hallowed stones. We’ll try and emulate The Lion and climb it in the big ring (or the 50t) while the man himself watches on, probably laughing inside, or indeed outwardly, as we succumb to the gradient and stab frantically at the left-hand shifter. Then we’ll realise just how ordinary we are and how special this hill is.
Even though the Muur is absent again this year, the 2013 Ronde is shaping up as one of the best in recent history. The battle between Faboo and Sags is well touted, but will they mark each other out of it and let an opportunist take their chance? My money’s on that scenario playing out, but if you have any sense you’ll see my VSP scores reflect a total lack of tipping nous so far this season and reject anything I predict as hogwash.
Check out the start list, grab a cold Malteni or other fine Belgian ale, slather your frites in mayo and keep your eye out for the V-Flag on the Oude Kwaremont this Sunday. Goed geluk!
[vsp_results id=”22888″/]
Want get this in to insure I don’t Delgado myself as I have a busy weekend ahead, but I expect I will swap first and second more than a few times before all is said and done.
VSP PICKS:
1. The Motor
2. Papa Wheelie
3. Gerain’t gonna win this time.
4. Sylvain Sylvain
5. My name is Luca
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Sagan
3. Boonen
4. Chavanel
5. Stannard
The hottest thing on two wheels, the new Mr First Loser, the Wildcard, the World Champ, and the boy from home.
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Sagan
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Oscar Gatto
4. Philippe Gilbert
5. Jack Bauer
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Sagan
3. Chavanel
4. Boonen
5. Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Thomas
2. Stybar
3. Fabbo
4. Hausller
5. Stannard
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Chavanel
3. Boonen
4. Cancellara
5. Stannard
Stannard drives a disintegrating break but can’t hold off Chavanel in the finale, Boonen and Dowsett hold off a charging peloton and Sagan out sprints the rest of the losers.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanel
2. Stannard
3. Boonen
4. Dowsett
5. Sagan
@Buck Rogers
The word around Vlaanderen is not for RVV, but he’ll be peaking for Roubaix. The man is an animal, but I fear his head is full of doubts and when you’re doubting yourself, you’ll wind up doing a lot of thinking, and lets face – that does no one any good.
@El Segundo
ARSE! I didn’t realise this pick was submitted, wanted Cancellara then Sagan.
What do you mean closed? Nothing last night, closed this morning?!
@kyle Thanks!
@piwakawaka I don’t think Giblets is riding on Sunday.
Hang on, the race is on Sunday – why are the entry picks already closed on Saturday morning?
Is there any way of entering my picks?
1) Sagan 2) Big Gee 3) Faboo 4) Chavanel 5) Boonen
@Fausto appears to be something mad going on…. Too many Malteni’s! :)
lets hope for a classic over 250k for the 1st time this year
Although this is busted, my picks are:
1) Cancellara
2) Chavanel
3) Van Avamaet
4) Stannard
5) Sagan
OK here goes, got to be backing Saggy and Faboo, but I just have a feeling in my water Stannard might do something here…(what’s the odds its Ben Swift who shows up to the party instead!). I am not convinced by Boonen this season, he seems to be having Gilbert sabatical this year so far…but Van Avermaert had been near the close everytime so far this year so let’s give him a go..
Er…how come the VSP is closed?
I wanted
Sagan
Stannard
Faboo
Chavanel
Van Avermaert
Is this my fist Delgado…what has happened to the timings? Did the watch keeper go on the keepers tour?
WTF? Delgado’d already…fuck it, I’m away for a bike ride.
Aw shit, thought I’d have time to get my picks in if the race isn’t till tomorrow – second delgado of the season!
In case something happens my picks are 1 Sagan 2 Thomas 3 Stannard 4 Chavanel 5 Cancellara
Can someone re-open the VSP? surely closing it 24 hrs before the race start is a little tough….CONSPIRACY! I cry!
Apologies if this has been answered, but I’m trying to scare up a video feed for the US in advance of the race actually starting. I have a subscription to Cycling TV, but evidently that’s going to get me a 5-minute recap of the race, which hardly seems like it’s going to capture the full event very well.
I’m actually in a position for once to be up at 5am Eastern Time on Sunday to watch the race so I’m hoping to find a decent feed.
Thanks!
Anyway, bollocks to the early closure, my picks are:
1. Geraint
2. Chava
3. Sagan
4. Cancellara
5. Kristoff
Faboo
Sauceller
Sagan
Syl Chav
Cooke
@quanyeomans
My thoughts exactly!!
@All the Keepers
Put down the recovery ales and unlock the VSP please!
@All the Delgados
You can see how they’d be distracted though, can’t you?!
#notjealousatall #goingtoMallorcanextweek
@ralph Try http://cyclingfans.com/ on the morning of the race. Not all links there will work but keep trying.
Jeez, the first VSP I remembered not to Delgado, and here I am Delgado’ing.
@ralph Also can try steephill.tv.
Drats! The nibbles got to the VSP!
I have:
Faboo
Peter the Great
Stannard
Tommeke
Chava
I must have missed the reason for closing this a full day early. Oh well.
Just in case VSP picks are still being accepted…
1) Sagan
2) Chavanel
3) Cancellara
4) Thomas
5) Stannard
As others are doing here a my picks for the prematurely closed VSP
1. Sagan
2. Fabs
3. Thomas
4. Haussler
5. Chavanel
@TomC
Picks are open again. Brett is still learning how to tell time.
@blue, @TomC
Go back and enter them, please. They don’t count unless you put them in for real-reals.
something just tells me Sagan will bonk tomorrow
terpstras a freaking studshow, and stannard has been nailing the 53×11 like a sophmores cheap date
and spartacus is riding like he used to
chavanel is liberated by boombooms loses
VSP PICKS:
1. spartacus
2. terpstra
3. chavanel
4. van avermaet
5. stannard the stud
@frank
Ahh, good to have the “inside” scoop! Still leaving him in the mix but down at 4th. Have a Molteni or three for me!
I agree with William; Chav goes on the second time up the Kemmel and forces Sags and Fabs to chase. Then I agree with Brett, Fabs and Sags mark each other too much and the break stays away. Chav, who’s been knocking on the door will finally come good.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanhell
2. Haussler
3. Boss Hog
4. Van Avemaet
5. Faboo
@Buck Rogers
Already done. So now I’m starting on a few Malteni’s for me, now that I put your three down.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Chavanel
3. Faboo
4. Boonen
5. Thomas
@frank
Now that’s a true friend right there. Knew that I could count on you.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanel
2. Sagan
3. Gilbert
4. Cancellara
5. Pozzato
C’mon G
VSP PICKS:
1. Geraint
2. Haussler
3. Sagan
4. Cancellara
5. Terpstra
@TomC
(Mugatu voice) “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Geraint Thomas
3. Cancellara
4. Chavanel
5. Boonen
I have money on G, best he delivers…
VSP PICKS:
1. Geraint
2. Slyvain
3. Saag Aloo
4. Canceloutus
5. Kristoff
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Sauceller
3. Sagan
4. Syl Chav
5. Langeveld
Woohoo Delgado avoided!
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Stannard
3. Faboo
4. Chavanel
5. Van Avaemert
Cobbles- a great deal of luck needed here, but hey, lets have a go
VSP PICKS:
1. cancellara
2. sagan
3. chavanel
4. thomas
5. voeckler
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Van Avaermet
3. Chavanel
4. Cancellara
5. Sagan