Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012
I’m quite upset about it, actually, all this racing that’s been going on in perfectly good weather. Vlaanderen, dry. Roubaix, dry. We were nearly guaranteed shit weather with the Olympics in London, but even then, only the women got to get all Rule #9 on our asses – and only for one race. Damnit, I want Epic, and if we keep insisting on riders getting off the juice, all the Epic is going to have to come from other places like pouring rain and freezing cold.
Its a good thing, then, that Valkenburg was picked for the Worlds, because that almost guarantees bad weather. Last time it hosted the race the weather was complete crap. Its also just hilly enough that I think any of those sprinters who are pretending like they’re going to finish at the front are huffing too much DuMonde Tech. Boonen might be able to hang with the leaders into the finish, but I’d hardly call him a sprinter anymore, now that it dawned on him that people get hurt and seasons ruined in those big bunch gallops.
My money’s on good weather though, because the weather is forecast to be good here in Seattle and assuming it will be the same halfway around the world in Dutchland seems easier than looking up the local forecast.
You know the drill, picks close at 5am on Sunday in Pacific time, and if you can’t figure out what that means, just put your picks in before the countdown timer goes to zero. Also note that the spam filter is feeling a bit peckish these days and has a tendency to gobble up people’s VSP Picks; don’t be alarmed, your picks are getting into the system nevertheless and The Keepers are monitoring the queue for posts to approve everyone to disagree with.
Good luck.
FUCK YEAH GILBERT! My interest in pro racing has been restored. Hope he rocks the bands in style. Rocked my Rapha Belgium jersey this avro in his honor.
@Steampunk
Next weekend, and/or Paris-Tours (again).
@Buck Rogers
That’s right about PR. That will be the hardest one for him to win. It’s hard to believe he’s only won 2 of the 5 monuments. Would love to see him take home Flanders and MSR. He might need crap weather to beat out the sprinters on the latter, however.
http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/wat/?title=Mark+Cavendish+takes+a+banner+to+the+head&dashboard=road-cycling-world-championships&id=164980chuPP3r8851891&yr=2012
Insult to injury for Cav….
@LA Dave
Let’s try that one more time.
@LA Dave yeah had a bit of a giggle at that one when it happened last night, I just love the cartoon character shake of the head afterwards.
@Cyclops
Dang… that’s it. We all better ride like it, too.
@Nate
I couldn’t agree more… and damn near said the same thing not 5 minutes after hearing the news.
This is a man who eats pain instead of gels and bars for extra strength – so pleased – I wonder what shorts he’ll wear next season….
@Dr C Maybe we should send him a petition signed by all Velominatus to ensure that he follows Cav’s fine example and wears black.
sort of mild mannered version of this fellow…
Reminds one of JVS in Paris Roubaix last year perhaps
Really happy Phil Gil won. Still perplexed at my late switch taking out Valverde and putting in Rodriguez. Both Vos and Phil Gil won the WC the way it should be won – with class and panache. Chapeaux!
@wiscot
I followed you on that swap. I briefly saw the posts about the upset stomach and foolishly believed that to mean Valverde wasn’t riding. Great late attack from Gilbert to take it though – I’m happy to see the rainbow jersey on his shoulders for next year. I just hope he doesn’t rock the white bibs along with it, but I have a feeling that he will.
@Frank: What say you about your Golden Boy Tom wearing shoe covers yesterday? As the temps didn’t classify as cold, is this a blatant Rule #23 violation (and why silver?!)? It doesn’t bother me a bit, but I guess to be fair, if Big George is to be chastised regularly, then Tornado Tom should as well. Notice the gears these guys are turning while conversing in an absolutely Casually Deliberate fashion.
THIS is how you fire the guns off in an attack!
Great race! I was so pumped I pulled out a WC Campagnolo jersey I have, which I picked up long before my Velominati days, and rode for a few hours with a pal. It shall now be returned to the bottom of my drawer until next year…
@VeloVita
Glad I wasn’t the only one who made a foolish swap based on crap info!
@Tartan1749
Maybe it was a shoe sponsorship thing. Tommeke’s not one for the shoe covers as a rule, except in foul weather. Sunday’s weather wasn’t bad at all. Shades of Spartacus’ covers all year? I think so. Phil Gil looked like he was wearing his special Belgian-themed DMT shoes. Whatever, Boonen’s shoes were three strap with no ratchets or twist adjustments. Any idea who makes them?
Over shoes which dont make you look a dick….?
@wiscot DMT Yes
@unversio
Nah, I meant who makes Tommeke’s shoes?
@Tartan1749
Those are awful – his feet look like they’re auditioning for a 1960s sci-fi film. This turns my stomach as Tommeke has always looked so classy on the bike.
I like those DMTs Gilbert was wearing. I’d like to try those, and some Bonts, since with each ride of my Ergo2s I get closer to finally giving up on them & deciding numb feet/toes isn’t worth it. Oh, I also got some new soccer cleats. They’re Pumas and have the anatomical foot shape, much like Bonts. A bit of getting used to but after a few wearings they are awesome.
What gruppo was Fast Phil using yesterday? Looks kind of like Dura Ace shifters but I’d thought he mainly used Campagnolo? Maybe that was before BMC…
And why was Boonen the only one in the tricolor helmet?
The new *Speedplay Approved* sole
@wiscot Boonen shoes
Closer look at Boonen’s shoes
@Ron
Boonen is the current Belgian national champ, hence the helmet.
Indeed shoes and saddles are the most expensive propositions when it comes to fitting. At least with saddles, you can demo some of them. I had numb toes in my Northwaves until I added once of those As Seen on Tv Walkfit plastic arch supports (it was the only option as any replacement insole took up too much volume inside the shoe) Bonts were the absolute stiffest shoe I’ve ever felt – and that was with the low end fiberglass sole. For me, however, they were too low volume to work.
@unversio
Thanks! But I don’t think those were the ones he wore on Sunday. It looks like the ones he used were just straps and without “adjuster knobs” on them. (there are virtually no “lumps” under those overshoes) Also, in P-R he was using an almost all-white unmarked shoe. Maybe an early test model from Spesh?
I agree that the silver overshoes were a bad choice sartorially.
Hopefully Phil Gil will wear black shorts next year. On the podium, the rainbow bands and black shorts looked ace.
@unversio
Damn, those look good. I love the red/yellow/black color combos of Belgium and Germany. Think he’ll get a special rainbow version, now?
I’ll probably need a new pair of shoes next year, but I’ve never had an issue with my Mavics. Like saddles, I’ve got no real interest in varying from what works. maybe I’ll catch some Yellow Princesses on sale next year…
@wiscot I can see covering up a logo due to sponsorship duties, but SILVER? The only thing that even remotely matches are the nipples on his wheels.
@VeloVita – Yep. He’d blend right in.
@wiscot If they were not Specialized (team issue), then perhaps then maybe he wanted (was told) to *hide* his shoes with the flat-ugly covers.
@wiscot The adjuster dials are right there.
@unversio
Thanks! Nice enlargement! Or is it my new transitions lenses that prevent me from seeing such details?
One of the other Belgian riders was wearing blue overshoes and they looked much better!
@VeloVita Ah, I should have guessed/known that Boonen was the current Belgian champ. Yeah, I’ve thought about trying some inserts and even swapped some yellow/green Insoles from another pair of my shoes but didn’t help. The dumb thing is that I have some Sidi Geniuses that are great but went for some Ergo 2s due to flashy looks…and now I have sore feet when I wear them. I keep on hoping they finally break in or feel good but it’s been awhile since I picked them up and still not quite right.
@Ron
If you haven’t already, a cleat fitting at a reputable LBS may be beneficial. Mine initially fit me the specialized inserts with wedges underneath, but when I discovered, several rides later, that there just wasn’t enough volume in my shoe to accommodate then, the fitter set me up with the wedges that mount to the sole, under the cleat. That helped, but still didn’t give the arch support I needed, hence the Walkfit inserts. Of course, it may just be that the Sidi last isn’t right for you and a fitting won’t help – I looked at a pair of the Genius 5s, but I wasn’t keen on the narrow toe. It didn’t seem to matter what size or width I went for, they just didn’t suit me, despite my lust for the white vernice. My understanding is that DMT fits similarly. I ended up with a pair of Diadoras with the R+ last (which is a little wider), with blue Specialized insoles that take up the extra volume. I still wear my Northwave’s because they’ve got a carbon sole so they’re a little stiffer, they look better and match my bike and kit, but if I’m being honest the Diadoras are lighter and fit better.
@Tartan1749 I loved my Mavic shoes too. But I did find a better life in Giro Factor shoes. I do still ride with Mavic pedals, which is where the love began in the first place. Mavic…
@wiscot
Er…same here, swapped Valverde out for Teejay at last moment – doh!
@minion
Ha! I pretty much never, ever go into any bike chats at this point, unless I feel like I’ve used up my maximum number of questions per week ’round here…I’ll check news sites, but very rarely forums. This place has simplified my life! And made it much more awesome.
I’m in the new helmet market & all the white helmets in the race on Sunday (likely to match national kits) have me up in the air on the decision. Already have a black one that has plenty of life. Black is simple, but two nice ones might be unnecessary. That leaves me with silver or white. White sometimes seems too plain. But, it can look simple. Hmm.
Was Phil’s helmet white or silver? Hard to tell, looked white but post-race from the side it looked mostly silver with white sides/back.
I was unsure which T shirt to wear on Monday Queen or King!