The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige kicks into full swing this week with the Amstel Gold Race to be held Sunday, April 18. Sunday will be the second race in the season-long series and is an opportunity to unseat current series leader and rainbow cog wearer, Rob, who took the lead last week by predicting two podium finishers.
We are happy to report that all post-prediction samples came back negative for clairvoyance-enhancing substances, although several readers did return samples showing high caffeine and alcohol levels. Those readers have been issued letters indicating that they have been placed on a watch list and may be subject to further scrutiny.
This week’s winner will 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.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
At least I had Kreutziger. Pretty pathetic overall though as far as I'm concerned. Congrats to the winners. Now I have some work to do for Fleche to get back on the podium.
@Rob
Thanks Rob, all my other guesses were insane though I toyed with Gasparotto as a pick but since he hasn't done squat for ages I didn't. Grrrrrr, should have.
Maakant and Van Summeren have sucked this spring but Ryder could be da man in Liege. I believe he made top ten last year and he is a Maui-boy so I have to back him.
Gilbert really put some serious distance on everyone in the last 300m, he is a real powerhouse and he worked like crazy to chase down breaks. Excellent win.
You tube of last few Km-Amstel 2010
@Geof
Nice work on Ryder in 2nd place. Beauty call. That's 4 points. And I would have picked Spartacus last week too...except I picked that f'ing Dane who didn't finish. Who would be against Spartacus?! Me, what a world, what a world...
@john
Ah - all my 5 got top ten, but in retrospect it does seem a bit foohardy to expect Frank to outpower Philippe. Well done on not falling into that trap. LBL shaping up to be a beauty - so long as there's a(nother) volcano which keeps Alejandro away ...
@all,
I tallied the points (and I welcome anyone to double-check my numbers) but it apprears we have a very close race for the overall Super Prestige leadership.
Amstel was a crap-shoot, with only four Velominatus scoring points:
Amstel Gold Race, 18 April 2010
1. Frank, 5 points
2. John, 5 points
3. Joe, 5 points
4. Geoff, 4 points
5. Rob, Marko, Brett, James, Dan O, Jim 0 points
However, the overall is very close, with Rob maintaining his lead by the virtue of him choosing the winner of an earlier race. He and I are separated by no points, with Marko, John, and Joe tied for third place, with Brett and Geof tied for sixth:
1. Rob, 7 points
1. Frank, 7 points
3. Marko, 5 points
3. John, 5 points
3. Joe, 5 points
6. Brett, 4 points
6. Geoff, 4 points
8. James, Dan O, Jim, 0 points
This is anyone's race.
@frank
Oh contrere! Even though I would like to take the honor; you have the lead because I did not pick first (for Pari-Rober, Marko did) so you now can have the poxy little cog lite up by your name - take it I am an imposter...
@Rob
The true sign of a champion is that s/he is always willing to admit defeat, even when it is not his/hers. Merckx, Hinault, LeMond; all refused to wear the Yellow feece during the Tour when leadership fell to them through means other than victory. Rob, you are a champion.
Perhaps I did not state clearly enough; you were in the lead before we tied; in the typical aggregate competition, leadership falls to the one who held it first. In stage races, the ties are broken through aggregating hundredth-second results of the previous stages - we don't have this luxury. Then, if that still proves to be a tie, it is broken through cumulative placings on previous stages. The leadership is yours. For now.
But I won't back off. Not for a second. And, after the "form data" gleaned from today's stage, I will be stronger than ever before. The rainbow cog is yours, but watch your back. I'm coming on strong. But so is everyone else. If anything, the competition is narrowing down. Best get your affairs in order.
"I was good, I was good, I was good and then I was bad" - C Evans, 18 April 2010. Though not as memorable as his canine-protection outbursts, a good effort from the little Ausssie battler nonetheless. (And curiously apt in respect of that other Australian cyclist, Brett, and his dive in form in the Velominati Super Prestige...)
Thems fightin words, Geof!
Are we tipping for Fleche? I think we should...
Cadel has a win coming, either Wednesday or Sunday...
Morning Gentlemen,
1 out of 5 not bad (glad the rat I had in 2 was a DNS)...lovely ride from Gilbert too, might tip him for the LBL double...
Feeling less than magesterial today. Whether it was an aggresively paced hill ride, or the aggressively paced post ride refreshment that's scuppered me, I'm not sure. On the refreshment side, Cadel said it best..."I was good, I was good, I was good and then I was bad..."
J.