What a difference four years can make. In Beijing, Nicole Cooke was the dominant rider in Women’s Cycling, taking wins in every important race on the Women’s calendar for several years running. Fast finish, good in the hills, good against the clock, she helped give context to what we mean by the term “all rounder”.
Four years on, she’s been struggling with injury and the pressures of forming her own team which has resulted in the inevitable reduction in results. But don’t count her out just yet; she has been showing some form already this year and during the last Olympic year, she burst into form for the event to take Gold. Add to that the motivation a British rider is sure to feel racing at her home Games, and you’d be a fool to leave her off your list of considerations.
Be that as it may, she’s facing up to a strong field. Kristen Armstrong dropped out of the Cascade Classic (while leading it) in order to prepare for the games. Not to mention Marianne Vos, who dominated the Giro last month – or Giorgia Bronzini, whose website I find vaguely frightening.
Review the route and study the weird, paged roster if you like pretending that helps you, and get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Sunday. (If you find Time Zone Mathematics too complicated, just get your picks in by the time the giant countdown timer in the banner goes to zero), regular One-Day VSP rules apply. Good luck.
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Wha-hey? What is up with the mugshots of the all the women cyclists on the start list / olympic website.? I haven't even read the comments yet, so if I'm repeating myself, sorry, but, holy sheet, Batman! Did they go in search of the worst possible photos of the athletes? I think that this one is my favorite.
http://www.london2012.com/athlete/lee-wai-sze-1100098/
In any event... I think I can win this...
I also think the American flag has a much higher likelihood of winning this race than the men's race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Eveyln Stevens
2. Vos Vos Vos
3. Nicole Cooke
4. Kristin Armstrong
5. Giorgia Bronzini
@Buck Rogers
No, I went totally batshit crazy bitch on you. Politics have nothing to do with it; in fact, I'm not even clear which party she belongs to. Is there any that is willing to take her officially?
@eightzero
Oh, good. We get to argue about something else now. That wanker wasn't the first American to win an Olympic medal, you git. Bill Koch, my childhood hero, won Silver in the 30k at the 1976 Games.
Get a fucking education.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Armistead
3. Bronzini
4. Arndt
5. Johansson
@frank
By the way, she's from the district where the VMH grew up. Known her for ages. She is completely batshit fucking nuts.
@Erik: I was going to comment on that photo too! It looks like a fourth-grade photo from a private girls' school or something.
VSP PICKS:
1. VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek
2. ANDRUK Alona
3. POLSPOEL Maaike
4. VAN DE WINKEL Joanna
5. MAJERUS Christine
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Bronzini
3. Armstrong
4. Arndt
5. Armistead
@frank
Yeesh, @frank. Having a rough go of it today, are we?
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Armistead
3. Armstrong
4. Bonzini
5. Cooke
had to put a Canadian in there for good measure :) there is only one Vos!
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Teutenberg
3. Bronzini
4. Armistead
5. Numainville