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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USA! USA! USA!
@frank
Thanks, although I turned orange cog last year. You should be giving me crap b/c my article badge finally wore off and I haven't written another one!
Hope this is an attacking race. Bronzini hasn't done women's cycling any favours suggesting by suggesting it "may be a waiting race". If we see a snore fest like Copenhagen...
VSP PICKS:
1. Evie Stephens
2. Vos
3. Arndt
4. Pooley
5. Hosking
@frank
What happens when you go "orange cog"? A new set of carbone tubs? Free entry to KT2013 (with an all expenses paid trip to the red light part of Amsterdam on arrival)? Ales with The Prophet?
Congrats, I need to finish up another article or I'm going to lose my magic grey "V" badge.
@scaler911
Pride in so many quality posts.
How many of you will be tuning in to this? Will it be on steephill? I usually don't see the women's stuff there.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Cooke
3. Van Vleuten
4. Armstrong
5. Ardnt
U$A! U$A! U$A!
There. This is certain to piss someone off. My work here is done.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Arndt
3. Bronzini
4. Armstrong
5. Cooke
I just can't get over my infatuation with Lucy Garner. Rio 2016's prediction:
Note the knee. She won, by several bike-lengths, on her first year as a pro. After crashing and injuring on the first lap, then bridging back up alone.
Mmm a bit of a guess but I suspect the brits will either win gold or just miss the podium...personally I think the latter in the womens event.
VSP PICKS:
1. vos
2. teute
3. bronzini
4. armistad
5. numainville