It Begins
This weekend proper bicycle racing starts for the season with Omloop Het Volk (yes, I know it’s not called that anymore but I like the old name better and it’s easier to spell for my dumb American ass) and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Now that riders have stretched their legs in the TDU, Oman, Algarve, Qatar and various and sundry other spots on the planet, the peloton gets down to serious business in the country that suits it best in weather that will hopefully befit Rule #9. Can I get an A-Merckx from the cog-gregation!?!?
Although the Velominati Super Prestige won’t launch officially until Milan-San Remo, we thought it would be fun to have an un-official, no points awarded banter about this weekend’s races. Is Flecha going to repeat in Gent? Will Vaughter’s strategy of splitting Thor and T-Bone to captain each race respectively result in two for the win column for Garmin-Cervelo? What of Phillipe Gilbert, is he primed to start an onslaught on the great podiums of his country? Will Steampunk show his form in a semi-classic by tipping the winner or bluff until a monument? We will never find consensus among us when it comes to tipping the winners and also-rans.
The one thing I can say for sure is that we’ll all be cheering for rain to cover, no deluge, the cobbled bergs of Flandria. The potential for a heaping helping of Rule #9 served up on a big old platter of the V is the one thing we can all agree would make this weekend’s racing that much better. So I tuned in Al Roker to see what the chances are that our heroes will need to don arm and knee warmers underneath rain capes and he says yes, more than likely. The Flandrian forecast for both Saturday and Sunday looks like precip has an 80% chance of coming from the heavens. Looks to be a good weekend.
So tip your top five for OHN and KBK here if you’d like and know that no points will be awarded. But at a minimum, we felt the need to create a space where we could discuss the weekend’s festivities. Our V-Chalice runneth over with stoke and it just wouldn’t be right if we didn’t have a dry space for it to spill.
Chavanel
Delenda est Alberto
Oops… I should read better.
OHN
Chavanel
Gilbert
Boom
Flecha
Boonen
KBK
Boonen
T-Far
EBH
Devolder
Po-ta-to
Delenda est Alberto
OHN
Gilbert
Chavanel
Burghardt
Boonen
Eisel
KBK
Boonen
Farrar
Greipel
Flecha
Flens
Het Volk (I’m with Marko on this one)
Thor
Boonen
Gilbert
Flecha
Pozzato
KBK
Farrar
Greipel
Leukemans
Van Avermaet
Boassen Hagen
@Marko: like I need the added pressure.
Het Volk
1. Steegmans
2. Gilbert
3. Flecha
4. Rollin
5. Boom
KBK
1. Boonen
2. EBH
3. Hoste
4. Roulston
5. Tankink
Aaaaahhh…and here we have the reason why this is not part of the VSP: OHN is the race for the anxious cobbled specialist to prove they are ready to make their mark, but it is too far before Flanders to be any real sign of form – and too close to it to be able to peak for both. Indeed, all the strong men will figure, but the rider who wins here will not figure in the top five of THE WEEK.
1. Boom
2. Boassen Hagen
3. Farrar
4. Gilbert
5. Boonen
KBK
1. Hincapie
2. Boonen
3. Faboo
4. Gilbert
5. Farrar
@frank
Bolder, still, to pick four out of five guys who aren’t riding for KBK. And Corn-fed isn’t racing OHN. It seems it’s not only the cobbled specialists who are worried about peaking too soon.
In principle, you’re right, though. I can’t see the big guns really pushing for this, with the exception of Boonen, who might feel he needs to show some form (to himself as well as to the peloton).
Raise a glass with me tonight, lads, for Shay Elliott…
Saturday
Gilbert, Boom, Flecha, Devolder, Pippo
Sunday
Leukemans, EBH, Boonen, Farrar, Van Avermaet
Bring it on bitches!!!!!
PS. Frank, did you honestly pick Hincapie for Sunday? WTF? No way, what excuse will he come up with this time for missing the break? Yah, I’m an ass…
some video to warm up with:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbJ7IEwzmYk
First of all, since it was asked – A-Merckx!
Omloop –
Gilbert
Popo
BoomBoom
Boonen
Devolder
The Donkey Race –
Hushvold
Burghardt
Hoste
Weylandt
Voeckler and his endless face of endless pain
@Steampunk
Woopsie. This is why we have these tests.
@caviarboy
That’s exactly it…this is exactly the right amount of pressure. The race doesn’t matter, but it’s still a hardman’s race. Conditions are perfect.
HV
Rolly
EBH
Gilaburp
Boomboom
Pippy
Eyeore
Berny Eisey
Tommeke
Casper the Ghost
Sting like a bee Devolder
Jezza Hunt
Frak. First local ride is the cascade “chilly hilly” a season beginner for us seattlites. Forecast is for crap weather, but Rule #9 is compelling me. 35degF temps and snow/rain on sunday forcast. Can the Velomenati guilt me into this? Must I earn Hardman stripes?
Thor
Gilbert
Tomeke
Boom
Flecha
Then
Farrar
Eisel
Tomeke
Boassen Hagen
Cancellara
Rush job! But one can hope lack of thought will get the job done – thinking clearly didn’t help last year!
@Hawkeye
I’m not sure Sparty is playing in the sandpit that day.
OHN
Boasson Hagen
Gilbert
Thor
Kroon
Chavanel
KBK
Greipel
Boom
Farrar
Boonen
Devolder
OHN
Gilbert
Steegmans
Flecha
Hushovd
Chavanel
KBK
Boom
Maaskant
Boonen
M. Burghardt
Boasson Hagen
OHN
Gilbert
Flecha
Voeckler
Millar
Velits M
KBK
STANNARD
Weylandt
Roelandts
Eisel
Steegmans
Have no idea who is riding which race & can’t think of most names of the top of my head, so will go with
Omloop:
Gilbert
EBH
Chavenel
Boonen
Boom
KBK:
Hammond
Flecha
Farrar
Pozzato
Eisel
Al Roker was right, it’s wet out there. I’m gonna have to take JiPM for the win on this one. At least two or three of us actually picked guys riding this weekend and in the right race. Nice work. No picks outta me. I’m looking forward to the post race banter. Now back to my regular schedule program, damn I wish I understood Flemish.
Hey, I understood “Ja, absolute.”
who knew I spoke Flemish?
It’s gotta be the V on Langeveld’s stem that’s keeping him out front
@Marko
Flecha takes this one I think.
@Nate
Seems to be the situation, eh? He’s putting in a good ride.
@Marko
Closed up that last bit of gap really fast.
Flecha is living up to his name.
And he’s pipped at the line. Great riding by Langeveld. And this is also why we don’t VSP this one.
@Marko
Yeah, well played by Seb. Of course unless Flecha is all alone in the photo, he usually finds some way to lose.
Won by V mm.
wow.
Alright American Velominati. I have a subscription to cycling.tv. I went to steephill.tv. I went to cyclingfans.com. How did you guys get live coverage? I had to live by the cyclingnews.com ticker. Dammit.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I just hit up the first link on cycling fans and read the CN ticker once in a while if I couldn’t tell who was who.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
You’ve discovered the secret meaning in Marko’s title: The hunt for viable internet feeds begins again. FWIW I was able to get the spanish feed posted on a couple of the sources you mention to work tolerably.
What the hell. Tips for KBK
Hoste
Van Summeren
Boom
Syl Chavanel
Lancaster
I was thinking the same thing. You beat me to it.
Al Roker is god””and half the man he used to be…
@Steampunk
One of the many American exports that we subject the world to. Sorry you live so close to the border and have to endure Roker. Move your ass up to Whitehorse, P.G., or Yellowknife and you won’t have to put up with him. You’re right though, I’m sure Al climbs well for his weight now that his stomach is the size of a golf ball.
@Nate
Nice one. Flèche is one of my all-time least favorite riders. Just massive a wankpod. Virtually unbeatable in a one-man sprint, though. He’s also really good at sprinting for second in a two-up sprint. Of for third in a three-up. You get the idea.
I didn’t like him already when he was riding for iBanesto in ’03; then really lost it for him when he destroyed the lead group in P-R in ’09 by going through a small gap and crashing at the critical moment. Douche.
Fantastic way to open the season. Let’s hope the rain holds until April.
@Eightzero
Rule #5 and Rule #9. Come on. Really, you’re asking US if you should do it? Do it. Obviously.
@Marko
Actually, Al Roker is Canadian.
@frank
Dude: way harsh. Today’s ride was pretty impressive. He’s not an out-and-out sprinter, but I can’t think of more than a couple of riders who demonstrate more class on cobbles.
@Steampunk
Whew.
A bit of class from the world champion:
@Steampunk
I enjoyed him bunnyhopping onto the sidewalk in the last km to try to make Langeveld come through. Of course, he put himself in that position, leading going into the last k. My take on him, he’s tough but he has less tactical sense than a sack of potatoes.
@frank
He wrote himself in indelible ink onto the list of Permanent Fuckwit Riders when he pulled that “arrow” victory salute at his Tour win.
But I think his song should be “I’m a Catalan on Cobbles” sung to Sting’s Englishman in New York. A shit song too.
So much better to be talking about real racing than that other crap!
Alright, signed off yesterday and didn’t get a chance to sign on until today and I miss ALL the fun!
So, for tomorrow:
1.Boonen
2.Gilbert
3.Thor
4.Boom
5.Roulston
Was traveling for the past two days, completely forgot about the race and I just got home. Half past midnight, drinking an Eggenberg beer from the town I just visited, and about the watch the last 10 km. Awesomeness.
Alright, who can read lips? What are Flecha and Langeveld saying to each other at the 4 km mark?
Woah, and just watched a short, but awesome, interview with Freddy Maartens. He said his toughest moment on a bike was crashing and breaking his arm in the Giro when he was leading. Then his boss, the Flandrian head, wanted him to start the Tour de Suisse eight days later.
I’d never heard that story. Wow, that’s a demanding boss, eh.
on another note, I was watching a bit of video youtube from PEZ on the Giro of Sardinia, in Italian. The announcer kept saying DiLuca this, Diluca that…I’m thinking they are talking about some past edition but no, there he is in his little Katusha kit, at the front, like he belongs there.
I’m so sick of these guys; EPO, CERA, lifetime ban. They have no place in the peloton. Especially Diluca, he is already a habitual offender.
I really thought I heard the Italian announcer say Schumacher too, please tell me this is not possible. At least Ricco proved he is a complete and utter idiot.
Boonen wants to reclaim his lost race yesterday.
Boom wants to finally win a classic.
Maaskant was close yesterday, but he fell and Flecha made his move that exact moment. He wants his revenge.
I don’t know who else will be there, but keep an eye on these three.
Frank, I’m starting to realise that your weird prejudices against various riders automatically makes me like them even more.
And Marcus, the bow and arrow salute was creative genius – who wants boring same-same arms in the air every time?
Spose u liked Cav’s phone home salute too?
Succinct
@Oli Brooke-White
How much time do you think these blokes would devote to devising a new salute? Would it be the night before – “mmm, now IF I win tomorrow what shall I do? Everyone does the both hands in the air thing, sooo last century. Liked Clenbutador’s pistol, same theme…..I know, bow and arrow, fuckin’ genius!” as they drift off into sleep or at the moment they’re crossing the line ” OMG, OMG, OMG, I’ve won OMG, OMG, OMG what am I gonna do? hands, no, pistol, shit, rockin’ the cradle, shit….” all in about 10 nano seconds.
Now if it’s while crossing the line at the critical moment, brain only focused on the V just delivered, then some can be forgiven. An unhealthy amount of time devoted to a tosser’s salute, fail.