Guest Article: Cyclops VSP
The Velominati Super Prestige has historically been the work of professional bike races. We focus on the Pro races for a simple reason: we know the races and riders, so Schleculating on where our favorite riders will finish becomes a left-brain/right-brain kind of confused mess that ends with our picks looking more Picasso than they do Rembrandt.
With that, we have our first VSP event for a community member’s race as Cyclops subjects himself to your predictions for where he will finish in Saturday’s race. Assuming you don’t know any of the other racers riding in the Allan Butler Memorial Critierium, we’re focussed on only one rider: Cyclops; enter his name into whichever place in the top five you think he’ll finish. Points are awarded as usual, with 5 for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth, with a point going to anyone who gets him in the top five but not in the right place.
As for any other community members who have a race coming up and are willing to add the pressure of meeting the expectations of our community to that you already have of validating your family’s love by meeting their expectations; send us the details about your event and, depending on the timing, we’ll run a VSP for you as well.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
I guess since I’m the most masochistic (actually I think narcissistic is probably closer to the truth) of the Velominati and enjoy putting myself out there for public berating, Frank thought a Super Prestige with a twist might be in order. This coming July 9th is our local downtown criterium. The Allan Butler Memorial Criterium was started after a local racer was struck and killed by a taxi while crossing the street in Las Vegas at the Interbike show a few years ago.
The Cyclops VSP will consist of merely trying to guess what place I will finish in the event. To help you make a semi-informed guess I’ll give you a little background on me and my racing.
- I’ll be turning 50 years old in early August.
- I started road racing two seasons ago.
- I’m a Cat 5.
- I was really into BMX racing and won the ’96 Idaho State Championship for 31-35 Year Old Cruiser.
- Southeast Idaho is not a huge hotbed for road racing but since I began racing I have always placed at least equal to or higher than the previous race*
- I finished 5th in the last race I entered.
- Last year I finished 13th in my class in the Allan Butler Crit.
- I have been told by a lot of people that I am riding much stronger than I was last year.
- I plan on going off the front right at the beginning of the race.
So there you have it. Good Luck!
*Not counting a DNF at last year’s Boise Twilight Criterium when my rear wheel was hit from behind and had half its spokes ripped out.
VSP PICKS:
5. Cyclops
I’m in for the win – good luck, Cyclops!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
@Aidas
There’s just so many 5s in there: 50, cat 5, finished 5th. And of course, I’m sure there’s plenty of V.
VSP PICKS:
5. Cyclops
Good luck Cyclops. Dish The V
VSP PICKS:
3. Cyclops
Good luck sir. I’m going for fourth. Keep the streak alive!
VSP PICKS:
4. Cyclops
Best of luck!
VSP PICKS:
1. Main dude
2. Cyclops
3. Other dude
4. Other other dude
5. Just a dude
VSP PICKS:
1. Jim Springer
2. Cyclops
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Cyclops
3. A. Schleck
4. F. Schleck
5. Gilbert
PS- good luck! I’m sure you’ll kick ass.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
2. Psyclops
3. Cy Klopps
4. Si Qulups
5. One Eye
@mcsqueak
I think I can out sprint all those guys except Gilbert.
VSP PICKS:
1. Jim Springer
2. Cyclops
Oh, and good luck.
I’ve got you covered. ;-)
Bonne chance!
VSP PICKS:
2. Cyclops
OK, I’m putting Cyclops in for Wiggins. Should have been my pick in the first place.
Vote for Summer!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclopsador
2. Napoleon
3. Uncle Rico
4. Kip
5. Pedro
Wait! Sub Lafawnduh for Pedro…
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclopsador
2. Napoleon
3. Uncle Rico
4. Kip
5. Lafawnduh
VSP PICKS:
1. Good
2. luck
3. Cyclops,
4. go
5. hard
Confused by too many early nights after milk and cookies…
An echappe from the off means in it for the win.
Good luck Cyclops!
VSP PICKS:
1. Psychl-Ops
2. Cantbridge
3. Offdebach
4. Mick Anical
5. Bonkin
@Oli
You and me both!!
Cyclops, I’m downgrading you eight levels if you don’t even podium!
VSP PICKS:
1. Narciclops
VSP PICKS:
4. cyclops
Good luck in the race. I look forward to the results.
VSP PICKS:
2. Cyclops
VSP PICKS:
5. Cyclops
That’s a mighty average CV, at least you won’t be marked
1. Cyclops
2. Dryplops
3. Thighslaps
4. Saddlebags
5. Prolapse
Kick ass, and try not to fall on your collarbone
VSP PICKS:
1. Bat-shit-fast cat.3 shouldabeen
2. What-da-hel
3. Cyclops-Chapeau
4. I got beat by who?
5. glad I fine
Have a great race. :)
VSP PICKS:
4. Cyclops
VSP PICKS:
2. Cyclops
VSP PICKS:
1. The Man with the Monocle
2. JENS
3. JENS
4. JENS
5. JENS
@sgt
Well played sgt, well played. I think Tina outsprints them all though!
VSP PICKS:
1. Tina
2. Cyclops Dynamite
3. Uncle Rico
4. Deb
5. Pedro
3 guys in a chase will run you down with 2 to go with one guy doing most of the work. He will be beaten by the 2 wheelsuckers and you? Good luck.
VSP PICKS:
3. Cyclops
So long as you’re laying down the V you can’t loose.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
Will you be wearing THE KIT?
VSP PICKS:
1. Cerberus
2. Medusa
3. Cyclops
4. Hydra
5. Minotaur
Cyclops FTW.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
2. Barack Obama
3. Sarah Palin
4. Michele Bachman
5. Paul Revere
Tell Steve Parker I send my regards.
VSP PICKS:
1. One Potato
2. Two Potato
3. Cyclops
4. Three Potato
5. Four
Go! Cyclops! Go!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops!
Most serious VSP ever. I’m not sure: if you go right from the start you’ll either win or lose, depending on the others. So I’ll just put you in first.
Good Luck, and lets hope it ends better than Mister T’s guest appearance at the flavorwave sale.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
@Cyclops FTW!!!!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
Holy fuck, this is awesome!
I’m gonna go Ron^2 if I don’t get this right & win the shop apron…
Or should I say, I’ll be Oli-raged if I don’t get it right!
Give ’em hell, Cyclops! Channel the V from all of our Saturday rides into yours.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
Good Luck
VSP PICKS:
1. Mank Missle
2. Ale Jet
3. Cyclops
4. God of Thunder
5. Some Fred
Missed spelled Manx
VSP PICKS:
1. Manx Missle
2. Ale Jet
3. Cyclops
4. God of Thunder
5. Some Fred
No point in going for the long break if you ain’t gonna win!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
2. Jacky Durand
3. Tommy Voeckler
4. Erik Dekker
5. David McKenzie
Prediction – you will dangle off the front before being caught near the end – just like Jacky Durand!
VSP PICKS:
1. Sprinterofgroupthatcatchescycley
2. Mainchaserofcycley
3. A chick
4. Cyclops
5. TheBunch
Buena Suerte, Cyclops!!!!!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops, FTW!
2. Cavendish
3. Farrar
4. Feillu
5. Thor, God of Thunder
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops for the win
2. Polodour
3. Freiberg university clinic
4. Dick Pound
5. That goddam harley
Good luck bro.
There is a lot to be said for a solo race-long breakaway…
VSP PICKS:
1. Sandbagger
2. Sandbagger
3. Cyclops
4. Packfill
5. Packfill
You got this Cyclops.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cyclops
There you go, allez allez!
VSP PICKS:
1. NonCyclops
2. NonCyclops
3. NonCyclops
4. Cyclops
5. NonCyclops
“I plan on going off the front right at the beginning of the race”
Good luck with that, an honorable intent but is it the winning tactic?
VSP PICKS:
2. Cyclops
It’s the going off the front that worries me. Tough in a crit.
VSP PICKS:
1. Crafty old racer
2. Over-keen young racer
3. Wheelsucker 1
4. Wheelsucker 2
5. Exhausted Cyclops :-(
@Marcus
3. A Chick
Harsh!
Best of British to you Cyclops. My money on the Modfather coming good for the race. I’ll try to get there myself as well
VSP PICKS:
1. Wiggins
2. Boonen
3. John Smith
4. Cyclops
5. Me