Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012

Simpson leads Gimondi and Poggiali in 1965

I just had to use this pic of Tom Simpson in 1965 wearing the Peugeot kit as the title pic for this year’s VSP for La Fleche Wallonne. Rigid hooked himself up on the Keepers Tour with the same kit he purchased at the Flanders Cycling Museum and it’s Grade A nipple lube. Although victory eluded Simpson in this Classic he still looked damn good in the kit and gave it the berries, taking third that year behind the two Italians on his wheel in the photo.

With that, the VSP returns to Belgium after a short and exciting few days in the hilly parts of Dutchland. We’re not sure yet if Brett, Rigid, or Harminator will be drinking beer and harassing the fairer sex on the slopes of the Mur de Huy but the racing promises to be no less exciting, if almost totally unpredictable. There was a lot of talk about the Spaniards getting it right for Amstel Gold. Although they had two riders in the top 10, neither was able to reach the podium. Interestingly enough, PhilGil seems to have at least put the brakes on going Gilbackwards, Billions and Billions is still tantalizingly close to getting it perfect, and little Tommy V may be timing his peak just about right for either La Fleche or L-B-L this weekend.

So put that Dutch pisswater down and settle in with some more proper Belgian beer as Ardennes classics week continues with La Fleche Wallonne. We’re steaming full speed ahead to the end of the Spring Classics in the VSP and there’s only a couple chances left to slot your picks for your favorite rouleur or puncheur as from here on out the conversation will change largely to the G.C. men in the Grand Tours. Check out the start list and watch the timer, good luck!

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

Next Velominati Super Prestige: Fléche Wallonne Femmes 2012 »

Previous « Keepers Tour 2012 Update, Part I: Roubaix & RVV

View Comments

Marcus says:

Apr 18 2012 at 3:20 am

Yes

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. J rod
3. Gilbert
4. Cunego
5. A schleck
Belgian Cobblestones says:

Apr 18 2012 at 3:30 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Jelle Vanendert
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Igor aton
4. Sammy Sanchez
5. J rod
pink says:

Apr 18 2012 at 3:34 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Rodregez
2. Bossen Hagen
3. Gilbert
4. Frank Schlek
5. Vanendert
King Clydesdale says:

Apr 18 2012 at 4:43 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Uran
2. Schleck, F
3. Valverde
4. Vanendert
5. Anton
marko says:

Apr 18 2012 at 4:43 am

@paolo
@paolo

Fuck me people are still picking Sagan.ok well I'm drunk. I thought I would drunkenly post here hwere people can see. I din't know hsit abot belgian beer and i had my first during Paris roubaix..abby ale leeffee blonde or some such..nice. Im not a beer guy,,it was ok. So we went out for dinner tonight and chimay was one the list of beers so i was like..yeah I want to tey one of them..dunno what it was..not light..not dark in color, just nice light golden brown. tasted awesome. Now i realize what all the fuss is about. Dont worry i didnt drive. and I bunrt 2000+ cals on an 110k rdie earlier. Awesome beer,,,I can't believe I was 46 when i discoverd cycling and im 49 whem i discovered beer. obviously i didnt stop at one....beer i mean

Give that man another! And let him wear the V-kit post of the week jersey.
King Clydesdale says:

Apr 18 2012 at 4:43 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Uran
2. Schleck, F
3. Valverde
4. Rodriguez
5. Anton
King Clydesdale says:

Apr 18 2012 at 4:46 am

@paolo

Fuck me people are still picking Sagan.

ok well I'm drunk. I thought I would drunkenly post here hwere people can see. I din't know hsit abot belgian beer and i had my first during Paris roubaix..abby ale leeffee blonde or some such..nice. Im not a beer guy,,it was ok. So we went out for dinner tonight and chimay was one the list of beers so i was like..yeah I want to tey one of them..dunno what it was..not light..not dark in color, just nice light golden brown. tasted awesome. Now i realize what all the fuss is about. Dont worry i didnt drive. and I bunrt 2000+ cals on an 110k rdie earlier. Awesome beer,,,I can't believe I was 46 when i discoverd cycling and im 49 whem i discovered beer. obviously i didnt stop at one....beer i mean

What color was the bottle? Or was it served in a glass? Plenty of water this morning, maybe a ride to sweat out the hangover :) Looks like you had a good night.
Lepidopterist says:

Apr 18 2012 at 4:48 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Voeckler
3. Frank Schleck
4. Anton
5. Cunego
Erik says:

Apr 18 2012 at 4:55 am

Just thought I'd share this image. Can I get a, "Merckx!"
Oli says:

Apr 18 2012 at 5:16 am

Amazingly, Fleche Wallone is being shown live as I write on New Zealand's Sky Sport 3, for those insomniac Kiwi bike racing fans out there.