Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012
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!
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez
2. Gilbert
3. Jelle Vanendert
4. Igor Anton
5. Hesjedal
VSP PICKS:
1. J. Rod
2. Gilbert
3. Uran
4. Vanandert
5. Valverde
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. J.Rodriguez
3. Valverde
4. Sagan
5. Voekler
VSP PICKS:
1. Vanendert
2. Schleck (F)
3. Gilbert
4. Rodriguez
5. Valverde
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
no work tmr..ha
So much internal debating pick these things – do I dont I. Some races you could choose a top 10 easier than picking a top 5.
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Rodriguez
3. Gilbert
4. Nocentini
5. Uran
VSP PICKS:
1. gilbert
2. valverde
3. j rod
4. vanandert
5. nibali
VSP PICKS:
1. RodrÃguez, Joaquim
2. Vanendert, Jelle
3. Sanchez, Samuel
4. Gilbert, Philippe
5. Nibali, Vincenzo
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez
2. Phast Phil
3. Jelle Vanendert
4. Alejandro Valverde
5. Igor Anton
I strongly dislike Valverde, but he races to win.
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Uran
3. Purito
4. Nibali
5. Van Garderen
VSP PICKS:
1. gilbert
2. nibbles
3. j-rod
4. valverde
5. tommy v
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaguim Rodriquez
2. Jelle Vanendert
3. Alejandro Valverde
4. Daniel Moreno
5. Bauke Mollema
VSP PICKS:
1. gilbert
2. rodriguez
3. vanendert
4. Sagan
5. Boasson Hagen
VSP PICKS:
1. gilbert
2. rodriguez
3. vanendert
4. valverde
5. Boasson Hagen
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez
2. Jelle Vanendert
3. Philippe Gilbert
4. Alejandro Valverde
5. Bauke Mollema
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rod
2. Gilbert
3. Valverde
4. Martin D
5. Vanendert
@paolo – good work, that man. Nothing like making up for lost time.
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. Gilbert
3. T Van Garderen
4. Nibali
5. Vanendert
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Vanendert J
3. J Rod
4. Schleck F
5. van Avermaet
Yes
VSP PICKS:
1. Valverde
2. J rod
3. Gilbert
4. Cunego
5. A schleck
VSP PICKS:
1. Jelle Vanendert
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Igor aton
4. Sammy Sanchez
5. J rod
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodregez
2. Bossen Hagen
3. Gilbert
4. Frank Schlek
5. Vanendert
VSP PICKS:
1. Uran
2. Schleck, F
3. Valverde
4. Vanendert
5. Anton
@paolo
@paolo
Give that man another! And let him wear the V-kit post of the week jersey.
VSP PICKS:
1. Uran
2. Schleck, F
3. Valverde
4. Rodriguez
5. Anton
@paolo
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.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Voeckler
3. Frank Schleck
4. Anton
5. Cunego
Just thought I’d share this image. Can I get a, “Merckx!”
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.
@frank and @VSP Commissar, a procedural question, where VSP picks refer to a rider who shares a surname with another rider, either riding in the race or listed on the start list, and the pick makes no reference to the riders first name or initial, should that pick be considered void?
Frak, Frak, Frakkity Frak. I can’t believe I missed the effing cutoff. Stupid mid-week VSP’s don’t mesh well with my suddenly absurdly busy work life.
@paolo
Quoted again because it’s hilarious. +1 for the entertainment value!
It is now snowing on the Mur.
@Netraam
Andy is attacking?! Must be snowing in hell, too.
@Netraam
Awesome. Separate the Rule #9 men from the cry babies.
THIS is what we want to see!
It rains again!
Fränk Schleck with a flat.
schlekanical!
Hesjedal and Nordhaug are of!
Sun but still a wet road.
So close to having the top 2 right!
WOW!!
When did Gilbert switch to black bibs? Looks nice.
Ugh, had Rodriguez and Vanendert reversed.
@G’rilla
I saw a photo of him the other day in regular BMC team bibs. Looked much better. Maybe he’s read all the crap he’s gotten on this site…
From Cyclinnews.com
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Tea
Michael Albasini (Swi) GreenEdge Cycling Team
Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana Pro Team
Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Barracuda
That would be Cyclingnews.com . Maybe one day I’ll learn how to spell.
2 of 3 right. Wish I went with my first instinct and put Giblets in 3rd.