Categories: Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Gent Wevelgem 2014

The Kemmelberg is a brute. In my opinion, its the hardest of the cobbled climbs in the Spring Classics; it has a high speed tarmac approach that saps the guns of their snap. The transition from tarmac to cobbles is awful, the stones are very badly laid throughout and if you don’t hit it just right, you’ll come to a standstill. The cobbled part of the climb is long enough to make you consider a plea-bargain with any deity willing to listen before it ends with a brutal 23% ramp with good cobbles. The length, the camber, the gradient, and the way the stones are laid combine in a way that makes you feel every centimeter of the climb.

Gent Wevelgem is considered a sprinters classic, but it’s a shock considering how many climbs are along the route. I can’t imagine the Italian curses that must have escaped Cipollini’s mouth along his bumpy way to winning the race. No wonder he chucked the odd bidon at a motorbike.

I miss the old setup of the Cobbled Classics, with the Ronde on Sunday, Gent on Wednesday, and Roubaix on Sunday, but on the plus side, now we get to drool over the racing for three weeks instead of just one. So, check the start list, review the VSP Scoring Guidelines and get your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight PDT on Sunday the 30th. If you think we mapped one of your picks wrong, use the dispute system and we’ll review it. Also remember to be precise enough in your description so we know which rider you mean; in other words, if you enter “Martin”, we will use our discretion (read: wild guess) to decide if you mean Tony or Dan – and that choice will not be negotiable once the the countdown clock goes to zero, so be sure to give yourself enough time.

Don’t forget we’ve got three major prizes for the season-long VSP:

First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron
Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.

Good luck, and don’t lose your Rule #43 spirit.

[vsp_results id=”29351″/]

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/VSP Prizes/”/]

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

fignons barber says:

Mar 30 2014 at 5:04 pm

@Buck Rogers

@fignons barber

One thing for sure: the now waifish physique of Tom Boonen has zero power compared to the old version.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boonen-denied-fourth-gent-wevelgem-win-in-chaotic-finale

Not sure. I think he will be there the next few weeks. Sure is going to be abgreat RVV and PR.

I sure hope so. I don't just mean the G-W sprint. No real pop this spring.
Mikael Liddy says:

Mar 30 2014 at 7:19 pm

@Gianni

@Steampunk

@Gianni

@Steampunk

@LA Dave

A Thor sighting? Well, that's bound to wreak havoc with my P-R picks. Either I'm going to think he's finally got this and he'll roll in 57th about seven minutes back, or I'll ignore him and he'll finally win the damn thing. There's no justice...

I think we are safe leaving Thor off our P-R list. Goss and Farrar too. Fabs must have been out for the training today.

Well, let's get serious for a moment. Thor may be a has-been. But Goss and Farrar never were. For a time, Thor was a dominant force. It's a shame that the decline has been so swift. But 9th in this field is nothing to sniff at. Could be he's on the road to recovery...

OK, you put him in on your P-R picks. I keep thinking he is on the road to recovery. I picked him for races last year. I don't know what bug he had but it was a bad boy. Or he is off the dope. But yes, I don't think he is a has been, but he needs to win something besides Tour of Norway to convince everyone.

Gossy did win a monument. Which is more than any American has done to date.

This is the thing with Goss, on HTC he was much more a lead out/classics man than outright sprinter. OGE seem to have tried to turn him in to something that he's already said he'd prefer not to do. There was talk this year of him concentrating less on points jerseys & more on one day classics...
frank says:

Mar 30 2014 at 8:09 pm

Can I just say the Boondoggle is my fucking hero? Busted thumb and sprints to 5th after swearing off the race in the first place and dealing with the devastation of a miscarriage. Fucking stud.

Coming into form nicely, too. I think he won't win in Vlaanderen, but he will win in the Velodrome.
The Grande Fondue says:

Mar 30 2014 at 8:41 pm

@Mikael Liddy

This is the thing with Goss, on HTC he was much more a lead out/classics man than outright sprinter. OGE seem to have tried to turn him in to something that he's already said he'd prefer not to do. There was talk this year of him concentrating less on points jerseys & more on one day classics...

He wanted to be a bunch sprinter.

2011 World Championship he finished 2nd to Cav by half a wheel, and it looked like he could almost match him for speed but was a way better climber.

At the tour last year he was getting dropped by Greipel on the hills.

I see he came 2nd in the Cancer Council Classic this year. I assume that's the "classic" he's planning on concentrating on?
Mikael Liddy says:

Mar 30 2014 at 9:22 pm

@The Grande Fondue as in the warm up for the TDU? Greipel was 2nd, Goss rolled in 109th.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/01/2014-santos-tour-down-under-peoples-choice-classic-results/
The Grande Fondue says:

Mar 30 2014 at 9:30 pm

@Mikael Liddy

@The Grande Fondue as in the warm up for the TDU? Greipel was 2nd, Goss rolled in 109th.

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/01/2014-santos-tour-down-under-peoples-choice-classic-results/

Yes, you are right: it was the 2013 Cancer Council Classic he was 2nd in.

He did win a stage in the equally classic Bay Series Classic this year. So many classics, and he's done so well in them all.
Ron says:

Mar 31 2014 at 12:52 am

Did anyone else read that Boonen was heard wailing out when hitting the cobbles in E3 after he hurt his thumb? I wonder if this was more of a dog with a quill in its lip howl or more of a loud, cuss-filled tirade.

When, o-when, will we get a Mic'ed Up Peloton?
Mirko says:

Mar 31 2014 at 1:20 am

@frank Alas, Greipel has a broken collarbone and several sinew issues. He was operated in Belgium on Sunday evening and now has a metal plate in his shoulder. He'll be out for several months.

@boomboom-84 with a clear win over @xyxax. Awesome race; hope those crashes didn't cause too many injuries.
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 31 2014 at 5:54 am

@Gianni

@Gossy did win a monument. Which is more than any American has done to date.

Wait a second! What about Tyler and his LBL win? Or was that his unborn twin???
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 31 2014 at 5:55 am

@frank

Can I just say the Boondoggle is my fucking hero? Busted thumb and sprints to 5th after swearing off the race in the first place and dealing with the devastation of a miscarriage. Fucking stud.

Coming into form nicely, too. I think he won't win in Vlaanderen, but he will win in the Velodrome.

AMEN! Me of little faith took him out of my picks as I figured that he was fucked with his thumb. Hopefully a podium at the RVV and a win at PR!!!