Velominati Super Prestige: Gent Wevelgem 2015

Mapei parties like it's 1998.

Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!

This is it! We are really into the thick of it now! E3 Harelbeke is today, and on Sunday we have the Kemmelberg in Gent Wevelgem – the first real serious cobbled race of the year. For Keeper’s Tour in 2012 we stayed just outside Kemmel, and for KT2013 Bretto and I went off for a jetlag-neutralizing spin together into the same area and rode the climb from both sides. When I arrive in Belgium on Thursday, the first thing we’ll do is head over there again; the area feels a bit like home at this point.

All of Europe bears the marks of World War I, but this bit of Belgium is even more heavily scarred; when this many people die in one place, it lingers in the air like a thick mist. This hill in particular was the site of several battles; the Germans took it in April 1918 and it was reclaimed by the allied forces in September. Monuments, graveyards, barracks litter the landscape.

Although its short, the Kemmelberg is a brute of a climb with a steep ramp at the top; the cobbles are rough and very badly laid at the base; the best route has you swinging wide to the outside if you’re to maintain your speed. If you are unlucky enough to be forced into the inside, you will come to a standstill and find yourself chasing from the onset.

And speaking of chasing, its time to get some points on the board with the VSP so you have a chance of claiming one of our prizes. Get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero. And for the love of Merckx, don’t wait until the last minute before flooding my inbox with complaints about the site going down. Your procrastination is not my emergency, boys and girls. But if you do happen to have some trouble (and it’s not the last minute, or the middle of the night) then feel free to let us know; we’re happy to help you out so long as the event hasn’t closed yet. So, prognosticate on the start list and enter your sure-to-be dud picks.

We are still finalizing the prize list for the overall VSP, but second place has been confirmed as being a set of CR Wheelworks/Velominati wheels. CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s wheel product line, and you’ll have the choice of rim size and hub. The Velominati edition comes with orange Chris King hubs, but if that’s too bling for you, I’m sure the configuration can be changed for the winner.

First prize will be something even more amazeballs and third place will be a full Velominati kit complete with V-Cap. My wheels just arrived, and I can’t wait to ride them.

And, we’ll wrap it up with some 2013 Gent action:

[vsp_results id=”32565″/]

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

Beers says:

Mar 29 2015 at 9:08 pm

@Al__S

Thomas’ crash was entertaining- superb work to unclip mid crash and throw the bike so he didn’t land on it, instead landing on a soft verge and performing a decent roll. Great chase back on, and excellent work to get on the podium. Better crash than those that ended up with bikes (and themselves?) in a ditch- turns out WT level bikes float.

But nothing compared to Paolini. Style points he loses big style, but when you win a race like that with a late attack like that, all is forgiven.

I thought it was just an endo, the wheel jammed and over he went. Nonetheless, stud for getting back on for 3rd.

@wilburrox

Maybe was after his second time down and on the third bike?? And to hammer on. Classic, classic stuff. And Sir Bradley??

Did Power Pins Paolini really crash twice and 3 bike changes? Mega!
Gianni says:

Mar 29 2015 at 10:03 pm

@Beers

@Al__S

Thomas’ crash was entertaining- superb work to unclip mid crash and throw the bike so he didn’t land on it, instead landing on a soft verge and performing a decent roll. Great chase back on, and excellent work to get on the podium. Better crash than those that ended up with bikes (and themselves?) in a ditch- turns out WT level bikes float.

But nothing compared to Paolini. Style points he loses big style, but when you win a race like that with a late attack like that, all is forgiven.

I thought it was just an endo, the wheel jammed and over he went. Nonetheless, stud for getting back on for 3rd.

@wilburrox

Maybe was after his second time down and on the third bike?? And to hammer on. Classic, classic stuff. And Sir Bradley??

Did Power Pins Paolini really crash twice and 3 bike changes? Mega!

Wow, what a race. Let's hope the bad weather continues. I finally watched it. How about Stijn Vandenburgh (sp?) too? What a big badass. G is tough as nails. Roelandts, very impressive.

Luca, smart old dog who is also tough as nails.
osbk67 says:

Mar 29 2015 at 11:22 pm

Best win by an over-35 since Milan San Remo '92

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mL3jQmkj3uI
Beers says:

Mar 29 2015 at 11:52 pm

Only 39 finishers!
RobSandy says:

Mar 30 2015 at 1:09 am

I've now now Delgado'd (well, not turned up at all) my first 3 ever VSP events.

I'm going to do a G and climb out of the ditch and get back on my bike though.

What a fucking hero.
frank says:

Mar 30 2015 at 6:15 am

@Daccordi Rider

Sir Brad? “Nah, fuck this where’s my Schleckchute” I’m waiting anxiously to see how many tip him for PR based on the zero form displayed this season.

Also monster ride by Jurgen Rowlandts.

This, this, and this.

And the Schleckchute earns you the +1 badge.
Ron says:

Mar 30 2015 at 8:30 am

Some excellent photos here:

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/dmf20150329_01604627

Looks like EBH broke his clavicle. Durbridge looked bad too but can't confirm his injuries. Greg vA crashed too, as well as Degenkolb.
ped says:

Mar 30 2015 at 9:05 am

I thought the UCI had banned this position
wiscot says:

Mar 30 2015 at 9:36 am

@Mikael Liddy

@Daccordi Rider luckily for Sky, P-R is the kind of race where you need plans A through to C so they can claim he’s a protected rider, while actually riding for the bloke with form in Thomas.

Indeed, but there's the rub. Sky don't have a great record on having any plan past Plan A. Obviously Wiggins has been talking big about P-R and is the ranking member of the squad. However, as you rightly note, he's done sweet FA this year whereas Thomas is a man on form. Start as co-leaders and let the race sort it out. What if GT goes for it? Wiggins is off the team in a month or so anyway.
osbk67 says:

Mar 30 2015 at 9:49 am

@ped

I thought the UCI had banned this position

They banned the Dangle?