Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallone

The steep climb of the Muur de Huy

The inaugural Velominati Super Prestige continues with La Fleche Wallone on Wednesday, April 21. This will be the third race in the season-long series and presents another opportunity to jump up the rankings and unseat current series leader and rainbow cog wearer, Rob, who consolidated his lead Sunday at Amstel Gold. The competition remains very close and leadership can belong to anyone who makes a good race prediction Wednesday.

La Fleche is sure to be as unpredictable as Amstel, as the eruption of EyjafjallajÃ¶kull continues to wreak havoc on the start list, with riders who can not pronounce the volcano’s name being rendered unable to travel to the races. Add to that the ferocity of the finishing climb – the Muur de Huy with it’s 26% ramps – and we have an other unpredictable race on our hands. Is this a year for a solo breakaway to finally succeed, or will itagain feature a large group who contests the finale in a brutish uphill sprint?

This edition’s winner will again earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker and all reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free Velominati Shop Apron. If you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the comment section. Good luck.

Rules and results are posted Velominati Super Prestige page.

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

Joe says:

Apr 20 2010 at 10:07 am

@Frank
A big Jens breakaway on the Cote d'Ereffe with 11k to go would be just about the coolest thing ever...
Not sure why I didn't have Wiggo featuring in my line-up. Sins of omission.
frank says:

Apr 20 2010 at 10:12 am

A pretty classic ride up the Muur. For those of you of inferior genetic material and who thus can't speak Dutch, the commentary is out of sync anyway, but the gist is "Armstrong chose the right moment to 'schoove' away."
Rob says:

Apr 20 2010 at 10:44 am

@frank
You all are making a lot of sense with your picks but its fun taking a flyer with someone like Knees, thats what Hesjedal was and look where I am now...but I am nervous. If I have more luck I will gladly take the test!

P.S. I was always relieved I could not speak Dutch and Armstrong was a bull.
john says:

Apr 20 2010 at 11:01 am

Son of a beeeeeaaatch, no one said this would be easy. Who would bet against Gilbert after that finale the other day? But who would bet against pistol totin' Bertie? or Valverde or Andy Schleck? This finish is timing and power, you go too early(Cadel) and pow, out go the lights. Brett, your idea of stacking the top five is wise.

If a break stays away we are all doomed. What about Gesink? OK, I have a chicken to kill and hope for some bad Voodoo juju. So much pressure. I'm gonna hurl. Data soon.
frank says:

Apr 20 2010 at 11:16 am

@Joe
Wiggo? Really? On a one-day? I hope not to have to eat my socks, but I don't see him figuring. Personally, I like your picks as they are.
Marko says:

Apr 20 2010 at 11:18 am

@john

Gerrans. Go with Gerrans.
frank says:

Apr 20 2010 at 11:20 am

@john
I know! Gesink! He could be just the guy for it. We've all seen his wild attack in the Vuelta...maybe he could pull it off!
Marko says:

Apr 20 2010 at 11:40 am

@frank

@john

I thought so too. I had Gesink on my list for Amstel. I'd like to think he'd do something but something aint working for Rob-a-bank this spring.
frank says:

Apr 20 2010 at 12:48 pm

@Marko
Well, with HumanPlasma being out of commision, you can imagine how that might impact your performance I mean morale.

Add Gesink to the list of guys I hope never get caught. Love that dude. Future big name, methinks.

And, in Dutch it's pronounced "Rob-o-bunk", which is amazing aprÃ¨s-pos given their results so far this year. If you consider winning a monument a "bad start".
john says:

Apr 20 2010 at 1:14 pm

@brett
I'm afraid to look up dirty sanchez in the urban dictionary.

Bertie and Gilbert are holding out for L-B-L but Andy is not as he is afraid he dosen't have the form for that slog. Cunego will finish much higher than 80th. If there is break that stays away with Dan Martin from Garmin in it, he will prevail. Or not. I'm so confused.

1. Gilbert-too strong, the Spartacus of the Ardenne.
2. Andy Schleck-cannot fight off Gilbert in the last 50m
3. Dan Martin- who cares, got to throw it in there for fun
4. Perrick Fedrigo-insane, perhaps. The French, fuggetaboutit.
5. Contador-just to stack the top five