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 Eyjafjallajökull 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.

View Comments

  • @Joe
    Yeah, crazy, huh? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Cadel take over; he's usually the guy with the ill-timed attack, but that just goes to show how much experience counts for in these classics. From where I'm sitting right now, I'm not banking too much on a Bert win for LBL. It's too important in these races to know exactly when to get your groove on.

  • @Marko
    This one was really hard to call, but I'm really happy for Cadel. I've felt he's looked overweight all season (and still does) but I guess he's not. I don't think you can win one of these races if you're a fatty.

    El Pistolero. What to say. It thought he was moving away from that salute, but I guess not. I mean shit, he even had his bike painted in that stupid impressionistic rainbow pistol hand.

  • @frank

    I too am happy for Cadel and take back what I posted about his mangina. I'll change that description to big rainbow striped balls. I agree, he has looked a little pudgy and the new pic of him crossing the finish line makes it look like he's got a huge dip in. And the schlecks, I'm not sure what to think of them for Sunday. Great ride on Frank's part today albeit unsuccesful. And I'm really doubting Andy's fitness these days. No doubt it's on the upswing and he's going to want to defend this weekend but it seems he's behind the rest of the bunch. Gotta love the Saxo guys overall. I'd like to see someone tip Jens this weekend.

  • Yeah, good on 'em. Always nice when the World Champion wins and when someone learns from their mistakes. And it shows experience is a big factor in these one day races, Alberto might have won with better timing. LBL should be a lot of fun to watch. I'd like Ryder to win but I might have to bet against him. Is that wrong?
    And what happened to Wiggins? I think he is a pure stage racer, or at least not a Spring Classics boy.

  • @john
    I have a sneaking suspicion that Wiggins is not actually just a pure stage racer but may in fact be almost entirely pure "Wankpod". I know he has the hopes of a nation on him, but he looks just a tad too much like one of the dillholes from Oasis and not enough like Eddy Merckx or the hard-ass kid who cut his own arm off when he got it stuck under a rock in a canyon and now continues to rock climb with one fucking arm.

  • @Marko
    Yeah, I have to say that while I'm not tipping him for a win at Liege, I am really impressed with his gutsy move today. That's the second time I've seen him really ride aggressively (without being stupid) and that's the second time I've seen him ride away with the win. Strong work.

  • @frank
    I'm with you on that, he is not looking the part of Hardman. Last summer he had a skinhead thing working which was much better than his "Mod" pussy look. A dillhole(!?). Yeah. fucking dillhole. I'm waiting to see him drop Lance again, that was cool or ride away from everyone like my boy Fabian does.

  • I have a sneaking suspicion that Wiggins is not actually just a pure stage racer but may in fact be almost entirely pure "Wankpod".

    "Wankpod"?! Nice. Twiggo certainly doesn't do it for me. When he was on the Geek's team I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but that clearly no longer applies - and the circumstances of his defection to the Thin Blue Lie do nothing to enhance his rep.

    On a more positive note, full respect to Good Cadel. Marvellous effort. Yes, Brett, he is (apparently) a power climber. And Bertie is not (always). Which is even better.

    Am, naturally, honoured to be a recipient of the sticker. Not sure about your maths work there, but I'll take it and display it with pride nonetheless. You can send c/- Brett.

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