Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2015

Merckx help us if this tool wins again.

Who doesn’t like a nice, steep, uphill finish after getting your head kicked in for six hours? Not me, assuming I’m not racing. The key feature on this little doozy of a race is the 1.3km long Mur de Huy; doing a wind sprint up this thing has made the world’s best climbers shift into reverse and reduces the winner to a blubbering baboon at the finish line.

We’re looking at some seriously short notice here, folks, so I won’t waste your time writing a witty but rambling scenario of what might happen and how totes amazeballs the prizes for the VSP GC are (*cough* Jaegher *cough* Café Roubaix). Just check out the start list and put your damn picks in already!

[vsp_results id=”32759″/]

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

wiscot says:

Apr 22 2015 at 9:01 am

I need to start picking with the head not the heart. I had Malmerde second because I didn't want him to win. From that last charge up the Huy, it seems everyone else did. Was he seriously challenged in the last 500 meters? I didn't see it if he was - he was in 1st or 2nd place almost the whole way.
frank says:

Apr 22 2015 at 9:14 am

@Harminator comes good for the win!

[vsp_results id="32759"/]
Gianni says:

Apr 22 2015 at 9:49 am

Ouch. 1 point.
Ron says:

Apr 22 2015 at 10:23 am

Well, fack. Guy decides to get drunk on a Tuesday night after 2 hours of full-field futbol on a fake surface to ease his sore ankles and back...and he Delgados the race he was looking forward to watching on Weds. morning. Shitdamnit.

And that bastard wins it.

At least it is Earth Day.
Ron says:

Apr 22 2015 at 10:27 am
@Harminator
This just in…situation: normal.
1. 15:40:05 CEST
  
  A crash at the front of the peloton as they approach the foot of the Mur de Huy. Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin) is down and he seems in some discomfort as he attempts to remount.
Should it not go without saying that falling off your bicycle in extra-tight underwear at very high speeds would render the cyclist in a state of "some discomfort"?

Also, who the hell is Alaphilippe? Is QS just stockpiling guys who are guaranteed to finish second? (that isn't very nice)
JonnyG says:

Apr 22 2015 at 10:33 am

Big fat duck egg in the womens, 8 points in the mens. Sees me hold onto 3rd place overall in these early stages.

A bit more notice would be nice for future events though. Was late for work this morning as I refused to leave the house until my picks were in.
JonnyG says:

Apr 22 2015 at 10:48 am

Previous post wasn't intentionally a moan. It's a great site, with a free competition ofering unbelievable free prizes. You can give as much or as little notice as you want. Just noticed a few people didn't get their picks in because of the 16h notice for these events.

Also I don't need an excuse to be late for work, especially with this unseasonably hot weather in Manchester.
Ron says:

Apr 22 2015 at 11:25 am

@JonnyG

Big fat duck egg in the womens, 8 points in the mens. Sees me hold onto 3rd place overall in these early stages.

A bit more notice would be nice for future events though. Was late for work this morning as I refused to leave the house until my picks were in.

JonnyG - Despite the awesomeness of the community and the superb prizes, I'd advise that you don't make a habit of delaying your departure for work to put in your VSP picks. I'm a well-established Luv'er of the VSP, but working will allow you to buy your own Jaegher. I applaud your dedication but I'm still going to have to invoke my spring semester Velominatis and tell ya to get ta work!
JonnyG says:

Apr 22 2015 at 11:38 am

@Ron

@JonnyG

Big fat duck egg in the womens, 8 points in the mens. Sees me hold onto 3rd place overall in these early stages.

A bit more notice would be nice for future events though. Was late for work this morning as I refused to leave the house until my picks were in.

JonnyG – Despite the awesomeness of the community and the superb prizes, I’d advise that you don’t make a habit of delaying your departure for work to put in your VSP picks. I’m a well-established Luv‘er of the VSP, but working will allow you to buy your own Jaegher. I applaud your dedication but I’m still going to have to invoke my spring semester Velominatis and tell ya to get ta work!

Had my current bike 6 years, got my new Canyon Endurace coming first week of June (happy birthday to me). Not a chance i'm convincing anyone I need to buy a Jaegher anytime soon.

Being late is only an issue if the boss sees me. Perks of being friendly with the payroll girl is lates tend to disappear when i've not been noticed sneaking in.
RobSandy says:

Apr 22 2015 at 3:01 pm

Bollocksy. Assumed this race was on the weekend and missed the whole fucking thing. And Valverde won.

In my defence I`m on holiday and the cricket is on, but all the best excuses still total nil point.