Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2015
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″/]
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playing percentages today. the grand tour lads are wild cards i just can’t get my head around.
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@Rockkk
This.
Actually he’s my new favourite rider. I really don’t understand how its possible for big cycling fans like us to resist him. Check how much the podium girls like him? He has a nice cap, his shorts are always just the right length and he rocks the rugged half shaven stubble better than George Michael. He’s perfect for the VSP because he can maintain his peak from the Ardennes all the way to Lombardia. No peaking in two months for Alejandro – he’s peaking for the whole season. He’s done nothing wrong – just ask him! Don’t forget the Spanish Cycling Federation didn’t even waste time investigating him. That blood bag was for Valv’s german shepherd! The Germans! That’s who we should be hatin’.
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@frank
Jesus wept. You’ll be taking selfies, using emoticons and blogging about Kardashians and wrecking balls next.
Oh, hang on, your profile picture is a selfie.
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Still going with Gilbert…
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@Gianni
That’s the sign of at least one remaining functional brain cell, my friend. Treat it with the care it deserves!
@unversio
Ha, though my immediate thought is that he is telling the medics that he hurt his wee-wee.
Annnnnnnnnd Delgado #2. Fuck me.
@xyxax
Either that medic is a giant or Purito is much, much smaller than I thought.
This just in…situation: normal.
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.
Damn!
BMC DS said ‘Fleche isn’t really his thing’ re Gilbert. How can Fleche not be ‘his thing’ for a Walloon?
Should have gone Costa or Hinao.
@Harminator
the dude is snake bit
@Rockkk
Fuck Valverde.
Hey, look at that! He won last year’s Flèche Wallonne and was booed on the podium: http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/04/news/valverde-marches-toward-liege-boos-huy_325123
What that article doesn’t say is about the absolute joke Valverde made of the drug ban. Yes, he “served” a 2 year ban, but only after the Italian cycling federation threatened to ban him (I’d say it’s because the Spanish federation sticks their head in the sand, but really it’s much worse than that).
It’s a Piti (ha! http://cyclocosm.com/2012/01/the-piti-of-an-unrepentant-valverde/ http://inrng.com/2012/01/valverde-did-everything-wrong/) because he’s a good rider.
Like every other race so fricking far this season, I Delgado!
Maybe I should ride just a little less and spend just a little more time on here.
Ah for Merckx’s sake! 1 point for Rodriguez. I was hoping to regain some points from missing Amstel on Sunday…
That’s my dog!!!
Just call me Sep for lack of Spring results. Hopefully GT’s will be better!
For a race that’s pretty meh until the fireworks at the very end, the finale was pretty meh. Also, I meant to put Purito fourth.
Valverde winner – tick
Rodriguez in top 5 – tick
Kwiatkowski 33rd – can’t win them all I guess
Martin and Gilbert DNF – WTF ! ?
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.
@Harminator comes good for the win!
[vsp_results id=”32759″/]
Ouch. 1 point.
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.
@Harminator
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)
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.
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.
@JonnyG
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!
@Ron
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.
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.
@Chris
You appear to be missing your piss-taking filter.
At least I was right about one thing in the lead up to this race…
http://www.velominati.com/velominati-super-prestige/velominati-super-prestige-amstel-gold-2015/comment-page-4/#comment-
@Ron
I’ve missed this. It’s not a proper VSP without you missing every other race. All is right with the world again.
Partial Delgado here. Picked up 3 point in the ladies’ race and totally missed out on the men’s. Nice job.
@Steampunk
Agree. I was nodding off watching the replay last night.
@Steampunk
I know, but I’m a new man and I’m taking the Delgados in stride, not calling for a recount! I guess that means I’ve found nirvana and I’m at my optimal n+__ level.
@frank
You could be right there. Or maybe its just a little grubby.
I should have had faith in your standards but so many around us are losing their’s.