Velominati Super Prestige: La Fléche Wallonne
La Fléche would perhaps be my least favorite classic, were it not for Gent-Wevelgem’s ill-timed bike-throw in their race for last place. It isn’t anything to do with the quality of these races themselves, but more to do with the company they travel in. Gent used to be sandwiched between de Ronde and Roubaix, just as La Fléche is between Amstel and Liege; it just happens that these are some of the greatest races in the world, and the bridesmaid never looks as good as the bride.
It’s a shame, too, because the Mur de Huy is an absolute brute and ranks as one of the most fearsome and recognizable climbs in the world. Almost a kilometer and a half in length with pitches of 20% and 25%, the climb is hit several times on the finishing circuit. Diabolically, the finish is placed at the top of the hill.
The finish favors a powerful climber who can time an uphill sprint to perfection. Think Nicole Cooke or Danilo Di Luca. Cuddles misfired on this finish several times before getting it right last year and giving the “Thumbs Up” sign. You could almost a weakening Clentador thinking as he was getting passed, “I’m not climbing well enough for my weight yet. Need to get me some Spanish Beef.” Experience always counts, but it’s critical here.
So on with the 2011 Velominati Super Prestige and the La Fléche Wallonne. As usual, the winner of this VSP edition will earn an “Obey the Rules” bumper sticker and all reader’s points qualify towards the final prize of the free personalized Velominati Shop Apron. If you are inclined to enter, simply post your predictions for the top five placings in the designated area above the posts section, bearing in mind that entry/modification of picks closes at 5am Pacific time on the day of the race. Check the Super-Prestige main page for rules and scoring information.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-O2_KwWMUg[/youtube]
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquin Rodriguez
2. Philippe Gilbert
3. Andy Schleck
4. Igor Anton
5. Robert Gesink
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rodriguez
2. Gilbert
3. Gesink
4. Contador
5. S. Sanchez
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. A. Schleck
3. Samy Sanchez
4. J. Rodriguez
5. Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. Jo Ro
3. A.Schleck
4. Gilbert
5. Kolobnev
Where art thou Cuddles?
Gilbert to do the triple AGR, FW, LBL
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Clentador
3. Hesje
4. Andy
5. Cataldo
VSP PICKS:
1. Vino
2. Gilbert
3. Contador
4. Rodriguez
5. Di Luca
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Gilbert
3. Rodriguez
4. Contador
5. Frank Schleck
VSP PICKS:
1. Grimplette
2. Jay-Ro
3. Gilbert
4. Igor Antizzle
5. Clentador
@Paco
LOVE the Veino pick! Man, I really thought hard about including him here.
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rodriguez
2. Gilbert
3. Gesink
4. Contador
5. S. Sanchez
@Paco
My heart says Veino but my head says I gotta make up some VSP points. Nice picks.
VSP PICKS:
1. contador
2. j. rodriguez
3. gilbert
4. anton
5. roche
VSP PICKS:
1. Clentador
2. Jay-Ro
3. Sammy Sánchez
4. Vino
5. David Moncoutié (wild card)
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Hesjedal
3. Gesink
4. J. Rodriguez
5. Anton
Calling for the triple for Jeel-bear is so tempting, but I think he’s going to ‘mostly’ keep his powder dry for his real goal: LBL
VSP PICKS:
1. Clentador
2. Grimp younger
3. keep ’em Gesink
4. J-Ro
5. Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Nico Roche
2. Gilbert
3. Andy
4. Frank
5. El Pistolero
Bon Chance to Heath for wildcarding Moncoots!
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rod
2. Chilli Philly Gilly
3. Fronk Schlock
4. Sammy Sanchez
5. Contador
How does Contador like his steak? Still twitching. Naturally, my heart says Hesjedal, but he might also be gearing up for LBL, so not sure.
VSP PICKS:
1. Oo Alberto!
2. Bulky Mollema
3. Rocket Squad
4. Damiano ShouldagoneatAmstel
5. Jakob Buglesong
An all Spanish podium, there must be something in the water over there.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. J Rodriguez
3. Sanchez
4. A. Schleck
5. Gilbert
@Paco
Contador won’t started. Swapped with Gerrans
VSP PICKS:
1. Vino
2. Gilbert
3. Gerrans
4. Rodriguez
5. Di Luca
VSP PICKS:
1. Oo Alberto!
2. Bulky Mollema
3. Rocket Squad
4. Igor Anton””I need nickname
5. Jakob Buglesong
Couldn’t force myself to write the ‘V’ word needed to put Vino’s name down. Voting with my heart, not for points.
Go Gerro!
VSP PICKS:
1. andy schleck
2. alberto contador
3. phil gilbert
4. simon gerrans
5. m albasini
Going for the Maillot de Syringue.
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodriguez
2. Contador
3. Anton
4. Schleck, A.
5. Fuglsang
VSP PICKS:
1. Jay Rawd
2. Spanish Steak Boy
3. Sammy Sandshoe
4. Shrank Fleck
5. Wobble Gesink
if only cuddles was riding…
my podium has a present/past/future faces of doping look about it…
VSP PICKS:
1. clenbutador
2. veino
3. j-rod
4. schleck jr.
5. danny martin
Taken out Phil Gil. I now think he’ll just turn the legs over here to keep loose for LBL. Wild-carding Martin instead to gain points on the VSP leaders. Now watch Martin crash at the first feed station, and Gilbert win (‘cos that’s how cycling works…).
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rod
2. Sammy Sanchez
3. Fronk Schlock
4. Contador
5. Dan Martin
Will the Schleck the younger get his shizzle together this time, or will Clenbutador rid himself of cold and come to the fore…. or will Tony Martin sneak in and outdo them all….
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Contador
3. Gilbert
4. Tony Martin
5. Gerrans
VSP PICKS:
1. andy
2. phil gilbert
3. contador
4. rodriguez
5. veino
@Vello Kitty
Nick Roche? AWESOME!!! Man, I hope he wins as I love him as a rider, esp after he almost put his teammates head through the window after he refused him a wheel. Let’s hope he shines tomorrow!
All Spanish podium (Beef, it’s what’s for dinner).
VSP PICKS:
1. Joaquin Rod
2. Igor
3. Contador
4. Schleck Jr.
5. Gesink
VSP PICKS:
1. Purito
2. Grimplette
3. Un-pure Contador
4. Anton
5. Fuglsang
After firing too early last year, Clenbutador wants this one bad, real bad.
VSP PICKS:
1. Contador
2. J-Rod
3. Sammy Sanchez
4. Gerro
5. Gilbert
A couple of hopefuls and a couple of definitely maybe’s.
Good luck to all.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sam San
2. J-Ro
3. J-Co
4. Uran-us (kiddie humour)
5. Schleckles Jr.
That guy has the best name in cycling. Be interesting to see how Basso’s form is coming along, since Liquigas has been quiet so far this year. Again no idea, punts based on a limited grasp of reality mean some gonzo picks sit alongside some bona fide selections, I just don’t know which ones are which.
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rod
2. Andy S
3. Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga
4. Basso
5. S Gerrans
I think the bridesmaid will break through on this one. Clenboy will just miss again and the others will all be thereabouts. Gesink isn’t maybe tough enough but Sammy Sanchez is also a dark horse.
Pity we can’t do 10 picks eh!
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rodriguez
2. Contador
3. Schleck the Elder
4. Gerrans
5. Gilbert
Hello, um Liquigas, is anyone there?
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rod
2. Gerro
3. The Spanish Steak
4. Van Den Broeck
5. Basso
swap that Schleck elder for Schleck junior
VSP PICKS:
1. J Rodriguez
2. Contador
3. Schleck the Younger
4. Gerrans
5. Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Sammy Sanchez
2. Dirty Contador
3. J Rod
4. Gesink
5. Hesjedal
@minion
Kelly will have no hope pronouncing that – he still can’t say Cadel properly.
But what about Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVIERA?
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy Shleck
2. Contador
3. Rodriguez
4. Basso
5. Frank Shleck
Schlecko is going well. Alberto is too. Gerro didn’t have enough to go with Gilbo Sunday. Gilbo will be too knackered by now. Sanchez is Spanish and can climb. VD Broek just might ’cause he’s from around there?
VSP PICKS:
1. Andy Schlecker
2. Contadorey
3. VD Broek
4. Sammy Sanchez
5. Gerro
VSP PICKS:
1. Rodriguez
2. Clenbuterol
3. Go Go Gerrans
4. Piston Broeck
5. Tony Martin
FWIW the random awesomely named Spaniard is my substitution for Clenbutador. I think that even if he rides well the cards just aren’t falling for him at the moment and he knows that. I also think someone needs to put him in the ditch but that’s just me.
What is it with steak and TdF champions? Maybe I should eat more red meat…
Shot gun approach to try and get some points.
VSP PICKS:
1. O Canada
2. Contodor
3. Vino
4. SammyS
5. J Rod
VSP PICKS:
1. Albanisi
2. Hermans
3. P. Gilbert
4. A. Shleck
5. Dirty Sanchez
I have no idea.
VSP PICKS:
1. Schleck it out, Andy
2. Spanish Steak
3. Frank Strack I mean Schleck
4. Machete (see if you can guess)
5. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
VSP PICKS:
1. A schleck
2. Gesink
3. Gilbert
4. Contador
5. J Rodriguez
And I roll the dice. I think Conti want a win and this is his chance before the Il Giro. I think Gilbert is going to save himself for Sunday. U really don’t know about the rest
VSP PICKS:
1. Conti
2. Jrod
3. “you called master?”
4. Jr
5. The Carbon Wheel
Few outsiders there but the favourites are still in my selections, Basso has done bugger all this year and I think it’s time he put in a showing. Hope Contador has stacked up on the Beef, I HATE tipping him but he’s the favourite… Ahh the heart and head conflict!
VSP PICKS:
1. Gerrans
2. Andy Schleck
3. Cuntador
4. Gilbert
5. Basso
Taking a stab at this one too…
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Rodriguez
3. Hesjedal
4. Frere Frank
5. El Steakalero