Velominati Super Prestige: Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 2012

Eric Van Lacker leads LBL riding the most beautiful saddle ever made, the Rolls.

I thought I’d take this opportunity to move en danseuse on Rule #89 and to refer to Liege-Bastogne-Liege by its less-common Flemish name. It also draws into sharp relief that fact that while Dutch may be every bit as expressive and subtle as French, it certainly sounds less sexy.

Some races seem to foster a romanticism that other races of equal difficulty simply can’t match. Sometimes it is due to the parcours of the event, but many times it has to do with its history and the tales of superhuman effort that capivate our imaginations and builds on itself. The last few editions of this event have left something to be desired in terms of its legend, with the event falling to riders with less-than-pristine records. But that probably only means we’re due for another epic, so buckle in. Perhaps snow is in the forecast, or perhaps the hearts of the early break foil the computers dictating the pace to the field and it stays away. Or perhaps we wind up with a nail-biting sprint finish between the big names. One thing is for sure; the final of this race is perhaps the most difficult of any race on the calendar, with a combination of kilometers and climbs taking its pound of flesh from any who venture towards the line.

La Doyenne is a monument, and as such the winner of this event will win the customary symbol pack and earn the right to comment for the remainder of the season with the LBL Winner’s comment badge. Check the start list, watch the countdown timer, and try not to Delgado this beautiful race. Bon chance.

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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frank says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:17 pm

@calves

VSP PICKS:

1. A Schleck
2. F Schleck
3. Gilbert
4. Rodriguez
5. Vinokourov

I like the way you're thinking!

@Vin'cenza
Just a matter of course, and not that it matters, but if you keep putting in race numbers, it will always flumux the auto-mapping logic, meaning we'll have to manually map them. If its all the same, leave the numbers/nationalities off and it makes it a little easier on us. Not a big deal, though, if you like adding that stuff.
frank says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:20 pm

Frankie-boy finally gets it right and takes home the prize, to match his brother's. He goes on the last climb with Cunego who gets outdistanced in the last little bit. The quickly-closing-in field comes in with Sagan timing it correctly, but missing the move, and Valvbert dueling for 4th and 5th.

@Buck Rogers

Just noticed your subscript on the title photo. I have ridden and raced a number of saddles over the years and finally, ths last fall, after getting my '92 Merckx I chucked all my saddles and moved the Rolls from the older Merckx onto my new Merckx and have been in bliss ever since. Sure it's heavier, but I still race on it and love it. Nothing compares to the older Rolls (although I have not tried the new re-issue Rolls that's now available).

I had a bunch of them in the past; I also loved the Regal. I am very happy on my Fizik Arione, but I'm always temped to move to a Rolls again. Maybe I'll put one on the TSX.

VSP PICKS:

1. Grimpelder
2. Cunego
3. Sagan
4. Valverde
5. Gilbert
Vin'cenza says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:21 pm

@frank
Current ranking is bonus info, but would rather make the system work -- and thanx for pointing it out.
Vin'cenza says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:26 pm

\\ Although (Frank) the seasonal ranking info gave me the idea to visually show the intersection of riders moving up -- and races that were omitted from their schedule. Edward Tufte inspired design of quantitative information. I will give you a look if I start and complete this race map idea.

VSP PICKS:

1. Van Den Broeck
2. Valverde
3. Albasini
4. Kreuziger
5. Cunego
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:28 pm

@paolo

How many people will pick Peter Sagan ? ( this is like a sub game..I say 12).

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Sanchez
3. Valverde
4. Vockler
5. Westra

@frank

Frankie-boy finally gets it right and takes home the prize, to match his brother's. He goes on the last climb with Cunego who gets outdistanced in the last little bit. The quickly-closing-in field comes in with Sagan timing it correctly, but missing the move, and Valvbert dueling for 4th and 5th.

@Buck Rogers

Just noticed your subscript on the title photo. I have ridden and raced a number of saddles over the years and finally, ths last fall, after getting my '92 Merckx I chucked all my saddles and moved the Rolls from the older Merckx onto my new Merckx and have been in bliss ever since. Sure it's heavier, but I still race on it and love it. Nothing compares to the older Rolls (although I have not tried the new re-issue Rolls that's now available).

I had a bunch of them in the past; I also loved the Regal. I am very happy on my fi'zi:k Arione, but I'm always temped to move to a Rolls again. Maybe I'll put one on the TSX.

VSP PICKS:

1. Grimpelder
2. Cunego
3. Sagan
4. Valverde
5. Gilbert

Frank, see paolo's post and Doyle deck the start list. Pretty sure that Billions and Billions is not riding. Forgive me if you already knew this and we're going for the joking factor!
Nate says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:28 pm

@frank
You might want to check a startlist there, bro.
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:31 pm

Damn autocorrect! Have to get around to taking your advice about how to shut it off. Should be double check, not Doyle deck, in the above post, as well as "were" instead of we're.
The Oracle says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:36 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbackwards
2. Joaquim Rodriguez
3. Valverde
4. Grimpelder
5. Nibbles
taon24 says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:38 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Albasini
2. Gilbert
3. Rodriguez
4. Valverde
5. Nibali
The Oracle says:

Apr 20 2012 at 1:53 pm

@Buck Rogers

Damn autocorrect! Have to get around to taking your advice about how to shut it off. Should be double check, not Doyle deck, in the above post, as well as "were" instead of we're.

I thought "Doyle Deck" was some exclusive lingo that I wasn't hip enough to understand.