Velominati Super Prestige

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.

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292 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 2012”

  2. VSP PICKS:

    1. S. Sanchez
    2. F. Schleck
    3. A. Valverde
    4. C. Horner
    5. P. Gilbert

  3. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Schleck, F
    4. Schleck, A
    5. Nibali

  4. I’m getting into this now. Loving plotting whose form is rising and falling – probably because my own is plummeting.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chavanel
    2. Gilbert
    3. Gesink
    4. Rodrigues
    5. Voeckler

  5. VSP PICKS:

    1. Joaquím RODRÍGUEZ
    2. Alejandro VALVERDE
    3. Thomas VOECKLER
    4. Enrico GASPAROTTO
    5. Lars BOOM

  7. Let’s see what happens…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chavanel
    2. Gilbert
    3. Valverde
    4. J Rodriguez
    5. F Schleck

  8. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilforwards
    2. Elderswivel
    3. Purito
    4. Can’t Go Quite Enough
    5. Jelly Belly Van Bert

  9. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Damiano Cunego
    3. Joaquim Rodriguez
    4. Samuel Sanchez
    5. Alejandro Valverde

  11. VSP PICKS:

    1. 1 GILBERT Philippe
    2. 91 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro
    3. 17 SCHLECK Andy
    4. 41 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin
    5. 181 HESJEDAL Ryder

  13. @Vin’cenza

    \\ 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

    Sounds cool, I’d like to see that. Like I said, if you want to keep doing it, please do. I was simply pointing out that, if all things are equal (they aren’t) then it doesn’t help my tactical goal of having less work. But it really is not a big deal -typing this out was much more work than mapping the picks. I guess the computer scientist in me want the manual picks to approach zero, but it is neither interesting or important. I’m sorry I brought it up!

  14. @frank

    @Vin’cenza

    \\ 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

    Sounds cool, I’d like to see that. Like I said, if you want to keep doing it, please do. I was simply pointing out that, if all things are equal (they aren’t) then it doesn’t help my tactical goal of having less work. But it really is not a big deal -typing this out was much more work than mapping the picks. I guess the computer scientist in me want the manual picks to approach zero, but it is neither interesting or important. I’m sorry I brought it up!

    No — thank you!! Spurred the idea and I have down time (broken clavicle), so why not design something — a UCI WorldTour race map.

  15. @frank
    A UCI WorldTour race map that continues over a 5 year span. And riders (such as Pozatto) are not included in WorldTour — maybe you can help me dig up resource listings beyond this classification ??

  18. This field is required.
    Hmm…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Giblets
    2. Voeckler
    3. Albasini
    4. Frank Schleck
    5. Purito

  19. Late, mind addled, picks in. Good luck all.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Ryder Hesjedal
    2. Chris Anker Sørensen
    3. Lars Boom
    4. Simon Gerrans
    5. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez

  20. VSP PICKS:

    1. Nibali
    2. Joaquin Rodriguez
    3. Gilbert
    4. Albasini
    5. Vanendert

  21. VSP PICKS:

    1. Vanendert
    2. Joaquin Rodriguez
    3. Gilbert
    4. Albasini
    5. Nibali

  22. VSP PICKS:

    1. P Gilbert
    2. J Rodriguez
    3. T Voeckler
    4. D Cunego
    5. A Valverde

  26. Hopefully a better set of picks after getting it very wrong last time out.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilforwards
    2. Valverde
    3. J-Rod
    4. Grimpelder
    5. Nibali

  27. VSP PICKS:

    1. gilbert
    2. Joaquin Rodriguez
    3. Jelle Vanendert
    4. Ryder Hesjedal
    5. Frank Schleck

  30. Frank, while I agree that the French cycling words often sound sexy, I believe there is definitely a place in cycling for my adopted second language (ok its Dutch and not Flemish but near enough). The language has a simplicity and a straight forward functionality that goes perfect with the mechanical nature and engineering aspects of cycling. Sometimes the pure directness of the terms just really describe the emotion of the moment: the flowery word crevaison, for example, sounds almost like a happy occasion whereas “lekke band” for me captures the emotion of the event, especially when expressed in it’s proper form of “Kut, lekke band” with correct emphasis and venom injected into the first word. And while pave conjures up imagery of the classic races between gentlemen, kinderkopjes brings up a whole unique imagery of it’s own.
    I guess my point is that sometimes the sexy sounding french terms are definitely appropriate, especially when describing valiantly fought battles between the giants of old in black and white film, but I also think the Lowland terms have their correct place and should be encouraged more amongst the cycling masses.

    Ok off my soapbox now….

  31. I think that Scots is wildly under represented in cycling. Dreich in particular is a word designed for “temperate” zone riding. And the phrase “slow down ya fannies” has great resonance as one waves goodbye to the back of the chain gang and resigns oneself to that long, lonely, dreich ride home.

  32. @the Engine

    I think that Scots is wildly under represented in cycling. Dreich in particular is a word designed for “temperate” zone riding. And the phrase “slow down ya fannies” has great resonance as one waves goodbye to the back of the chain gang and resigns oneself to that long, lonely, dreich ride home.

    BrillIant! And “Tatties o’er the side” for a “final, last ditch, all out attack which is bound to fail” is a much better alternative than the French version of “Pommes de Terre dans le mere”

  35. I’m back! J-ROD’s win in the FLECHE WALLONE rousted me out.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. J-ROD FROM THE ROKKIT SKWAD
    2. Gilbert
    3. Frånk
    4. Jelle Belle
    5. Little Tommy V

  36. Fast Phil gets it right this time…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Gerrans
    3. Nibbles
    4. Hope of a Nation
    5. Swivelneck senior

  37. VSP PICKS:

    1. P GIlbert
    2. A Valverde
    3. J Rodriguez
    4. F Schleck
    5. T Voeckler

  39. VSP PICKS:

    1. gilbert
    2. purito
    3. vanendert
    4. valverde
    5. schleck elder

  40. VSP PICKS:

    1. Frank Schleck
    2. Rodriguez
    3. Kreuziger
    4. Gilbert
    5. Andy Schleck

  41. Dammit… Missed La Flèche Wallone…. Bring on La Doyenne

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. JRod
    3. Sagan
    4. F Schleck
    5. Valverde

  42. VSP PICKS:

    1. Joquim Rodriguez
    2. Phillippe Gilbert
    3. Ryder Hesjedal
    4. Alejandro Valverde
    5. Micheal Albasini

  44. Bum, no Sagan

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. JRod
    3. Nibali
    4. F Schleck
    5. Valverde

  45. Pack fodder. Water carrier, at best, results thus far.

    My out there pick is Horner. Because he has been in the top ten before and because he is in better shape than the whiny swivel twins. My only difficult choice, which one would need more excuses?

    I don’t know.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Nibali
    4. Horner
    5. Fronk Schleck

  48. Update. Changed mind.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Nibali
    4. Horner
    5. Purito

  50. Hard to say who’s going to want this the most, but Phil needs to prove something. I like Nordhaug but Sky isn’t running the greatest squad here. Maybe top 10 for him.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Phillipe Gilbert
    2. Purito Rodriguez
    3. Damiano Cunego
    4. Frank Schleck
    5. Ryder Hesjedal

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