Velominati Super Prestige: Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 2013

The monument to Eddy Merckx at the top of the Stockeu.

There is something to love about a race that makes a deviation to its route for the simple joy of sending a fleet of professional riders up a fiendishly steep and narrow ramp. The Cote du Stockeu offers zero benefit to the route from a logistical standpoint – in fact, all it does is complicate things. On the way down from the Cote de Wanne – usually at breakneck speed – the race enters the small down of Stavelot. Just before hitting the town proper, you make a right turn and ascend a wall that does little more than become steeper as it twists it way up for 2.4km. Riding the route with Museeuw during Keepers Tour, he quietly tried to dissuade us of riding it, “You don’t need to do this for me; I’ve never enjoyed this one.”

At the top lies the monument to Merckx and his 525 victories. Upon reaching it, the route takes a sharp left turn and descends right back down to exactly the same spot from which it climbed up. This is why I love this climb so much; its just free pain for the racers – a steep climb just for the sake of making their legs hurt a bit more. Shortly thereafter, the route rolls down a few valleys and arrives at the Cote de la Redoute (The Fearsome), which signals the beginning of the finale. Its too far from the finish to make a winning move, but if you’ve got bad legs, you’ll be left behind to suffer all the way to Ans.

Amstel has been sorted, as has La Fléche. Both were won by an outsider. I don’t think the big names will let that happen again. Surely Gilbert and the Sag Wagon will have their act together this time around.

Check the start list and enter your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight on Sunday morning Pacific Time. The winner of this monument will post for the next year with the LBL Winners Badge. Good luck.

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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

Deakus says:

Apr 22 2013 at 2:20 am

@frank

Ryder is a bit of an ungainly rider, very dichotomous. He is a beautiful rouleur, going Phantom Aero etc, but then from no where when he's climbing in that big gear, its all a bit like a bag of spanners.

When J-Rod went, I thought it was over and that doping little pocket rokkit would have it sorted. Not so! Martin to the rescue! Loved it! And Valve-cap - he was there and I was sure he would get carried to the finish line. All in all, I can't remember more riders whom I didn't want to win getting to the line in the front group and having a guy like Martin take them all for a ride. Fantastic stuff. LBL, I love you.

Gutted...my money was on the Panda for the victory!
The Grande Fondue says:

Apr 22 2013 at 3:50 am

I occasionally ride with a guy who insists on wearing full Sky kit. Rides a Pinerallo too. After waiting at the top of a hill I told him how he looked just like a Team Sky rider in the Ardennes classics. He seemed to like that - bit too subtle I guess?

Anyway.....

I can't believe people are talking about Sky flunking out in the classics when Belgium (the whole country!) failed to win a single classic this year.
Dr C says:

Apr 22 2013 at 3:58 am

Nice quote from Dan the Man

"I can't believe it, I'm really in shock," said Martin. "I've never seen the team ride so strong - they kept me protected all day. It felt like one of the easiest races I've ever did. It really is incredible, I'm so happy."
Adrian says:

Apr 22 2013 at 4:31 am

Dan Martin, you absolute beauty.......I taped the race and hadn't seen the results but when he pulled up next to Rodriguez I was screaming at the box. and when he dropped him in a show of class I almost gave birth. bloody brilliant.
Adrian says:

Apr 22 2013 at 4:37 am

@Dr C

Nice quote from Dan the Man

"I can't believe it, I'm really in shock," said Martin. "I've never seen the team ride so strong - they kept me protected all day. It felt like one of the easiest races I've ever did. It really is incredible, I'm so happy."

He's not the only one who's in shock , I've just seems my stunning new Belgium colour. Ongelooflijk!
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 22 2013 at 6:03 am

@strathlubnaig

That was a great finish, so chuffed that Danny Boy got the win, and that ride by Ryder, fucking brilliant, well done my fellow Canuckian. I have heard on the grapevine though, that the only reason Danny Boy won with that awesome 500m sprint was that Vaughters had him hypnotised, so that when he believed he was being chased by a giant panda he got shit scared and really put down le marteau. This appeared to work wonders.

Kind of like a "Danny" Darko moment??? (What the fuck is up with that movie anyways? I watched it and just said, huh? and I normally like the kind of off beat, non-mainstream movies)
motor city says:

Apr 22 2013 at 8:48 am

@starclimber

Looks like Hesjedal is rounding into form nicely for the Giro defense.

I'm really looking forward the Giro. Wiggins vs Ryder vs Nibali. Out of those 3, its Wiggins that hasn't really shown much form yet this year.
Deakus says:

Apr 22 2013 at 9:06 am

@motor city

@starclimber

Looks like Hesjedal is rounding into form nicely for the Giro defense.

I'm really looking forward the Giro. Wiggins vs Ryder vs Nibali. Out of those 3, its Wiggins that hasn't really shown much form yet this year.

Rubbish! He can park a bike up against a wall like no-one I have ever seen!!!
Mirko says:

Apr 22 2013 at 9:16 am

@Deakus

@motor city

@starclimber

Looks like Hesjedal is rounding into form nicely for the Giro defense.

I'm really looking forward the Giro. Wiggins vs Ryder vs Nibali. Out of those 3, its Wiggins that hasn't really shown much form yet this year.

Rubbish! He can park a bike up against a wall like no-one I have ever seen!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_355613&feature=iv&src_vid=BNv4M32FEmM&v=O1uZ2M9f6Iw

Such a memorable scene. When I first saw this I was yelling "That's material for 12,000â‚¬ you stupid cu- not bad."
Nate says:

Apr 22 2013 at 11:31 am

@Ron

Has a World Champ ever gone winless in the year following the WC win?

Thor didn't win much in the stripes although he got a couple tour stages. Ballan won nothing in the stripes IIRC. They call it the curse of the rainbow jersey.