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

Donnie Bugno says:

Apr 19 2013 at 2:27 am

VSP PICKS:

1. J. Rodriguez
2. Valverde
3. Henao
4. I Hernandez
5. Kwiatkowski
Simon says:

Apr 19 2013 at 2:31 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Hesjedal
2. Gilbert
3. Rodrigues
4. Martin
5. Betancur
torrefie says:

Apr 19 2013 at 3:07 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Froome
3. Rodriguez
4. Henao
5. Valverde
chrismurphy92 says:

Apr 19 2013 at 3:32 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Dan Martin
3. Nibali
4. Rodriquez
5. Froome
mbarston says:

Apr 19 2013 at 3:54 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Rodriguez
3. Valverde
4. Martin
5. Henao
Alex says:

Apr 19 2013 at 4:22 am

Gotta go with the guys with the form and the form in these kind of races. No doubt Froome and Nibbles ante going great but the punchy guys have this in their sights me-thinks. I don't like backing Valverde but he's the one to beat.

VSP PICKS:

1. Valverde
2. Gerrans
3. Gilbert
4. Martin
5. Moreno
anotherdownunder says:

Apr 19 2013 at 4:27 am

VSP PICKS:

1. GIlbert
2. Gerrans
3. Valverde
4. Nibali
5. Joaquin Rodriguez
Steampunk says:

Apr 19 2013 at 4:52 am

How much pressure do you think Gilbert is under? Last chance saloon for a Belgian to win a Spring Classic. Did you ever think we'd say that? This could finally lead to secession, I tell you!
Deakus says:

Apr 19 2013 at 5:22 am

@Steampunk

How much pressure do you think Gilbert is under? Last chance saloon for a Belgian to win a Spring Classic. Did you ever think we'd say that? This could finally lead to secession, I tell you!

I am afraid I am not a Phil Gil fan. Not because he is not awesome and a truly stonking rider, but because I think he really has some flaws in his tactical nouse. He does not currently have his 2011 form and yet he continues to ride out the front, attack too early and then fade and generally make tactical mistakes.....he is not crafty enough. It is a shame because he seems to have an awesome well full of natural talent and ability, but it does not get deployed often enough in the correct way (yeah! like could do any better!!!).

His form is better than 2012 but he is not strong enough to ride all his opponents off his wheel and so ultimately I feel he is doomed, and the greater the pressure the harder he will go at, and ultimately fail. He needs to get a bit more sneaky (I know he is heavily marked) because without boxing clever he will be forced to do all the work and then nailed every time...

Now you watch him prove all of this wrong on Sunday!
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 19 2013 at 5:42 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Gilbert
2. Valverde
3. Nibali
4. J-Rod
5. Froome