Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Olympic Road Race 2012

Grewal, legally doped to the gills, takes the win ahead of Canadian Steve Bauer.

You can all wave “goodbye” to your Post GT Depression Syndrome, because the Men’s Olympic Road Race is only three days yonder. I don’t typically give two shits about this particular event; while contested by national teams, unlike the Worlds it appears as just another one-day race on a calendar filled with events that carry much more historical and nostalgic significance. What’s worse, it seems the brilliance has faded from the flame of Olympic Spirit – after all, what is an international sports rivalry without the associated political Boggie Dance of Political Superiority? Merckx, I miss the Cold War.

But this time is different. Contested in London over a route that may or may not favor the squat little speed demon Mark Cavendish, the Cycling world has been abuzz about whether his presence on Team Sky alongside Pippi Longstockings implies his impending doom or his certain success – because everyone knows those are the only two possibilities. Be that as it may, the route boasts to be lumpy enough for breakaways or small field sprints, which makes this particular Velominatus, for once, really excited to see what happens. Oh, and as a special request to the riders, if we could keep everyone off the juice this time round, that would be peaches and creame.

With that, check the start list and pretend like that is going to help you make your predictions. Then look at the route and do the same before making a wild guess and hoping you come up good. One-Day VSP rules apply; get your picks in by the time the countdown timer goes to zero and pray for daylight.

Good luck.

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.

Next Velominati Super Prestige: Women's Olympic Road Race 2012 »

Previous « La Vie Velominatus: Optimism

View Comments

bkwentz says:

Jul 27 2012 at 9:17 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Cavendish
2. Griepel
3. Sagan
4. Cancellara
5. Boonen
G'phant says:

Jul 27 2012 at 9:45 pm

I just can't see the GB team fail to pull Cavennowismychancedish back to the front with Box Hill 55 k's from the line.

VSP PICKS:

1. Manxgina
2. Andre the Giant
3. The Slippery Slovak
4. Tommeke
5. Higgs Boson
Alex says:

Jul 27 2012 at 10:04 pm

I'm reading like a sort of a Flanders style classic and expect it to be really selective, hence Big Tomeke is my favourite. I think people have forgotten about hI'm with the hype around Cav, Sagan and Wiggo's tour. He won Flanders and Roubaix in style and still packs a mighty sprint. Watch out, you heard it here. ;)

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Sagan
4. Chavanel
5. Nibali
Alex says:

Jul 27 2012 at 10:06 pm

RememberRemember 5 man teams means that if a strong classic group goes up the road it will be super tough to bringthem back, doesnt matter who you are...
starclimber says:

Jul 27 2012 at 10:48 pm

@Alex

RememberRemember 5 man teams means that if a strong classic group goes up the road it will be super tough to bringthem back, doesnt matter who you are...

I think that Wiggins, Froome, Millar, Stannard plus other 'interested parties' equals it DOES matter who you are when it comes time to drag back a break. Even if this effort leaves them too fucked to lead him out, Cav can still emerge from nowhere to snag gold. I almost typed 'will' emerge. However, I'm going to play the homer card and pray that Ryder will rise from the ashes of the Tour, attack with Boonen and Cancellara...hah. No. A massive pileup will split the field prior to the final ascent of Box Hill, and....who the fuck knows. Fuck'em. I like Tommeke.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Cavendish
4. Wiggins
5. Cancellara
Adrian says:

Jul 27 2012 at 11:01 pm

Great to see Wiggo given the honour of opening the Olympic games......
Gianni says:

Jul 27 2012 at 11:15 pm

Just don't call me Pedro. FFS, Cav is already the world road champion, he can't have the gold medal too. Sorry. Enough with the sprinters. And enough British success stories, get back in fucking line, god damn it. In the penultimate ride up Box Hill a few excitable riders get away, no one chases hard enough and they stay away. I'd like Fabooo to have been there but no, no one would let him get a gap...wow, this ether and amyl nitrate comes on like a monster...

VSP PICKS:

1. Taylor Phinney
2. Niki Terpstra
3. Simon Gerrans
4. Erik Larsson
5. Sergio Montoya
hendriku says:

Jul 28 2012 at 12:40 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cav
3. Greipel
4. Terpstra
5. Voigt
hendriku says:

Jul 28 2012 at 12:47 am

Too much climbing but Tom is the only sprinter that can pull through

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Terpstra
3. LL Sanchez
4. Chavanel
5. Hesjedal
Markp says:

Jul 28 2012 at 1:38 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cavendish
2. Goss
3. Boonen
4. Sagan
5. Cancellara