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.

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View Comments

Sauterelle says:

Jul 25 2012 at 12:56 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. KAL Mirac
2. LAHSAINI Mouhcine
3. KHALMURATOV Muradjan
4. WONG Kam-Po
5. TAMOURIDIS Ioannis
frank says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:11 pm

Maybe Frankie Schleck can just claim the diuretic was in one of his pre-menstrual medications?

Worked for Hope Solo.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/soccer/story/2012-07-09/hope-solo-positive-test-banned-substance-medication/56116290/1
ChrisO says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:12 pm

@Sauterelle

Haha... you should be laughing if any of those come home.

Interesting that so many people (Gilbert, Nibali, Matt White etc) are saying they don't think it will come to a bunch sprint. In which case who are the two or three who will get away...
frank says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:18 pm

@ChrisO

I think Sagan is as good a guess as any - either for the bunch sprint or the break. He could conceivably handle both in the race, by the way; go with the break and then if they're caught still win the gallop.

Cav, I think, is going to struggle with that Box Hill after so many laps on it. Boonen is also a good option.

Buggerme, No clue.
Louutah says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:19 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cavendish
3. Sagen
4. Goss
5. Farrar
frank says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:21 pm

It is disgusting to me that the New York Times publishes an article in the sports section during the Tour that says, "If we've learning anything from cycling, it's that dope tests can be beat" and then goes on to talk about who knows what. It was hard to read the rest of the article after I tore the paper up in a rage.

But the point is, Frankie Diuretic is likely going to eat a two-year ban while a soccer star gets off with a public warning for the same offense.
taon24 says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:23 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. mr todd
2. boonen
3. sagan
4. cancellara
5. ebh
frank says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:34 pm

@eightzero

And the women's VSP is up when? I'm told all participating 205 countries aresending female athletes, and Olympic first.

Tomorrow; the race is Sunday.
blackpooltower says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:49 pm

Good preview of the route on Bikeradar:
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/racing/article/preview-london-2012-olympic-road-race-course-34715/

Sounds like it could get a bit chaotic on narrow roads etc.

I'll be watching from Headley Cricket Club, on the Box Hill circuit. Cannot flipping wait.
Dr C says:

Jul 25 2012 at 1:52 pm

Just back from club circuit race...... my plate was well and truly licked clean before I even got a look at what was on it.....

Then I watched Steamy's link to the last stage of the Lap of France - those guys just go stupid fast

What will Beaker and the Saffer do if the Missile runs out of rocket fuel on Box Hill a la MSR 2012? Will they all sit up and wave to the crowd?? At some point they will have to go for it?

VSP PICKS:

1. Sagan
2. Fast Phil
3. Cav best of rest
4. Wiggo if Cav dies on Box Hill
5. Froomie ditto with Cav