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

The Oracle says:

Jul 26 2012 at 5:56 am

@frank

@The Oracle

Anything else, sweatheart?

Fluff my pillows, luv?
jmabbott says:

Jul 26 2012 at 6:16 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cavendish
2. Boonen
3. Sagan
4. Gilbert
5. Cancellara
Chris says:

Jul 26 2012 at 6:18 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cavendish
2. Wiggo
3. Froome
4. Stannard
5. Millar
TBONE says:

Jul 26 2012 at 6:44 am

I was tempted to pick Ryder 5 times but decided to give a few others the benefit of the doubt. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

VSP PICKS:

1. Ryder Hesjedal
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Philippe Gilbert
4. Mark Cavendish
5. Peter Sagan
napolinige says:

Jul 26 2012 at 6:46 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Gerrans
4. Cancellara
5. Cavendish
Nosyt says:

Jul 26 2012 at 6:55 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cavendish
2. Sagan
3. Greipel
4. Goss
5. Cancellara
motor city says:

Jul 26 2012 at 7:01 am

Anyone thinking that us Brits would make a mess of hosting the games were proved right quite quickly. They showed the South Korea flag while announcing the North Korea football team. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/26/london-2012-north-korea-flag
frank says:

Jul 26 2012 at 7:06 am

OK - a number of you got real creative in your naming there...can't be bothered to go sort it, so check your picks mapping and if it says "N/A" it means I had no clue what you meant (or wasn't sure enough to map it) and you should dispute it and tell me who it is in the dispute reason field.
frank says:

Jul 26 2012 at 7:07 am

@taon24

Hedging my bets. I think the break will escape, but then EBH, Boonen, Faboo, Sagan or Freire would be obvious choices in some order. However in a large minority of races it all comes back together and then there can only be one winner. Mr Todd.

1) Wiggins. 2) Froome. 3) Cancellara 4) Larsson 5) Phinney

Please enter your picks into the fields the usual way. This doesn't count.
Dashiell says:

Jul 26 2012 at 7:40 am

and for the TT: Spartacus, Wiggo, Phinney

VSP PICKS:

1. Cav
2. Sagan
3. Boonen
4. Greipel
5. Spartacus