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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  • @snoov

    @wiscot
    That's what I was thinking, and your picks are the same as mine, great minds and all that. Well that's what we'll be saying if we get it right although I got my picks in earlier and will therefore get the top spot.

    Mine are the same as well.  The real reason @wiscot's picks are the same, is because he wants to stay ahead of me for our little malted, hoppy VSP side-wager. 

  • @The Oracle

    @snoov

    @wiscot
    That's what I was thinking, and your picks are the same as mine, great minds and all that. Well that's what we'll be saying if we get it right although I got my picks in earlier and will therefore get the top spot.

    Mine are the same as well.  The real reason @wiscot's picks are the same, is because he wants to stay ahead of me for our little malted, hoppy VSP side-wager.

    Yup, so even if we're both right, I'm still four points up on ya buddy!

    ps I didn't copy your post, but came to my selections after long, hard contemplation and reading the course reviews by the English boys who know the course.

    pps I'm making space in my fridge for the beer. Premature? I think not . . .

  • @wiscot

    @The Oracle

    @snoov

    @wiscot
    That's what I was thinking, and your picks are the same as mine, great minds and all that. Well that's what we'll be saying if we get it right although I got my picks in earlier and will therefore get the top spot.

    Mine are the same as well.  The real reason @wiscot's picks are the same, is because he wants to stay ahead of me for our little malted, hoppy VSP side-wager.

    Yup, so even if we're both right, I'm still four points up on ya buddy!

    ps I didn't copy your post, but came to my selections after long, hard contemplation and reading the course reviews by the English boys who know the course.

    pps I'm making space in my fridge for the beer. Premature? I think not . . .

    Better make a lot of room, 'cause that case of MGD is gonna need some breathing space.

  • @Ron

    Speaking of doping... http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12503/Anthony-handed-two-year-ban-after-EPO-positive-at-Gran-Fondo-New-York.aspx

    Wow...cheating to win a Gran Fondo at nearly fifty years old? I don't know if I should laugh or cry. It's funny he'd waste money on dope to win that. It's sad he's been alive so long and thinks it's a good idea to cheat to win something most people couldn't give a fuck about. Jeez.

    ...and which isn't even technically classified as a race. Its like doping to win Friday's group ride.

  • The few that can hang onto Fabian's wheel with 2 K to go...the big man TT's his way to gold.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Cancellara
    2. Sagan
    3. Boonen
    4. Phinney
    5. Gilbert

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