Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Tarmac in bad state - Isn't that why we're here?

The 2012 Velominati Super Prestige kicks off in proper form this season with the debut of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as part of the series. I’m tempted to stubbornly refer to this race as Het Volk, but I’ll toe the line and refer to the race by its bewildering new(ish) name.

This is a tricky race to predict because the big races in April are a funny distance away; they are close enough that riders wanting to do well there should be in good enough form to be competitive now, but far enough off that a win here could indicate a rider hitting their peak too soon.

In fact, the latter seems to be the case: riders who show brilliance here rarely shine in April when the Monuments of Vlaanderen and Roubaix are contested. De Vlaeminck, Museeuw, Van Petegem, Vandenbroucke – all champions of the Cobbled Classics and all men who never succeeded to win Het Volk/Het Nieuwsblad in the same year as either of the big cobbled classics; in fact, a cursory study of past results lists reveals only Merckx and Ballerini as being able to pull this particular double.

This timing makes Het Nieuwsblad a particularly difficult race to predict; in addition to the wily nature of any cobbled classic, the big names may not quite have the eye of the tiger while riders with an outside chance at victory in April may be focusing their early season on glory in this minor classic which covers many of the sacred roads as de Ronde.

With that we kick off the first event of the 2012 VSP; up for grabs is the personalized Velominati Shop Apron to the contestent who wins the season-long competition. Check the Main VSP page for scoring guidelines and rules. As a sidebar, we’ve also made lots of changes to the VSP engine; despite my usual nonchalant approach to production-testing, I’ve actually done my best to test the system this time around. There are, however, too many scenarios to be sure I covered them all, so I strongly encourage you to enter your picks early, knowing that you can make changes all the way up until the VSP closes. If you notice something behaving strangely, please let us know and we’ll have time to resolve the issue or let you know precisely why you’re crazy.

Picks close at 5am Pacific time on Saturday, and since last year’s VSP taught us that our readership sucks at time zone calculations (I’m looking at you, Bretto), we’ve introduced a countdown clock which should make even the most bone-headed of contestants aware of how much time they’ve got left to enter their losing picks (now I’m looking at you, Ron).

Good luck, and stand by for the VVomen’s Het Nieuwsblad VSP, scheduled to go live tomorrow.

Related Posts

464 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad”

  1. Langeveld isn’t competing either, just like Terpstra. I don’t think anyone will list Terpstra anyway.

  2. @Buck Rogers
    Bedeep Bedeep Bedeep Bedeep, thanks for the Boss Hog heads up. Bedeep.

    @fredd727
    You screwed it up man; Don’t add your list to the box… And they’re in different orders, to boot,

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Thor Hushovd
    2. Tom Boonen
    3. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni
    4. Lars Boom
    5. Taylor Phinney

  3. Jeez, the VSP is sure bringin’ out a lot of new folks. This race, and the VSP, seem wide-open this year!

  4. There are a lot of good cyclists, and there are always a few who you don’t expect as well.

    This will be a very interesting season.

  5. Pure speculation. It all went to pot when my number one choice (Boss Hog) got man ‘flu.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Juan Antonio Flecha
    3. Lars Boom
    4. Phillipe Gilbert
    5. Sylvain Chavanel

  6. @Ron

    Jeez, the VSP is sure bringin’ out a lot of new folks. This race, and the VSP, seem wide-open this year!

    A lot of noobs out there (like me) who need a shop apron, I guess.

  7. @frank

    @JC BelgiumThanks for that. Potato isn’t on the start list, so I’ll go with the Amusing Man in his place.
    VSP PICKS:
    1. Boss Hogg2. Boom3. Leukemans4. Boonen5. Hushovd

    Also don’t forget to change out Boss Hog, Fronk!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tomeke
    2. Gilbert
    3. Heinrich Hustler
    4. Flecha
    5. Thor

  8. @Netraam

    Langeveld isn’t competing either, just like Terpstra. I don’t think anyone will list Terpstra anyway.

    Thanks man, hadn’t seen that.

  9. @JC Belgium

    http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/579/original/Deelnemerslijst%2016022012.pdf?1329305521
    here is the unofficial starting list of the Omloop’s website…
    VSP PICKS:
    1. Leukemans Bjorn2. Flecha Juan Antonio3. Vantomme Maxime4. Bak Lars5. Vanavermaet Greg

    Nice pics! I did not have the guts to go with as many “outsiders” as you but I bet they’ll be the real players on Saturday. (except, of course, Flecha, still would not call him an outsider)

  10. @Buck Rogers

    @Netraam

    Langeveld isn’t competing either, just like Terpstra. I don’t think anyone will list Terpstra anyway.

    Thanks man, hadn’t seen that.

    langeveld will start, but with ‘question marks’ (dont really know a proper english translation and I am too lazy right now)

  11. @Buck Rogers

    Also don’t forget to change out Boss Hog, Fronk!

    Seriously? Bugger. Oh, well. I’ll go with the Saussedler for this one then. I’ve seen me some picks of that dude riding to cobbles already this year, so he’s as good a bet as any. Provided he doesn’t pull an Ullrich and plow his Porche into a rack of bikes!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Saussler
    2. Boom
    3. Leukemans
    4. Boonen
    5. Hushovd

  12. @JC Belgium

    @Buck Rogers

    @Netraam

    Langeveld isn’t competing either, just like Terpstra. I don’t think anyone will list Terpstra anyway.

    Thanks man, hadn’t seen that.

    langeveld will start, but with ‘question marks’ (dont really know a proper english translation and I am too lazy right now)

    Well dammn, guess I need to read a bit and try to figure out what is going on with him.

  13. VSP PICKS:

    1. Heinrich Haussler
    2. Allesandro Ballan
    3. Taylor Phinney
    4. Tom Boonen
    5. Vlad Gusev

  14. @Buck Rogers
    like to gamble a bit, but well-considered… wouldn t it be more fun if there were limits on picking Cancellara-Gilbert-Hushovd types?

  15. Sauceler going to have to show me the money before I pick that dude in anything this year. Too bad about EBH, he’d a been solid. Lucky Billions and Billions isn’t riding either. That leaves BMC, Boonen and Flecha- whoop whoop.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Flecha
    2. Van Avermet
    3. Boonen
    4. Boom
    5. Gilbert

  16. Kills me to not be able to pick any of my boys from Spidertech (eh!).

    VSP PICKS:

    1. BOOM Lars
    2. GILBERT Philippe
    3. HAUSSLER Heinrich
    4. FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio
    5. HUSHOVD Thor

  17. Seeing as how Boss Hogg is out, I’ll move the other guys up, and follow @Cyclops’ lead and stick Farrar in at 5.

    Now, @Cyclops, you better be right, OR ELSE!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Thor
    3. Flecha
    4. Van Avermaet
    5. Farrar

  18. VSP PICKS:

    1. HUSHOVD Thor
    2. BOOM Lars
    3. FLECHA GIANNONI Juan Antonio
    4. BOONEN Tom
    5. GILBERT Philippe

  19. @JC Belgium

    @Buck Rogerslike to gamble a bit, but well-considered… wouldn t it be more fun if there were limits on picking Cancellara-Gilbert-Hushovd types?

    Wow, interesting thought. Definitely would play to the “game” aspects of the VSP but not necessarily the true rooting for the ones we love and follow closely in the sport of cycling. Still, really intriguing thought.

  20. @Nosyt

    @Ron

    Jeez, the VSP is sure bringin’ out a lot of new folks. This race, and the VSP, seem wide-open this year!

    A lot of noobs out there (like me) who need a shop apron, I guess.

    Not me. I yearn for the miniature digitized jersey next to my name that means nothing to anyone except this group of wack-jobs.

  21. Wouldn’t it be cool if we actually had a finale featuring all the big favorites and past winners?

    Maybe I’ll get a point or two.

    Probably not.

    I’d also like to see Spidertech, Netapp and Accent Jobs-Willems Verandas sweep the podium.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Stijn Devolder
    3. Phillipe Gilbert
    4. Juan Antonia Flecha
    5. Heinrich Haussler

  22. @Buck Rogers

    @JC Belgium

    @Buck Rogerslike to gamble a bit, but well-considered… wouldn t it be more fun if there were limits on picking Cancellara-Gilbert-Hushovd types?

    Wow, interesting thought. Definitely would play to the “game” aspects of the VSP but not necessarily the true rooting for the ones we love and follow closely in the sport of cycling. Still, really intriguing thought.

    @Buck Rogers
    we follow them closely cause they are winners. their faces appear in news papers, they are getting all the glory and fame. not that they don’t deserve it, in the contrary! to make it short, if you look beyond the podium, there are some fantastic riders, just not winner types.

    and this is why you can t skip Flecha for de Omloop. Look at the V on the poster!

  23. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Boonen, Tom
    3. Flecha, Juan Antonio
    4. Farrar, Tyler
    5. Hushovd, Thor

  24. VSP PICKS:

    1. tom boonen
    2. Thor Hushovd
    3. Lars Boom
    4. Johan Vansummeren
    5. Baden Cooke

  25. Well, I don’t want any of the favourites to feature, as they need to be on form for the Keepers Tour races!

    Boonen, GaGa, GoT, Saucy all should do a bit of work early for My Favourite Martins then pull the fuck out…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Martyn Maaskant
    2. Maarten Tjallingii
    3. Martin Elmiger
    4. Maarten Neyens
    5. Maarten Wynants

  26. Bjorn if only because I like hearing how the european announcers pronounce his name. “Pronounce it correctly.”

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Leukemans
    2. Ballan
    3. Haussler
    4. Boom
    5. Phinney

  27. First time at this –

    VSP PICKS:

    1. tommy b
    2. tommy v
    3. John Anthony Fletcher
    4. Gert Steegmans
    5. Haussler Henrich

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. Stijn Devolder
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Tom Boonen
    4. Thor Hushovd
    5. Lars Boom

  29. @eightzero

    Bjorn if only because I like hearing how the european announcers pronounce his name. “Pronounce it correctly.”
    VSP PICKS:
    1. Leukemans
    2. Ballan
    3. Haussler
    4. Boom
    5. Phinney

    Good one! I was thinking Phinney earlier – I may yet switch him out. Could really be a good time for him to shine – or another budding hardman!

  30. Boonen has never won this race but he was looking real good in Qatar and in San Luis. I say this year he takes another Monument. Sep is going to sneak into the top 5.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Phillipe Gilbert
    3. Juan Antonio Flecha
    4. Sep Vanmarcke
    5. Lars Boom

  31. @Calmante

    Guess no one got the TWIKI reference for Buck Rogers… Oh well.

    I’m still cringing on that one. Three foot tall robots have haunted my dreams since I was 7 years old (1979–I think that was the first year of the most recent incarnation of the Buck rogers in the 25th Century series).

  32. @ramenvelo

    Boonen has never won this race but he was looking real good in Qatar and in San Luis. I say this year he takes another Monument.

    To split hairs, and hopefully not sound like too much of an ass, it’s not a Monument (there are only the five of those) it’s a semi-classic.

  33. @frank

    @eightzero

    Bjorn if only because I like hearing how the european announcers pronounce his name. “Pronounce it correctly.”VSP PICKS:1. Leukemans2. Ballan3. Haussler4. Boom5. Phinney

    Good one! I was thinking Phinney earlier – I may yet switch him out. Could really be a good time for him to shine – or another budding hardman!

    Phinney’s new at this game, but not knowing how tough it is could propel him to the finish. Might be in the mix at the end. Wanted to go with some ‘crossers like Boom. Haussler is gearing (!) for a classics season.

    I, OTOH, will be taking on the dreaded cobbles of the Chilly Hilly this weekend, Merckx willing. Might be a Rule #9 ride by the looks of the weather forcast. But like they can predict the weather? heh. Please.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.