The final race of the 2012 Velominati Super Prestige season is upon us. It’s not the most inspiring race, supposedly a race for the sprinters. The long straight final run in to the finish line begs for a mass sprint. It should be called Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais-Tours. The route is 235.5 km of small rollers through the French countryside. There is not a categorized climb on it.
Captain Fuck Around is eleven points behind @san tonio. If the captain stops fucking around like he did with last week’s Lombardia winning pick @g’phant could be mincing around Wellington in a different apron from the one he usually wears. @xyxax, a few points behind el captaine, is swirling his hands over his crystal ball in his Gotham lair, his flying monkeys grinning and hopping with excitement over his shoulder. @ san tonio is standing tall, a few decent choices and he will win this whole thing but this is a tough race to call. It’s October, who has any gas in the tank? This could be a true sprint finish with remnants of lead out trains, or won from a small break or something freakish like a climber holding off the whole chasing peloton.
Did France’s ex-golden boy get off the EPO after the Festina affair? Did he win Paris-Tours by holding off the whole field on a day-long break with Jackie Durand riding on bread and water? For me it was easily his greatest win. It was much better than all his king of the mountain wins with their self-righteous finish line salutes to his own cheating ass. He was a climber, he was supposed to win mountain stages. But to end up being the lone fox chased by the whole pack, holding them off and winning this so called sprinters race, it was beautiful, Voight-esque. It’s how a race should be won. This win actually made me like him again, a little bit. Sprinters get enough wins already. They are over-rated.
Here is a provisional start list, good luck and good picking, no Delgados, please.
Below is a barely adequate video of the 2001 race and Virenque’s win, all in French and too many shots of him in his sweater. But it is short.
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Woo-hoo! 45th in the world! A spectacular result. Oracle, let me know what beverage I owe you. Shooting for top 30 next year. Congrats to San Tonio for a great run of predictions.
I'm quite pleased with the results today, it has been a wonderful VSP season for me.
A BIG thanks to @frank and the Keepers for putting this together. You have done a tremendous job not just with the VSP but with entire site and community.
When I started at the beginning of the year my only goal was to have fun and hopefully win a race and get a commenting name badge. To end up winning the Overall VSP and wear the world champion stripes is beyond amazing for me.
I've truly enjoyed the competition and being a member of this community. I've learned quite a lot about cycling, the rules and looking pro and I don't think I could've picked a better group of people to learn from.
Thank You all so much.
@scaler911
Who is that in the French National Champ kit? Looks the business!
I also watching this at about 7:45 this morning, while waiting for the race to come on. When the music first started I thought, "Did I accidentally start itunes on this computer?" Has happened before. Nope, it's set over the video. And damn, I officially like and need to pick up some Miles Davis. Sad to say that I thought, "This music is awesome," but had no idea who I was listening to...
Congrats to San Tonio and I'll echo his words on the VSP and site as a hole. Cheers
A creditable place just outside the top 50 in season 1 and that's having not picked for all bar two of the classics and missing the Giro completely so very chuffed all in all. Thanks to all those involved in making it happen and Chapeau to the winners. Next year, I am in from race 1!!
@Trobs
I would not say that the site is a hole....I think it is pretty good all in all, when you consider the loons that post on it and run it ...however, if you meant "the site as a whole" then I completely agree.....;)
Congratulations to San Tonio!
@Deakus Oh crap, make that *whole. Its been a long day.
Thanks to Frank and all the Keepers for feeding my OCD inner rat for another season! I definitely owe you all a beverage of your choice! Now off for a hot shower and leg shaving session!
@Ron
Oh yeah, Mies Davis is sublimely, amazing "cool". I had never listened to any jazz until my last deployment. Decided to check it out and bought a bunch of classic jazz albums including Davis' Birth of the Cool, Kind of Blue, and my favorite of his Sketches of Spain. All amazing albums! Dave Brubeck is pure class as well, as is Charles Mingus. Great stuff!