Velominati Super Prestige: Ronde van Vlaanderen 2012

The Keepers and Rigid rolled into a region in France called Flandres which, without doing any further research into the matter, we assume is the coloquial French term for this region of the world. If its anything like the other regions in Europe, these places have roots that extend way past any modern country’s border and situate themselves in a history long past.

They do, however, speak French with all the stubbornness that we have come to love from the French. None of us in the group speak French very well, and no one we’ve found in Lille speaks English very well. Which means we’re all communicating with arms and legs more so than with words. We’re on our way to Kemmel, which means we’ll be able to speak a bit of Flemish again.

With Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 about to begin in earnest, we’re busy organizing ourselves and making final preparations, so we’ll have to forgo the usual insightful, hard-hitting, race insight we usually produce for the VSPs. What’s that you say? We’re usually full of shit? Ah, right. You’ll have to forgive us the usual shit, then, and take today’s flavor.

Watch the countdown timer, get your VSP picks in by Sunday morning at 5am Pacific. Winner of this VSP event will earn the right to comment all year with the Leeuw van Vlaanderen commenting badge. We will also forgo the usual Symbol Pack prize awarded to a Monument and award the winner a copy of the local newspaper the day after the race.

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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  • Big George set a record for most RVV finishes today with 17.

    Langeveld's crash: the wheel went flying, good thing lawyer lips will be required next year. (sarcasm)

  • @frank

    @The Oracle



    Okay, here goes. I hope they show up. These are the best I could do with the "Lo Fi" method. Look on the right side of the screen as Ballan goes by.

    YOU ARE MY FUCKING HERO.

    Oh man...that flag is so damn cool...I'd bet that if you had a supply of those flags made and posted it on The Gear page you'd sell a ton of 'em (hint hint)

  • Damn you Fabio! And damn you Potato you could have saved my bacon if you had won that sprint.

    @frank, you guys got a good one, the only thing missing was the rain. Otherwise classic war of attrition. No fabio in Paris-Roubaix but should still be great. Maybe Georgie can step it up....

  • ..and THAT race was why we all love Flanders. Much like Bartoli did in 1996, i think this sums up why i get on a bike and daydream about the greats.

    And now Tommeke is alongside my hero Museeuw in the history books. Fair play.

  • @frank

    VSP Points up. Sorry, we couldn't be bothered to do this earlier as we were watching Boonen fucking rip it up and are now completely pissed (English word for "Drunk").

    Fucking spectacular day.

    Just don't let @G'rilla hold any Chihuahua's..........

  • @frank
    Did you have a camera with a big ass lens on it? If so, I think I got a still frame of your arm and the camera.

  • Just like to point out my picks please gentlemen. A bit of self satisfied crowing is in order, especially after watching that finale... Boonen, sitting on Ballan's wheel, not threatened by the chasing bunch, was like watching a pit bull swat a kitten (He's so cuuuutttteee! Sorry Pedale) and then holding off the rampant Potato was (sigh) also cute. I'm only disappointed Timmeh from Southpark didn't make more of an impact: but judging by some of the crashes, and Frhank McDrunky taking out Langeveld, there will be a few folk on teh sidelines in the coming weeks.

    Lexi Entry? Frhanking the Pros, where a misplaced spectator takes out a pro rider who is trying to perform a slightly unorthodox piece of riding?

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