Categories: Velominati Super Prestige

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.

Next Guest Article: Oude Kwaremont Beer »

Previous « Velominati Super Prestige: Women's Ronde van Vlaanderen 2012

View Comments

The Oracle says:

Apr 2 2012 at 6:20 am

@frank

Brett, RIGID, and me rollin' Casually Deliberate in the garden at the race, having our first batch of Belgian Frittes.

Boonen and Pozato on the Kwaremont.

Same shot, zoomed in. Big ring, riding in the drops. That's how I ride the flats. This is not, however, flat. This is one of the most well-known climbs in Vlaanderen.

So, you guys will be doubling up on your next ride to work those beers and frites off, yes?
Dr C says:

Apr 2 2012 at 8:58 am

So having nearly gone to the train station in Lille with bikebag in one car, and bag with wallet, passport, iphone and car key in the other car (thanks guys for speedy repatriation), I jumped on the plane a couple of hours later and passed out - came around a few minutes later, to find the Air Hostess had chucked my coats off the plane before take off, as they looked like ground crew appareil.....with my phone in the pocket...

luckily I had carried my car key and wallet and passport on in a placky bag with choccies in it, and was able to get into Ireland and into my car, to drive home (I assume I hadd sobered up by that stage?)

Anyway, got home and at midnight, absolutely cream crackered, I watched the entire race all over again - yehaa!!!

Dudes, there was a camera trained on the spot where we WERE standing!!

Anyway, in all my life I don't think I will ever experience the sight of anyone laying down so much power, as Tommeke pulling around Potatoman at the top of that climb - frightening!!

What a day, what a weekend

Thank you thank you thank you, I am a broken and happy man

Vive la vie Velominatus!!
frank says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:09 am

@The Oracle
Yes. By riding the Kemmelberg. Twice.

And we did this after touring the Merckx factory. Boom.
ChrisO says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:18 am

@il ciclista medio

@Mikael Liddy
and possiblythe angle but looks like someone who is taller than frank!

At the Merckx factory this morning we saw a custom-made frame for Boonen and I can positively swear his saddle to bar drop is bigger than Frank's.

I suspect Frank is putting his seatpost up as we speak.
The Oracle says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:26 am

@frank
I was just looking at that. I approve of your exceptional skill at the hangover ride.
wiscot says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:28 am

@ChrisO

@il ciclista medio

@Mikael Liddy
and possiblythe angle but looks like someone who is taller than frank!

At the Merckx factory this morning we saw a custom-made frame for Boonen and I can positively swear his saddle to bar drop is bigger than Frank's.

I suspect Frank is putting his seatpost up as we speak.

So Merckx is making a bike for Tommeke and it's getting decaled as a Specialized? Interesting - and impressive that they're letting you see such things!
Tartan1749 says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:59 am

@wiscot
More likely it was a frame used when Merckx sponsored Quickstep and that bike happened to be on display?
ChrisO says:

Apr 2 2012 at 12:05 pm

@Tartan1749

@wiscot
More likely it was a frame used when Merckx sponsored Quickstep and that bike happened to be on display?

This
JC Belgium says:

Apr 2 2012 at 12:54 pm

@Tubular Swells

I was in the bar that is behind those Primus signs at the top of the photo just above Pippo's helmet. (So for those who were on Oude Kwaremont, opposite the Lanbouwkrediet guy who stopped on the second ascent with his seat post broken.) Had prime TV viewing position, people bringing me beer (albeit requiring me to hand over Euros) and it was a short amble out to cheer them as they went past followed by a mad dash back inside to resume best seats in the house. Awesome day out. Always blown away by how thin even the "big" boys like Boony are. Rode the sportive on Saturday (in a respectable time), Seven performed flawlessly. Saw a couple of the 'Nati out enjoying themselves. Whilst on sportive saw Pippo and two teamates plus team car out training - had just come over Oude Kwaremont and turned left down the N36 (Ronsebaan) and they went past.

the cyclosportive was a bit too crowded, in my opinion. I had my doubts to join in, just because of the overpopulation on the climbs. had to walk on Koppenberg, cause some idiot pulled his brakes in front of me. I did not say anything, but I was pissed off! what kind of cyclist are you if you pull your brakes going uphill, on a 22% climb? Mates still laughing about my little walk on the cobbles.
I crossed Pippo and two teammates (Gatto and Hulsmans) more or less on the same spot. if you saw 4 guys in an An Post-Sean Kelly kit, I was one of them (who was waiting on Paterberg)
Ron says:

Apr 2 2012 at 4:11 pm

Boy, I'd be pretty pissed if a bidon not properly tossed off the course ended my Classics campaign for the year. That's a real shame Fabian & Boonen won't both be riding on Sunday.

I think I've moved one more degree on the Velominati register: I had no idea the basketball championship was tonight, since I'm still buzzing over the Ronde and the only other thing that matters is what is coming up on Sunday...

I simply must get out to see a big race in person. It would be incredible to see such legends fly on by, just a few meters away. They all live in a fantasy world coming to me through a Sporza feed on my computer.