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.

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View Comments

Sauterelle says:

Apr 2 2012 at 6:02 pm

@Ron

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.

I've been thinking the same thing while reading these posts and looking at the amazing photos!
Ron says:

Apr 2 2012 at 7:20 pm

Jeez, I didn't even realize Stijn crashed until just now. Two crazy photos:
The Oracle says:

Apr 3 2012 at 6:12 am

@Ron
Yowch.
wiscot says:

Apr 3 2012 at 11:26 am

Two of the many reasons I'm a Boonen fan:

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1263275

and this from Faboo

"I received a lot of support, a lot of text messages. Tom Boonen also sent me one, wishing me good recovery. He wrote that I should come back soon and meanwhile enjoy the time with my family."

Class act.
El Mateo says:

Apr 3 2012 at 8:44 pm

What a great race and kudos to the US networks for great coverage, Phil Liggett for his superb commentating skills and of course to you boys on The Keepers Tour for your on the spot updates.
frank says:

Apr 9 2012 at 1:48 am

Here are a collection of photos from our RVV ride. More to come in the full post later.

[dmalbum: path="/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.04.09.08.32.34/"/]
Belgian Cobblestones says:

Apr 9 2012 at 1:52 am

So know you do have the holly mud of Roubaix covered by the holly mud of the muur , never wash thar bike and get a new nr1, retire this one in style framed over the firepace mantlepiece.
Ron says:

Apr 9 2012 at 4:49 am

Ha, that hillside looks so bare without all the screaming fans!

Nice photo, Frank. Lookin' strong.
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 9 2012 at 6:49 am

@frank
Just unbelievable. So in awe of this trip. Cannot wait for all the articles to be posted from all of you!