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

harminator says:

Mar 30 2012 at 6:56 am

Goss is no chance. Haussler has not even looked like threatening. Faboo is due. Tomeke has the form. BMC are overdue, but who? The weather reports ambiguous. The pave will claim a couple, other will be unlucky.
So clearly that means...

VSP PICKS:

1. Spartibus
2. Hookers and Blow
3. Stuey
4. Westra
5. Phast Phil
harminator says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:00 am

@Marshy
Please review RVV 2010. (The secret motor edition)
Netraam says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:04 am

2008 and 2009 Devolder won, 2010 Cancellara won, 2007 Ballan won. 2007 was in a sprint a deux with Leif Hoste.

The route is more difficult. My guess is solo.
Cyclops says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:07 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Gilbert
4. Sagan
5. Haussler
LastBoyScout says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:09 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Vanmarcke
4. Gilbert
5. Sagan
Erik says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:13 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Sagan
4. Gilbert
5. Chavanel
VeloVita says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:25 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Sagan
4. Pozzato
5. Vanmarcke
razmaspaz says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:33 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Gilbert
3. Cancellara
4. Hushovd
5. Chavanel
wiscot says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:34 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Gilbert
4. Sagan
5. Ballan
Ron says:

Mar 30 2012 at 7:35 am

With the race calendar seemingly getting longer every year, when do the PROs really find time to train & improve on weaknesses? I know they probably ride 345 out of 365 days a year & some use races to improve. And they have the winter training camps with their teams.

I also know most of them have been riding & honing their form for years, ten, twenty even. And they target races that suit them. Maybe riding some early in the calendar, then shut it down for awhile, then pick up for the Giro or TdF.

But say you are supposed to be a Classics contender and a week ago you were just coming up empty & not feeling it.

Do you put in a hard week of training? Do you ride, but at say 85% to try and get stronger but not blow your legs?

I guess all riders, their bodies, legs...and MINDS are different. I know for me when I got near the top in my sport the mental aspect was huge! Self-belief, dealing with a negative coach or one with a totally different philosophy, that was all as important as my physical form & skills.

Guess I'm just trying to get some discussion injected into the pickin' & repickin' that is going to happen between now and Sunday morning. And, always looking to learn more about how the peloton does it.