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

blue says:

Mar 30 2012 at 10:06 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Sagan
4. Breschel
5. Boasson Hagen
niksch says:

Mar 30 2012 at 10:12 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Chavanel
3. Sagan
4. Vanmarcke
5. Pozzato
King Clydesdale says:

Mar 30 2012 at 10:36 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Peter Sagan
2. Tom Boonen
3. Fabian Cancellara
4. Oscar Gatto
5. Sep Vanmarke
Tartan1749 says:

Mar 30 2012 at 10:46 am

No time (or patience) to superimpose the Swiss Cross. No desire to put the team kit on as it isn't worthy.
Souleur says:

Mar 30 2012 at 11:17 am

Stijn has to redeem himself, and says he's in the shape of his life, but I don't see it happening

Gilbert is the one who is really due, perhaps over due
But the man with the motor will win, my man...Sparatacus
Boonen hasn't really touched him for a couple of years

VSP PICKS:

1. Spartacus
2. Boonen
3. Chavanel
4. VanMarcke
5. Matti Breschel
CanuckChuck says:

Mar 30 2012 at 11:22 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Tom Boonen
3. Sylvain Chavanel
4. Peter Sagan
5. Alessandro Ballan
itburns says:

Mar 30 2012 at 11:32 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Boonen
4. Goss
5. Boom
Matt says:

Mar 30 2012 at 12:31 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. chavanel
2. Ballan
3. cancellara
4. van marke
5. sagan
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:06 pm

@Netraam

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.

2008 and 2009 Devolder won while EVERYONE sat on Tommeke's wheel. Be note resting to see who is more marked this year: Sparty or Tommeke?
Gerard says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:15 pm

its gonna be interesting - let battle commence! Unfortunately I will be on my way to the land of Brett.... so I will miss live action!

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Van Marke
4. Chavanel
5. Sagan