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

Mikael Liddy says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:27 pm

As good as the Tornado has been I don't think we've seen him going head to head with Faboo yet this year & I don't think he's quite got the powder to deal with the Brommer once it gets going.

VSP PICKS:

1. Faboo
2. Tommeke
3. Thor
4. Van Marke
5. Sauceler
Vin'cenza says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:30 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. GILBERT
2. BOASSON HAGEN
3. GOSS
4. BELKOV
5. DE VREESE
Vin'cenza says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:42 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. GILBERT
2. BOASSON HAGEN
3. BOOM
4. BELKOV
5. DE VREESE
Ron says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:55 pm

I really like this quotation about the race/cycling in general that I just found while reading about the Ronde.

"These days, you see all the riders, their life is well known. Before, you saw only the last two hours on television. Now, the direct coverage starts before the race has started and the legend that surrounded riders, created in people's imagination, no longer exists. When everything is too realistic, you lose the legend." Marc Sergeant

Ha! Living in the U.S. it's hard to avoid being bombarded by every little detail in the lives of sports I barely follow. Is that news, I find myself wondering? With cyclists, I often want to know more! Outside some of the big stars, very little is printed about the few hundred other PROs.

But, I like the point he is making here. Legend!
Tobin says:

Mar 30 2012 at 1:58 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Motorcus
2. She's Legal In Amsterdam
3. Sagan
4. Chavanel
5. Potato
sprider says:

Mar 30 2012 at 2:21 pm

Tommeke again!

VSP PICKS:

1. Tom Boonen
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Stijn DeVolder
4. Peter Sagan
5. Sylvain Chavanel
Fausto says:

Mar 30 2012 at 2:35 pm

I'm puttingmy faith in Tomeke having completely missed the boat last time. Come on BOOOOONNNNEEENNNN!!!

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Sagan
4. Boom!
5. Boss Hogg
Spicy McHaggis says:

Mar 30 2012 at 2:54 pm

I'm right.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Chavanel
4. Boom goes the dynamite
5. Cancellara
acciaio says:

Mar 30 2012 at 2:58 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Sagan
4. Chavanel
5. Van Marcke
motor city says:

Mar 30 2012 at 2:59 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Spartacus
2. Vanmarcke
3. Pozzato
4. Boonen
5. Chavanel