What's got two thumbs and makes grown women weep? This chick!
There are a couple things you need to know about the Women’s Racing Scene. First of all, they’ve been racing the fuck out of Belgium and Italy, and staying well clear of the warmer climes. They are also busy kicking off their first-ever WorldTour. No surprise in who the current leader is; Lizzy Armitstead has gobbled up every race of value so far on the calendar, resplendent in her very Rule Compliant Rainbow jersey and black bibs. What’s not to love about her?
Well, she was forced to wear white bibs with her leaders’ jersey, so there’s that, I suppose. I remember when Tom Boonen was leading the WorldTour when riding in the rainbow bands, he petitioned the UCI to let him wear a hybrid jersey because he felt the bands were more valuable than the stale while WT leaders jersey. I’m not sure if Lizzy is thinking anything similar, but at least the jersey is a beautiful one.
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda kicks off on Sunday, and it is a nasty, hilly little bugger and will be sure to see the usual womens fireworks, which is another way of saying these girls race aggressively as shit. But how do you beat a hardwoman who can climb and sprint? Spoiler alert: you don’t. My money’s on Queen Lizzie.
Remember people, there is a Don Walker on offer. It might even get displayed at the best bike show in North America: NAHBS. And if you are the first loser, you’ll get a set of Café Roubaix CR Wheelworks wheels. Which might also be at NAHBS. Epic. Bragging. Rights.
So start prognosticating on your picks and check the scoring guidelines. Don’t wait too long as these are early VSPs and there have been some glitches in the systems on the MSR event; I don’t want to hear any complaining about Delgado’ing the event because something went catywampus at the last minute.
Check the start list, read the preview, and then pray to whatever you think will help make a difference. Personally, I’m rubbing my lucky Kapelmuur cobble.
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View Comments
@xyxax
No worries. I didn't take it that way at all. Past performance in a race or on a course is my first consideration, then current wins and fitness. But I was impressed with Blaaks recent wins, now I'm just annoyed with her (insert frowning red faced emoji here) !
Lizzie seems to be such a complete rider, attack from the chasing group to the lone leader, coach her through the last 3 km's, and offer up a one on one sprint for the win, and smoke it home, very classy.
Ouch. Someone needs to spread the word to the women's podium folks. No hat, just shades. Head band. X-Games-esq ball cap. Wow...
@Ron
You're really quite the woman Ron.
@Ron
That Schibli hat is beyond awful. I'd accept it as a parody of the ubiquitous baseball cap but I fear it's not. It's like the monstrosity Bling Matthews was wearing at the weekend. Thankfully Etixx know how to present themselves on a podium which, in hindsight, make Gaviria's crash all the more unfortunate. I think he would have been good for a podium spot and would therefore have put at least one proper cycling cap on view.
@wiscot
No, no no no no no, Gaviria is no doubt a future star, but it's called bike racing, not bike winning, he has a lot to learn yet. Great to see him contesting the finale of such a long race, on his debut.
@xyxax
WTF!? You see who won the women's GW?! None other than Chantel Blaak. So now she has four podiums in 2016 with three first place finishes. And she decides to take day off and finishes 12th at TFB, totally trashing my TFB VSP picks? Grrrrrrrrr.....
@Minnesota Expat
Grrrrr...Why didn't we know there was a women's Gent? It is so fucking hard to find out information on Women's Cycling, it is a disgrace.
@Minnesota Expat
Paint it, paint it, paint it ...Blaak.
It's clearly gotten personal and she checks the website before signing in on the day.
@frank
Yes. That too.