Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s Olympic Road Race 2016

The 2012 Olympic Road Race was epic.

In contrast to the Men’s race in 2012, the Women’s event was epic; torrential rains, an elite breakaway, a nail-biting sprint finish, and a finish line interview with Lizzie Armitstead that changed the face of Women’s road racing for ever.

Marianne Vos crushed fools that day, with four of those fools coming along on the erand. Through epic Rule #9 conditions, the break held off the chasing bunch, leaving it to a two-up sprint between her and Armistead. Fast forward four years, and Lizzie is at the top of the sport with Vos coming back from injury. But the course suits them both, and Vos has starting winning a bit again. It could be a repeat, or an underdog goes clear. Either way, the racing is sure to be phenomenal. Buckle your seatbelts, people.

Check the start list, maybe check the 10 Riders to Watch list, and get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero, and good luck.

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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

xyxax says:

Aug 6 2016 at 4:52 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. Megan Guarnier
2. Anna VDB
3. Evie Stevie
4. Lizzy Armstronginstead
5. Marianne Vos
dancollins says:

Aug 6 2016 at 5:41 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. Guarnier
2. Stevens
3. Van Der Breggen
4. Longo Borghini
5. Armitstead
Chica says:

Aug 6 2016 at 5:55 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. Megan Guarnier
2. Anna Van der Breggen
3. Lizzie Armistead
4. Katarzyna Niewiadoma
5. Marianne Vos
CanuckChuck says:

Aug 6 2016 at 7:08 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. Megan Guarni
2. Anna Van der Bre
3. Evelyn Stevens
4. Lizzie Armistead
5. Elisa Longo Borghini
Monti Martani says:

Aug 6 2016 at 10:35 pm
VSP PICKS:
1. Marianne Vos
2. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
3. Elisa Longo Borghini
4. Megan Guarnier
5. Linda Villumsen
Quadzilla says:

Aug 7 2016 at 12:57 am
Looking for a bit of an upset! Technical descents and damp roads.

VSP PICKS:
1. Jolanda Neff
2. Vos the Boss
3. Where's Lizzy?
4. Elisa Longo Borghini
5. Emma Johansson
1860 says:

Aug 7 2016 at 2:12 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Armitstead
2. Johansson
3. Guarnier
4. Ferrand-Prevot
5. Van der Breggen
ChrisO says:

Aug 7 2016 at 8:57 am

Does the racing start after the cafe stop?
Rick says:

Aug 7 2016 at 11:00 am

@ChrisO

Does the racing start after the cafe stop?

I am expecting the cafe stop any time.
Pali65 says:

Aug 7 2016 at 12:01 pm

Oh my god, that was a nasty crash! Fingers crossed for the poor lady :(

I wonder if this course transgressed the line in unnecessary risk for the riders.