Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

We kick off the first races of the 2012 VSP with a double-header as we open the picks for the VVomen’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Aside from an early hiccup, the new software has been running as expected, though I should have known better than to declare something as “tested”; as the first few picks went in sideways, there was more confusion and hysterics than in a kiddie pool when an unaccounted-for deuce floats by.

The VVomen’s racing calendar appears to be a bit more open than the Men’s, and that likely means we’ll see more of the same names competing for the win on Saturday as we will at de Ronde in a month’s time. A cursory glance over the start list reveals that my sure-bet countrywoman Marianne Vos is still chilling the guns after a wicked ‘Cross season and won’t be racing. Back to the drawing board, then. Here’s a super secret tip: in Dutch and Flemish, “women” is spelled with a “V” – vrouwen. Let that be your guide.

With that we continue the 2012 VSP; up for grabs is the personalized Velominati Shop Apron to the contestent who wins the season-long competition. Check the Main VSP page for scoring guidelines and rules. Picks close at 5am Pacific on Saturday, so watch the countdown clock to make sure you get your picks in on time.

Good luck.

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.

View Comments

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Elisabeth Armistead
    2. Marion Rousse
    3. Lucy Martin
    4. Martine Bras
    5. Emilie Aubry

  • @frank
    Alexis Rhodes is a bit of a dark horse pick (unless I am thinking of a different Rhodes). What made you include her in your selection?

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Lizzie Armistead
    2. Liesbeth De Vocht
    3. Suzanne De Goede
    4. Alexis Rhodes
    5. Elisa Longo Borghini

  • Not much idea of how they fit the course but...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Armitstead
    2. Hosking
    3. De Goede
    4. Hausler
    5. Bras

  • @Chris
    No offence intended, fellow mini-domestique - anyway, you not ma biatch, I'm ma own biatch

    Actually, you can tell I didn't really follow the last discussion on ladies cycling, interesting as I am sure it was - they are great, and I fancy Victoria Pendletom massively, but I can't learn a whole load of new Euro names on top of the blokes one's, so after Lizzie Armitage, I was lost, and as you spend so much time in the kitchen, I stuck you down for second, after that I needed to fill the spaces in case I defaulted from the competition.....yadayadayada

  • Katrien Van Looy, shieet mon, I'm putting her in the picks every race.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Emilia Fahlin
    2. Elizabeth Armitstead
    3. Loes Gunnewijk
    4. Rochelle Gilmore
    5. Katrien Van Looy

  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Lizzie Armistead
    2. Kaat Hannes
    3. Elisa Longo Borghini
    4. De Vocht
    5. Verbeke

  • From the mouths of babes

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Elisabeth Armitstead
    2. Ellen Van Dijk
    3. Thalita De Jong
    4. Loes Gunnewijk
    5. Suzanne De Goede

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