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.
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VSP PICKS:
1. Lizzie Armitstead
2. Emma Johannson
3. Katie Colclough
4. Kirsten Wild
5. Tiffany Cromwell
VSP PICKS:
1. Armisted
2. Kitchen
3. De Vocht
4. Blaak
5. De Jong
This is a fantastic addition to the VSP program and for the Velominati in general. Congratulations to the Keepers!
The flip side though is the dearth of women's cycling reporting. I really had trouble finding stuff out. I've tried to research and in the end have gone with a list of I think favourites based on team leaders and riders from teams I have heard of - no doubt heavily anglophonically skewed.
I expect now with a couple of thousand of us men now actively scouring the Internet for news on women's racing this might change, perhaps supply might come to meet this new demand. Fun times.
VSP PICKS:
1. Lizzie Armisted
2. Thalita De Jong
3. Katrien Van Looy
4. Kirsten Wild
5. Alina Bondarenko
VSP PICKS:
1. armistead
2. hohl
3. martin
4. colclough
5. trott
I'm dead set keen to watch it now. Normally only watch the women's world champs but is changes everything.
VSP PICKS:
1. Rochelle Gilmore
2. Sofie De Vuyst
3. Liz Armitstead
4. Emilia Fahlin
5. Tiffany Cromwell
@Dr C
Relieved that you've not got any designs on me.
My picks have no science to mine other being near the top of the list and having either a good result last year or being a brit who recognise.
VSP PICKS:
1. Liesbeth De Vocht
2. Armistead
3. Chantal Blaak
4. Emma Vom Trott
5. Elisa Longo Borghini
@Alex
I had trouble finding anything too, and some of it isn't current, even searching for "
[name] palmares". It would certainly make researching a Hardwoman of Cycling article for here difficult.
VSP PICKS:
1. Suzanne de Goede
2. Armitstead
3. Chloe Hosking
4. Katrien Van Looy
5. Alexis Rhodes
Bummer, Joha' didn't start.
VSP PICKS:
1. d'hoore
2. d'vocht
3. d'jong
4. d'goede
5. d'vyust