Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012

Camenzind barely had the energy to celebrate in ’98. Photo: Bettini Photo

I’m quite upset about it, actually, all this racing that’s been going on in perfectly good weather. Vlaanderen, dry. Roubaix, dry. We were nearly guaranteed shit weather with the Olympics in London, but even then, only the women got to get all Rule #9 on our asses – and only for one race. Damnit, I want Epic, and if we keep insisting on riders getting off the juice, all the Epic is going to have to come from other places like pouring rain and freezing cold.

Its a good thing, then, that Valkenburg was picked for the Worlds, because that almost guarantees bad weather. Last time it hosted the race the weather was complete crap. Its also just hilly enough that I think any of those sprinters who are pretending like they’re going to finish at the front are huffing too much DuMonde Tech. Boonen might be able to hang with the leaders into the finish, but I’d hardly call him a sprinter anymore, now that it dawned on him that people get hurt and seasons ruined in those big bunch gallops.

My money’s on good weather though, because the weather is forecast to be good here in Seattle and assuming it will be the same halfway around the world in Dutchland seems easier than looking up the local forecast.

You know the drill, picks close at 5am on Sunday in Pacific time, and if you can’t figure out what that means, just put your picks in before the countdown timer goes to zero. Also note that the spam filter is feeling a bit peckish these days and has a tendency to gobble up people’s VSP Picks; don’t be alarmed, your picks are getting into the system nevertheless and The Keepers are monitoring the queue for posts to approve everyone to disagree with.

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

  • Like the 5 ring circus, a doper wins again.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Valverde
    2. Sagan
    3. Bosson Hagen
    4. Duggan
    5. Uran

  • God I hope Gilbert Wins

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilforwards
    2. Tourminator
    3. Eddy Boss
    4. Sammy Sanchez
    5. Tiernan Locke

  • I'm wishing for Gilbert to take it, but think Sagan is too strong...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. SAGAN Peter
    2. GILBERT Philippe
    3. BOONEN Tom
    4. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel
    5. VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro

  • Sagan, PhilGil drag race to the finish.  Would love to see Boonen win it but just do not think it will happen.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Phil Gilbert
    3. Valverde
    4. Gerrans
    5. Boonen

  • Got to be a good Belgian (Flandrien) and go for Mr. Bean. Te weather is supposed to be dry but we know that can cange in a minute.

    Watched the big boys and girls prqctice their TTT in my neighborhood racetrack last Friday......

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Friere
    3. Sagan
    4. Gilbert
    5. Valverde

  • I'm really interested to see how this one pans out.  I think everyone is going to be marking the Belgians, however, they do have a two-pronged attack with Boonen and Gilbert as co-leaders so they may be able to overcome that to some extent.  I have a feeling that Gilbert is the stronger rider right now for this type of course, but my sentimental favourite is definitely Tommeke.

  • If I just keep picking the same riders..eventually the results will come.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Voeckler
    2. Boonen
    3. Kolobnev
    4. Da Costa
    5. Sagan

  • The Belgians and Spanish look so strong that one or both may just tie themselves in knots. I'm picking it will be the Spaniards. So everyone else should put their money on Freire...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Boonen
    4. Boom
    5. Kolobnev

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