Velominati Super Prestige

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.

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237 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012”

  1. @batchuba Oh yeah I’ve no real belief that he’ll be in contention when the big boys come out to play. But like you said, I’ll look a real smart arse if he is.

  6. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tiernan-Locke
    2. Gilbert
    3. Sagan
    4. Bosen-Hagen
    5. Voeckler

  13. It’s gonna be one for the brawlers, not the climbers I reckon.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Gilbert
    3. Gerrans
    4. Nibali
    5. J Rodriguez

  14. Anyone know what is going on at Garmin, with both Haussler and Vanmarcke leaving?? I would have thought that they were exactly the guys they should keep, while getting rid of the old guard.

  16. @Bianchi Denti Maybe HH jumped to OGE after they had a spot freed up by JackyBobby doing a runner to Rabo?

    Hope Heiny gets back to his 2009 level. 2nd in MSR and the Ronde in the same year plus a few other results… Maybe it all went south for him when he cried like a fucking baby on winning that wet Tour stage.

  18. @Marcus

    @Bianchi Denti Maybe HH jumped to OGE after they had a spot freed up by JackyBobby doing a runner to Rabo?

    Hope Heiny gets back to his 2009 level. 2nd in MSR and the Ronde in the same year plus a few other results… Maybe it all went south for him when he cried like a fucking baby on winning that wet Tour stage.

    Yeah, he has promised a lot but not delivered recently. So maybe he was pushed. And he’s not going to OGE – he’s going to a new Swiss Pro Conti team. Must either be for heaps of cash, or no one in the World Tour wants him.

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/iam-cycling-announces-2013-roster

    But letting Vanmarcke go??!! Craziness!!

  20. @Bianchi Denti With another year to go on his contract can only guess that the only reason he would leave is that HH was told there would be limited leadership opportunities at Garmin?

     

  21. VSP PICKS:

    1. S. Sanchez
    2. T. Voeckler
    3. T. Boonen
    4. P Sagan
    5. P. Gilbert

  24. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Gerrans
    3. Sagan
    4. Tommy V
    5. Boasson Hagen

  25. ….

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Gerrans
    3. B – Hagen
    4. Boonen
    5. Rodriguez

  26. I am hoping to see Tommy V wear the V and go out on a breakaway for an epic win in a Worlds…in the Ardenne!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tommy V
    2. Edvald BH
    3. Sagan
    4. Boonen
    5. J-Rod

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Boasson Hagen
    4. Martin
    5. Boonen

  29. VSP PICKS:

    1. Sagan
    2. Gilbert
    3. Boassen-Hagen
    4. Gerrans
    5. Chavanel

  30. I just picked a bunch of guys that can get up short climbs and finish pretty rapidly, please don’t let unrepentant scumlord valverde get the win. I’d like Boss-Hog or Henao to get it, someone from the ‘underdog’ nations but i reckon the belgians have the strongest team. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds, the race should be a lot more interesting than last year, no matter how much i enjoyed the result.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Gerrans
    3. Valverde
    4. Boss-Hog
    5. Henao

  32. Belgiums for the win!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen    
    2. Philippe Gilbert    
    3. Sylvain Chavanel
    4. Ballan
    5. Voeckler

  33. Chav gets away on the Cauberg and solos in, Oscar picks up the scraps and wonders what could have been…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chav
    2. Oscarito
    3. Sagwagon
    4. BossHog
    5. Heiny

  35. What % of our Straylian friends are picking Gerro FTW?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Gerrans
    4. Boss Hogg
    5. Nibali

  36. Damn.  What about Purito and Boonen? And Sanchez or Iglinskiy?  I could easily put in an alternative top 5.  This is what a World Championships parcours should look like.

  37. The Spanish team is so strong it makes the picks very confusing.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out.  I wish I could put down TJV but I just don’t see how it’s possible.  I’ll be happy if I’m wrong.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Gerrans
    3. J-Rod
    4. Boasson-Hagen
    5. Valverde

  38. I’m traveling and not even sure I’m going to see the race. Hopefully I can recover something after such a disappointing Vuelta – so close.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Sagan
    3. Voeckler
    4. Valverde
    5. Boasson Hagen

  40. Left on the brainstorm and selection sheet…

    A Colombian, either Uran or Hanao makes it to the top of the Caugerg and into the major placings.

    An Italian, I think Nibali is spent and Moser needs another season or two.

    An American, TJ has a chance here, he finished top 10 at least. Would really like to see Phinney take a flyer 10 k out.

    More or other Belgians, who knows if Boonen can make the selection, or if GVA takes an epic flyer for the win?

    Voeckler, it is a rare race where I pick this man to win. Teams are to strong and the selection point to close to the finish for this man. He’s french roulette as it is.

    A Dutchman, because you know they will disappoint the home crowd.

    A Norwegian, Canadian, Irishman, a Portuguese, a Swiss: Bossen Hagen or Nordhaug, Hesjedal, Marin, Costa, Albasini or Zaugg repectively.

    Such a stacked field compared to last year.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gerrans
    2. Valverde
    3. Degenkolb
    4. Sagan
    5. Gilbert

  41. Scratch that last sentence and replace with “Such a more interesting course compared to last year.”

  42. My god and in my Voeckler post some many missed to instead of too, please forgive me…

  47. Can’t Purito catch a break this year and take home the big prize? Shouts out to the Terminator, but without much team support, I don’t see it happening. Also, may the podium forsake Piti in place of another puncheur. I love the World Championships. Allez!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Purito
    2. Gilbert
    3. Freire
    4. Sagan
    5. Valverde

  50. Purito subs in for Valverde after a fainting spell reportedly caused by “eating too fast”.

    If it was Cipo, I woulda left him in there…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gerro!
    2. Giblets
    3. Purito
    4. Nibbles
    5. Sagan

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