Midweek in Belgium in Spring is a wonderful thing. Hordes of people come from seemingly nowhere to fill the bars and line the roadsides when presumably they’d usually be working, or at school, or some such. That the only ones who appear to be working are the bartenders and frites dispensers reinforces my belief that Belgium is the greatest country in the world.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the town of Huy will once again be heaving on Wednesday when the riders of La Fleche Wallone tackle the horrible, beautiful Mur de Huy three times in the afternoon (whether you regard the climb as horrible or beautiful largely depends if you’re on a bike or in the pub). While three times up the Mur is never going to be fun, the last ascent has to be one of the most brutal finishes to any race, on any climb, anywhere. It truly is horribly beautiful.
I guess the talk will now centre on Dr Phil and whether he can repeat, threepeat or maybe even Steve Peat his way into the history books after his wins in Brabantse Pilj and Amstel Gold in the last week. The way he’s riding, the only surer bet you could make is that Abandy doesn’t show up. So with that thought, get thee to the start list, watch the timer (if we’ve managed to work it out) and get your picks in to stay in GC contention for the greatest prize pool in internet based cycling related tipping competitions.
First place overall wins a Veloforma Strada iR Velominati Edition frame in addition to the customary VSP winner’s VVorkshop Apron.
Second place overall wins a set of hand built CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelset in a custom Velominati paint scheme laced to orange Chris King hubs. (CR Wheelworks is Café Roubaix’s new wheel goods brand.)
Third place overall wins a full Velominati V-Kit with accompanying custom orange Bont Vaypor+ road shoes.
Good luck and bottoms up!
[vsp_results id=”29637″/]
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View Comments
How can I get to this age and be still finding things that I'm hopeless at?
VSP PICKS:
1. kwiatkowski
2. Gilbert
3. nibali
4. slagter
5. moreno
Let it be.
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Malmerde
4. Moreno
5. Costa
VSP PICKS:
1. D Moreno
2. A Valverde
3. Dan Martin
4. J Rodriguez
5. P Gilbert
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Kwiatkowski
3. Valverde
4. Daniel Moreno
5. Carlos BETANCOUR
I'm already way off the pace for the Veloforma GC - now re-aligning to low percentage solo raids.
Alba to go one better than 2012.
VSP PICKS:
1. Albasini
2. Kwiatowski
3. Gilbert
4. Vanendert
5. Westra
Revised pics
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Martin
3. Moreno
4. Kwiatowski
5. Valverde
@Island Bike
Island, it's hard to do it that way. Try logging out and back in or try another browser. If no luck we will consult with Herr Director to award points as you have made your picks, all be it in an unconventional way.
@Island Bike
I cannot get to the women's VSP , either. (In fact it's been happening quite a bit with the VSP, particularly when I log in on my iPad.) While it is inconceivable that my presence or absence in a VSP would result in a materially different outcome, either for me or for the future ownership of the Veloforma, I nonetheless like to play, and accordingly propose to follow in the wheel-tracks of Island Bike via the following non-conforming submission for the women's VSP:
1 -Vos. 2-Johansson. 3-Stevens. 4-Bronzini. 5-deVries.
Have not actually checked the start list, so am not sure if all of them are riding. But, if one is going to be a non-conformist, there is little point in being half-hearted about it.
@Gianni We crossed. Will try logging out. Thanks. And, obviously, if I am unsuccessful, feel free to ignore my non-conformance entirely. That's generally the best way to deal with non-conformity anyway.
Heart over head. Except Gilbert.