Spring comes to Summer
You can never have too much Muur. It’s a proven scientific fact that too little Muur can be detrimental to a Cyclist’s state of mind, even if they have never ridden the most iconic climb in Flanders. And if they have, then the withdrawals are something not to be taken lightly. Every so often we need to top up the Muur bank throughout the months between April and April, the only month that brings genuine joy to the racing fan.
Whilst July is a test of mind-numbing boredom induced by a three-week wait for the inevitable to conclude, August sees the greatest little stage race take place on the kassien and grunty climbs the home of Cycling is littered with. The Eneco Tour is like a six-day Classics campaign, like back-to-back Dwaars, E3s and mini-Rondes. The men of Spring get another chance to perform on their preferred turf, but in weather that doesn’t require Flandrian Best to be deployed. Though Vlaanderen being Flanders, there is naturally a bit of rain about, only adding to the race’s aura.
This photo from 2013’s Tour illustrates that even during the summer, even during the week, even during the day, the magic of the Muur is not to be missed. Sure, there are a tenth of the people that would crowd the wall during the halcyon days of the Ronde, but even Colnago Pullover Guy is there, albeit subdued, just checking things out, marking his territory like a naughty chihuahua. I’m not sure what Flemish for “Laaadies…” is, but I’ pretty certain he’s about to drop it.
Even with the Worlds in full swing, my thoughts turn to the Muur. The cobbled roads are a powerful drug, and I’m an addict in need of a fix. Just seven more months, just seven more months…
*Click on photo for detail, you won’t regret it.
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The nearest equivalent I know is Gold Hill in Shaftesbury. The cobbles are pretty mossy and it can be a real bitch not to spin out when it is damp.
And I do wonder how this guy stopped at the bottom.......
@Teocalli
O'Merckx. That looks fucken horrendous. Way steeper than anything in the Tour of Flanders. Break out the 30mms. Deflate to 4 bar. Pray for sun.
Ah, a seven month countdown to keep me charging...right as the fall equinox arrives tomorrow. Awesome!
And, let me say, Fuck Gold Hill. That climb would definitely give you the shaft. Yikes.
@Rigid
Keepers' Tour 2015. We arrived in Geraardsbergen from a different direction to my previous visit in 2013. Everyone was asleep. I wasn't afraid - it's not steep but it is longish and the cobbles are roughest where the pitch is steepest - the last 300. I went long and dumb. Nobody followed. I kept it steady as a black cat almost crossed behind me. Then William appeared. He hit the Kappelmuur section at speed. Smart. I tried to stick to the inside where the stones are "smoothest". He sailed past but I kept positive in the delusion that the guide doesn't really count in the race. Rigid appeared next but he quickly went flaccid. I saw the pub. I saw the church. I saw the cross and Brett. I was determined to keep the inside line on the knoll. He moved right and...
you decide...
http://youtu.be/FCZLeZQQk_s
(Can't embed from iPad?)
@Harminator
killed it _ good job!
@Teocalli
What amazes me is that some eejit, upon seeing that hill, thought "let's build houses up it and put in cobbles."
@wiscot
To be fair to them there probably were not too many alternatives to cobbles when they put them down.
@wiscot
Its maybe just as well that the exit at the top is via a very narrow alley otherwise some eejit would be tempted to put a major race up there. As it is there are a few Sportives that use it.
@Teocalli
That's crazy! What's the gradient on that sucker? 25-30%?