The home ground of Manchester United Football Club, Old Trafford, is colloquially known around the world as the Theatre of Dreams. It holds a revered place in the hearts of the club’s supporters, and even those of other teams; it’s an icon of football, and sport in general. Millions have gone there to watch their heroes play, but how many can claim to have set foot on the hallowed turf, let alone have a kick around or slide studs up into a tackle a’la Roy Keane?
That’s why Cycling is such a unique and special sport; we can ride our bikes on the very same roads that our own heroes have raced upon, where the very greatest racers have conducted battles in the very greatest races for decades. We can recreate winning moves in the exact spots that they actually happened; want to smash it over the Carrefour like Faboo or Tom? Got a hankering to climb the Muur in the big dog like Museeuw? Maybe give it some berries on La Redoute like The Badger? You don’t need an entry fee or a permit or to jump a fence; the roads are ours to ride, anytime.
This is something I love the most about the Keepers Tours, besides hanging out with mates both old and new of course. Every day there is an iconic road to be ridden, an anecdote related by William, Alex, or even the Lion himself. “This is where I attacked to win my second Ronde” is something I’ll never forget hearing as I climbed alongside Johan on the Tenbosse, the small crowd lining the climb to catch the Espoirs Ronde double-taking as they recognised the legend out for a ride with some nobodies on a chilly Flemish afternoon. How many Man U fans will ever get to hear Eric Cantona say “this is where I blasted one through the wall and made Seaman look like a park goalie” as he slots a pass for you?
Football fans can dream. Cycling fans can live them.
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Those roads that ooze historical sweat cannot be matched over here on US soil..but us old guard can have similar, albeit not so historical, experiences. Like lining up next to and chatting with some Webcor ponytailed dude in a local event. Nice kid and had lots of good things to say. And he dominated all over the country that year. Can anyone do that with any ball sport?
The transition to bringing the worlds best to our neck of the woods is very humbling. In describing the course for a past AToC stage, the riders said it was "lumpy". Lumpy? There's a 13% pitch in that fucking climb! Lumpy? And Sagan won the day. It does give my old guns a few extra ounces of push to know our current crop of pro's have been here..
Not quite the Lion, but it will have to do for now.
Thanks brett.
this is all so spot on. I have done some of the early bird time trials here in Perth, where the course record is held by one Cameron Meyer, ok so in his Pre-pro years but its kinda cool.
I've never understood why the football codes are so precious about their turf, went to the MCG (the cathedral of AFL here in Oz) with my 8 year old son, we asked if he could step on to the grass, maybe even have a little kick? "Oh no sir that's not possible" - FFS, what's an 8 year old in trainers going to do? rip up the turf more than 90kg behemoth in cleats?
Have you learned to ride the crown yet, Bretto?
My friend Charlie is in Italy right now with his bike. His daughter lives in Florence. Hopefully he will be riding the finishing circuit, maybe with some professionals, and then watch some of the races from roadside. Who could ask for more?
@Marko
Can't you read the minds of the riders on that Keepers' clip?
"Man, its is SHIT here in the gutter - gotta get to the crown. Jeeesus the crown is fucked! It looked better from the gutter. Maybe it is better in the gutter. Yes there's a smooth patch. Oh no. The gutter is sooo shit. Maybe the crown...oh fuck!."
@Harminator
Yep, really depends on the sector... Carrefour is definitely better/faster in the 'gutter' (which is barely wider than a 28c tyre). Except when dickheads stand in the way...
Wow. Those are some awesome wheels!
hehe
When I first got into it 25 years ago, one of the things I loved about cycling was that, in this land of football and cricket "gods," it was very much a minority pursuit, and you could show up at a club race and mingle with guys and gals who were World and Olympic reps, and there was no "us and them," we were all part of the same deal, just some were faster. Fast forward to when I returned a few years ago, and it was great to discover it's still the same, and someone like Robbie McEwen (who I used to get soundly beaten by as a junior) would still show up at a summer club crit for training; I used to think it was just because, being a small tightly-knit sporting community it was just because we were banding together, nowadays I think perhaps it's deeper than that....
Sigh..I come here to get away from the never ending coverage of football we are subjected too here in the UK.
To watch grown men running around in circles swearing and diving around like fairies whilst the fans bay for blood is pretty much my idea of purgatory.
A great article...soiled by references to That Fucking Sport!
Kicking a ball around Old Trafford would never look or feel as good as this!!!!!