Belgian Affirmations: Andrei Tchmil
Andrei Tchmil got so tired of the palpable disappointment of not being Belgian that he decided to become one. Envision the world the way you want it to be, then make it so.
People are cynical when I talk about Belgium. They think I’m only Belgian on paper. That is not true. Yes, I was a Russian, even a proud one…. Now I am proud to be Belgian.
A-Merckx; I totally understand the Awesome you’re on about.
Incidentally, I’m so inappropriately excited about Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 that I can’t promise next week won’t be another week of unabashed, full-frontal Belgian Toothpaste Porn.
@wiscot
+1
@scaler911
And I say again, +1
@Steampunk
I thought for a second it was the year that Dirk De Wolf won, so wasn’t expecting Eric to sprint clear. Absolutely fantastic footage. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
@Steampunk
Its only one of many.@scaler911
He’s going to hard, he shrunk his back wheel. Check out the Three-Point System Compliance. I know helmets are all “safe” and stuff like that, but man, do I miss seeing those guys rock the cap or the bare skull.
Like Kelly going helmetless in Roubaix. That’s a man who says, “I’ve been waiting to crack open a granit block with my head ever since I saw that movie, Predator.”
Really? No pictures of Duclose-Lassalle? Dude won the race at 40 years old. BAD ASS.
Not to mention the classic show with Museeuw on the full suspension Bianchi. That period from about 1991-1995 was such an exciting time where bike mfger’s were experimenting with all kinds of ideas. Very fun to have witnessed it.
The disqualified trio from 2006.
Van Petegem: “It’s crazy. In Belgium they would have stopped the train.”
Same edition. No, sadly, he’s not adjusting his bootie.
Legend:
1956:
@frank
Ahem. I mean Dirk Demol, of course. We’re not savages, after all.
More inspirational shots from Paris-Roubaix, A Journey Through Hell.
Amazing mid-crash shot. Under the circumstances, I’d least like to be the Ariostea guy.
Interesting that I’m the kind of person who recognizes the bike, saddle, and bidon brand, but not the rider.
Incredible shot that captures the glory of the cobbles.
@frank
You gotta look in the story submission q. I resisted posting those exact photos since I have a story in there. GDL is my avatar.
@scaler911
Woah, totally missed that. Gianni is kindly handling all the guest articles, so my bad on not seeing that. Your avatar, though, is Fanco Ballerini. Unless you’re talking about some other site. Which seems impossible. There are no other sites, right?
Hoping for rain overnight and will be looking for dirt roads in the morning. An ode to mud.
Kuiper:
Willem:
Cadiou:
Bondue finishing third (1984) on cracked fork:
In all, these are terrible things to inflict upon a bike. Body be damned.
@frank
He’s not Ariostea – the team finished up in ’93 and Le Groupement only existed in ’95 – it’s an AKI-Gipiemme rider…
Eddy.
Francesco.
Roger.
@frank
Don’t know what race Freddy’s in here. Sure ain’t P-R. It’s a TT – jersey tucked in and no bottle cage. Totally rule compliant. Not going to use it? Take it off! Have to say though, the brim up at the back is a tad less aero than having it down.
@Oli
That’s crazy pic! It shows what experience can do, To ride through such a deep puddle surely means RdV did his homework on the course and knew where to good ‘off-cobble” bits were. Only a madman would go into a puddle like that without knowing what lurked underneath.
@frank
Yep. Now I feel like I don’t know shit about shit. Ha!
To clear one thing up though, the photo of GDL and Johan Museeuw: Neither of them one that P-R. Tchmil did, but you already knew that didn’t you? Did the photo of Tchmil for this post come from the 1994 PR?
This might possibly be the awesomest thread we’ve ever had here. Oli just kicked it up another notch with that Roger pic. Bam!
@scaler911
The thread photo came from the 2000 PR, I’m pretty sure. Not one of Tchmil’s happier memories…
@all these pictures just keep on getting more awesome. Frank you looking to create some kind of tagged album(e.g casually deliberate) of all the pictures uploaded to the site on a single page by any chance.
here is a slightly different view of the cobbles..
This post, and the following stream of responses is exactly the reason I come to this site….you guys get it. I didn’t start coming here because I needed to learn the rules, I came because for years I had already been living the rules on my own, and finally someone had articulated and validated all of these guidelines/rules/obsessions about bicycle culture and bicycle racing in one place. I am constantly amazed at the level of quality of the writing and knowledge from both the keepers and the community.
Great stuff. Thanks everyone!
@All some more inspirational V-porn
Hinault
Saroni
Anquetil
Moser
Awesomely Casually Deliberate Chiapucci
@huffalotpuffalot
Haha, I just posted that Moser pic!
@huffalotpuffalot
Fuck yeah, tell us about that first pic.
@Oli
Ah nuts, oh well he deserves to be posted loads of times.
@Marko
That is a great pic! How old? Where? Soldiers lining the route as well aren’t they?
@Marko
I can’t be 100 percent sure as I forgot to name the picture properly when i saved it however i think this may well be the Muur de Gramont. I bloody love it though, after busting their asses off to get half way up the hill they are onto cobbles and still climbing strong. I am sure someone on here will be able to correctly identify if i am wrong.
@il ciclista medio
I found the place where I originally came across the picture and I have posted a message asking for more details…will let you know when I get a reply.
@huffalotpuffalot
The second guy in the first pic looks like he’s trying to climb out of his bike he’s so far in the pain cave.
And the last pic, with Chiapucci, so much Aluminum and Regals. Jeebus, man. You’re killing me with this shit.
Holy Merckx gents, outstanding work over the last 36 hours. Is it just me, or are we due for a damp Roubaix soon? It’s been a while.
Off to go fit my Open Paves, Rule #9 season is here…
@huffalotpuffalot
What a great shot! And is that Rold Aldag on the kick-ass Merckx MX Leader and Time shoes? And take a load of Bugno right in front of him in the rainbow stripes. Might be my favorite shot of the article.
@LA Dave
Cheers!
@Nate
A-Merckx, brother. 2002 was the last one. It will have been a full decade if its dry again.
@wiscot
The brim up at the back was known as a V-wing and provided some down force to keep the bike on the road. Later adopted by car racing.
@Oli
I see you, you dumbass puddle. I ain’t afraid o’ shit. I’m gonna ride through you with some mayonnaise!
@itburns
A+1
@frank
I think you’re right about Aldag, and that’s Fignon’s arse in the Castorama shorts, with LeMond between him and Bugno. A stage start during the 1993 Tour, I’m picking.
@frank
Would love to see the best of the current generation (Cancellara, Boonen, Gilbert, Thor et al.) become true legends by facing up against the worst Mother Nature has to offer.
But then it couldn’t be Fignon’s bum – maybe it’s Luc LeBlanc, the Inspector Clouseau of the peloton?
We all talk about how many steeds are enough and carbone and argue the merits of Di2, but really it’s all about laying down the V:
Not a lot of folks doing what he was doing back then………
Bottecchia that is.
And since we’re throwing up cool photos this time around, what’s the ruling on Simpsons hat here? I’m sure it’s not in compliance, but he makes it look good.
Super tan Anquetil right on his heels.
That’s not Simpson or Anquetil, I’m afraid! I think the hat guy is Rudi Altig, and I have no idea about the Salvarani rider but I know it’s not Maitre Jacques as he never rode for that team…
@scaler911
Is that really Tom Simpson ? He looks so different to the more gaunt photos one usually sees (apart from also being so used to seeing him in the classic Peugeot strip).
@Oli
Not if that’s Fignon; he was on Gatorade by 1993.
@Oli
Right, I’m guessing Leblanc too. Except he’s number 21 which makes no sense if it’s the Tour. Maybe the Criterium (Dauphine)?
@scaler911
Dude mid-scramble in the suit is the bomb. 100% Studmuffin.
@itburns
Nice. I see those on Honda Civics a lot.
Best picture of Roubaix ever.
@frank
You’re right, it’s not LeBlanc it is Dominique Arnould – number 121.
And it’s not LeMond either! I’ll get me coat…