Omloop het Nieuwsblad is fast approaching on March 1st, Strade Bianche goes off the next weekend; finally, ladies and gentlemen, we have a season. For me the racing season really has to start in cold, wet Europe. I like the Tour Down Under just fine, I watch it, but it’s too early, too sunny and too hot to signify the start of the racing season. The races in the desert, though I’m sure they are windy and tough, hold no interest for me. Camels and embrocation do not compute. The endless speculation about Faboo’s lack of perfect February form only means every reporter is bored and has no real stories to write.
The most interesting thing about the racing in the Middle East was seeing that Tom Boonen is whippet thin and ready to bring the pain in 2014. Knowing that Boonen is back lets me sleep better at night. He is lining up for Omloop, his team is ready to rumble on the Taaienberg, all is right with the cycling world. Please let it rain, but don’t let Tommeke get hurt.
I need to see some racers with every bit of wet weather gear on, riding into a hell storm off the North Sea. Cold and wet and in Belgium; that is the way we start the season.
The other thing that is great with the cycling world is the Strade Bianche the following week. A gravel race for the professionals? The race is new, not even ten editions have been raced, but it seems so right. San Gimignano to Siena, rolling up and down across the Tuscan countryside, many secteurs of white gravel, this is a stroke of Italian genius.
Another reason to be excited is Peter Sagan. The wheelie poppin’ curb jumpin’ bad boy comes into this season a year wiser. He has watched both Fabs and Tommeke ride away from him in different editions of the Ronde but they aren’t getting any younger and Sagan is only getting better. The younger generation of riders would like to topple the reigning twin kings of the Spring Classics but Boonen and Cancellara are still there because they are the two best Spring Classic riders of their generation. They aren’t going to go without a battle.
If no one breaks bones in the feed zones or gets infected elbows, this all portends a beautiful spring.
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@ChrisO
I wish all training rides were as exciting as the opening Qatar stages, and as photogenic as the echelons OPQS seemed to produce at will. At least the views were a bit closer to what I'd usually see on a ride.
Anyone got a guide to what's on UK TV or good Internet links for live streams?
While we're on the subject does anyone subscribe to cycling.tv? Looks reasonable for the money but wondering what the coverage is like.
@Mikael Liddy
You're shitting me, surely.
Oddly enough, I do have internet but it isn't exactly what I'd call quick. Between that and the generally shitty quality of the free streaming coverage, I can't really be bothered.
If it's pissing down and blowing a gale in Belgium I want to be able to see that and resultant suffering in full HD not blobby vision. I have to suffer in minute detail so that's what I want to watch.
Besides, as beautiful language as Italian, or even Belgian is, and no matter how enthusiastic the commentators get compared compared to King Kelly, I've no idea what a suitcase full of courage is in either language.
Yes! Time for real racing to start with Het Volk . About the only thing I've seen that has reminded me of the spring classics has been Russia's "Gewissing " of the Men's 50k cross country event in Sochi.
@Chris
Yes Flemish, when spoken, sounds just like an angry, drunken Englishman. It seems to make more sense to the non-speakers too when there are a few Trappist ales in you.
My favorite Kellyism from last year's campaign: his understated "Yessss" when Dan Martin won L-B-L.
Agreed! Let the season begin! You've got to hand it to the Italians with Strade Bianche - 10 years in and a race that truly deserves to be labelled a classic. Very hard to do these days when shit gets called "classic" if it's only a year or two old.
Love the 1984 MSR clip. I had forgotten Millar was right up there at the end - generally not a classics man, but could dish it out on the day.
@Gianni you had me at rivers of blood...
Sagan hop (video)
I also got all nastolgic watching the MSR clip. Call me a Luddite, but I think the racing's more exciting and unpredictable without race radios. Too often now it's watching how the script plays out, and hoping it doesn't!
@Harminator ,
@Mikael Liddy
Damn, that made me laugh.
I'll maybe get up at 2 am to stream Strade Bianche but I'll be sleeping through Qatar and Oman.
I have a devil machine called Tivo, he lives in his box and records shows at 2 am so I can watch them at a civilized time. Unless they are streamed. And the genius who designs that box, a tivo for streaming video, he shall be hailed as a stud.