The V Moment of the Year isn’t an award so much as acknowledgment of the moment during the season when the sport demonstrated the most pure example of spirit of The V. This is more than pushing hard en route to glory; the V Moment is the one point in time at which, despite a rider’s body and mind screaming to sit up in acquiescence, they instead fight on in the face of almost certain defeat.
In the first season in recent memory during which, despite some solid efforts, the story of The Needle and Blood Bank took a backseat to the story of Good Bike Racing, I am glad to report that fists were slammed on the Velominati boardroom table in defence of the many moments deserving this honor. The season saw both the domestique and the star take highest honors in the big races: a Dutchman returned to his machine after being torn to shreds on a barbed-wire fence; an Australian took the first Tour de France for the Antipodes; a Walloon took an astonishing quantity of quality races using the same tactic time and again from the season’s start to end; two riders stood out as the only big names willing to gamble on (and lose) a Merckxian long-distance charge rather than on a last-minute dash. In a season such as this, a unanimous vote was impossible and even as some V-Pints clinked in agreement, ale spilled from others at they were shaken in dissention. Bretto was last seen staggering off to the loo muttering, “Cadel [indecipherable] Galibier [censored]…” That was two weeks ago. I do hope he’s alright.
It’s a classic racing tactic; send a teammate up the road and force the other teams to work to bring back the break while you sit on, sip tea, and nibble on biscuits. In Professional Cycling, nine times out of ten, the break is brought back at the decisive moment of the race and the favorites are let off the leash to play out the finale while the lambs who have sacrificed their day toiling for another’s glory are left to limp to the finish largely forgotten.
Johan Van Summeren is one such rider, usually racing in the service of his team captains. Off to the front with you, Johan – time to bring the break back. Johan, the break has two minutes – you’d better bridge up there solo and get the other teams to chase. Hey, Johan – you don’t climb anywhere near well enough for your weight, why don’t you make sure the break that gets away before the mountains doesn’t get too much time – then beat the time limit over the cols.
Despite his role as loyal domestique, he showed promise on the brutal Pavé du Nord; in the service of Leif Hoste, he finished 10th in 2008 and in 2009 he placed 5th even after stopping and waiting for his fallen captain. And so it was to be again in 2011, though this time for a new captain – World Champion, Thor Hushovd.
The Sector of Pavé known as the Carrefour de L’Arbre is perhaps the most decisive of the race. Though it starts flat, it ends on a slight uphill stretch which makes the particularly brutal stones feel even more antagonizing. As they approached, Van Summeren was told by his team leadership that should the break not yet be caught when they enter the sector, he would be given free reign to ride for himself. They came within 11 seconds of being brought back before they began to pull away again. Sensing his chance, Van Summeren hit the Carrefour sector on the front of his group, put it in the big ring, and rode away from his companions.
His gap never seemed big enough, but he continued to fight even as he felt the favorites’ breath on his back as they overtook the remnants of his group. The story might end there, speaking of a domestique leaving the favorites at the Trouée d’Arenberg to stay away until the finish, and a good story it would be. The underdog had taken his chance and looked to have gotten away with it when the unthinkable happened. My bike feels slower than it did a minute ago – is my brake rubbing? Aren’t the last sectors of cobbles easier than the previous ones? Then why are they so rough? Indeed, the air was popping out of his back tire for a rest; yet he still managed to hold off a late-race charge from pre-race favorite and reigning World Time Trial Champion, Fabian Cancellara. Into the finish and over the line, he sought not the reporters of the press, but his girlfriend to whom he promptly proposed. (“Most people give a ring, I give a rock.”)
For taking a chance almost 100 kilometers from the line in the hardest race on the calendar, and for holding off the fastest rider in the world while rattling over the roughest road in Europe on a flat tire, Johan van Summeren gave us the V Moment of the Year at Paris-Roubaix. Goed gedaan, meneer.
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@frank
quite unsurprisingly, i agree with Bretto. Van Summeren's victory was a great win for the common man, but c'mon, can you really compare it to Cadel's entire Tour, with the higlight being his ride up the Galibier?
Can't help but think you went with JVS because of his Dutch-sounding name.
@Steampunk
Oh wow, I didn't know about this story & HardMan ride from Phinnay at all. Thanks for pointing it out! That is incredible fortitude to carry on, despite being numberless. Until you've communed with butterflies on your own & done some long, hard rides, one will never, ever know how tough the wee lads in Lycra truly are. I know I didn't.
Played lots of teams sports growing up & loved the competition and physical battles. Now I've really grown to love the fact that I can head out on a ride & push myself to my limit, whether it's a short, hard effort or a long ride, one where you wonder at certain points if you'll be able to make it back home. I return home each time with a renewed spirit. While we can't be PROS, it is certainly one awesome aspect of cycling that we each can test our mettle on every ride, if we desire. And each time you willingly enter into a challenging day in the saddle, you find a bit more about yourself.
Each of us can have our own personal ride of the year & nobody might even hear about it, aside from the dog as they try to lick the embrocation off our legs as we take off our shoes or the VMH who wonders why they hell we were gone so long.
@King Clydesdale
A week in yellow at the tour plus 2 stage wins.
@Minion
On behalf of your country, please explain this.
I always thought Kiwis weren't very fast at shearing sheep because they never want to share a sheep with anyone?
Just watched the included video & while I know who won, I couldn't help but be nervous on some of the final corners. Don't go wide!
I also find it amusing that I'm completely okay watching tons of cycling videos & not knowing anything that is said aside from the names and..."Ay ya ya," from the Belgian announcer.
Loved how Johan's numbers had barely stayed on. And, his celebration was super slick - classy, yet celebratory, joyful, yet modest. Maybe 6 hours of cobble riding played a part.
And Tjallingii is one of those riders who just looks good on a bike. Serious guns, perfectly fit kit, nice stroke, awesome.
On another note, I got to wondering about Ballan & Flecha. Very strong riders, one with a checkered past, always there in the Classics, but hmm, they don't win too much. Are they the type who just aren't top tier? Or, is there more to come from them? (I guess anything can happen in a one-day cobble-fest.)
@Ron
Ballan won RVV and the Worlds Road Race and Flecha podiumed multiple P-R's and also RVV. Dudes have pretty impressive palmaires, although I think that Ballan is guilty of doping until quite recently. But they are the "real deal" in top classic riding in my not so informed or impressive opinion! :)
@marcus
We prefer to think of it as hairdressing - you wouldn't send your better half to a barber would you?
Fuck me there's nothing I can say. Our politicians, and especially the fwit in charge of Sparc, are turkeys.
The whole Hoogerland thing made me physically sick when I saw it.
@Spearfish
This really got under my skin. How do you not come out all guns blazing and angry after something like this? I won't ever forget it.
I didn't really grasp the magnitude of JVS's ride at the time, I thought it was just a great win for the 'little' guy. You put it in perspective quite well though Frank.
I really liked the video, especially the footage after the win. Good to see Rabo happy with 3rd place, I often wonder if pro's get beaten once they get into the bus for coming second or third. Third place in the P-R is still a fine achievement.
@Steampunk
Very noble for sure, but I'd say that's just laying the groundwork for winning the V Moment award in later years! I am watching that guy's development with great interest...
@VeloVita
There were a lot of those types of moments this year - great season...but for some reason, it just bugged me that he kept hanging on day after day...I can't explain it, it just did.
@Spearfish
And certainly spat on. This was also a major, MAJOR candidate for the #1 spot, and who could have argued it? Too many to pick from, but sometimes you just have to make a call.