Not one to subscribe to the slew of text speak or acronyms that permeate the modern vernacular (well, not too much, I guess YJA is one used fairly regularly), I am harbouring a severe case of FOMO right now. And the catalyst for this? The lack of a KT14. Shit, I did it again. WTF?
As Gianni wound up the excitement and anticipation for the real start of the real races, ie those on the cobbles and bergs of Belgium, my heart is heavy with emotions and my head is filled with bittersweet thoughts about the imminence of the Spring season, and the Classics in particular. This is my absolute favourite time of the racing year, and this one promises to be one of the best of recent times. Just like the past two seasons, the anticipation of a Tommeke/Faboo showdown is present, but maybe this time both will stay wreck-free and we will witness the winners of the past two Flanders/Roubaix doubles going at it at their peaks. And surely it will rain this year. It has to rain this year…
While standing around in the cold rain at the side of a shitty farm track isn’t the epitome of a good time for the general population, I place it at the top of my yearly holiday wishlist. The past two Aprils have been nirvana for me, and not being there this year leaves me with a feeling of having a part of my very being ripped out. Like my soul has been stolen away, an appendage removed, a limb hacked off. The complete experience of being there in those weeks when the whole of the cycling world is centred around Flanders and northern France, when there’s a race never more than an hour’s ride or drive from you, it’s something that embeds itself deep inside, and damned if it wants to ever leave.
This is what makes these races special, the anticipation, the unknown quantities of weather, form and luck, all factors which add up to the most unpredictable racing; anything can happen on the day, the riders know it, as do the fans. Rather than packing the wet weather gear, warm jacket and wooly hat and drinking copious amounts of Malteni at the side of the Kwaremont or Carrefour, I’ll be sitting in the dark in the middle of the night, watching online, yet still imbued with the same raw enthusiasm for these monuments among Monuments. The fact that I’ll be half a world away will no doubt sting a little still, but if it does rain, then at least I’ll get half of my yearly wish. And that is something to look forward to for sure.
VLVV!
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The spectators no doubt are warming themselves with flasks of cafe calva. Eddy is warming himself with the V.
Oddly enough, I'm sad you guys aren't going, either. With you all being there the past two years, it made the rest of us schlubs feel that much closer to the action. (I will not miss the severe eye strain that comes with trying to catch a fleeting glimpse of the V-banner on a grainy internet feed.)
Just realized - is this a Buddy Holly reference? That's a damn good song.
Also, while appearing on a lesser album, it is super sweet that AC/DC has a song named "Bedlam in Belgium." Is this what happens when it rains and Boonen, Cancellara, and Sagan all show up on form?
@The Oracle
Its sad for all of us; we'll go back again some time. We will probably do some other KT's in other places first though. But man, it will hurt not being there, especially if it fucking rains.
We had to cancel this year to focus on the US Book release which will be just a few weeks after when KT would have been.
I love this photo. Love.
@piwakawaka
Here's the marketing spiel:
http://www.rapha.cc/au/en/shop/trade-team-jersey/product/TTJ02
@Mikael Liddy Feels a bit nasty to me, riding on the coat tails of other brands and their history, kinda like a cheap knock off not quite the same as the original that you get from a dollar store, but in Rapha $$...
The marketing spiel reminds me of the Peterman catalogues.
"It's a hot night. The mind races. You think about your knife, the only friend who hasn't betrayed you, the only friend who won't be dead by sun-up. Sleep tight, mates, in your quilted chambray nightshirts."
@Beers think it's more about a nod to the riders themselves rather than the team/jersey they wore. To be honest I prefer their efforts last year that just used the colours without any type of sponsor (real or fake) on there.
http://wtfkits.tumblr.com/post/52114128769/the-rapha-trade-team-jersey-weighing-in-after-the
Hopefully the weather will leave the pave like this