During the Ronde von Vlaanderen, we of the 2012 Keeper’s Spring Classic Tour were right on the Oude Kwaremont climb as the women big-ringed it up the cobbles. Kristin Armstrong (US Women’s Team) was burying herself to get on Judith Arndt’s (Greenedge) wheel. It looked like the winning break was going right in front of our eyes. Seeing professional cyclists in action is always a humbling experience and seeing these women was no exception. Damn, these women looked great: fit, strong, awesome and crushing the Oude Kwaremont in the Ronde. They must have been jazzed too, anyone who gets to race these fabled climbs must get a buzz storming up, urged on by the massive throng of beer infused Belgian fans.
They will be doing it again on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday. Will they be as psyched to crush that climb? Perhaps the winner will but everyone else might find it a bit too steep the second time around. This year’s course is 123km, 13.5km longer than last year’s with two ascents of the Mur de Huy. Marianne Vos (Rabobank) was sick for the Ronde but she is the heavy favorite having won Fléche Wallonne Femmes only the last four times. Stay on her wheel until the final 30 meters and pop by for the win. How hard can that be? Bloody impossible judging from her previous record yet betting against Armstrong, Arndt or Pooley seems foolhardy.
It’s cheating to look at Cyclop’s picks. He obviously sold his soul to the devil, that might be cheating, I’m not sure. The betting office window closes early Wednesday morning so do your worst. Here is the start list.
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Pooley broke her gear twice and was hit by a motor.
Hughes is actually 8th, Ashley Moolman is 5th.
1. Evelyn Stevens Team Specialized- Lululemon 03:26:32
2. Marianne Vos Rabobank Women Team 00:04
3. Linda Villumsen GreenEdge-AIS 00:20
4. Lucinda Brand AA Drink - Leontien.nl 00:27
5. Ashleigh Moolman Lotto Belisol Ladies 00:41
Pooley is OK.
@Netraam
Oh no, I'm glad she's OK. Awful.
Never been able to be a Stevens fan. Being a hardman means you come from a working class, blue collar, yeoman stock. You work all day in the fields or in the factory, then cycle all night sacrificing your life to then race on weekends for nothing but glory. Stevens was a wall street stock broker who had plenty in the bank when she was able to just give up her job and take up a hobby. Meh.
@eightzero
So Museeuw is not a Hardman?
@Buck Rogers
You beat me to it it!!
@eightzero @Tobin
Secretly I total agree with you eightzero, just feeling cantankerous after my ride this morning where I fazed out for about 2 seconds and bagged a HUGE pothole and blew out my front tire. I was on my clincher wheelset as my tub front wheel is being rebuilt as I write so it did not handle it at all well. But, quick fix and the overall ride was great, just mad at myself for not paying attention the whole time like I should have.
Glorious showing here in the VSP with a 9-way tie for first with 1 point each...though I shouldn't talk since I Delgado'd again. Woops.
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