We came tantalizingly close to adding a foray up the Mur de Huy during our excursion to Liege-Bastogne-Liege during this year’s Keepers Tour. But good sense and the Anti-V prevailed, as they are wont to do, and only two of us were left wanting a dig at the most notorious finishing climb in the Classics season.
I write this, then, woefully ignorant of the ferocity of the climb, particularly when combined with with a few hundred k’s of racing and scaling it several times in the process. Such is the nature of this event, and it doesn’t even have the dignity of holding a weekend spot on the calendar for its troubles.
But the Huy is a brute. Steep, long, and steep. Did I mention steep? We’re talking 26% steep. And long? We’re talking 1.3km. Even the best climbers in the world fade when the effort is dished out too soon. Keep the powder dry was ever thus.
Throw the formulas out the window; its best to resort to your eye of newt for this one. Whoever wins will have good finishing speed on an uphill finish and it also won’t be Andy Schleck. That’s about all the farther anyone can narrow this puppy down, the rest is guesswork. Enter your picks by the time the countdown clock goes to zero.
Good luck, regular rules apply.
I might have posted this last year as well, but this is my favorite finish of La Fléche to date, Pre-Cancerian Pharmy notwithstanding. He takes a flier in the only spot on this climb with some easing of the gradient. Its beautiful work, that.
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@Buck Rogers
Never mind, just saw it on cyclingnews. No surprise there, eh?
Here you go Buck...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-feminine-2013/results
Vos
Borghini
Moolman
Van Der Breggen
Johansson
Well, I had Martin in 5th. Damn, nice surprise today.
@Tobin
Did a little better with the ladies. Like always. hehe. get it? see where I went there? I am saying I am good with the ladies...
That was fun to watch, but did fuck all for my VSP. Garmin may want to look at their tyre selection. Martin and Ryder both flatted?
@Dan_R you may be spending a little too much alone time at the shop bench...speaking of which, how long would it take to swap bars? I am off this week and took my empties in...
@Dan_R
Move along....there is nothing to see here....!
@Deakus @Tobin Maybe I have been getting into the tubular glue too much?
For you my fellow V, overnight at the longest, unless something odd and unforeseen happens. Hell, we can even do a walk though, talk through with it if you'd like and have the time. We could do that either tomorrow morning or Friday if it suits your "off this week" timetable. Msg me on FB.
I was semi excited when I heard them mention all of my picks within the last minute. Oh, well. My 1-2-3 finished 6-7-8. I, too, was able to score with the ladies, @Tobin.
Damn. The big donut for me....
Must try and find some highlights.
O I found a winner @napolinige had Moreno for the win....Congratulations!