Bloody Peugeots, always breaking down on hills. Stockeau, 1980
We’ve all watched bike races, that’s a given, but how many of us actually listen to a bike race? It’s at this time every year that I’m reminded of something;
The Ardennes Classics sound different.
How does a bike race sound exactly? In the case of L-B-L, it’s the low buzz of the TV helicopter that is ingrained in my psyche. The subliminal hum of the rotors, droning away, overlaid with the monologue of Phil and Paul (or some Dutch or Spanish guy), also droning away, is a trance-inducing concoction not even the likes of Ken Kesey ever experienced.
Be warned, if you’re a Vietnam Veteran watching (and listening to) this clip of Argentin taking his fourth Doyenne may lead to flashbacks.
While the cobbled northern Classics elucidate a mien that takes hold of our hearts and can’t really be explained, the hillier races in the last week of the Spring campaign offer their own charms for us to appreciate. The fragile climbers, who’ve avoided the rough and dirty roads in weeks previous, mix it up alongside a smattering of the Big Men of the Stones who make the crossover to give it one last crack, or to simply help their grimpeur buddies get a slice of their own pie. These are races that can go to any number of riders who are having an on day.
Which doesn’t make picking a winner in this, the final Spring edition of the Velominati Super Prestige any easier. Will a Schleck, any Schleck, stand up (or be countered). What will the reactions be if Veino repeats, will he still be the villain, or is a year a long time in cycling and he’ll be forgiven, cheered and revered? PhilGil could make his own history and take not only the triple crown of Amstel, Fleche and Liége, but the quadruple with his Brabanste Pijl win thrown in for good measure. Whichever way the cards fall, or whoever plays them right, it’s always a worthy winner who rolls across the line first in Ans.
All that’s left to do is take a look at the start list, use your Powers of Deductionâ„¢ to decide your Top V, fill in the blanks and pick up an Obey The Rules bumper sticker for your trouble. It’s a prize older and more coveted than any other cycling-based-website-race-tipping-competition-bumper-sticker-giveaway.
Maybe listening to your heart is the way to go on this one.
Best of Belgian to you.
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Well, when you're way down on the GC, you have to look to stage wins and separate yourself from the pack. Being aggressive means you often get it wrong, but playing it safe also means you wind up with everyone else. Oh well. Lantern rouge it is for me this year.
Gilbert is a stud. Exciting stuff.
And finally, I got to take the V-kit on the inaugural ride in Seattle yesterday. Warm enough for shorts even. I feel great in the Sacred Garments. Praised be Merckx.
It did seem to me that PG is on a different training schedule than the Schlecks - He is climbing well for his weight and seems to be peaking (or at least I hope so otherwise can I have some of what he is training with?) So when Andy got dropped did that not say that he is not quite there yet? And yes they looked like a couple of twat waffles but that is the joy of racing - sometimes you just have no options left with the form and fitness on that day and hey after 250km how many other guys were there with them? I am not going to judge.
@Rob
Schlecks are alone in the picture guys or they are not winning a one-day.
Would have been nice to see them try something on the St. Nick but in my view it's not nearly long enough a climb for them to drop PG. If they had attacked PG would just have taken the initiative with a leg-ripping counterattack, which would have been awesome.
Speaking of Awesome, @Rob, I suspect that PG did a secret training camp with @frank in Awesomeville, to top off his V-reserves. Probably this happened the weekend of Paris-Roubaix, when he was not racing.
They just lacked the form Gilbert is having. Gilbert is peaking, the Schlecks are months away from peaking.
@Steampunk
I'll speak to you after the Tour, in which PG can't do anything and the Schlecks are tearing everyone apart. I hope...
@Cyclops
L. Ron Howard? Opieology?
Katooshite lived up to their name.
@Nate
I agree and it never crossed my mind that Gilbert would go to those extremes for V training - its tantamount to doping but completely legal - this means there will be no stopping him, the giro will be a cake walk.
Wait, I just realized and went back to the tape - the guy Frank was chasing this winter on the mountain was Gilbert! Can you say "Aloha AWESOMENESS!"?
Man woke up, turned the 'puter on, waited for cycling news to load, and gotta say pretty stoked for Gil - bear! I was expecting that I would stay true to form and have avoided picking the winner like trek seems to avoid the top step of the podium.
Interesting season for them, hope the Schlecks can cope with the added responsibility of being involved with the administration of a team as well as riding. I'm starting to wonder if they're only nw realising how much Riis did for them...
My thoughts precisely...
What, no bonus points for picking comeback king Grewal?
Awesome ride by Gilbert the Crocodile, but I still don't understand why the Schmucks didn't 1-2 him, or at least try it... Upping the cadence by 1 isn't an attack (The Spanish Steak would probably agree with that, too)...