That's a legitimate Pain Face right there.
Everybody knows there are two kinds of cobbles. Big cobbles, little cobbles, grippy cobbles, and slippy cobbles. And when it comes to mastering the stones, no one is better than the undisputed King of the Cobbles, Kenny Van Vlaminck. And speaking of cobble legends, there is a great piece on our friend Johan Museeuw over on Rouleur today.
According to the weather reports, there is going to be wind and rain on Sunday. And if you watched the live coverage of Gent Wevelgem last week, the storm that blew in after the race was wicked intense. And, since I’ve decided not to visit Belgium this year, you can be pretty sure that the weather will finally be rubbish. You’re welcome.
We rode the RVV route (the classic route, not the crap new one) in the wind, rain, and hail a few years back, and it was striking how slippy the cobbles on the Paterberg and Koppenberg are in the wet. These climbs are borderline doable in the dry, and if you need to get out of the saddle for some extra juice, it is going to take some good bike handling to keep from spinning out.
And don’t forget we’ve got wicked prizes on offer; Don Walker is giving a free custom steel frame to the winner of the VSP overall, and Café Roubaix is awarding a set of their CR Wheelworks Arenberg wheelsets to the runner-up. Third place gets a free V-Kit. Boom. So get prognosticating and get your picks in before the clock goes to zero. Good luck!
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@xyxax
In that case, I double nitro'd today.
But holy shit, what a performance by Sagan though! Incredible! I think this one will go down in the annals of Mt. Velomis and be recounted by us mere mortals for some time to come.
@DVMR
argghhhh, the double NITRO is the worst.
FFS..
Much like Peter, I will cherish my first Monument victory!
Four of five with none in the correct position. Standard.
Got the winner and three of top five right. I can't complain about that.
@xyxax
FMFLFFS... F!
@il muro di manayunk
I miss the badge already. I feel naked without it.
I better win something soon.
@il muro di manayunk
Congrats!
@Erik
well it looks like you've at least got that pretty leaf to keep you company til late September.
HOLY FUCKITYFUCKFUCK was that BRILLIANT or WHAT??? Fucking SAGAN killing it and winning it in style. No one will work with you??? Then why not just crush all their souls and ride away in the saddle to victory!!! God that was so GREAT!
I was eating a brunch with the In-Laws in southern NH and following the live ticker via smart phone and I had to run outside the restaurant and just SCREAM when he won it. So fucking brilliant!!! To paraphrase Doctor Evil, "This race completed me".
Just watched the last 30 k's on youtube while on the trainer after a six hour drive home. Such class and style from all of the top three. Cancellara saying his goodbyes in the final 500 meters and Vanmarke, after a few digs around the 800 meter mark, allowing him to go out in style. Just such a beautiful moment. Pure class athletes from a pure class sport. Vanmarke redeemed himself a bit there by coasting in behind Sparty.
Jesus, I am spent!