Tommy loves the Taaienberg foto:Sporza.be
The real Velominati VSP will not begin until La Primavera. Het Volk will be a one-off warm up for the big show, no points, just some bragging rights and a V-musette. All that time wasted watching “racing” in Qatar and Oman (sorry @ChrisO) will not be in vain. Every contender for Het Volk can still find some middle eastern wind driven sand in his shoes and all the riders who want to win the Ronde will be in Gent. Those who get shelled off the hellingen too soon will know they have their work cut out for them to make the Ronde start.
This race starts and ends in Ghent; 198 km of cold, wind, rain, climbs and cobbles. The weather may not suck for this Saturday but that’s OK, the wind and rain is being banked for Paris-Roubaix. A start list is here.
With equal doses of cobbles and climbs, Het Volk is the opening of the season for us who love the Spring Classics. Up until ten years ago, Belgians won this race, almost exclusively. Ten years ago no one was racing in Dubai as preparation. The Belgians were out there, in Belgium, armed with embrocation and the big ring, killing themselves all winter to come out strong when the bell was rung. The bell will be rung on Saturday, round one.
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Well those of us with GVA in our picks are well and truly screwed - Greg Van Avermaet suspended due to doping investigation.
Balls.
Wait a minute, no, I'm wrong, I can't read properly at this time on a Saturday
Let's give it a try.
VSP picks:
1. Van Avermaet
2. Terpstra
3. Boonen
4. Sinkeldam
5. Ligthart
@Al__S
Jaysus, Man. You can't drop that kind of vibe and then backtrack! Bad form. Hill Repeats for you!
Bugger, delgadoed. Just for the hell of it:
1. Stybar
2. Vanmarcke
3. Kristoff
4. Boonen
5. Debusschere
That was a fast open and shut window! Here's mine if it's not too late:
1. Sep Venmarcke
2. Niki Terpstra
3. G V Avermaet
4. Alexander Kristoff
5. Tom Boonen
GET IN....
Awesome ride by Stannard. Three Quickstep v Stannard and he still won. Brilliant.
nice work Stannard!
@ChrisO
I never cheer for the English as a rule but THAT was fkn impressive. Very cool how he pulled Boonen back without a hint panic then countered the counter attack. I thought Terpstra would do him easy in the sprint. Strong and smart. Awesome start to the season.
Whoah!! How the hell did he do that - awesome sandbagging with 2km to go, and what was Terpstra doing leading him out..... what a carry on! Love it
Quiet table at dinner tonight in the EtQS hotel