One of the most wonderful things about living in a climate with four distinct seasons is that each one comes as a welcome change, and with each season I find a period of time where I find myself thinking this one is my favorite. But regardless of the weather outside my window, I know Fall is here when our attention falls to the last major road races of the season; Paris-Tour and the Giro di Lomardia.
To say I’m not a fan of bunch sprints is a bit of an inaccurate statement. What I’m not a fan of is a forgone conclusion in a bike race, be it a Grand Tour, a sprint, or mountains prize. At the end of the day, I watch a bike race because I love not knowing how it’s going to unfold; I love fireworks and suspense. Given that, I don’t much care who wins the race – a good win is a good win, no matter who runs away with it. (That said, if it goes down to a sprint between a rider I like and one I don’t and the win falls to the douche, I’ll be inconsolable.)
And that’s why Paris-Tours is one of my favorite races of the year. It’s flat enough to give the sprinters a chance, while it’s run into Tours is windy and hilly enough to allow for opportunists to steal the glory. Sprinters, Rouleurs, and Grimpeurs have won here; Gilbert, Dekker, Friere, Virenque. Before that, Van Looy, de Roo, Van Springel, Maertens, Raas, Zoetemelk, Kelly, Anderson all rolled across the line first. Paris-Tours also holds the distinction of being the only Classic the Prophet failed to win.
But this isn’t the sixties, and this isn’t about Merckx. This is about another Belgian. Is Gilbert a forgone conclusion? Perhaps, but his form almost has to be wearing a bit thin. At this point, though, I’d love to see him pull it off, which means he won’t. He’s been racing at the front since de Ronde (if not before that), and has been winning since the Ardennes. Cav, assuming he’s racing, will likely want to show off his new bands at the head of the field; I can’t imagine the motivation to win a classic in the most revered jersey our Sport has.
So, get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Sunday morning; we’re giving a little bit of extra time this time round since I’m a little concerned that people might have forgotten we’re not done with the season yet.
Good luck.
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Well, that was a beautiful win by Greg Van Avermaet. My VSP is awful but that was fun to watch.
sprider and marcus!
Very few points awarded today. Must ride to console myself.
@pakrat
Has anyone picked up any points?
@Chris
I definitely didn't! But so psyched to see Ian Stannard coming to form. That dude is for real. Played a big part in the World Championship and in at the kill again today. Dude won my respect with that post-K-B-K interview a few years ago.
Trying to upload the link but totally do not know how. Here it is in cut-and-paste. Watch it if you haven't before. Sooooo worth the 52 seconds!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vq7LbOHZbs
Wow, one whopping point for three contestants, and donuts for the rest.
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@frank
Collective fail! And we like to think of ourselves as cognoscenti of the sport! Mass hill rep cogal is in order!
@Buck Rogers
Stannard is turning into a legend. Big lad on a bike as well. I get the kids in bed then watch the youtube clip
@Chris
Cognoscenti was meant in the dictionary sense rather than in it's Lexicon useage!
@Chris
Hill repeats on the menu for me this afternoon.
Got to see the race, got to work on my Flemish.
Wow, only Lombardia remains, then it's winter training & life after the 2011 VSP.