Imagine a world without the little things we take for granted; a house without a roof, a pub with no beer, a Keepers Tour without any clothes. The last one is a reality for me at the moment, five days in and still no trace of where the hell between Wellington and Paris my bag (filled with V-Kit, shoes, helmet, everything) is. The other thing that has me perturbed again this trip is that there is no Muur de Grammont/Kapelmuur in the Ronde. To me, the race feels naked without it.
That won’t stop us from riding it next weekend though, and although there will be no crowds, no pros, there will still be the magical spirit of the great battles past on these hallowed stones. We’ll try and emulate The Lion and climb it in the big ring (or the 50t) while the man himself watches on, probably laughing inside, or indeed outwardly, as we succumb to the gradient and stab frantically at the left-hand shifter. Then we’ll realise just how ordinary we are and how special this hill is.
Even though the Muur is absent again this year, the 2013 Ronde is shaping up as one of the best in recent history. The battle between Faboo and Sags is well touted, but will they mark each other out of it and let an opportunist take their chance? My money’s on that scenario playing out, but if you have any sense you’ll see my VSP scores reflect a total lack of tipping nous so far this season and reject anything I predict as hogwash.
Check out the start list, grab a cold Malteni or other fine Belgian ale, slather your frites in mayo and keep your eye out for the V-Flag on the Oude Kwaremont this Sunday. Goed geluk!
[vsp_results id=”22888″/]
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Just in case VSP picks are still being accepted...
1) Sagan
2) Chavanel
3) Cancellara
4) Thomas
5) Stannard
As others are doing here a my picks for the prematurely closed VSP
1. Sagan
2. Fabs
3. Thomas
4. Haussler
5. Chavanel
@TomC
Picks are open again. Brett is still learning how to tell time.
@blue, @TomC
Go back and enter them, please. They don't count unless you put them in for real-reals.
something just tells me Sagan will bonk tomorrow
terpstras a freaking studshow, and stannard has been nailing the 53x11 like a sophmores cheap date
and spartacus is riding like he used to
chavanel is liberated by boombooms loses
VSP PICKS:
1. spartacus
2. terpstra
3. chavanel
4. van avermaet
5. stannard the stud
@frank
Ahh, good to have the "inside" scoop! Still leaving him in the mix but down at 4th. Have a Molteni or three for me!
I agree with William; Chav goes on the second time up the Kemmel and forces Sags and Fabs to chase. Then I agree with Brett, Fabs and Sags mark each other too much and the break stays away. Chav, who's been knocking on the door will finally come good.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanhell
2. Haussler
3. Boss Hog
4. Van Avemaet
5. Faboo
@Buck Rogers
Already done. So now I'm starting on a few Malteni's for me, now that I put your three down.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Chavanel
3. Faboo
4. Boonen
5. Thomas