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″/]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@frank
Now that's a true friend right there. Knew that I could count on you.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanel
2. Sagan
3. Gilbert
4. Cancellara
5. Pozzato
C'mon G
VSP PICKS:
1. Geraint
2. Haussler
3. Sagan
4. Cancellara
5. Terpstra
@TomC
(Mugatu voice) "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Geraint Thomas
3. Cancellara
4. Chavanel
5. Boonen
I have money on G, best he delivers...
VSP PICKS:
1. Geraint
2. Slyvain
3. Saag Aloo
4. Canceloutus
5. Kristoff
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Sauceller
3. Sagan
4. Syl Chav
5. Langeveld
Woohoo Delgado avoided!
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Stannard
3. Faboo
4. Chavanel
5. Van Avaemert
Cobbles- a great deal of luck needed here, but hey, lets have a go
VSP PICKS:
1. cancellara
2. sagan
3. chavanel
4. thomas
5. voeckler
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Van Avaermet
3. Chavanel
4. Cancellara
5. Sagan