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!
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Dr C, I will try to do it justice. I have already learned that I score a lot more points when I get my picks in on time! (MSR, Ghent, etc...) The Lion looks great and I'm happy to have it, just wish I hadn't dug myself such a whole in the overall.
In other things related to Flanders, it is 30 degrees w/25 mph winds here and I am putting on 28 pieces of kit and hitting the crappiest roads I can find this morning.
@Marko - love the look on the brunette's face in that shot/ shop as well
@Steampunk I guess this just goes to show you that every time someone stuck to cancellara until the finish and beat him at the sprint like in last year's MSR they pretty much earned it. Finishing second next to the man seems to be as hard as actually winning some races.
I would still like to see his powermeter stats for that one, just for the awe factor. (OVER 9000!!!!!!)
Tommeke vraagt, "Peterke, Peterke, Peterke, wat doe je nu???"
Oh my gosh! These photoshop "grabs" are going to ruin all the credibility we've built up!
Anyone see what gearing Cancellara was riding? And Sagan? I don't think I saw Cancellara stand up, an amazing display on such steep climbs.
Islandbike - 28 pieces of kit. Ha! I've ridden through winter before & maybe worse than actually riding in that weather is getting dressed. It takes so damn long and trying to pull on shoe covers with a jacket & base layer makes me feel like I can't reach my feet. I don't miss that.
@Ron
We have credibility???
@Ron 38 small ring, 11-28 cassette.
@Steampunk Yeah, I'm sure I wasn't the only one bemoaning Sagan's willingness to pull when he was clearly gassed. Ego, and not too bright. Bad result for my VSP, but much happier that Spartacus won. His team of rouleurs didn't look weak to me, and I can't see him missing the top step in Roubaix, barring a crash.
@Buck Rogers
Guess he got his PR man. Statement just put out by Sagan: "I don't know why I did what I did. It just happened. Yes I was selfish and silly. No I don't know how to live with guilt now and still I wish it had never happened. I could blame this on someone I know but it all my fault in the end so I take all responsibility.. I am so sorry for what happened yesterday. Cannot stop think about it. Biggest mistake in whole 23 years of life."
@Buck Rogers April fools?
@biggles
I thought of that but I do not think so (but seriously, what do I know). This episode is hitting the proverbial fan. Cyclingnews just posted an editorial about it and I am sure that Cannondale has been on the phone with him as well. His facebook page just had a rambling post in Slovak from him about the "mistake" and how he has hurt someone so close to him, etc. Sounds like his steady girlfriend wasn't too impressed, either. Oh to be young, incredibly talented, incredibly rich, maybe a bit naive and to make a real mistake on a huge stage. Fame is cruel, eh?