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
I hope for Fabian's sake, Galloping Tony has the legs and timing to get in the main break in the later stages, so he doesn't have to do his annual hopless, though bloody amazing chase down to make the Velo-final
Just off to buy some Trappist Beer, and have the frites and mayo sitting in the fridge waiting for the great, ignore-the-family session on Easter Sunday....
Even bought myself some new shoes to wear whilst I watch it
Yummmm
VSP PICKS:
1. G
2. Chavanel (the good one)
3. Sagan
4. Faboo
5. Gallopin
For what it is worth, I think Sagan is a much more difficult obstacle for Faboo to beat than Tomeke....
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan, Peter
2. Cancellara, Fabian
3. Chavanel, Sylvain
4. Van Avermaet, Greg
5. Boonen, Tom
I think Sagan will win the sprint out of a three man group and have another controversial victory salute. It kills me not to put Tommeke in here but I think he's saving up for Roubaix so he can finally get Roger De Vlaeminck to shut up.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Chavanel
3. Cancellara
4. Haussler
5. Van Avermaet
VSP PICKS:
1. Thomas, G
2. Boonen, T
3. Sagan, P
4. Phinney, T
5. Chavanel, S
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. sagan
3. Johan Vansummeren
4. Van Avermaet
5. Geraint Thomas
VSP PICKS:
1. F. Cancellara
2. P. Sagan
3. S. Chavanel
4. G. Thomas
5. L. Paolini
@Buck Rogers
Oh, I don't know: I find few things in contemporary cycling more exciting and impressive than Spartacus making that dig and dropping the world's strongest cyclists...
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Cancellara
3. Boonen
4. Van Avermaet
5. Phinney
@Dr C
Wow, congrats. Kindly keep us updated on these shoes, as I fancy them, as well. According to my local dealer, they are among the few models I'd actually get my fleet in.