The Muur is back to farewell Tommeke
Some things come, some things go. On Sunday in Flanders, there will be a mix of joy and melancholy as an old favourite returns, and another bids farewell. The famed Muur de Geraardsbergen aka the Kapelmuur finally reappears where it belongs, albeit not with the important role it once played. But at least it’s there. And riding up it for the last time will be another legend of the race, also possibly not playing as important a hand, Tom Boonen. It might be fitting to see him lead the peloton past the iconic cross and chapel one last time.
It may be a bridge too far for Tommeke to take a fourth Flanders, and something tells me he’s keeping his powder dry to have a real tilt at a fifth cobblestone next week after coming oh-so-close in 2016. Contending with the rampaging Greg van Avermaert and Peter Sagan up the bergs might take the sting out of ageing, tired legs, and probably most younger ones too. Who can stop these two right now? Probably not QuickStep, who seem more concerned with working out how not to win than actually using any of their many weapons to try to win. Giblets looks to be on song though, and a win in Oudenaarde in the Tricolor jersey is a sight we’ll never tire of.
This promises to be a race for the ages, and picking the winner might not be a flip of the coin situation at all. Best put the thinking casquettes on, study the start list and settle in with a fine Tripel and enjoy the show!
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@Rob
My word! And after yesterday, with podium contenders missing out, first time riders having an impact, and one of the greats riding classics for the last time, next week is shaping up to be a special episode. I've told the fam I'll be in the cave, selected some fine beverages, ordered the cold cuts and cheese (all only occasional indulgences), and set up a small fridge so I don't have to leave the cave. Can't wait!
@stooge
Talking of "in the cave, selected some fine beverages, ordered the cold cuts and cheese (all only occasional indulgences), and set up a small fridge so I don’t have to leave the cave." The hospitality tents being set up on last Saturday at the key climbs around the course were simply huge. The event must generate some serious local revenue. Though at least a few must have been complete quagmires by the close of Sunday.
@Teocalli
We were on the Kwaremont yesterday, an invite only corporate hospitality compound behind us and, I think, a pay to enter set up opposite with a big screen. Both looked like great spots to watch the racing but whilst the bunch behind us definitely seemed to be looking down on the plebs stuck in the hedge, the people opposite spend the afternoon handing beers and canapes over the fence to their adjacent plebs.
If we hadn't spent the previous three evening testing the recovery, anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties of Kwak, we probably would crossed over to join the party.
Three picks right and two in the right order. I guess that kinda sorta makes up for me Delgado-ing the women's Ronde.
This from Pippo Potato:
"I felt good but it would have been better if I'd been able to stay with Greg and Peter. When Peter attacked, I stayed in the back. I had the legs to stay in the front but I was sleeping," he told Cyclingnews, brushing off the disappointment with his usual jokey style. "The tactic was to try and be attentive all day because I wanted to stay right behind Peter. When he attacked, I was at the back of the group and it wasn't possible to follow. I tried to attack a lot of times but a lot of guys didn't have the legs to follow and it was impossible to close the gap."
Jeez. You'd think that taking part in 50 Monuments plus hundreds of other races would have ingrained a little more stagecraft? I mean, it's not as if Sagan was considered a legit contender or anything, was he? I'm sure GvA's strategy was to stick close to Sagan (although, maybe not quite that close . . . ) and that worked out as well as could e expected under the circumstances.
And speaking of "circumstances", he's a slomo vid of the Sagan crash. I'm not sure the banner or the jacket caused it. To my eyes Sagan simply hit one of the barrier supports. Here's the link. Discuss.
http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/twitter/?title=Slomo+spectator+footage+of+the+Peter+Sagan+crash+reveals+spectator+interference&dashboard=tour-of-flanders&id=Seal_jobs/status/848851695597608962&yr=2017
@wiscot
Hmm interesting - it does appear as though the jacket snags the bars and turns him into the barrier support. You can just see that it is picked up by the brifter hood and his front wheel skews into the barrier support. Then again there were plenty of jackets on the barriers so it's up to the riders to make allowance.
@wiscot
Great find on the slo mo vid. At :06 his hood clearly catches the spectator's jacket after which his front wheel veers into the foot of a barrier.
@Rick
Agreed, I think Sagan's hood just catches enough of the jacket to cause a slight turn in his wheel towards the barriers. You can see that the jacket moves substantially to our right as soon as Sagan passes it. This causes it to billow out and poor Naesen has no choice but to catch it full-on. At the speed they were going and as close as they were, there was no margin of error. The banner on the barrier wasn't a factor.
Can't believe Tommeke didn't have a chain guide or chain slap protector on his bike. Given the parcours where riders are much more likely to be doing serious under pressure shifts from the big ring to the smaller one, an issue such as chain suck should be catered to. I doubt it cost him the race, but maybe a spot on the podium.
steephill.tv If you don't have it bookmarked, you should. Best coverage of everything.
@wiscot
I do have Steephill bookmarked but have not actually figured out how to use the site.I find steephill a bit overwhelming and confusing. I look for live races but always wind up watching them on procycling live instead. Sometimes I have to use the Italian or French feed. I can keep up with the live updates and of course I know enough about the idividual riders to know what is going on.
@Rick
steephill is not the most aesthetically pleasing site, I'll grant you, and it can be a bit overwhelming, but once you've clicked on a link, you usually have to scroll to the bottom to find live feeds. Sometimes you have to try a few to find one that'll work/come through. Yesterday my Eurosport feed (with Kelly commentating), kept cutting out to ambient noise. No big deal. What I really like it for is the post race pix and videos. It's like a clearinghouse for all that stuff.
procycling live you say? Is that free? I'll check it out. So long as see the race, I'm happy.