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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I'm re-posting with my correct picks
because I royally screwed up my first entry, posting Sagan twice. He's good, but not that good.
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Gah, hoping my post goes through this time.... and hoping I can stay spoiler-free til later this evening when I finally get a chance to watch. Heart wants Boonen to have a good race, but feeling more like he's saving it for Roubaix. Too much shadow boxing ruins it for Sags again, and GvA nips away with the win in
brilliant form.
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@chris
Inevitably a great night's sleep and the sun is well and truly up this morning!
Grazed knuckles, elbow and road rash thigh so all in all not too bad this morning. Sounds like your team came off far worse. Hope they are OK this morning.
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