Ok, ok, settle down now people. Take your seats please. You’re all a little bit on edge, like some cycling Gamblers Anonymous group that’s been let out for the weekend with a pocket full of bills and the name of the nearest bookie. But in your excitement, you managed to crash our server, delaying the fix you so desperately crave.
But wait no more. You’ve warmed up on the gateway races, now it’s time for the hard stuff, as grimy, rough and unadulterated as the roads of Flanders themselves.
You see, there’s this bloke I know who knows a bloke, hangs around the Velominati bike sheds, seems to know a bit about the racing game. Reckons he’s got a sure bet for the weekend. A cert. A dead-set shoo-in. Number 1 in Race 3 of the VSP at Flanders. Fella reckons you could put your left one on it. Absolutely Faboolous or something he’s called. He’s got form (and, judging by the way he shelled the nags on last week’s card, possibly a motor). But word is there could be a late plunge on the other fella, Boom Boom Boy, so maybe a bob each way might be the way to go. I’d watch out for those not-so-roughies though, the likes of Gilbert, Devolder, Ballan and Thor will be waiting to pick up any leftover chaff and could steal away the win, leaving you as frustrated as a one-legged man at an ass-kicking contest.
So what’s it gonna be then? Take the sure thing, or the other sure thing, or throw a dart at the board and hope it sticks? It’s time to study the form guide, search the dark recesses of your soul, throw out any logic, and pencil in your picks on the ticket provided at the bottom of the comments. Whether you’re canny, savvy or just plain tinny, the coveted Obey The Rules bumper sticker is waiting. Is your bumper worthy?
The only thing for certain is that bicycle racing will be the winner on the day.
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View Comments
@Oli Brooke-White
Its a fine line. These guys have to have to have supreme self belief to get where they are. If they don't believe they're the best they lose their edge. I enjoy the arrogance as long as it stays in the arena.
No worries, mate. We need more Velominata around here.
@Brett
I'm with you man. I'm over it. Boonen's so easy to love because he always makes it hard on himself.
@Steampunk, @harminator, @Oli Brooke-White
I'm over him, but the comments are nothing like Cavendouche's...There is an undercurrent of humour that lacks from Cav. Fab's comments are closer to Cipo's than they are to Cavs. In my opinion, anyway.
@G'phant
++1
cancellara's ride was great, but for me he did look human. I think he was 2nd strongest of the day.
I mentioned JV's backing off and soft pedaling Garmin, and I really respect JV, he's brilliant and for the life of me I don't know what was going down when he said it, but it seems a mistake. now, let me also say, i am no PRO and never have so let me leave it respectfully there, he knows more than i his team.
however, quickstep made a mistake too, i think. has anyone heard if Tom-Tom was held back, or if Chav was held back? Seems to me they were all on board for Tom-Tom, and Chav looked to be the one held back, he sat on Spartacus like a bad smell after a bad date. I think Chav was definitely the strongest rider and he will regret not taking 1st for the rest of his life. But nobody seems to know what was going down within the team, if Boonen had the green light and couldn't or if Chav really did ride and couldn't.
anyway, its all water under the bridge for now
now the Queen is upon us
ok, sometimes i ask questions, think and wonder, then find answers.
perhaps i should do it the other way around
here is Chav' comment: "When Cancellara joined me, I found it a pity that I couldn't work with him," Chavanel told Belgian news agency Belga. "But I defended the team's tactics as Tom was behind and he could perhaps take the victory in the sprint."
so it came down to the race, the race dictated an outcome, not so much tactic.
Once again, not really the right place to post this (maybe we could have a thread just for current race going on to comment about it) but report out of Scheldeprijs is that Farrar crashed HARD and that Boonen also went down. Uhhgg!
@Buck Rogers
Boonen went down twice. EBH broken rib? Not the best prep for Paris-Roubaix.
Shit! Man, I have not seen the full fall out on it yet.
I, for one, LOVE the comments from Fabian. As far as braggadocio goes, Fabian's is always classy and well put... and let's be honest, he's dead on. 19 teams rode so hard to beat him they all forgot to try and win the race, only a wily move from Nuyens kept Fabo off the top spot. If Nuyens hadn't gone when he did Chav probably would've just kept sitting on Fab's wheel waiting for Tom to decide whether or not he had the legs. I think Chavanel had the legs to get the win if his team would've given him the green light in the last 10k instead of leaving him so obviously confused in the closing k. Nuyens may not have had the legs or done the work that the others did but he deserves his kudos for brilliant tactical awareness at the end and recognizing the decisive move when it went.