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
@Marko
Immaterial! That's like saying Jens Voigt's little brother Marvin also happens to be in the race. Green hoodie boy lacks his mate's capacity, voracity, and felicity with the V.
@Steampunk
Marvin Voigt? That really has a nice ring to it.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I'm still having a difficult time working out who on god's green earth thought that this might be a good advertising plan...
@Gianni
It wasn't too bad a gamble. He got 4th. And welsh boy got 10th, he did too much work I think. Both Thomas and Flecha seemed to be working for each other.
@Marko
Sure, but it doesn't embody the V. You're not going to just say MARVIN the way you say JENS.
@Steampunk
I'm giving the guys on the Quick Step team the benefit of the doubt--the art director and the photographer were scorching Velomihotties who had the boys doing whatever they asked. Of course, after everyone sobered up, there were some seriously heinous photographs left all over the intertubes. Beware the VMH with the camera phone at the party.
@Steampunk
But if you say MARV! it ends with a V...
Cancellara on RVV:
Panache!
Damn straight. As one commentator said - Cancellara was the strongest but not the first.
I'm still a learner when it comes to race strategy but surely it was Cancellara's ride that dictated all the big moves on the day. Chavanel going up the road was the only proactive move and all the rest were reactive. In the end Chav was maxing just to hold his wheel. Boonen, Gilbert and Ballan made big efforts they were unable to sustain. Only Faboo was able to keep the hammer down long term.
If you're not strong enough to win in a break you have to be the best wheelsucker.
Fabian didn't ride the smartest race. When he went with 40k to go he panicked the field but it was 15k too early. And he clearly had a fuel problem.
I don't get why Chav gets all the praise for ride of the day. He avoided work and then had no sprint...
The way I saw it was that he only avoided work later in the race, and then nearly rolled Nuyens in a close sprint. Great ride by Chavanel.