The Great Equalizer

Gent-Wevelgem Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media

The wind-swept break in last weekend’s Gent-Wevelgem was a perfect example of the bike being the great equalizer. Stijn Vandenbergh, 2 meters tall and Luca Paolini, 1.74 meters tall were both there. And until the last few kilometers, no one would bet against either.

I’m always cheering for the tall professionals. I’m no pro but I am tall; it’s all I have in common, actually. In a sport where the average professional might be more Van Avermaet than Van Summeren in stature, it really does not matter. Had Nairo Quintana been in that break, he would have been just as much of a threat as any of the others. Not being fat is a given in cycling but beyond that, all bets are off. The question is how fast can one make the bike go? Short femurs, flat feet, no calves, little hands, gibbon-like arms (cough, strack, cough), horsey teeth, all are welcome on the bike.

As much as I have scoffed at Bradley Wiggins’ chances in Paris-Roubaix, mostly due to his twiggo-sized body, he can make his bike go very fast, again and again. He cannot be discounted.

We have all seen the highly unlikely cyclist disappear up the road ahead of us. I’ve learned the hard way to keep my mouth shut and judge no one by their short femurs. The same holds true for old bastards, but that is another article.

Luca Paolini showed what makes a successful racer. As he rolled over the finish line he pointed to his head and his heart. It was mind over matter: crash a few times, change a bike, solo bridge up to the break, get dropped by the break, chase forever to get back on and finally win from a select group that contained two Quick Step teammates. Bravo. Body type in cycling is no matter; it is all heart and mind.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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Gianni says:

Apr 2 2015 at 10:41 am

@ChrisO

As we were watching that race I said to my cycling buddy Tim that I’d come to the conclusion that even in a box of hammers Vandenbergh would not be the sharpest.

Seemingly...yet, I'm going to pick him to win either P-R or Ronde. He is always at the end of these races, maybe if all the other QS teammates are in the ditch and he gets the go-code. He might be better at crushing souls that puzzling out team tactics. He might just have the correct amount of Dumb. I like this guy.
Gianni says:

Apr 2 2015 at 10:44 am

@Ron

1.72 meters here, so I gotta love a win by Paolini. Or Gerrans, Pozzivivo, Nairo, or one of the other vertically challenged PROs. Coming from a childhood of mainly U.S. balls sports, where size was a big factor, I’m thrilled to now be a part of a sport where height isn’t a big deal. Oh, and I also love Paolini (and Cavendish!) because no matter how skinny they get, they always look a bit stout and barrel-chested. That’s me. No matter how slim my waist, I’m just not a skinny dude. Slim, maybe, but I’m never going to look like a Schleck or Wiggins.

Also, on the topic of Mr. Vandenbergh’s intelligence, can I bring up his camouflage station wagon? What would Clark Griswold think about a non-wood paneled family truckster?

I fucking love his station wagon! That's what made think this guy was a badass.
Ron says:

Apr 2 2015 at 11:15 am

Can we expect you to be cruising the big island in one some day soon? Or DSing for Frank next year on the Big H. Climb?

Also, how about Peeters and his huge head and slicked hair? That guy is looking more and more like he's in the Belgian mob.
TheVid says:

Apr 2 2015 at 11:38 am

@frank

If you have ever ridden with me, you might start to draw a connection between being tall and being a moron tactically. Its because drafting makes fuck all difference to us (no use drafting a mouse) so we ride on the front all the time and get confused as soon as the pace changes.

I must say that riding with you was a nice change for me, since most people I come across on the road (that aren't my biological brothers) aren't nearly big enough to poke a hole in the breeze for me (1.87m).
Mikael Liddy says:

Apr 2 2015 at 12:03 pm

@Gianni

@ChrisO

As we were watching that race I said to my cycling buddy Tim that I’d come to the conclusion that even in a box of hammers Vandenbergh would not be the sharpest.

Seemingly…yet, I’m going to pick him to win either P-R or Ronde. He is always at the end of these races, maybe if all the other QS teammates are in the ditch and he gets the go-code. He might be better at crushing souls that puzzling out team tactics. He might just have the correct amount of Dumb. I like this guy.

Seems Lefevre doesn't quite share your confidence in the big man, here's what he had to say after Sunday's race.

Lefevere didn’t feel comfortable with having only Vandenbergh in front. The giant Belgian isn’t known to be a strong finisher and Lefevere had other cards to play in the other groups.

“We had Stijn in front but he never won a race [Vandenbergh won a stage and the overall in the Tour of Ireland in 2007]. In the next group we had Trentin, Stybar, Terpstra and Nikolas [Maes]. With Stijn we were chanceless. With Terpstra in the group our situation improved.

Source - http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/terpstra-makes-the-best-of-a-challenging-gent-wevelgem
RobSandy says:

Apr 2 2015 at 12:43 pm

@Mikael Liddy

@Gianni

“We had Stijn in front but he never won a race [Vandenbergh won a stage and the overall in the Tour of Ireland in 2007]. In the next group we had Trentin, Stybar, Terpstra and Nikolas [Maes]. With Stijn we were chanceless. With Terpstra in the group our situation improved.

Source – http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/terpstra-makes-the-best-of-a-challenging-gent-wevelgem

Ouch. Doesn't pull any punches.
unversio says:

Apr 2 2015 at 1:56 pm

@frank

Another good article posted just precisely as when you intended it (of course). Visualize the vision, do the vision. I did move my saddle and seatpost this past Tuesday, 5mm up and 10mm forward. Feels as though I gained some unlocked potential energy -- over the spindle. The rails are now at the max position line on the rear. I may evolve to 0 setback this year. Experiment.
Gianni says:

Apr 2 2015 at 2:20 pm

@RobSandy

@Mikael Liddy

@Gianni

“We had Stijn in front but he never won a race [Vandenbergh won a stage and the overall in the Tour of Ireland in 2007]. In the next group we had Trentin, Stybar, Terpstra and Nikolas [Maes]. With Stijn we were chanceless. With Terpstra in the group our situation improved.

Source – http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/terpstra-makes-the-best-of-a-challenging-gent-wevelgem

Ouch. Doesn’t pull any punches.

Jesus, that is cold. I might have to rethink my bold VDB choice for the Ronde or P-R.

It is good Boonen is out, QS has a few potential winners already. It does confuse things when three guys on your team could win a classic. Trek needs to hire one. They are flat fucked now.
fignons barber says:

Apr 3 2015 at 5:34 am

It is good Boonen is out, QS has a few potential winners already.

When Tomke went down, I immediately said Stybar is smiling, he will win Roubaix now.
Kieran says:

Apr 7 2015 at 2:11 pm

@gilly

@gianni. I learned about judging others in my first ( and only to date) TT. I was 19, fit lean and had muscles in my piss. I signed on in front of a guy the wrong side of 50 with a jersey on that looked like he did his ironing on an upturned wok. It was a serious beer belly. I smiled inside, safe in the knowledge that I wouldn’t come in last. He caught me for a minute at around the 10 k mark and I never saw him again. He could bang the 53 all day long, like a metronome. I came in last

I remember when I started racing I didn't rate the older grey haired guys (been young and fit myself ) but I soon came to respect the wily and cunning riders they were. What they didn't have in fitness they made up for in experience and doing just enough work in a bunch. I learned a lot watching how they rode (especially when I was the one being dropped)!