Categories: Awesome Swiss GuysBelgian AffirmationsRacingThe Hardmen

Balance

Fabs and Vanmarke make the split on the Kwaremont. Photo: Alexandre Voisine

I had always imagined that de Ronde van Vlaanderen must be hardest race in the world. The way I worked it out – having never ridden the course of either event at the time – was that de Ronde had the same cobbles as Roubaix, but with 20% grades thrown in. It makes enough sense so long as you don’t know what you’re talking about, but what you quickly discover once you have ridden them both is just how bad the cobbles of Roubaix are: the worst kasseien in Belgium are about as rough as the best pavé in France.

Both routes are so hard you need to experience them in order to appreciate their difficulty; words are hopelessly inadequate in describing the separation the rider feels from their bicycle while simultaneously feeling more connected to it than at any other time. It is through breaking down the illusion of control that the Cyclist is finally allowed to truly bond with their machine.

The element that makes Vlaanderen a slightly easier race is the most counter-intuitive: the bergs. On most routes, the hills are what separate the wheat from the chafe. Yet because of the brutality of the cobbles, they allow a rider to hide. The secret to riding cobblestones is speed; the faster you go, the better the bike is able to skim over the top with the effect of smoothing them out. This requires big, big power to sustain over the distance of a secteur of cobbles, let alone over the whole of a race. But the bergs neutralize the speed somewhat; how fast can anyone go up a 20% grade – on cobbles, no less? The answer is none fast, so the gaps between the strong and the weak are reduced somewhat until the final decisive moments when the pressure is so great that every chink in the rider’s armor is ruthlessly exposed.

To ride the cobbles is to dance with paradox: ride full gas while keeping something in reserve for the crucial moment – not when the odds are stacked in your favor, but the you are at the smallest disadvantage. During Sunday’s Ronde, we saw a Cancellara who was not at his best; he won both his previous two Ronde by being so superior that he could drop his adversaries on the last of the steep grades. This year, he made his move on the one section of the finale where his power was a definite advantage, despite his relative weakness on the day; he attacked not on one of the two steepest parts of the Kwaremont, but on the cobbled false flat between the two where speed could make a real difference. He then hung onto Vanmarke over the steep Paterberg before being dragged patiently to the sprint finish to take his third Ronde.

Cancellara is learning tactics as his strength steadily wanes; before last few year, there was no need for such subtlety. Now he is patient; he is calm. He knows both his strength and weakness, and doesn’t let the antics of the race affect his action. It reminds me of Neruda:

I like you calm, act as if you were absent, and you hear me far-off, and my voice does not touch you.

– Pablo Neruda

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next The Hail Mary Shift »

Previous « Guest Article: In V We Trust

View Comments

The Oracle says:

Apr 10 2014 at 6:18 am

@wiscot I did a quick 30km last night. I started southbound, so I was in the wind (and gradually uphill) for the first part of the ride before turning east and eventually north again. I was about six minutes behind my target pace on the southbound leg, and almost made that up again heading north! http://www.strava.com/activities/128661364 No matter what, it was great to be out in just bibs and a jersey--After the winter we had, it's going to take some time to get used to the feeling of wearing so little.

Good to hear you've gotten your mechanicals sorted. Reminds me that it has been a while for a thorough maintenance check for me as well. The bike is pretty well covered with early-season grime.
wiscot says:

Apr 10 2014 at 8:10 am

@The Oracle

@wiscot I did a quick 30km last night. I started southbound, so I was in the wind (and gradually uphill) for the first part of the ride before turning east and eventually north again. I was about six minutes behind my target pace on the southbound leg, and almost made that up again heading north! http://www.strava.com/activities/128661364 No matter what, it was great to be out in just bibs and a jersey-After the winter we had, it's going to take some time to get used to the feeling of wearing so little.

Good to hear you've gotten your mechanicals sorted. Reminds me that it has been a while for a thorough maintenance check for me as well. The bike is pretty well covered with early-season grime.

Yeah, first ride sans shoe covers, cap and long-fingered gloves. Felt so good and light. It was a damn long winter . . .
Ron says:

Apr 10 2014 at 9:09 am

I'm intrigued by the development of Cancellara as a tactician. Why did he graduate from Mapei into the racer he is, while say Pozzato has become the Potato? I know it is extremely hard to race the top level, but what separates the winners from the really good. Is it mental confidence, is it training?

Nice one, Frank!

Also, that photo of Sep it amazing. I'm laughing aloud at it right now. I like that dude. He seems honest, earnest, and humble.
Ron says:

Apr 10 2014 at 9:38 am

@frank

@Tartan1749

It seems Fabs has been doing interval sprint training just for such an occasion.

That, right there, is what separates a rider like Spartacus from a rider like Schleck.

@KW

@G'rilla

Faboo meets Sven Nys for the first time: http://www.cxmagazine.com/spartacus-cannibal-sven-nys-fabian-cancellara-paris-roubaix-cobbles?utm_content=bufferbeea3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

When and how did Nys get the nickname The Cannibal? That seems a bit blasphemous, no?

He's the Cannibal van Baal - not just a universal Cannibal. But yes, I feel its a bit blasphemous, just goes to show that CX is a sport of savages.

Universal Cannibals are omnivorous and Cannibals van Baal only eat fellow Benelux racers?
Ron says:

Apr 10 2014 at 9:42 am

Wow, that photo of Johan and Marie-Claire is absolutely wrenching.

He's clearly in a world of pain, his shoes are off, her shoes are off, he hit her head-on at a serious pace, his bike is on top of her. I don't even know what to think.

I hope both of them are able to make a full recovery.
wiscot says:

Apr 10 2014 at 11:57 am

@Ron

I'm intrigued by the development of Cancellara as a tactician. Why did he graduate from Mapei into the racer he is, while say Pozzato has become the Potato? I know it is extremely hard to race the top level, but what separates the winners from the really good. Is it mental confidence, is it training?

Nice one, Frank!

Also, that photo of Sep it amazing. I'm laughing aloud at it right now. I like that dude. He seems honest, earnest, and humble.

I really think it has to do with attitude, and, dare I say it, intelligence. Cancellara has talent and brains. Pozzato has talent. That will only get you so far. It's what truly separates the champs from the runners-up. I read a story about Cancellara getting a really expensive car to test drive after a big win. He drove it and returned it - it just wasn't him and he didn't need it. I think Pozzato would have taken the car.

Look at every champ and you'll find a drive, a passion and smarts. The really smart ones can also adapt to changing circumstances. In a year or two I see Cav going much more for classics as his sprint fades. He won't do LBL, but Flanders, Roubaix could be targets. Look at Boonen. The killer srpint is no longer there but he adapted. Some, like Hinault, know when to quit to preserve their pride.

Cycling is merciless in exposing weakness, it's not like a team sport where you're all on the same field when the whistle blows; in cycling you're 10 minutes behind the winner.
frank says:

Apr 11 2014 at 8:25 am

@Ron

I'm intrigued by the development of Cancellara as a tactician. Why did he graduate from Mapei into the racer he is, while say Pozzato has become the Potato? I know it is extremely hard to race the top level, but what separates the winners from the really good. Is it mental confidence, is it training?

Its got to be a combination of elements. Talent, drive, discipline (training and mental).

Also, that photo of Sep it amazing. I'm laughing aloud at it right now. I like that dude. He seems honest, earnest, and humble.

I love seeing Pros who appear to still love their bikes. Also that shot of Kittel bringing his bike flowers after he millarcopter'd it.

I'm liking Sep too; I hope he gets his big win some day soon.
ditta traslochi says:

Apr 17 2014 at 8:23 pm

Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 30
foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed
and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!