Here comes sickness.
Can you feel that? That itchy, twitchy feeling… that’s anticipation, it’s expectation, it’s Belgian fucking racing fever! You know you’ve got it, and you can’t fight it, you don’t want to fight it, you need it bad because it’s been way too long. Some may call it Spring Fever, Cobblebone, or Kassientitis. It manifests itself deep in the bones, chilling your very core, while simultaneously warming your heart. This is the best time of the racing season, and it’s affecting me more than ever, because I won’t be attending the clinic this year. And that makes me sick.
While the VSP doesn’t kick off until some 300k Italian sprint bores us to death in a couple of weeks, we all know that the real start to the season is this weekend on the bergen of Flanders, and we want the worst possible weather for it. As we bathe in sunshine in the bottom half of the planet, those of us inflicted with the sickness really long to be wrapped in our Flandrien Best and getting dumped on by cold rain and icy crosswinds on some shit-covered road, just waiting to get to the next sector of stones, the next steep and slippery climb, where once on it you curse with all your deep-seated hatred until it is crested, and a strange sense of joy briefly appears, not giving itself up fully until the first Malteni is opened hours later. It’s the medicine that doesn’t cure anything except a lack of Flahute in the system, and that’s just how we like it.
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View Comments
@Harminator
Etixx did screw up on a monumental scale last year but Stannard rode superbly and I don't think he got the credit he deserved for that win. While the other three fannied around he made just one all out attack in the last 4k and that proved decisive. I thought he demonstrated great race craft in addition to his phenomenal strength.
Ghent, 10h, 1°C.
@brett
Didn't get the training before winter part until it connected: southern hemisphere?
For your injury...well i am not you nor your doctor, but the last time i was injured i wanted to force my return, injured myself even more, and ended up losing 3 month rather than wait 2 weeks. A friend of mine lost the ability to go fast forever by destroying his knee that way. So, at least, you should go reaaaaly easy. But yeah, after a month without riding i understand that urge to ride a bicycle: its one of the most enjoyable thing in the world after all.
Anyone got a decent link for us southerners to get a some real racing under the belts ?
@gilly
After Stannard reeled in Boonen's attack they had to think he was toasted. No other reason Vandenbergh also joins Terpstra in the next attack. That was the knucklehead move indeed. It was a greedy attempt. Not only does Stannard counter that attack but then he hits it! Was wonderful.
@wilburrox
Right. Stannard had been sitting in for 35k. He was very cool bringing back Boonen. Awesome even. When Terpstra goes if Vandenbergh sits on Stannard he gives Boonen a wheel and saves himself. Instead he gives Stannard an easier chase and gaps Boonen.
Vandengergh does similar dumb stuff in Gent Wevelgem blowing Terpstra's chance.
@Barracuda
Try this
http://www.fixalen.tv/20160226/vv-1274009-cycling-56d04a9184b4f8.35699688.html
Chapeau Luke-4th. And chapeau Lizzie.
@RobSandy
Odd tactics by that lead group. Prerace, Sagan said he was just riding for training. Apparently he wasn't bluffing. He pulled like a domestique for what seemed like 20km. The AG2R guy was basically the only one who helped. Rowe took a couple short ones. But GVA just sat in. In the end, Sagan and AG2R guy had nothing.
@fignons barber
Really? I thought they shared it around pretty fairly. I only caught the last 40k but every time I saw the break they seemed to be in a pretty smooth rotation. Kept the gap at 50 seconds for the last hour...