wiscot – I love watching Sporza and I’m an English speaker. Boonen was pure class.
That’s the type of thing that really fuels my passion for cycling these days. And stuff like the Cincinnati-Xavier basketball brawl, fueled by trash talking on sports radio and twatter jabs, makes me turn away from mainstream U.S. sports more and more.

@Dr C

@Ron
Apparently Cav spent the first three hours barfing before he felt a bit better and got dragged to the front by his team mates – I bet the post finish kisses hugs didn’t smell the best…

Yup, I know Cav still has a lot of haters out there but let’s face it, he’s showing the rainbow jersey due deference and seeks to honor it. How many of us would go out and race while barfing? He could easily have climbed off. Instead he stayed in, got the support of his teammates and won. That’s gotta go down well with his team as a guy who gives – and expects – 100%. I think Graham Watson’s site has an early race pic of Cav and he looks awful . . .

Being from the UK, I know Cav’s accent instantly marks him as “working class” and that he speaks his mind and is a personality is setting him up for the media to turn on him at the first signs of weakness. Just watch until he “only” gets a stage or two in the Tour and see the knives come out. Darling of the press one minute, loser the next. The media in Britain can be vicious (see phone hacking/Murdoch/the Sun/News of the World for details). The pressure for him to perform well at the Olympics is immense. With his (and cyclings) newly found high profile, he is expected to win.

And finally, to see quality sportsmanship is a delight. See Boxing’s recent woes in Germany with David Haye and Dereck Chisora. Pathetic.

That’s the type of thing that really fuels my passion for cycling these days. And stuff like the Cincinnati-Xavier basketball brawl, fueled by trash talking on sports radio and twatter jabs, makes me turn away from mainstream U.S. sports more and more.

@Tobin

You gotta love cycling reporters…Reporter – ” Cav great win today. Are you going to loe some weight for Milan San Remo”Nice…

Too funny. And they wonder why cyclists are not always gracious about interviews. Especially just after they’ve killed themselves for the last 6 hours and have not even caught their breath!

I heard that! I thought I was hearing things, then I realized I wasn’t. I HOPE they had discussed this off camera at an earlier point. But yeah…you just rode 6 hours, tell me why you are so fat? Jeez! And they say super models have impossible body standards to live up to. What about cyclists? The fastest guy in the world, maybe, maybe 1-2 kilos over his absolute lowest weight, has eaten nothing but gel & cardboard bars for six hours and he gets called fat!

I’m actually a big fan of any cyclist, PRO or non, who can ride well & isn’t skin & bones. Most of us have bellies, which most pros don’t, but I love seeing a guy who maybe isn’t weight crazy still be strong as.

Nothing worse than talking about weight & dieting with dudes, especially dudes in Lycra.

Very happy for Sep! Nice win, lad. And yep, Boonen showed some incredible class. That was just awesome – Boonen did his best, couldn’t pull it off, and congratulated the better man on the day. I think I might pay attention to more sports if they had such class. (nah…I probably wouldn’t!)
So who was cramping today? Boonen or Sep? And I was only able to catch the last 17 km, sorry out riding my own bike. When did the definitive break go? I’m sure that hill of cobbles has a special name.
And who the heck crashed trying to get the inside lane on Boonen?
I also watched the post-race coverage on Sporza. Wow, if I could head to the local pub and watch that I’d be in heaven. (don’t have a t.v.) Highlights, analysis, actual talking from the PROS, not just lame cliches. I need to move!
This VSP is off to a solid start!

Yup, one of the reasons I like Tommeke is his class. Beaten by a newcomer in a race he admitted he wants on his palmares, he did more than just give SvM a pat on the back as they crossed the line. As Sporza showed in a clip, he was effusive in his comments and actions in the winner’s tent afterwards.

By the way, I don’t speak Dutch or Flemish, but Sporza shows a lot of good short clips on their site and their commentators are awesome.

You gotta love cycling reporters…Reporter – ” Cav great win today. Are you going to loe some weight for Milan San Remo”Nice…

Too funny. And they wonder why cyclists are not always gracious about interviews. Especially just after they’ve killed themselves for the last 6 hours and have not even caught their breath!

Sorry meant hitarovich…poor quality feed online made it hard to distinguish the jersey.

@Nosyt

Rabobank also in position; will be interesting to see what Renshaw can do.

Yeah, Cav/Greipel/Renshaw sprint: Should be pretty awesome.

Wow…Cav dropped Greipel like a bad habit. Who was the Vacansoleil guy who at least made it interesting?

Rabobank also in position; will be interesting to see what Renshaw can do.

Yeah, Cav/Greipel/Renshaw sprint: Should be pretty awesome.

Yep…break is pretty much caught, and Lotto & Sky are featuring prominently at the front of the peloton. Shaping up to be a Greipel/Cav showdown.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xp1tqk_ohn-12_sport

@Ron
too bad you don’t speak Dutch/Flemish…
Boonen started a rush on Taaienberg (that hill of cobbles has indeed a special name), where Boom fell while he tried to do the same. (The road there narrows a bit down, he went off, tried to get on road again, but the mud decided differently)Vanmarcke was the only one who could manage to follow immediatly. a bit later, Flecha, Hayman, Vanmarcke, Breschel, Hushovd and Devenyns closed the gap. then Hushovd and Breschel got dropped in the Paddestraat (in my opinion, one of the thoughest cobbles in Flanders if you do it in this direction). from that point on, Vanmarcke was the stronger rider (compared to Flecha, Boonen and the rest of course). Boonen was very good, but he was like wrenching and shuffling on his saddle, stretching his legs and so – normally he doesn’t. Vanmarcke tried again on Lange Munte, but failed. the last 17k you saw on internet…

Thanks for this, JC! I was able to watch the final 35km via steephill and realized that one big move happened at the 20km mark, which I just missed when I came in at the 17km mark.

And thanks for the names of those climbs!

@Tobin
Much more to my liking. Thank you. Beautiful moment. I remember that point in my pro racing fandom, when I discovered I knew what and when to watch for the decisive move. Rather than “what just happened?” I’d graduated to “here it comes.” As it happens, I was actually across the room playing ball with the littlest Steampunk this morning when Vanmarcke made the move, but nevertheless…

I thought you were supposed to be out riding your bike, stopping for some hot bitter stuff, then building your bike?

@SteampunkMaybe more to your liking?
http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1230119

Awesome!!! I saw the race form 16 k to the finish and missed THE move. VM definitely deserved the win and Tomeke was gracious as well. What a beautiful sport when it happens like that.

@Buck RogersLet me google that for you: yes. 107th @ 7:45.

Double hardcore! Man, not sure I would have climbed back on after that crash that late in the race. Would love to think that I would have, but I cannot swear to the fact that I would have.

@Tobin
Much more to my liking. Thank you. Beautiful moment. I remember that point in my pro racing fandom, when I discovered I knew what and when to watch for the decisive move. Rather than “what just happened?” I’d graduated to “here it comes.” As it happens, I was actually across the room playing ball with the littlest Steampunk this morning when Vanmarcke made the move, but nevertheless…

Vanmarcke (VM, which is RAD btw), just unleashed it on the cobbles there. Really beautiful move. I watched it on Cycling.tv which I’ve just gotten into. Good coverage, but only one guy doing common tatering. Wish I spoke Dutch, Flemish and Itialian.

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1230119

2. I don’t like watching highlights of crashes. I understand that they often animate a race, but it’s a bit like highlight reels including fighting in hockey: I could just as soon do without them. Show me the race, show me the guts and glory that went into making the final selection, show me the suffering. But do I really need to see riders hitting the deck?

@Tobin

Boom!http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1230056

Poor bastard seems to like going into the pavè on his face. OUCH!

+1 Oh man, his face must be killing him right about now. Does anyone know if he finished? (I’m too lazy to look up the results).

Boom!
http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1230056

Poor bastard seems to like going into the pavè on his face. OUCH!

For those of us that picked Thor, don’t worry, he’s Peaking in Two Months.

Well that’s gonna do him a load of good…

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1230056

@mcsqueak

YES! One point ahead of Calmante.

Ha! I am now the standard of excellence on this site! I knew it would happen, eventually…@Anjin-san

@Calmante

People are obviously showing up here more and more because of my increased involvement. Obviously.
I’m happy with my performance, although my strategy for the women’s race was flawed. Rather, it was non-existent.

Yep, You’re the standard alright.

LIke I was saying earlier this week. Y’all can save a lot of heartache, and just mail me the Apron on Monday.

@Anjin-san
La Machine brought Boonen in position before Taaienberg, finished 21st in the second group.

Damn him and his team responsibilities… I thought they might give him the green light to go for it if Boonen wasn’t in peak form. Thanks for the info.

YES! One point ahead of Calmante.

Ha! I am now the standard of excellence on this site! I knew it would happen, eventually…@Anjin-san

@Calmante

People are obviously showing up here more and more because of my increased involvement. Obviously.
I’m happy with my performance, although my strategy for the women’s race was flawed. Rather, it was non-existent.

At least you aren’t ranting about embrocation again… which, by the way, I really like! Mark my words, I will surpass you in the standings soon- I am peaking, in terms of picking winners, in two months.

I may have peaked early. I need to taper for the classics.

People are obviously showing up here more and more because of my increased involvement. Obviously.
I’m happy with my performance, although my strategy for the women’s race was flawed. Rather, it was non-existent.

At least you aren’t ranting about embrocation again… which, by the way, I really like! Mark my words, I will surpass you in the standings soon- I am peaking, in terms of picking winners, in two months.

That’s my throwaway round, now it’s serious business…

So who was cramping today? Boonen or Sep? And I was only able to catch the last 17 km, sorry out riding my own bike. When did the definitive break go? I’m sure that hill of cobbles has a special name.

And who the heck crashed trying to get the inside lane on Boonen?

I also watched the post-race coverage on Sporza. Wow, if I could head to the local pub and watch that I’d be in heaven. (don’t have a t.v.) Highlights, analysis, actual talking from the PROS, not just lame cliches. I need to move!

This VSP is off to a solid start!

Thanks.

I’m happy with my performance, although my strategy for the women’s race was flawed. Rather, it was non-existent.

@Buck RogersWell, fuck me gently with a chainsaw: BR’s showing some sympathy for my neo-Victorian sensibilities!
You’re right about the numbers. Maybe we should create a series of VSP teams and collect aggregate points…

Bloody HELL (sorry)! Now THAT is an awesome idea!!! How cool is that? Pair up some older folks that have been around for a bit with some newbies and have teams!!! We should have thought of that one a month ago! could still have individual standings but also team standings. Wow, cool idea.

You’re right about the numbers. Maybe we should create a series of VSP teams and collect aggregate points…

@Buck Rogers, @BlahLook at it this way: if he’d have won, he’d be jinxed for April. I’m stoked to see him on form and can’t wait to see him take his forth Roubaix!
@Buck RogersGood catch on the banner – its back now!

Ahhh, thanks for cheering me up! You must be right! The RDV equalizer is coming for Tomeke, I can feel it.

@Buck Rogers
Good catch on the banner – its back now!

Also, where did the 2012 VSP page go? Trying to look ahead and plot my stratedgy for the next race (like that will help!)

[vsp_gc]
[/vsp_gc]

[vsp_results id=”14592″]
[/vsp_results]

@Buck RogersI feel your pain.

How crazy is this sport where my favorite rider comes second in a field of, what, around 200 and I am devastated and walking around for the last hour all depressed. Man, what a ride. Hopefully he’ll be completely peaked in 5 weeks!

@5.28, cramps @6.26 and guess who came in second after Eisel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgO-9YSCvXE&feature=related
or this one:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1102391

Westra is almost taken out by a fan looking the wrong way.
Remind you of anything @Frank?

Note Frank’s conspicuous silence. Word is he hopped an early flight to Belgium to recon the Keepers’ Tour and decided to take in today’s race. And, yes, stepped out into the road again. Not to worry, our fearless leader is fine. Just a little embarrassed that history should repeat itself…

@Erik
Agreed; class act. Nice to see him patting Vanmarcke on the back and congratulating him again as SVM choked back tears in the winner’s circle, as well.

This.

Loved that Boonen was still smiling wide when Vanmarcke won. Too bad my pick was Boonen.

He was not smiling, cramps all the way, even in his cheeks!

@Buck Rogers

As for VSP, who took 5th and when does the women’s race start?

it finished around 15h CET
1.Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) – 119km in
2.Eleonora van Dijk (Ned) – z.t.
3.Trixi Worrack (Dui)

Great ride from SVM. Surprising to see Tomeke out sprinted give his Qatar form. Not surprised to see Flecha lacking. Haussler should be embarrassed contesting a sprint for 4th…

Completely agree about Tomeke being outsprinted given his form from the Middle East. I thought it was a foregone conclusion when they all came into the final 500m together. Maybe that’s what Boonen thought as well and that was his mistake?

4 out of 5 but no one in the right spot, so 4 points? I’ll take what I can get for now.

Who got 4th/5th? Congrats to the next holder of the jersey.

4th: Haussler
5th: Van Avermaert (I think)

Agreed; class act. Nice to see him patting Vanmarcke on the back and congratulating him again as SVM choked back tears in the winner’s circle, as well.