Velominati Super Prestige: Ronde van Vlaanderen 2013

This is the real Ronde

Imagine a world without the little things we take for granted; a house without a roof, a pub with no beer, a Keepers Tour without any clothes. The last one is a reality for me at the moment, five days in and still no trace of where the hell between Wellington and Paris my bag (filled with V-Kit, shoes, helmet, everything) is. The other thing that has me perturbed again this trip is that there is no Muur de Grammont/Kapelmuur in the Ronde. To me, the race feels naked without it.

That won’t stop us from riding it next weekend though, and although there will be no crowds, no pros, there will still be the magical spirit of the great battles past on these hallowed stones. We’ll try and emulate The Lion and climb it in the big ring (or the 50t) while the man himself watches on, probably laughing inside, or indeed outwardly, as we succumb to the gradient and stab frantically at the left-hand shifter. Then we’ll realise just how ordinary we are and how special this hill is.

Even though the Muur is absent again this year, the 2013 Ronde is shaping up as one of the best in recent history. The battle between Faboo and Sags is well touted, but will they mark each other out of it and let an opportunist take their chance? My money’s on that scenario playing out, but if you have any sense you’ll see my VSP scores reflect a total lack of tipping nous so far this season and reject anything I predict as hogwash.

Check out the start list, grab a cold Malteni or other fine Belgian ale, slather your frites in mayo and keep your eye out for the V-Flag on the Oude Kwaremont this Sunday. Goed geluk!

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Brett

Don't blame me

Next Keepers Tour: Eat Properly »

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View Comments

biggles says:

Apr 2 2013 at 11:01 am

@itburns I thought so too.
Chris says:

Apr 2 2013 at 11:01 am

@Russ

@biggles

@Buck Rogers Sounds like it couldn't have been much worst had he actually fiddled with Faboo's junk.

And this is basically just adding insult to injury after he got dropped so bad.

Unrelated: Here's a picture of his pained face as he is looking at Motorcus riding away:

Very nice shot of him deep in the pain cave and the look on his face tells it all. He knows the train has left the station and he's not on it. I want to say that is what the guy in the yellow is saying to him also.

Looks like Boonen in the right hand corner.
Russ says:

Apr 2 2013 at 11:32 am

@Chris

@Russ

@biggles

@Buck Rogers Sounds like it couldn't have been much worst had he actually fiddled with Faboo's junk.

And this is basically just adding insult to injury after he got dropped so bad.

Unrelated: Here's a picture of his pained face as he is looking at Motorcus riding away:

Very nice shot of him deep in the pain cave and the look on his face tells it all. He knows the train has left the station and he's not on it. I want to say that is what the guy in the yellow is saying to him also.

Looks like Boonen in the right hand corner.

If it is him he is thinking to him self , don't feel bad kid he got me back in 2010 at nearly the same spot.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5i8DSbgsqC8&feature=related
Mirko says:

Apr 2 2013 at 12:06 pm

@Russ

@Chris

@Russ

@biggles

@Buck Rogers Sounds like it couldn't have been much worst had he actually fiddled with Faboo's junk.

And this is basically just adding insult to injury after he got dropped so bad.

Unrelated: Here's a picture of his pained face as he is looking at Motorcus riding away:

Very nice shot of him deep in the pain cave and the look on his face tells it all. He knows the train has left the station and he's not on it. I want to say that is what the guy in the yellow is saying to him also.

Looks like Boonen in the right hand corner.

If it is him he is thinking to him self , don't feel bad kid he got me back in 2010 at nearly the same spot.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5i8DSbgsqC8&feature=related

That's the Koppenberg, whereas Sagan was dropped on the Paterberg. Great video, though.
biggles says:

Apr 2 2013 at 1:26 pm

@Mirko Well, I was guessing the context. Thow art wise and observant.
Dr C says:

Apr 2 2013 at 2:53 pm

@Islandbike

Dr C, I will try to do it justice. I have already learned that I score a lot more points when I get my picks in on time! (MSR, Ghent, etc...) The Lion looks great and I'm happy to have it, just wish I hadn't dug myself such a whole in the overall.

In other things related to Flanders, it is 30 degrees w/25 mph winds here and I am putting on 28 pieces of kit and hitting the crappiest roads I can find this morning.

Actually, mine was the KT one - yours required you to display some nous - fair play to you

@Steampunk

@Dr C

I don't know about this anymore. I think the lesson from yesterday is that if you work with Cancellara, he's going to bury you. Spartacus basically shamed Sagan into taking turns pulling before the race, and you could tell that the pace was too high for the youngster. He was gassed before the Paterberg, so Cancellara just rode away (a very impressive show of power). Who's going to help him next Sunday? Of course, without the main strongmen contenders present, will it even matter? But I can see a host of riders just sitting on his wheel, and we'll get Cancellara sitting up regularly out of frustration.

I guess one benefit of having ridden those god awful pave last year was knowling that if someone has power to burn, no amount of drafting will help you hold the wheel - they are like riding on very sore velcro

1. Faboo