Ronde Primer

Hell hath no fury like a pedal turned in anger over cobble.

Ronde van Vlaanderen is here.  Do I need to say any more?  I love watching the Grands with their three week long battles fought in the mountains and on the plains.  Ah, but there is nothing that can compare to the Classics.  And, yes we can spend now until eternity and argue which is the best race, which is the hardest, but which one would you like to win most?  To be a Grand Tour winner is at the pinnacle of our sport, but to win Flanders or Roubaix is Legendary.  These Classics break men...in a single day.  I personally would love to hoist the sett in the velodrome in Roubaix, but heart says the Ronde.

Why the Ronde, Why not?  Yes Roubaix has its Arenberg and the famous sectors, but the Ronde has the hellingen.  Paterberg 12.9%, Koppenberg 11.6%, Muur-Kapelmuur 9.3%, and the Bosberg 5.8% just to name a few.  For me this is what sets the Ronde above Roubaix, the famous or should I say infamous short, steep cobbled climbs of the Ronde -just my opinion and yes it is debatable.  This is how I envision my win at the Ronde.  I would come across the line (solo of course), point to the sky and find the nearest Flag of Flanders to wrap myself in.

Cancellara won it last year in memoriable fasion, but Stijin Devolder did the same thing the year before.  Yes he did -look it up. Devolder lit it up and looked to get stronger the closer he got to the finish.  *Cancellara did break his chain on the Koppenberg.*  Devolder won the Ronde back to back in '08 and then in '09.  In '05-'06 Devolder's teammate at the time a Mr. Tom Boonen did the same thing, Back-to-Back wins at the Ronde.  In between these wins a certain Alessandro Ballan (2009 World Champ) won in 2007.  So where does that leave us here and now in 2011?

Take a quick look at the start list and you will see teams made up of the Rouleurs, the hardmen of the sport, this is not a place where you want to send your Grand Tour Chanpion.  Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling a team based in Belgium, is holding some wildcards in Devolder, De Gendt, and Leukemans.  I would be suprised if you did not hear at least one of these names Sunday afternoon.  Leopard Trek has, oh who's that one guy, oh yeah Cancellara, and O'Grady.  Joost Posthuma also rides for Leopard, but he is a workhorse -an awesome super domestique, but a workhorse nonetheless.  Quickstep, another Belgian outfit, has some scary riders on their startlist.  Boonen, Steegmans, Devenyns (worker), Van Impe (worker), and Mr. Rouge himself Sylvain Chavanel.  Never, never count out Chavanel, former TT national champ of France, he is a formidable rider over the cobbles and in the Classics.  The only problem with Chavanel, is he is French on a Belgian team -so look for him to be working for Tom and Gert, he is very loyal just watch how he controls the chase group when Tom went off in Roubaix in 2009.

Omega Phara-Lotto is fiercely Belgian, and they have Gilbert who in my book is one of the most animated cyclists right now.  Philippe has Roelandts, Greipel (Cav's old teammate) and a good team surrounding him.  Oh, man there are too many possible riders out there, as I scan the start list I see names like Flecha, Arvesen, Hoste, Pozzato, Nuyens, Cooke, Van Avermaet, Hincapie, Goss, Boom, Eisel, Cav, Boasso Hagen. and more.

Let's not forget the Super Classics team of Garm-elo, and yes I am being a little sarcastic due to their poor showing at E3 when fabian blew their doors off.  Hushovd the current rainbow jersey wearer along with Farrrar (lives in Belgium), Hammond, Haussler, Klier, Lloyd, Vanmarcke and Matt Wilson.  On paper this crew should own every Classic they enter.  Who knows they just might start with the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Tune in and watch this race and you might just understand why I love the Ronde.  When you go to bed tonight say a little prayer that it will be raining, cool, and a little windy, basically perfect Belgian weather for a Classic.

Boonen or Gilbert?  Love Gilbert's panache, but got to go with Tom.  What you say?  No Cancellara?  That's right, don't want him to win it.  It means more to the riders that have a (Bel) after their name.