Tour of Flanders/Ronde Von Flandre - some photos

michaelm

I have added a few photos from the weekend in Flanders - quality isn't great as they were taken on my phone but they may give some idea of the event for those that haven't been there. What a weekend! - perfect cycling weather on both days. Almost 20,000 in the sportive - and a great race on Sunday. Great also to spot a Boards jersey at the top of the Bosberg - the final climb of the day. If anyone ever sets up a league table for points scored based on spotting a Boards jersey - I think this one should count as double!

Caroline_ie

michaelm wrote: »

Great also to spot a Boards jersey at the top of the Bosberg - the final climb of the day.

That was probably Dirkvoodoo.

* How can a blorg or a Raam try to climb this ON the bike ... when so many people are pushing their bike ... they're ruining it for everyone!!!

Raam

Caroline_ie wrote: »

That was probably Dirkvoodoo.

* How can a blorg or a Raam try to climb this ON the bike ... when so many people are pushing their bike ... they're ruining it for everyone!!!

I was just thinking that... OUT OF THE WAY EVERYONE!

Cool photos MichaelM

DirkVoodoo

The walking was because so many people went up and went up slowly, that they became very congested. If you weren't experienced at negotiating around lots of wheels on a steep incline (read Me!) then you would come to a standstill.

Best approach was a lot of the hardcore Belgian lads just screaming their heads off at anyone and anything in their way. It was quite a unique and memorable sight: I was forced to dismount on the Koppenberg after some **** (POB) decided to stop in the middle of the cobbles and left me nowhere to go. I then joined a line of hundreds marching their bikes up the narrow enbankment while these screaming Belgians roared their way through the bunch. Nearly saw one or two lads come to blows when they were forced to come off. The crowds on the climbs were something else too, saw an old man give a young lad a push start towards the end of the Koppenberg, probably the closest feeling I will get to being a pro .

Oh, and my hands were in bits the next day, my index and middle fingers on both hands were swollen...I never want to see cobbles again.

Nice to meet you after the Bosberg michaelm.

ROK ON

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Best approach was a lot of the hardcore Belgian lads just screaming their heads off at anyone and anything in their way. It was quite a unique and memorable sight:

Class.
@Dirk, can we get a sportif report when you get a chance.
What type of distance, climbing, gradients.
How did you prepare.
What was your training like. Would you recommend it, and if so to what type of cyclists?

I reckon that I could practive on some back roads around Kerry to simulate cobbles:)

Having watched the pro version on Sunday, I was thinking (possibly delusionally) that this sportif would be on my agenda for next year.

bcmf

I would love to give this a go next year.

ROK ON wrote: »

Class.
@Dirk, can we get a sportif report when you get a chance.
What type of distance, climbing, gradients.
How did you prepare.
What was your training like. Would you recommend it, and if so to what type of cyclists?

I reckon that I could practive on some back roads around Kerry to simulate cobbles:)
Having watched the pro version on Sunday, I was thinking (possibly delusionally) that this sportif would be on my agenda for next year.

No need to go to Kerry (unless you are already there!) just come to North County Dublin.Some of the roads here make those cobbles look super smooth.

Billy Whizz

bcmf wrote: »

I would love to give this a go next year.





No need to go to Kerry (unless you are already there!) just come to North County Dublin.Some of the roads here make those cobbles look super smooth.

This man speaks the truth! Ride from Oldtown to St Margarets for your very own Paris-Roubaix experience.

Raam

Billy Whizz wrote: »

This man speaks the truth! Ride from Oldtown to St Margarets for your very own Paris-Roubaix experience.

Quality road right there

el tel

michaelm, your photo album on Flickr is fantastic. Much kudos to you.

sy

Thanks michaelm

michaelm

ROK ON wrote: »

I reckon that I could practive on some back roads around Kerry to simulate cobbles:)

Having watched the pro version on Sunday, I was thinking (possibly delusionally) that this sportif would be on my agenda for next year.

A few observations - nothing in Ireland will prepare you for the cobbles - at times trying to find the gear lever can even be a problem you are shaking so much!

I think the 140K (which most people do) is well within the reach of anyone that has done a reasonable amount of training - I'm a very average cyclist, carrying a few extra pounds and don't like hills, but I got around ok because I paced myself.

As posted here previously I think this makes one of the best cycling weekends out there - this was my third year in a row and I'm looking forward to next year already, particularly when combined with the next day. Following the "Ronde" is a sport in itself.

Finally you don't have to wait until next year to do the route as it is really well signposted and there are maps available for the various options. It is probably the main tourist attraction in Flanders. Everything starts from the Ronde museum at the centre of Oudenaarde (run by former great Freddy Martens). Three of the most famous climbs (Koppenberg, Patterberg and Oude Kwaremont) ar within 10K of Oudenaarde which is 55mins by train from Brussels. There is an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin everyday which leaves at 6.30 am and comes back at 9.50. I have been on the Koppenberg by 11.30 am in the past. A great day out especially if you get a little bored of the same routes around home. If anyone wants more information - hotels/trains etc please pm me - as I've been there quite a few times. This archived article gives an interesting insight into the sportive. As a matter of interest - surely the ultimate Boards Saturday Spin!

DirkVoodoo

ROK ON wrote: »

Class.
@Dirk, can we get a sportif report when you get a chance.
What type of distance, climbing, gradients.
How did you prepare.
What was your training like. Would you recommend it, and if so to what type of cyclists?

I reckon that I could practive on some back roads around Kerry to simulate cobbles:)

Having watched the pro version on Sunday, I was thinking (possibly delusionally) that this sportif would be on my agenda for next year.

I'll do my best. The short and dirty story is we went out for a few beers in place du Luxembourg in Brussels, then back to the flat for a pasta carbonarra without cream but it was still very tasty.

My training consisted of cleaning my bike (thoroughly!) and I think a spin with Tonto and a mountain bike spin.

Woke at 7:00 and got changed, rushed out of the flat by my friend Phil for a 7:30 start on the roads of Brussels. Was expecting Sunday's weather, but was treated to cold and fog that morning so I was pretty cold (sorry Raam, for most of the day I had to pull down the sleeves on my base layer, extremely un-euro!). We got on the road to Ninove and bought a couple of croissants from a patisserie. My bike handling skills being inferior to my team Worc associate, I was fed each croissant in turn from the paper bag by Phil as we pedalled the 25km of dual carriageway out of town.

The first 30km of the actual event was free of climbs and a mix of the mountain bikers and roadies. It was mostly about jostling for position as the road was thick with cyclists off different speeds and abilities. Phil kept on going from one group to the next as we wound our way through twisting roads and housing estates. I was pretty bad at this. The day itself was great for being in a close bunch and very different to anything I had done before, I would like to think my bunch riding skills have improved slightly.

I hit the first climb without seeing the sign. The cobbles took me by surprise and I immediately reverted to my wicklow hill's mode and popped forward out of the saddle, only to be greeted by rear wheel squirming and sliding out from under me. The few spectators outside their houses made some "woah!" noises and had a laugh as I was left struggling to keep my bike moving forward. I soon learned just to sit my backside over the back as far as possible, the cobbles could not be tamed in the same way as the more compliant tarmac.

I got a slow puncture, which I reinflated to give me a few extra km from one of the many support vehicles around, before deciding to swap it outside a small row of houses before hitting the Koppenberg. In the few minutes that I fumbled with the wheel and Phil ran to get it reinflated (yet another van!), there was never a lull in the constant flow of passing cyclists. It was tricky finding a gap to get started again, and I had some sympathy for some of the drivers I saw getting stranded in a flood of lycra and carbon. It was definitely a day to sit inside and read the papers.

When I rounded the corner for the Koppenberg my jaw hit the floor. I have never seen so many people crammed into the one place. It started as a trickle at the bottom, but half way up the summit the gaps were hard to find. I eventually got wedged between a woman who had dismounted from her hybrid and a very Freddish looking roadie who decided to unclip in the middle of the cobbles. Initially I was raging inside, why the hell didn't he move to the side and fall of in peace there. That was another lesson I learned in Belgium, gaps are fought for and not handed to you on a plate. This is where the screaming Belgiums came in. "Uppe Uppe Uppe" or just some random battle cries I couldn't quite make out. Like Moses, the seas parted for these hardened men of the cobbles. It was either that or be shoved out of their way. Worse still would have been to have forced one to dismount, like I saw one idle chap do. I really thought the big Belgian was going to clock him before he put a foot on the ground. In the end it was just more screaming in Flemish.

I had to dismount on 2 climbs due to congestion, but by the time I reached the Muur I was going to get one of the famous climbs and decided to let my lungs do some extra work. I started shouting, which I didn't need to do because I had a big group of Belgians behind me with their sirens on, so I just tried to stay as far in front of the screams as possible. once we got to the "bad cobbles" and steepest part of the climb, I found myself powering up, weaving between the strugglers. The crowd at the top really helped, in my mind I was a pro so I popped out of the saddle and really went for it.

In general I think the climbs were by far the best part of the day. I had been anxious about the number, but they are so short and enjoyable that each one was distinctly memorable. Just don't ever mention cobbles to me again...Tonto is right, hit them at speed. It's what the Belgians do and my slowing down over them only amplified the tremors and prolonged the pain.

Anyways, gots to go now! Hope that helps somewhat (yes, I just finished rough ride over there and like Kimmage have abandoned my career as a pro in favour of journalism!)