Gent-Wevelgem

[franciep10]

Instead of the tour of Flanders starting the spring classics Gent-wevelgem will take place on march 28. your thoughts good move or not. Personally I think the risk of top riders getting injured before Flanders is a risk.

 

[BeachBum]

Instead of the tour of Flanders starting the spring classics Gent-wevelgem will take place on march 28. your thoughts good move or not. Personally I think the risk of top riders getting injured before Flanders is a risk.

Well, the old schedule was RvV, G-W, P-R, so the risk of missing a big race (P-R) due to injury in G-W was always there. If somebody is worried about it, they'll skip G-W.

 

[franciep10]

Well, the old schedule was RvV, G-W, P-R, so the risk of missing a big race (P-R) due to injury in G-W was always there. If somebody is worried about it, they'll skip G-W.

I personally rather RvV, I'm used to the old set up anyway it will be a great april as it always is.

 

[Echoes]

I think in the very old days, it was already in the same order. So back to the roots in some way.

Maybe the E3-Prijs shall suffer from this but I'm not so sure.

 

[ingsve]

Instead of the tour of Flanders starting the spring classics Gent-wevelgem will take place on march 28. your thoughts good move or not. Personally I think the risk of top riders getting injured before Flanders is a risk.

Flanders was never the start of the classics. There are quite a few races before then that are well resppected races. The classics season usually starts with Het Volk.

 

[craig1985]

I like it.

 

[franciep10]

Flanders was never the start of the classics. There are quite a few races before then that are well resppected races. The classics season usually starts with Het Volk.

I know that, but April is the major month for classics, just like the races in June are warm ups for the tour, i think it is similar to march being a warm up for april

 

[il_fiammingo]

I think in the very old days, it was already in the same order. So back to the roots in some way.

Maybe the E3-Prijs shall suffer from this but I'm not so sure.

The E3-prijs remains the best preparation for the Ronde: 12 hills in the last 80km and almost every year hard man-to-man battles. I don't think a RvV favourite will switch it for GW. And IMO E3 has less risks of injuries in comparison to GW (crosswind, more nervous, bunch sprint).

 

[Bluebeard]

I'm sorry to see the change. It used to be the case that you could spend a week in Belgium, base yourself in one spot and cycling to catch the three races (RvV/GW/PR) at really exciting points, and only have to take 4 days off work to do so, fewer depending on work, the fall of Easter and local holidays (obviously written from a European perspective).

I did it last year (fortunate timing) and met quite a few doing the same thing. It crammed a lot in a few days, but with enough time for tackling some of the bergs and cobbles, sight seeing, and recovery. Now that isn't a real possibility, and I think that GW will suffer in attendance apart from TV, as, to judge by the crowds on the Kemmelberg, no-one in Belgium works when there is a big race on, and the reality is many who are travelling to Flanders for a cycle race, or even two, are more likely to target the following week.

 

[craig1985]

I'm sorry to see the change. It used to be the case that you could spend a week in Belgium, base yourself in one spot and cycling to catch the three races (RvV/GW/PR) at really exciting points, and only have to take 4 days off work to do so, fewer depending on work, the fall of Easter and local holidays (obviously written from a European perspective).

I did it last year (fortunate timing) and met quite a few doing the same thing. It crammed a lot in a few days, but with enough time for tackling some of the bergs and cobbles, sight seeing, and recovery. Now that isn't a real possibility, and I think that GW will suffer in attendance apart from TV, as, to judge by the crowds on the Kemmelberg, no-one in Belgium works when there is a big race on, and the reality is many who are travelling to Flanders for a cycle race, or even two, are more likely to target the following week.

*Starts making plans to move to Belgium*

Every Belgian I met treats me like I'm a long lost cousin and how I apparently look similar toTom Boonen, I will fit right in. Plus I like beer.

 

[Jacques Tati]

*Starts making plans to move to Belgium*

Every Belgian I met treats me like I'm a long lost cousin and how I apparently look similar toTom Boonen, I will fit right in. Plus I like beer.

What you saying?....you look like a coke head!

 

[Bluebeard]

*Starts making plans to move to Belgium*

Every Belgian I met treats me like I'm a long lost cousin and how I apparently look similar toTom Boonen, I will fit right in. Plus I like beer.

Looking like Tom Boonen and liking beer - that's two out of three parts of being a hero of the Belgian people. Do you like weird sauces on your chips / fries? If the answer is yes, you could apply for the job of King of the Belgians

 

[craig1985]

Looking like Tom Boonen and liking beer - that's two out of three parts of being a hero of the Belgian people. Do you like weird sauces on your chips / fries? If the answer is yes, you could apply for the job of King of the Belgians

Yes as in trying it, then yes as well.