Greatest Ronde van Vlaanderen in the last Decade?

[Miburo]

Been a while since i made a thread lol. Inspired by hitch's latest thread about best year in the latest decade and the fact that i rewatched the RVV from the last few years.

So what's the best RVV in the last 10 years?

The question mark shouldn't be necessary since it's obvious nonetheless it's really enjoyable to just talk about that RVV of 2011. Prob the best classic i've ever watched live, i'm only 22 but still what a great race.

I miss the Muur

Let's hope the RVV 2014 will be better than those 2 latest editions...

 

[Netserk]

Most were great. Especially on the old course. 2011 the best I've watch.

 

[Roude Leiw]

2011 was by far the most entertaining and i am watching for more than 20 years. Icing on the cake was Bjarnes reaction in the teamcar when Nick won

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

2011 was great, but also weird. A peloton of about 60 riders going up the Muur van Geraardsbergen. That's unseen.

 

[ILovecycling]

one of the Devolder's win,I think the 2009 was impressive iirc.
I didnt enjoy 2011 at all

 

[ILovecycling]

2011 was great, but also weird. A peloton of about 60 riders going up the Muur van Geraardsbergen. That's unseen.

yes,it was rather embarrasing borefest

 

[eliacodogno]

According to me, 2011 was the most fun, 2007 and 2010 the most interesting (Ballan and Cancellara wonderful on Muur)

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

That's why I don't understand part of the criticism on the new course.

Not really related, but since we're in memory lane anyway, and it only just predates this decade: remember the epic 2001 failure? (both in the peloton with all the favorites not being able to catch the early attack, and in Dekker's sprint).

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

But back on topic:
I really enjoyed 2010. Only direct confrontation Boonen vs Cancellara ever.
Both Devolder's wins were really nice. I think I prefer his second one though
I was chearing so much for Hose in 2007, it still hurts to see that sprint again
All of Boonen's wins were great.

I think my two favorite edititions did not make the list though: 2002 (Tafi) and 2003 (Van Petegem). Not sure if they were indeed that great, or if being a 14 year old everything is just more fun, but I still remember those more vivid as any edition in the poll.

 

[jsem94]

Have only seen the editions from 2007 and onwards. Voted 2010. The direct Boonen vs Cancellara showdown, with Fabian sitting down and riding Tommeke off his wheel on the Muur was majestic.

The Muur needs to come back.

 

[Volderke]

1. 2011 (very, very entertaining and the way Cancellara took the last part of Haaghoek + Leberg (after Boonen pushed on Haaghoek) was breath taking)
2. 1995 (same, last hour was like one big finale between favorites. Organisers should watch, the Zottegem-Brakel part, without too many big hills, was were all attacks were placed)
3. 2008 (Devolder pulling for hours and pulling it off)
4. 1985 (epic race with epic weather)
5. 2005 (first for Boonen, a thrill to watch!)

found this:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/retro/retro_voorjaarsklassiekers/retro_rvv

 

[podunavac]

Devolder's back to back victories stand out in my view.
Especially the first. He's shown how a hardworking domestique, if he's able to create a chance, should exploit the opportunity. Also, it was a genuine Flemish scenography that year.
But every edition was impressive in its own manner.
There's only few unused plots in the past decade.

 

[barmaher]

I would say when I am old and senile, the last cycling moment I will forget will be the Swiss champion versus the Belgian champion on the Muur.

For that reason, I go for 2010.

2008 and 2011 were entertaining races. Last year was muck.

 

[Flamin]

2011 was legendary. Tommeke going on Leberg, but Cancellara instantly putting on an extra gear, flying away from everyone. And on the Muur, when the gap suddenly started going down from something like 40" to 15" in half a minute, I was like 'WTF, this can't be true' and then the moment Cancellara and the peloton caught in the same shot. I couldn't believe it

The camera's in the team cars also made that edition one to remember for a long time. Of course Bjarne's reaction when Nuyens won. Wilfried Peeters about Cancellara when the Leopard DS (Nygaard?) asked him to let Chavanel take some pulls: "he's just too strong". Or Sergeant to Gilbert after Bosberg: "the time trial of your life!".

 

[Roderick]

2007 hands down. Poor, poor, poor Leif Hoste

 

[red_flanders]

For me it was 2010. The two best guys and a dominant win. Great stuff. And the motor controversy. Only in cycling. All time.

 

[Jspear]

For me it was 2010. The two best guys and a dominant win. Great stuff. And the motor controversy. Only in cycling. All time.

Yep, I second that. The motor controversy was pretty funny. I believe one of his comments was "It's so stupid I'm speechless."

 

[ILovecycling]

Yep, I second that. The motor controversy was pretty funny. I believe one of his comments was "It's so stupid I'm speechless."

remarkable
it even appeared in first pages of tabloids around europe.no comment

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

My all-time personal favorite (2002) isn't included (for obvious reasons) so I will go with 2011. A great race, it had everything from Chavanel's attack 80kms out to his superb effort to hang on to Cancellara in the last 40kms to BMC's team time trial leading into the Muur to the favorites bridging out to the leading duo of nowhere on the Muur to Gilbert's fine effort on the Bosberg to the cat and mouse game in the last kilometers to Cancellara somehow finding the energy for one final dig. Even when the race seemed set to be a straightforward sprint between Cancellara, Chavanel and Nuyens there was one last twist with Flecha's desperate attempt to come back with 1km to go which helped Boonen come within touching distance of the trio. In turn this forced Cancellara to open up the sprint from too far out producing a surprise winner. The only problem someone could find with the race is the winner, as Cancellara and Chavanel would both have made worthy winner but Nuyens taking it is in a way oddly fitting. Indeed that such a tactical race was won by the smartest/luckiest (in the sense that the only attack he followed all the day was the winning move) rider of the day is no coincidence.

2010 is a great edition too. However, once Boonen and Cancellara got away, it was always going to come down to the ascent of the Muur. These two are in a league of their own when it comes to cobbles classics so you knew nobody was going to bridge up to them and Cancellara's only shot at dropping Boonen in a one on one in the final kilometers was the Muur. Even though the Swiss delivered in emphatic style, that race simply doesn't have nearly as many highlights as the action-packed two-hour finale of 2011. The Swiss national champion dropping the Belgian national champion on the Muur will remain an iconic picture of the Ronde for years to come, much more so than Nuyens winning sprint or any particular moment of the 2011 race for that matter, 2011 was more enjoyable to watch as a whole and it isn't even close in my book.

All races on the lists have some redeeming qualities except 2012 and 2013. I am glad that, that awful course is gone. What an embarassement it was for (one of) the most entertaining one day races in the world

 

[The Hitch]

Even though I was far happier with the outcome of 2010, objectively- 2011 was better.

 

[Roderick]

I feel people are overrating 2011 a bit. Ofcourse it was a brilliant race from Geraardsbergen on, but the hour before was a real borefest and most of the teams had already practically given up

 

[manafana]

was between two popular votes went with nuyens great strategy to create shock win.

 

[The Hitch]

I feel people are overrating 2011 a bit. Ofcourse it was a brilliant race from Geraardsbergen on, but the hour before was a real borefest and most of the teams had already practically given up

Well the forum had certainly given up. Everyone was already looking to Paris roubaix.

GAME OVER!

Better luck next year peloton.

cancellara gone...
for victory

Wow that was exciting.

and the race is over..

Was going to post the same words... If they don't catch him in 2km it is.

Is that it then. All over?

Game, set, and match folks.

this is ridiculous.

Great... and Paris-Roubaix will be so interesting too...

the race for 2nd is now on!

Well, no-one is going to chase him down, so the only way Canc doesn't win now is if Chav can hold his wheel. I don't see that happening.

Race over, why does Cancellara have to make the best races of the year boring, can't he just toy with them till 10kms to go and keep it interesting?

the race for 2nd will be pretty good at least :S

They're not even chasing.

see you Monday guyz

Yes, race over.

It doesn't matter. Canc will not be caught.

This is stupid...

so dissapointing

Yip, nobody in Australia has to worry about lack of sleep anymore.

2nd = Boonen
3rd= EBH

Only if they can ride faster than him.

Which they can't.

Apart from two wise cycling fans that is

This aint over.

The group WILL work together.

+1. I don't trust the timing, but the gap hasn't really gone out (yet).

 

[The Hitch]

2014 Easy.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

2014 Easy.

Can a mod reset the poll and add 2014 as an option?