Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2012

[BroDeal]

We are not the worst

I am upset. We are not number one. This cannot stand.

 

[spalco]

Actually, although I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but I believe I saw this graph when it came out and a bit later it was said that they made a mistake and the USA is in fact #1 in this regard, not Mexico.

 

[Yingge]

weather outlook?

According to http://www.meteo.be/meteo/view/en/65239-Home.html

Early Fog, followed by some cloud, but DRY - max 8C.

In Kortrijk at 7PM tonight it was sunny and 8C.


15000 or so turned up to ride the course (not sure if the whole route, I suspect just the latter half) today.

 

[rghysens]

According to http://www.meteo.be/meteo/view/en/65239-Home.html

Early Fog, followed by some cloud, but DRY - max 8C.

In Kortrijk at 7PM tonight it was sunny and 8C.


15000 or so turned up to ride the course (not sure if the whole route, I suspect just the latter half) today.

3000 rode the whole distance (actually "only" 244km, because they only climb the oude kwaremont and paterberg once), the rest participated in the 138km or 87km road events, or the MTB events.

 

[search]

hah? thats a joke right?

I must say, I've got that gut feeling as well, and I'm not biased due to bmc-fanboyism etc...

I don't think he'll win, but that toothaches might have influenced his recent results and he didn't look that bad at Sanremo, the form should be okay. He still misses the necessary strenghts to fight for the victory but I think he will surprise with a top 10 finish.

 

[woodenswan]

According to http://www.meteo.be/meteo/view/en/65239-Home.html

Early Fog, followed by some cloud, but DRY - max 8C.

In Kortrijk at 7PM tonight it was sunny and 8C.

thx

I must say, I've got that gut feeling as well, and I'm not biased due to bmc-fanboyism etc...

dont get me wrong i certainly dont think its impossible, i only found that post funny because it stated something in a matter of fact voice as if it was a fact. proven. certain.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

More like flying of the back of the peloton!

LOL. That's more like what was on my mind when I said Phil has been flying under the radar so far this season.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Being it April fools day i think OSS will win because he is Il Diavolo

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

We are not the worst

I am upset. We are not number one. This cannot stand.

The U.S. is benefitting from all that fine Mexican cuisine (it really is good) that has followed immigrants across the border. So no way U.S. will be numero uno in that category. At least until the numbers of illegal immigrants overruns the U.S. population.

 

[hatcher]

How many hours away are we now? 2? 3? I hate Saturdays before the classics.

 

[jens_attacks]

so no more cameras in the cars this year?man those were so much fun

 

[hrotha]

Got a feeling Gilbert will be up there with the main contenders. He has improved a lot this week.

As evidenced by his performance in zero races this week.

 

[rhubroma]

Himself....

It's not MSR, if he gets away it will be solo. I don't see Gilbert there this year, although best wishes to him. Fine lad.

If Boonen doesn't get droped by Canc, he wins.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

As evidenced by his performance in zero races this week.

dkjsdfhijsonic gets these feelings however. (S)he was convinced the turning point was reached at MSR, and he was just unlucky to crash at the back of the pack.

The races since then have shown just how right (s)he was.

 

[will10]

so no more cameras in the cars this year?man those were so much fun

Not really.

"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, the next climb is in 2km, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Look after each other, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, do not work, we sprint for 3rd (or 13th)"

 

[jens_attacks]

Not really.

"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, the next climb is in 2km, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Look after each other, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, do not work, we sprint for 3rd (or 13th)"

i found them pretty awesome."he's too strong" and "no riding" were adding a lot to the huge drama on the road,i can remember those even now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCioCrbenWM

2;20

 

[hfer07]

Not really.

"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, the next climb is in 2km, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Look after each other, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, do not work, we sprint for 3rd (or 13th)"

Only JV can pull that kind of sh!t - my jaw dropped to the floor when I heard that atrocity.....

 

[The Hitch]

Not really.

"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, the next climb is in 2km, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Look after each other, stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Stay in the front"
"Gentlemen, do not work, we sprint for 3rd (or 13th)"

i found them pretty awesome."he's too strong" and "no riding" were adding a lot to the huge drama on the road,i can remember those even now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCioCrbenWM

2;20

Yeah they were awesome. Just seeing Riis and Saxo go nuts in that car was totally worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPsUJ3EjCN0

Will, how can you be against seeing that?

 

[will10]

Yeah they were awesome. Just seeing Riis and Saxo go nuts in that car was totally worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPsUJ3EjCN0

Will, how can you be against seeing that?

I'm not against it, certainly added a bit of interest to see the directors during the race. It's just Flanders came in the midst of the radios row, with a lot of directors maintaining it was a safety argument, and then the majority of them just said "stay in the front". Seemed somewhat foolish on their part.

I'd forgotten "he's too strong" though, brilliant

 

[Pantani_lives]

Yes, I liked the car cameras too.

For tomorrow I'm afraid for one thing. If a soloist reaches the top of the final climb of the Paterberg with an advantage of ten seconds or less he will have a hard time staying in front on that long flat road towards the finish. It might be decided on the flat in those final 13K.

 

[burning]

Shame that i cant watch this live but will watch later all coverage for sure

 

[will10]

Yes, I liked the car cameras too.

For tomorrow I'm afraid for one thing. If a soloist reaches the top of the final climb of the Paterberg with an advantage of ten seconds or less he will have a hard time staying in front on that long flat road towards the finish. It might be decided on the flat in those final 13K.

Personally I think it will be easier to stay away after the Paterberg than it used to be to survive to the finish after the Bosberg. Although a lot (as is often the case in Belgium) will depend on the weather, especially the wind.

 

[Anonymous]

Today, at the Ronde Cyclo, the wind on the finish 12kms was horrible. Very hard, either direct head wind or wind off your left shoulder.

It sucked and if it is like that tomorrow the finale will be spectacular and extremely tactical.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

Haha I never noticed that before, in the 2011 flanders recap video, fabian takes a disgruntled sip from his water bottle with like 1k to go, LOL!

omg just noticed the water bottle was laying like a landmine in the road directly behind the trio... was he hoping to crash one of those teams that wouldn't collaborate with him?? lol

 

[Pantani_lives]

Today, at the Ronde Cyclo, the wind on the finish 12kms was horrible. Very hard, either direct head wind or wind off your left shoulder.

It sucked and if it is like that tomorrow the finale will be spectacular and extremely tactical.

So you did the complete final? What was your general impression?