Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2012

[gregrowlerson]

Well my first monument watched, and it was quite enjoyable. Always interesting throughout the final 40kms, and Boonen deserved his victory. A shame that Cancerella crashed out - possible that he would have gotten 10-15 seconds over the other 3 over the final climb, and then what a chase that would have been!

I am becoming a fan of Sagan. He is already one of the best all around riders going around, and yet so young. The world is his oyster, or lobster. Just a matter of time before he wins something really big. Maybe even this Sunday?

 

[personal]

How did you figure that out?...

Some people resort to insults when they lack arguments.
I can recognize that.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Some people resort to insults when they lack arguments.
I can recognize that.

Lack arguments? All I did last night was to tell you how unreasonable you were. All you did was saying how he should have done and what the result was. Well ****ing done. You have even said you blamed him for avoiding the crash.

But i'm done here. It's like talking to a 10 year old.

 

[Machu Picchu]

It’s idiotic to blame someone for moving out of the way from a group of cyclists which he could see and into the way of a cyclist which he could not and would not be expecting to be riding off the road.

Langeveld chose to leave the road, the spectator chose to run, hindsight though is of little value whilst making these decisions.

Now, if you wanted to criticise the spectators (& friends) actions after the accident then that's another matter.

 

[personal]

Spectator who run instead of just staying where he was (as the other guy) caused the crash, and guy who kept his nerve didn't.
How can you disagree with that?

 

[The Hitch]

I seen this column written by Matt Brammier a few days ago where he talks about the Ronde and how the streets are empty in Belgium for every classic. He gave a good insight into how cycling is followed in Belgium when a classic in is on.

"The history of this event in Belgium is just unbelievable. Two weeks ago, ‘Classics fever’ was already in full swing. Everywhere you go you can feel it, where ever you look you see it. It’s an incredible passion and love for what is considered the toughest most brutal race on the planet. Picture England in the world cup final: once the TV coverage starts, the streets are empty. This is the case for each and every classic. Last week I had to go and do a few things in the afternoon and E3 Prijs was in the last 50km, so I hit record and would watch it when I got home. As soon as I left the house I knew it wasn’t going to be possible to avoid seeing how the race was developing. First the neighbor stuck his head out of the window, “Matt – Tom has attacked, he’s killing everybody!” Then I started my car, live commentary on the radio. The staff in the post office were transfixed by the widescreen images of the race, and those in the supermarket too. It was a sure sign the Classics had truly arrived."

http://roadcyclinguk.com/blogs/gues...a-pharma-quickstep-matt-brammeier-writes.html

Many thanks for that. very pleasant to read.

 

[The Hitch]

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1261479

What does he say ?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I'm sorry, forgot to put explanation. It's about the kid.
Was a kid on Oude Kwaremont, big fan of Boonen. While everybody was watching the sprint on the big screen, he was to nervous, and looked the other way. When he heard everybody cheering, he knew Boonen won, and fell on his knees of joy.

 

[LaFlorecita]

What does he say ?

First when he sees it he says "nee he" what means that he really can't believe it and later he says that it's incredible. Also that the reactions he got where overwhelming and that this is a great season for him and so on.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm sorry, forgot to put explanation. It's about the kid.
Was a kid on Oude Kwaremont, big fan of Boonen. While everybody was watching the sprint on the big screen, he was to nervous, and looked the other way. When he heard everybody cheering, he knew Boonen won, and fell on his knees of joy.

And of course, by pure coincidence, there was a camera to film it.

Seemed a bit staged to me. That's what you get when your race is put on by a tv producer.

 

[El Pistolero]

Good quality racing footage as opposed to crappy quality of the Giro footage?

 

[kanari]

And of course, by pure coincidence, there was a camera to film it.

Seemed a bit staged to me. That's what you get when your race is put on by a tv producer.

Kid must have been a very good actor then...

 

[Machu Picchu]

Spectator who run instead of just staying where he was (as the other guy) caused the crash, and guy who kept his nerve didn't.
How can you disagree with that?

As I said, Langeveld chose to leave the road, the spectator chose to run, who disagrees with what happened? I'm just saying it's futile to try and apportion blame.

 

[Machu Picchu]

And of course, by pure coincidence, there was a camera to film it.

Seemed a bit staged to me. That's what you get when your race is put on by a tv producer.

It was good tv but a cameraman probably just saw the kid, standing alone, nervously not watching and waited for his reaction.

 

[theyoungest]

Good quality racing footage as opposed to crappy quality of the Giro footage?

You call those pixellated screens we got countless times quality footage?

 

[LugHugger]

Just going round Flemish newspapers. Every single one of them has RVV as its main story with massive photos.

how can Paris Roubaix be the queen of the classics if most people in France don't even know it exists.

I suppose it can, only if RVV is given the title - king of the classics.

There is just nothing like it.

Well....Flanders is pretty small geographically and demographically, papers there cater to readership roughly the population of greater London. Justifiably, the race is a source of huge pride, hence it's local exposure. The key parts of Roubaix are equally massively supported. It's also a more linear race than RvV with fewer large towns and conurbations along the parcours.

 

[DominicDecoco]

You call those pixellated screens we got countless times quality footage?

You must have watched it via stream then.

Nothing wrong with the footage from Sporza on EurosportHD...

 

[Ferminal]

You must have watched it via stream then.

Nothing wrong with the footage from Sporza on EurosportHD...

I think theyoungest means the picture breakup when they lose the link to a moto briefly.

 

[theyoungest]

I think theyoungest means the picture breakup when they lose the link to a moto briefly.

Indeed. And in this digital age, when the signal sucks, the image really sucks, unlike the old times when you could still see something through the static.

 

[Cancellator]

Indeed. And in this digital age, when the signal sucks, the image really sucks, unlike the old times when you could still see something through the static.

Can't they switch to another camera more quickly? Sometimes the broken signal persists for a good few seconds before they change.

 

[Polyarmour]

i reckon it was the spectator's fault.
Riding the bike paths is completely normal in the RVV.
The spectator put himself into a zone that the cyclists normally ride in and caused a terrible accident.
Thank God Sebastian didn't hit a bollard.

 

[El Pistolero]

I found a bigger Boonen fan than me and that kid in the corn field:

Bradley Wiggins ‏ @bradwiggins Beantwoorden Retweeten Toevoegen aan favorieten · Openen
@RobFarrington Only speaking with my fan hat on, forget sometimes I am a member of the best team in the world
Als antwoord op Robert Farrington

19u Bradley Wiggins ‏ @bradwiggins Beantwoorden Retweeten Toevoegen aan favorieten · Openen
@RobFarrington would love to see our boys do well, but after today would you bet against Tom?
Als antwoord op Robert Farrington

23u Bradley Wiggins ‏ @bradwiggins Beantwoorden Retweeten Toevoegen aan favorieten · Openen
Pleased for Boonen, what a star, has made the whole of Belgium happy today. Only one man for Roubaix now, place your bets

31 maart Bradley Wiggins ‏ @bradwiggins Beantwoorden Retweeten Toevoegen aan favorieten · Openen
Boonen all the way for Flanders tomorrow

 

[Angliru]

Just some thoughts from the race


And finally, why was Hondo going nuts at some of the race staff?

If you're referring to the Lampre rider (I didn't know that it was Hondo), he happened to be standing with his back to the Boonen, well I'll call it an "entourage" for lack of a better term, as it was moving back in the direction of the finish line. I think there was a race official in a red jacket with his back to Hondo. As the mass of people surrounding Boonen moved with him, the official in the red jacket almost knocked Hondo over inadvertantly. Hondo, as you could see, went ballistic and went after the guy and gave him a shove and what appeared to be some choice words.

 

[Yingge]

Having now watched my first Classic 'in the flesh', I must say that actually being there beats watching it on TV by far. Some other posts have mentioned the RVV fever that besets Belgium, and particularly the Flanders area and I have to say it is very true. I visited Oudenaarde on the Friday and there were cyclists everywhere, every shop, restaurant, coffee shop having a display of some sort, flags and banners all over. The same goes for other cities in the area.

RVV day is basically the Flanders National Day.

Someone asked me why I came so far to see it, my answer being that there are some things you should do at least once in your life.

I joined a group and visited the start in Brugge, then we drove to the Oude Kwaremont and had a nice spot at the top of the climb. Between passes it was off the the Live Screen area about 200m away, watch and drink/eat, then back to the position for the next pass....with a sprint across a ploughed field to see them fly down the New Kwaremont. We ended up in Oudenaarde in one of the many crowded restaurants - then slept well that night.

When Boonen won, the crowd in the Live area (about 10000) erupted in the same way as they do when the winning goal is scored in a football game. I don't think the Belgians will be complaining about the Route change any more.


Now for P-R on Sunday. Arenburg forest here I come.

 

[boomcie]

I found a bigger Boonen fan than me and that kid in the corn field
...

Cornboy is really starting to bug me.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1263275

When he gave that medallion to Boonen and told him to wear it during all races, that was crazy. The kid has lost his sense of reality. He has a pretty annoying face as well.

There, I said it.