RVV - new finale

[hrotha]

It's also a sad end of the "man-who-sits-in-the-same-position-at-the-Muur every-year,-looking-stupid-guy"

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=GLO38ECHC

It's not just one man! It's a whole squad!
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107302952635389

 

[roundabout]

with 3 local tours around Oudenaarde (with Paterberg and Kwaremont), I hope the finale won't start to look like a criterium

Wait, what? How big are the laps?

 

[CasperVg]

Wait, what? How big are the laps?

This is what Sporza believes the route will be:

- Start in Bruges
- Some hills on the way to the river Scheldt
- First passage over Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg
- Loop with Muur and Steenberg
- Second passage over Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg
- 20 km loop for Third passage over Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg
- 12 km from Paterberg via Wortegem-Petegem to Finish in Oudenaarde

Also, there appear to be rumours that the zone between Kwaremont and Paterberg would be pay-only?

 

[roundabout]

Thanks. Not sure I really like it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

pay only zones in the RVV...

Vandenhaute is the cancer of cycling.

 

[Race Radio]

Here is the entire route

http://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/system/files/460/original/FC12_RVV_PERSMAP.pdf?1316174400

Yes, it sucks to have the Muur out......but this will be a much better route for spectators and the finish will be in a better location. Overall I like it, but hard to image Flander without the Muur

 

[William H]

Laps are for the Tour of Poland, not monuments.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Dont think Evans will. Im not sure if he can handle those cobbles in a real classic.

I am not sure either but think it is a possibility. It would be cool to see him really try but that is not going to happen with Gilbert etc in the team and him defending the Tour.

 

[luckyboy]

Not too keen on the laps. Or the fact that the Muur is gone.

And now there's even more flat between the final climb and the finish 12km this year, 14km now. Way too much for Phil Gil.

Would be interesting to have seen the route Museeuw was designing to finish in Ronse.

 

[Nielsa]

pay only zones in the RVV...

Vandenhaute is the cancer of cycling.

One of the 7 organizer cities that are applying to do Worlds in Norway 2016 are talking about making the finish stretch pay-only.

People will fill it up anyway as they are used to this from xc-skiing, but I'm afraid this will become a trend. And there's a paid zone for the London Olympics road race too.

 

[jens_attacks]

they messed it up nicely

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It's also a sad end of the "man-who-sits-in-the-same-position-at-the-Muur every-year,-looking-stupid-guy"

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=GLO38ECHC

Man he must get up early to make sure he'll get that spot!

 

[Race Radio]

One of the 7 organizer cities that are applying to do Worlds in Norway 2016 are talking about making the finish stretch pay-only.

People will fill it up anyway as they are used to this from xc-skiing, but I'm afraid this will become a trend. And there's a paid zone for the London Olympics road race too.

Almost all Worlds courses are pay only. Copenhagen is unique in that it is not but the others I have gone to all had an entry fee. The previous Flanders finish in Ninove also had a pay zone at the finish line stands.

Does anyone have confirmation of pay zones? If so where are they?

 

[pmcg76]

"If it aint broke, dont try to fix it"

 

[luckyboy]

So what effect will this have on Phil's chances of winning, if any?

Well there is more flat at the end, so unless he's in a small group and has the best sprint his chances certainly haven't improved.

 

[dlwssonic]

wtf circuits?!?!?!?!?

 

[Ferminal]

Should have had Koppenberg closer to the finish.

On first look, I can't see how the new route makes the race better.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not really circuits though. There are 3 different loops in the finale, but all do pass the Oude Kwaremont

 

[zapata]

Don't really see the problem with doing laps. No muur will be a bit weird, but races change all the time. I'm sure it'll still be a good race.

 

[El Pistolero]

Should have had Koppenberg closer to the finish.

On first look, I can't see how the new route makes the race better.

3 times Kwaremont and Paterberg is a harder race than last year.

 

[Greenflame]

Hmm it doesn't look so bad in my opinion. I would have preferred the previous route, and a loop via the Muur instead of another turn over the Kwaremont would have improved this route tremendously, but it's definitely not bad.

 

[red_flanders]

Flanders has never been a major classic, in my opinion. Does not come close to the other four.

This won't help.

I have to ask if you're serious. I missed the smilie.

 

[Anonymous]

3 times Kwaremont and Paterberg is a harder race than last year.

Yes and don't forget 9 sectors of pave.

There are 10 climbs from km 180 to km 240. The average is 6 kms between climbs. That's will separate all but a few favorites.

Then it's a 9km run to the finish in a North/Easterly direction. Wind could be a factor there.

This is going to be a tricky final 70kms and it will be harder than previous editions.

AND, the party on the Kwaremont & Paterberg can not be missed. It will be epic.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In short

 

[Lanark]

What a shame. De Ronde van Vlaanderen loses his identity with this change. We see the Kwaremont and Paterberg in every race already, we'll probably won't see the Muur van Geraardsbergen once next year.

The race will probably be harder next year, but it was never the problem that the race wasn't hard enough. In the worst case scenario, we'll see the favorites waiting longer and longer.