RVV - new finale

[El Pistolero]

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sporzatips/MG_Memorial/1.1111489

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Patersberg is heavier than Bosberg, I don't think anyone who has ridden both will discuss that.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

With a finish in Oudenaarde, I would have loved that the final decisive part wasn't on a hill, but on the Cobbles of Mater, would have made it a more complete final.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Plus: maybe now some of the other spring races in Flanders that were just copying the RvV, could 'adopt' the muur, which could differ it from the big race & make the small race more popular (E3 for example)

 

[Maxiton]

It might be good (or it might be crap).

There are only two loops at the end. The first one has 5 climbs and is about 37kms. The second loop has only 3 climbs and is about 20 kms the the Kwaremont and Paterberg are climbed for the final times.

It's going to be to be a harder race and harder to control. Keep in mind, the 9km finishing straight my be in a cross or cross/head wind.

Not climbing the Muur is a shame, but it would have been early in the race anyways. The Paterberg is harder than the Muur and going up it 3 times is going to hurt. Plus, the Kwaremont is a pretty long climb. It's not as steep as the Paterberg but once you crest the hill it still climbs another kilometer or so.

Those climbs are only 3kms apart. The final is going to be really hard.

Agreed. It's hard (for me, anyway) to know what the effect will be of making the race even harder. I thought it was already hard enough, really. I just read an interview with Johan Museeuw where he said the same thing:

"Three time Ronde champion Johan Museeuw predicts, 'Three times up the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg can blow you away. The course didn't really need to be made harder, I think.'"

(The above is from Cycling News. I think the original interview is here.)

At the very least it will be interesting to watch.

 

[rrj1170]

De Ronde 2012

To me, the new route looks fantastic especially from a spectator's standpoint. Change is always met with resistance but from what I see this is a positive move. What does everyone think?

 

[luckyboy]

Wasted some time making a little map with points at all the climbs used next year, and the past three years.

http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/TT5ZVDG1

Think they could've maybe done two laps and gone over the Taaienberg or Steenbeekdries again closer to the finish.

 

[craig1985]

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

He looks like he is taking a hard ****.

 

[Mshengu]

Will miss the Kapelmuur, especially with Cancellara riding boonen off his wheel. But we'll wait and see how this route pans out, it could be equally fascinating, maybe Nuyens will win his second Ronde

 

[Mshengu]

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

The dude is part of Belgian cycling Royalty

 

[greenedge]

I will miss the Muur. They could have had it included at least once and only had 2 circuits instead of 3. If riders can sustain themselves on the climbs they will be favourites. Gilbert will probably not be able to hold a gap over riders on the flats 13km out from the end. There shall be a smaller group than the 12 who formed at the end of this years race next year.

I expect Devloder to win his ten RvV's starting next year ( that will not happen )

Good luck for next years course.

 

[just some guy]

Three time Ronde champion Johan Museeuw predicts, "Three times up the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg can blow you away. The course didn't really need to be made harder, I think.

"It will be a rider with a big motor that will win the Ronde in 2012," he said..

Boonen, Fab, Gilbert, Ballan (if he rides), Big George, Thor, Offredo,Pippo, Nuyens, Stick man with Cobble, Vanmarcke, Thomas, Flecha, EBH, Boonen, Leukemans

and a few more - all the same riders still suited to the race, but the bigger engine who can climb and recover during a race.

If he have a less cold winter or spends more time at training camp and comes into form - Could be EBH V´s Gilbert.

 

[Descender]

What is that about the organisers wanting to make people pay to see it?? I'm planning to go next year but I refuse to pay to see cycling.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

pretty lame imo.

 

[Lanark]

Plus: maybe now some of the other spring races in Flanders that were just copying the RvV, could 'adopt' the muur, which could differ it from the big race & make the small race more popular (E3 for example)

Funnily enough, the Ronde now looks probably more like the E3-prijs than it did before.

The problem is that almost all semi-classics have there own finishing places like Harelbeke (E3), Kuurne (KBK) and Waregem (Dwars door Vlaanderen), and none of them are anywhere near close to Geraardsbergen. De Muur isn't in the traditional hill-zone, in fact it's at the exact opposite side where most races finish, making it unlikely that it will be decisive in any race the next couple of years. Well, maybe the Driedaagse van de Panne will do a finish close to De Muur, but who cares about that?

 

[luckyboy]

E3 Prijs went through Geraardsbergen this year, but I think it was a loop around the back and they bypassed the Muur anyway. It could easily be included in any of those races, but obviously it wouldn't be near the finish.

 

[Lanark]

E3 Prijs went through Geraardsbergen this year, but I think it was a loop around the back and they bypassed the Muur anyway. It could easily be included in any of those races, but obviously it wouldn't be near the finish.

Yeah, a 100km before the finish, they hadn't even done a single hill then. I'd rather they don't use de Muur than insult it like that. Probably wouldn't even be televised.

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's a victory for the big money and a slap in the face of the average cycling fan. The Tour of Flanders was great because it had a final of 80k with all those different hills. Now it's just another criterium with two hills and a flat final.

Wouter VDH belongs in hell. I want the Tour of Flanders back, not this criterium of Dendermonde.

 

[craig1985]

It's hardly a criterium. How about giving it a go and what if, the race ends up being more exciting?

 

[El Pistolero]

It's a victory for the big money and a slap in the face of the average cycling fan. The Tour of Flanders was great because it had a final of 80k with all those different hills. Now it's just another criterium with two hills and a flat final.

Wouter VDH belongs in hell. I want the Tour of Flanders back, not this criterium of Dendermonde.

Actually the race will be much easier to watch now for the spectators and they don't have to cross the course anymore now which was becoming very dangerous. For the average cycling fan this is a huge plus. It's all about viewing pleasure for the Belgian spectators.

 

[meat puppet]

It's a victory for the big money and a slap in the face of the average cycling fan. The Tour of Flanders was great because it had a final of 80k with all those different hills.

This. Sucks big time.

From a sporting perspective though, hope the new finale might provide new excitement to the race. Cancellara's tour de force was surely impressive, yet I didnt particularly fancy the idea of someone just TTing home from the Muur, or the waiting game to prevent this. Perhaps the route change will do something here.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Funnily enough, the Ronde now looks probably more like the E3-prijs than it did before.

The problem is that almost all semi-classics have there own finishing places like Harelbeke (E3), Kuurne (KBK) and Waregem (Dwars door Vlaanderen), and none of them are anywhere near close to Geraardsbergen. De Muur isn't in the traditional hill-zone, in fact it's at the exact opposite side where most races finish, making it unlikely that it will be decisive in any race the next couple of years. Well, maybe the Driedaagse van de Panne will do a finish close to De Muur, but who cares about that?

All true. Maybe E3 or DdV should look for a new finish?

Geraardsberg is 37km from Gent (Omloop het volk), 39 from Waregem, 47 from Harelbeke and 49 from Kuurne...
Problem is Waregem, Harelbeke and Kuurne are all within a 10 km range from each other, one of the races should move away. I propose DdV (only one that hasn't got the finish in his name)

 

[El Pistolero]

All true. Maybe E3 or DdV should look for a new finish?

Geraardsberg is 37km from Gent (Omloop het volk), 39 from Waregem, 47 from Harelbeke and 49 from Kuurne...
Problem is Waregem, Harelbeke and Kuurne are all within a 10 km range from each other, one of the races should move away. I propose DdV (only one that hasn't got the finish in his name)

No, Harelbeke is a cycling town. Finish is wat makes the E3. Omloop het Volk could be changed though. Dwars door Vlaanderen is an irrelevant race.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

The most important: one of these races should chance his focus to cobbles. There are still enough cobbled streets left in Flanders to create an interesting race, without going over the same hills every time.

This should be the Omloop.

 

[El Pistolero]

The most important: one of these races should chance his focus to cobbles. There are still enough cobbled streets left in Flanders to create an interesting race, without going over the same hills every time.

This should be the Omloop.

You can have that and still include the Muur in the finale