RVV - new finale

[jens_attacks]

change it back.it was a nice experiment but i prefer muur and bosberg and the old route.

 

[will10]

I liked it, but it lacks the atmosphere of the old run in.

 

[Kwibus]

Honestly I don't really care if it's better or worse. They simply shouldn't have changed it.

It was only about the money. Sure it's nice for the people on the Kwaremont, but I don't think there were spectators asking for a circuit so they could see the riders more often? The organisers gave that as a reason, but it was simply the only good reason they could justify it with. It was about the $$$.

 

[Afrank]

This is what flanders should look like, give us the Muur back.

 

[Red Rick]

I give it an extra chance, because Cancellara crashed. But i got a better idea. Why not make some loops around Gerardsbergen, doing the Muur-Bosberg combo at least 5 times.

 

[Richeypen]

change it back.it was a nice experiment but i prefer muur and bosberg and the old route.

A Belgian won, no chance of them changing it back.

 

[El Pistolero]

A Belgian won, no chance of them changing it back.

A Belgian won last year as well.

Anyway, I see no problem with this new route. Cancellara will make it interesting again next year. This route suits the Belgians less in my opinion, at least with Gilbert sucking so much lately.(I'll never lose faith though ). Perfect race for the Italians now.

GVA did outsprint Sagan though

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

I'm torn. I didn't really like the route. It seemed less exciting and more predictable (crashes excluded). However, the three strongest riders in the race were on the podium so there was a worthy winner.

I've got to say, the Muur has become so iconic that I really missed it. Also, the finishing circuit meant the other great climbs came too early in the race and made them a bit pointless.

 

[meat puppet]

This is what flanders should look like, give us the Muur back.

This, basically. Dont like the circuit idea too much, because many classic climbs are cancelled out. But I guess I'll have to give the route the benefit of doubt, since many contenders either were off or crashed out.

Also I kinda dislike the cocky ideology that racing from A to B is the past and other races will follow suit.

 

[jens_attacks]

funnily enough i saw more people on the muur-bosberg last years than on this circuit.but maybe it was just me

 

[Ragerod]

Cancellara not making it and the crash at the bottom of Pattenberg didn't help but I didn't like it. Hopefully the riders will be more aggressive next year now they know what to expect.

 

[BillytheKid]

This, basically. Dont like the circuit idea too much, because many classic climbs are cancelled out. But I guess I'll have to give the route the benefit of doubt, since many contenders either were off or crashed out.

Also I kinda dislike the cocky ideology that racing from A to B is the past and other races will follow suit.

Something's to be said for tradition. There is reason so many people are in this picture. Hallowed ground. It is or was the place to be.

 

[DominicDecoco]

funnily enough i saw more people on the muur-bosberg last years than on this circuit.but maybe it was just me

There were no people at the finish either.

 

[El Pistolero]

Actually, a lot of people were at the finish. Just on the Plein, so they didn't show them a lot...

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

People who are saying: change it back, this won't happen for the next years. The contract with the city of Oudenaarde exists, so this will continue to be the finish.

But I agree two laps would be better than 3...

 

[Mellow Velo]

Horrible, horrible.
You can trust Belgian bureaucrats to feck things up.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

People who are saying: change it back, this won't happen for the next years. The contract with the city of Oudenaarde exists, so this will continue to be the finish.

But I agree two laps would be better than 3...

Finishing in Oudenaarde I don't see as a problem. The actual finish was a bit odd (I kind of expected them to go into the city itself). But they could always have thrown in the Eikenberg or the Taaienberg as a final climb after the Paterberg, giving us a more technical run-in rather than a long, flat expanse of straight highway, or gone a bit further East and used some of the climbs and cobbled stretches out that way. They could always have used the Kapelmuur the same way the Koppenberg used to be, for forming the elite selection some way out; though they'd probably have to come back down towards the Valkenberg and Berendries after that rather than continue on to the Bosberg as it would then be some distance before the next sector.

 

[Pantani_lives]

There's only one solution. Move the Muur and Bosberg to Oudenaarde! It's technically possible because they're only two heaps of loam with a layer of cobblestones. If they can move an Egyptian temple (Abu Simbel) they can move two foothills as well.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I would like to see some flat cobbles after the last hills (Mater is only 4km away)

 

[goggalor]

I thought it was a decent race, but the route--especially the finishing straight--lacked charm, and circuits are just ****ing lame.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Finishing in Oudenaarde I don't see as a problem. The actual finish was a bit odd (I kind of expected them to go into the city itself). But they could always have thrown in the Eikenberg or the Taaienberg as a final climb after the Paterberg, giving us a more technical run-in rather than a long, flat expanse of straight highway, or gone a bit further East and used some of the climbs and cobbled stretches out that way. They could always have used the Kapelmuur the same way the Koppenberg used to be, for forming the elite selection some way out; though they'd probably have to come back down towards the Valkenberg and Berendries after that rather than continue on to the Bosberg as it would then be some distance before the next sector.

It seems that the crowds weren't as big in the final km and the finish itself lacked atmosphere imo. I think the new route wasn't as hard as originally thought but also the finale was ridden quite conservatively. It was a good race but certainly not the best Ronde van Vlaanderen edition.

 

[roundabout]

There's only one solution. Move the Muur and Bosberg to Oudenaarde! It's technically possible because they're only two heaps of loam with a layer of cobblestones. If they can move an Egyptian temple (Abu Simbel) they can move two foothills as well.

Well, they should transplant Geraardsbergen as well. It's part of the charm of the Muur.

 

[The Hitch]

lol did boonen really say when asked (before the race) what he thinks of the change - I don't care where I win.

 

[luckyboy]

It was something non-committal along those kinda lines I think.

 

[Ferminal]

Finishing in Oudenaarde I don't see as a problem. The actual finish was a bit odd (I kind of expected them to go into the city itself). But they could always have thrown in the Eikenberg or the Taaienberg as a final climb after the Paterberg, giving us a more technical run-in rather than a long, flat expanse of straight highway, or gone a bit further East and used some of the climbs and cobbled stretches out that way. They could always have used the Kapelmuur the same way the Koppenberg used to be, for forming the elite selection some way out; though they'd probably have to come back down towards the Valkenberg and Berendries after that rather than continue on to the Bosberg as it would then be some distance before the next sector.

Had a quick attempt doing this.

Kapelmuur 90km
Bosberg 86km
Overberg 75km (have to leave Flanders though so not allowed I guess)
Valkenberg 57km
Eikenberg 45km
Taaienberg 37km
Kruisberg 26km
Kwaremont 15km
Paterberg 12km
Koppenberg 5km

It's backended too much, 30km where Valkenberg is the only climb.