What's the first race you are looking forward to in the new season?

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well. What's the first road race of the new season you look the most forward to? Clasical openers like Omloop het Nieuwsblad? Or rather a stage race like Paris Nice. Or are you one of those guys who just can't wait until the first stage of the TDU in januari..?

 

[Parrulo]

fthe first real races are paris nice and tirreno. but everything that comes before like volta ao algarve are a good warmup. tho we still have a long way to go before we get to watcdh any of those races

 

[ingsve]

Easy. TDU.

It's the first racing in several months with the top teams. It's also the first chance to see new teams, new outfits or riders on new teams for the first time.

I might look forward to other races even more but the first race is definately TDU.

 

[ingsve]

I like the Tour de France option btw. If anyone selects that they're basically saying they only watch the Tour de France but they still hang out at cycling forums in november,

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

For me it's always Omloop het Nieuwsblad/Volk (liked the old name better). It's very simple for Northern Europeans. Cycling season really starts there. TDU/Qatar etc are just warmup.

Although I did like the Tour of California when it was still in february. Too bad they changed it to something boring in may now.

 

[hrotha]

Omloop het Nieuwsblad. I've never actually watched it, and I think it's about time.

 

[The Hitch]

Other.

Giro di Lombardia.

 

[The Hitch]

Paris Nice Tirreno adriatico. I dont really see them as independent. The 2 biggest stage races on at the same time. Together they are the 4th gt.
Paris Nice stage 1 signals the beginning of the season. 1 and a half weeks to first monument.

Though i do watch TDU Quatar etc.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

Montepaschi Strade Bianche

 

[roundabout]

Paris Nice. The real racing starts here. Too much looking around by big names at Het Volk

 

[steelciocc]

Het VOLK, dangitt!

 

[Ferminal]

I guiltily voted TdU. More because it's when we can at least start thinking cycling again, there's newsworthy stories etc. Even if it's another 6 weeks or so until the season begins proper.

Otherwise I would have voted for P-N/T-A.

 

[Francois the Postman]

I'm enough of a cycling **** to watch anything that crosses my screen before it, but it is the Omloop weekend that I have circled in red.

And when Spring rolls into Summer, I guess I am technically already in my post-peak season too! Some of the deserts are very tasty, mind you.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Ace, 10+ responses at 2am/3am by several folk close to Belgium.

On A Tuesday. In the off season.

Man, we need a Support Group Anonymous.

Hi, my name is Francois, and I ...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yup, addicts here.

Plus I've got a bad case of insomnia the last 2 weeks. dont sleep before 4.

 

[Ibanez]

2am on cyclingnews...oh dear. I don't even post enough to justify it.

and Het Volk, clearly.

 

[hrotha]

It's either post here or go play some PCM, and frankly I'm not sure which would be sadder.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Montepaschi Strade Bianche

I keep forgetting they brought that forward to the Spring (and renamed it too) until posts like this remind me.

So, since I'm still struggling to get "Het Nieuwsblad over my lips without muscle spasms, is the new name as hard to swallow for you Frank?

I usually have a reasonable grasp how races beyond my natural habitat are perceived by the locals (I was spoon-fed with the Belgian calendar so there was plenty to distract me at an early age without having to look beyond the immediate horizon). But for one reason or another Italy is a country I struggle to do that with.

Always good to hear people who don't mention "my" obvious ones as their sweet spot. Is the Monte Paschi Eroica "local" to you Frank, or do you simply have great eclectic taste?

 

[luckyboy]

Het Volk, though I watch TDU and some of the other early races.

 

[Francois the Postman]

I guess what I should have said is that I am waiting for the arrival of those frosty white weekend mornings, and access to cyclocross on Sporza. That particular part of their winter calendar appeals to me a lot. It actually trumps the TDU and many of the races on the Pro-Tour calendar for me by some distance and a bunny hop, to be honest.

A bit like the Elf Steden Tocht meets the 2010 edition of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne for a midday quickie.

And I have just discovered that wikipedia has a Flemish version. "Olleman meugt hêlegans vo nietn informoasje ipzoekn, toevoegn of zelve bewerkn". Wel, that's the rest of my night sorted.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

I keep forgetting they brought that forward to the Spring (and renamed it too) until posts like this remind me.

So, since I'm still struggling to get "Het Nieuwsblad over my lips without muscle spasms, is the new name as hard to swallow for you Frank?

I usually have a reasonable grasp how races beyond my natural habitat are perceived by the locals (I was spoon-fed with the Belgian calendar so there was plenty to distract me at an early age without having to look beyond the immediate horizon). But for one reason or another Italy is a country I struggle to do that with.

Always good to hear people who don't mention "my" obvious ones as their sweet spot. Is the Monte Paschi Eroica "local" to you Frank, or do you simply have great eclectic taste?

I still call it Het Volk. I don't care who owns the race, it will always be Het Volk to me. I wish Montepaschi were local, but Texas isn't very close to Italy. I don't know what it is, but I think it is the uniqueness of the race. Pave is used in 'many' races, but watching pros on km after km of gravel is different. Maybe it reminds me of the long gravel rides I used to do.

I'd say it is my third favorite race of the year after Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix.

Franco Martedi

 

[Elegant Degenerate]

A stage of the TDU usually finishes a couple hundred metres from my house. So that gets my vote.

 

[brianf7]

Our Club have a 100 killometer race next weekend so will get that over with first then the TDU after Christmas and all that pud will need working off first.

 

[AntonioRossi]

I picked tour of qatar because of its unique culture and place. I just love the pictures from the race. Its so unique and different from European races. Even though the race is kinda boring, thats the first race i am looking forward to.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Het Volk - real start of one day racing for me.
PN is the real start of stage racing.
Tour Méditerranéen on a side not, is a nice race.