De Ronde part 2
So after barely one beer and a McDonalds we all returned to our hotels to collapse into a heap in a vauge attempt to recover!
On the Sunday only Chris, Lisa and Myself ventured into town to see the Pro's sign on in the Market Square for the race proper. After which we returned to the hotel to have breakfast and check out. Even the pro's have to start early(ish) you see, 9.45am.
We were then the only members of the team to venture out into the Belgian countryside to rush around with the locals to see the race as much as possible out on the road... For which I was in charge of navigating. Now while I accept I may have gotten a little lucky at times, I got us to see the race three times on the road! The first occasion was at a souless roundabout in the middle of nowhere, even at this early stage there were riders off the back of the main bunch, struggling already. You had to feel for them, over night the temperature dropped even more, to about 6degrees and the pros had to endure a little snow also. Although it was much dryer and sunnier for them later on that the conditions that we rode in, so really, they had it easy!
The next stop was at the second feed station after 200kms, it was with great satisfaction that we got to look deep inside their eyes as they rolled by trying to stuff as many calories in as quickly as possible! They really looked as bad as we did the day before, which made it all seem just that little bit more worthwhile, hehe. And low and behold a Credit Agricole rider more or less handed his mussette (feed bag) to Lisa. He had barely even had anything out of it, he was obviously confident he had enough energy to get to the finish on an empty stomach!
The next stop was the climb of the Eikenmolen which happened to be where eventual race winner Stijn Devolder made his move. Again a fantastic atmosphere on the spectator lined climb must have carried the riders up it. It was here where we saw British favourite Roger Hammond still with the lead group and flying the flag. Although he looked a lot less relaxed than he did at the start in Brugge where he said hello to us as we cheered him on!
After the race had passed we then saw the last 15km of the race on a black and white TV in the back of a Belgians car, hows that for the authentic Flandrian experience??
So all in all, it was a brilliant weekend, and one which is already in the planning stages for a repeat next year... Trisportnews has found its annual Mecca! All of us, even those who said they didn't enjoy it want to go back for more wind, rain, cobbles and hardcore belgian semi-pros!
So... Bring it on!
On the Sunday only Chris, Lisa and Myself ventured into town to see the Pro's sign on in the Market Square for the race proper. After which we returned to the hotel to have breakfast and check out. Even the pro's have to start early(ish) you see, 9.45am.
We were then the only members of the team to venture out into the Belgian countryside to rush around with the locals to see the race as much as possible out on the road... For which I was in charge of navigating. Now while I accept I may have gotten a little lucky at times, I got us to see the race three times on the road! The first occasion was at a souless roundabout in the middle of nowhere, even at this early stage there were riders off the back of the main bunch, struggling already. You had to feel for them, over night the temperature dropped even more, to about 6degrees and the pros had to endure a little snow also. Although it was much dryer and sunnier for them later on that the conditions that we rode in, so really, they had it easy!
The next stop was at the second feed station after 200kms, it was with great satisfaction that we got to look deep inside their eyes as they rolled by trying to stuff as many calories in as quickly as possible! They really looked as bad as we did the day before, which made it all seem just that little bit more worthwhile, hehe. And low and behold a Credit Agricole rider more or less handed his mussette (feed bag) to Lisa. He had barely even had anything out of it, he was obviously confident he had enough energy to get to the finish on an empty stomach!
The next stop was the climb of the Eikenmolen which happened to be where eventual race winner Stijn Devolder made his move. Again a fantastic atmosphere on the spectator lined climb must have carried the riders up it. It was here where we saw British favourite Roger Hammond still with the lead group and flying the flag. Although he looked a lot less relaxed than he did at the start in Brugge where he said hello to us as we cheered him on!
After the race had passed we then saw the last 15km of the race on a black and white TV in the back of a Belgians car, hows that for the authentic Flandrian experience??
So all in all, it was a brilliant weekend, and one which is already in the planning stages for a repeat next year... Trisportnews has found its annual Mecca! All of us, even those who said they didn't enjoy it want to go back for more wind, rain, cobbles and hardcore belgian semi-pros!
So... Bring it on!
posted by Adam at
02:48
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