The Signs of Spring

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2014In Belgium there’s no need to look for flowers and buds on the trees or listen out for birdsong to tell spring is coming. Instead there are flashes of green sidewalls and the sound of Rodania. As the spring classics approach, so the annual rituals repeat themselves.

This week teams are out riding the route of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. It’s a media event itself with photographers out to snap the scene and reports of who rode where make the TV news and newspapers. Spring is here.

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The Kemmelberg: Belgium’s New Toll Road

Belgian cobbles paveBelgium, the heartland of cycle sport where the popularity level of bike racing is greater than any other country in the world. But if it’s a popular sport in the Kingdom, not everyone loves it and there’s growing trend to charge bike races for riding through a municipal area and now even the Kemmelberg is getting in on the act with a new tax for races.

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Roads to Ride: The Schelde

Most of the places so far in this series have featured mountain passes famed for their difficulty, history and stunning scenery. But here’s the opposite, a riverside cycle path that’s neither scenic, hard nor famous. But this is a key route for Flemish cyclists and you’ll spot more pros here than on the Koppenberg.

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Dan Martin’s Inspirational Win

Many a weekend warrior sees the pro cyclist as a role model but it’s not so often that pro riders draw inspiration from a rival, at least in public. But here’s a quick note to explain how Dan Martin’s win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège seems to have inspire others.

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Stick to the Road

What are the clichés of a Flemish race? Cobbles and crosswinds come to mind but amongst the others are big crowds, Luc, Rodania and riders exploiting every space possible including the cycle path and kerb.

Only now this last part will be outlawed in 2014. A new UCI rule is coming and any kerb-hopping, path-picking, lane-switching riders will be disqualified.

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The Moment The Race Was Won: Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Dan Martin Joaquim Rodriguez Liege

With one kilometre to go Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) has attacked and immediately gets a gap. Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) chases but Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) comes around him and slowly closes the gap to catch a labouring Rodriguez. As they approach the final bend Dan Martin uses the last part of the slope to drop Rodriguez and solo away for the win, capping a fine piece of teamwork with Ryder Hesjedal. This was the moment the race was won.

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Roads to Ride: Côte de La Redoute

As the latest in the series to explore the famous roads of cycling, here is the Côte de La Redoute in the Belgian Ardennes. The idea is to discover the road and its place in the world, whether as part of cycling’s history or to look at the route on a day without racing and it is open to all.

La Redoute’s name means “redoubtable” and has long been decisive in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, if not selecting the winner but determining the lead group for the day.

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The Spin: Liège-Bastogne-Liège Preview

The oldest one day race of the year. Liège-Bastogne-Liège might be in Belgium but it has over 4,700 vertical metres of climbing, comparable to an Alpine stage of the Tour de France. But unlike the stage race, Sunday’s event has steep climbs and twisting descents that test tactics and nerves too. It’s a supreme physical contest where there’s rarely a surprise win.

Here’s a preview with the route, including details of the new Colonster climb, the riders (including the final start list), TV schedules, weather, what’s sweet and sour in Liège and a quick take on the race history, including the myth of Bernard Hinault’s frozen fingers.

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Flèche Wallonne Preview

It might be a midweek race but the Flèche Wallonne is big classic thanks its history and famous finish. The race heads across the Belgian Ardennes before tackling the vicious Mur de Huy with a gradient that can reach 26%.

Here’s the preview for Wednesday’s race and note the late finish on TV mentioned below.

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The Moment The Race Was Won: The Tour of Flanders

Cancellara Paterberg

Fabian Cancellara accelerates on the Paterberg and Peter Sagan tries to match him. But the Slovak’s exposed to the stiff breeze and struggling to follow. A gap opens up between the two riders. One metre, two metres and by the time they reach the top the Swiss rider has distanced his arch-rival by a few seconds. This was the moment the race was won.

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