Belgium | The Inner Ring

The Spin: Tour of Flanders Preview

Friday, 29 March 2013

Easter Sunday is coming and whilst it’s church and chocolate for many in Europe, half of Belgium is preparing for the annual ritual of De Ronde.

The Tour of Flanders is one of the highlights of the cycling calendar, a manic race across seemingly ordinary countryside but where numerous cobbled sections and short wall-like climbs make for one of the hardest races of the year. Appropriately the race will have five hours of TV coverage, an endurance event even for those on a sofa. Full details below.

Ronde van Paterberg, A Sunday on a Hill

Thursday, 28 March 2013

Can’t make it to the Ronde van Vlaanderen this Sunday? Well let this superb video take you there.

It’s 15 minutes of filming on and around the Paterberg, one of the two crucial climbs on the race route, from last year’s race. It’s as good as being there, all that is missing is the smell of fried food and the peaceful squelch of Flanders fields under your feet. You can find some beer for yourself.

Dirk Hofman, Luc, Tornado Tom Frits and Others

Monday, 10 April 2017Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Tornado Tom

Yesterday’s piece looked at the politics behind the flag-waving you see in many Belgian races. But it’s not just politicians seeking publicity, businesses also want to get in on at the act.

Look at the image above and you’ll see riders sprinting for the line, maybe you spot Peter Sagan and Tom Boonen. Then you’ll probably find your eyes drifting to the giant pink Tornado Tom Frits banner. Perhaps you’ll then notice the crash happening. Either way the pink banner is more visible than the official sponsors whose signs line the finishing straight.

Flemish Flags, Polls and Politicians

Monday, 25 March 2013Monday, 25 March 2013

No finishing straight in a Belgian race at this time of year is complete without a big yellow flag with a black lion. But whilst the “Lion of Flanders” is part of cycling lore, it’s also loaded with politics and nationalism and these flags can be an attempt to hijack the race, using sport to play politics.

The Moment The Race Was Won: Gent-Wevelgem

Sunday, 24 March 2013Sunday, 24 March 2013

Peter Sagan rides away from the lead group with 3.5km to go whilst Greg Van Avermaet, Bernhard Eisel and Borut Božič try to chase. These three riders were Sagan’s greatest rivals in a sprint finish. So instead of outsprinting them, he outrode them. This was the moment the race was won.

The Spin: Gent-Wevelgem Preview

Saturday, 23 March 2013Saturday, 23 March 2013

Once a midweek consolation for the sprinters amidst the classics season, this is a World Tour race on a Sunday and a full-on dress rehearsal for next Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

Mont Cassel, the Kemmelberg and more difficulties await but the biggest threat comes from the weather with snow likely. This could change the route or even force a cancellation of the race. A confident press release last night said the race “is sure go ahead” but if a race can stop traffic, it can’t control the weather. The start has been moved to Gistel nearer the coast but nobody can be sure until tomorrow morning. Should the race go ahead then the weather will remain a real danger with winds of 50km/h.

With fingers crossed for the race, here is preview with all the usual commentary on the route, TV timings and two forecasts, one for the weather and one for the race.

The Betonweg

Friday, 26 February 2016Wednesday, 20 March 2013

The spring classics are here and for all the talk of steep climbs and cobbles there’s another feature of Belgium’s roads that rarely gets discussed, the betonweg.

How to Watch The Classics

Tuesday, 19 March 2013Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Going to watch a bike race is not as simple as you might think. Get it wrong and you’ll catch a cold instead of the action. There are some hints, tips and skills that can substantially improve the experience. Given the classics season is upon us again, it’s time to share some of these.

As well as tips for the day, there’s a wider look at travel if you’re coming from near or far, for the day or the trip of a lifetime.

The Moment The Race Was Won: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Sunday, 24 February 2013Saturday, 23 February 2013

Luca Paolini and Stijn Vandenbergh slip away from a lead group of 10 riders after the Paddestraat section of cobbles. The pair took 10 seconds, 15 seconds and quickly the gap couldn’t be bridged by an attack, only a concerted chase would work. This was the moment the race was won.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad + Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Preview

Saturday, 23 February 2013Friday, 22 February 2013

Hellingen

The spring classics start this weekend with the double-header of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday followed by Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday. No more Arabian nights in five star hotels or photos ops with a cute kangaroo, now it’s time for some cobbles, narrow roads and wintry weather. There’s no gentle introduction here. Time for the hardmen to fight.

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