Day Ten: Epilogue



http://youtu.be/SeZljRxavvs

 

Ten great days in one song
A very random collection of images
 

Huge thanks to Ian and all at La Fuga, all the riders and especially Lew

for making it such an unforgettable taste of the Spring Classics.

Day Nine: Paris Roubaix Race Day

Today saw the real riders showing how to ride on French Cobbles. Thanks to Ian's excellent navigation and driving we saw the peloton four times at different stages throughout the day. A brilliant days racing with enormous crowds all along the route. Topped of with a great win by Cancellara.  

We are definitely proud paid up members of the Spartacus fan club now.

The rollout at 10am for the start of Paris Roubaix

This is French Steve the Pro rider (Skil Shamano & AG2R) who has been a guest guide/coach for the last three days of cobbles in France. He not only raised the street cred of our group but also lowered our average age by at least 25 years

A happy Aussie fanboy wearing a tea cosy

The estimated speed of the bunch through the Arenberg was 50kph.

What cobbles?

Five star pave

Sunday afternoon picnic and bike race in northern France

Nearing the end of sector 5. Four more to go...

The bunch may have missed one turn...

Day Eight: Paris Roubaix Sportif

Today was a 4am start to have breakfast and transfer to the startline for the Paris Roubaix Sportif.  Lew and I were firmly of the opinion that since we are NOT going to come back and ride these ridiculous rocks again that we may as well try and ride the full (long) course of 170km on offer. One of those decisions that seems a good idea at the time.

Anyway after some 8 hours of riding were finally made it into the Roubaix velodrome...no crashes, one puncture and very shaken up...52km of cobbled sections. Think Frankston to Melboure on pave.

Very happy to arrive in one piece., but as I said, never again.

Looking forward to seeing the Pro's do that in less than half the time tomorrow!

7am on the startline. Temperature zero. It crept up to two degrees over the day.

No clothing was shed.

Excellent support services from Ian at La Fuga

Even on remote cobble sectors fans are camped out to see the Pro race on Sunday

The iconic Roubaix velodrome showers at the finish.

They connected the hot water 5 years ago.

Modern riders are getting soft.

Two VERY happy punters having just finished their first, and last, Paris Roubaix.

Day Seven: Paris Roubaix reconnaissance

Today we moved to France for this weekend's Paris Roubaix. The first step was a reconnaissance ride through some of the pave sections of the route. This included the hardest section, the iconic Arenberg forest (a 5 star rated sector), and the longest section a few kilometres further on of 3.7km (a 3 star sector). 

After 30 kilometres, covering four sections of cobbles, I think we all felt like we'd been sitting on a jack hammer.  I'm not at all sure how we will cope with 170km tomorrow. 

I may have to stand up on the plane home.

Two idiots looking pretty pleased with themselves. Before the ride.

Five star pave. BIG rocks.

Lew getting the feel of 2.4 km of pave on the Arenberg trench

After 5 star rated sector a 3 star sector feels like a bowling green

It seems after battling the pave real men eat meat.

Day Six: Ypres

A great ride from Ypres this morning. Firstly up the Kemmelberg. and then a roll around the peace trail. This is a 50km bike path that takes in many of the battlefields and cemeteries that are scattered over much of this part of Flanders.

A pleasant 10am rollout from the square in Ypres

The Kemmelberg...fortunately the only climb of the day

Cresting the Kemmelberg. Luckily Tom and Ian gave me a good head start.

Lew practicing for the podium on Sunday

Rolling through the Flandrian fields

Our tireless guides Ian and Tom leading.... again.

The winds in this part of the world are merciless.

Note to Jim: Belgium cappuccino comes with serious whipped cream

Day Five: Scheldeprijs

Today was the mid week Belgium Classic the Scheldeprijs (it means something like 'Canal prize"). We left Gent and drove to the start in Antwerp to see the sign in, wander through the team buses and watch the start. Brilliant access to all the teams.... but absolutely freezing temperatures. Cold winds straight off the North Sea. Lucky it's Spring.

We went off on a 60-70 km ride loop through the flat lands of northern Belgium which I absolutely loved...windy, grey skies and wintery landscapes. Just about everything that you imagine when you think about riding in Flanders.

We managed to get back to the finish just in time to see the presentation ceremony for the winner of the Scheldeprijs and a quick snack of beer and frittes. Then on to our new base for the next two days in Ypres in western Flanders. A great day.

Team Sky at the start in Antwerp

   

Cav was besieged by fans on leaving the team bus

You're never too young to start road cycling in Belgium it seems

Nice detail on the Radioshack bus

Stunning riding through northern Flanders

Marcel Kittel gets the kisses, Cav gets to look on.

Lew and Ian...another hard day at the office.

Day Four: Gent

Today was a fantastic ride day from Gent...finishing a visit to the only boutique brewery in town.

Canal frontage real estate in Gent. Not too shabby.

La Fuga must have the world's best rental bikes. Cervelo R5's with SRAM components.

Brand new...until this week anyway.

Muur Van Geraardsbergen. 

Cobbles on the Muur. Not pretty.

Only Lew can find Aussie mates everywhere.

 The urinal in the brewery seemed to be of dubious taste.

Proof that the sun can shine in the Belgium Spring. Occasionally.

Day Three: Tour of Flanders Museum

The sun is shining in Belgium and the temperature is creeping towards double digits...Spring must be close. Today we travelled to Oudenaarde and the cycling museum dedicated to the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. 

Ian Holt (Mr La Fuga), our tour host, has outdone himself by arranging for a personally guided tour by Freddy Maertens who regaled us with tales of racing against the likes of Roger de Vlaeminck and of course Eddy Merckx. The museum is very well set out and has a fascinating collection of memorabilia that is a must see for any cycling tragics.

The special surprise of the day was entry to Fabian Cancellara's presentation ceremony of the cobblestone for his victory yesterday. The great man arrived, spoke and moved amongst us humble disciples. Definitely rock star status, verging on messiah. He was VERY cool. We are total fanboys.

Eddy left his car parked outside the museum

Some of the cobbles of previous winners

Guess who?

The Spartacus fan mobile

Those from the Pyrenees trip last year will remember Jim.

He gets very excited by Belgian food.

Lew's now a paid up Fabian fan

The great man working the crowd

He wisely decided not to carry this trophy home