Imagine: Gent-Wevelgem 2009...
by ursula on Dec 3, 2008 10:40 PM EST
50 comments
Just imagine:
You wake up on a glorious Wednesday in spring in time to log on the CTV to watch Gent-Wevelgem. You think to yourself, "This race can't possibly match Flanders. I'll spend most of my time doing some cleaning up and chatting on PdC while the race unfolds. Besides I know its gonna come down to the final bunch sprint... I got time."
So you go about your chores, though the funny/snarky comments on Podium Cafe slowly draw you away from other things. With about 30 km to go you sit down in front of your computer for the last time to watch the race play out. The breakaway looks interesting... it might possibly succeed.. the Kemmelberg did some interesting sorting out... Hincapie and a couple others are pushing hard...
20 km to go and the peloton looks like its gaining on the break... yeah they definitely are. That break sure ain't gonna stay away by the looks of things as that peloton means business with several teams chasing: Quickstep, Liquigas, Cervelo among others. The chatting on PdC is heating up with various posters noting that there's quite a sprinters field here: Boonen, Benna, Cavendish, defending champ Oscarito, Thor, Ciolek, McEwen, Wiggins... geez nice field! Mark and Brian are talking a lot about a Cav-Wig rivalry.
10 km to go ad the catch happens just past the 5km mark. You and everyone else here at PdC have moved to the edge of their seats as the finish line approaches. 3km and you start to see a Columbia train form with Cavendish this time where he's supposed to be- right behind Greipel. But at the same time on the opposite side of the road is the Quickstep train with Boonen behind Alan Davis and Wouter Weylandt. But neither train has the lead as other teams fill in the space between the two sprinters teams... You see next to Greipel his old teammate Roger Hammond, this time leading Hushovd. Some one on PdC has spotted a group of fast guys including Rojas, Bennati, Dean and Wiggins just a bit back and the chat gets quite lively.
2km to go and there's been an Oscarito sighting by Elvisgoat along with both Steegmans and McEwen in the Katyusha kits... This is getting serious!
1500m to go and no one has the advantage. CTV is getting quite loud as everyone realizes that this is THE sprint! Its like the Last Supper and everyone's invited! You are totally on the edge of your seat now as most of the lead out guys have pulled away... you pray for no crashes and for once your prayers are answered! This is incredible! No one appears to have an advantage with 1 km to go!!!!! You've been waiting for a sprint finish like this for two years now and here it is! You're screaming at your computer by now and...
Ha! tell me how this ends! Who do you think is gonna win? In the comments, give me the order of finish between Cav, Boonen, Ciolek, Benna, Friere, Thor, Rojas, and McEwen! Tell us how the race will play out.
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Oh no, not Ben....eh I'm not gonna say it
or else I’ll get shit from nikki :) But I’m going with Cav, if not for the sole reason that it seems I can’t get away from that Italian guy. I have him in my top 5, but again I’m not going to say his name, NO it won’t happen!
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
by Phil H. on Dec 3, 2008 11:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
So near yet so far Phil.....but you see, we knew what you meant ;-)
by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 6:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh Albertina, yes yes yes..
See if i don’t make it to TdF, I’m handing the flame to you for Benna shots.. You know what to do, i’ve shown you what to do.. You have seen me in action … Go for Benna..
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
by CycleGirl on Dec 4, 2008 6:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh I'm ready and prepared have no fear....
…although it would be a little hard if I haven’t got a team hotel to gatecrash, courtesy of you! I’d have to resort to flirting with security guards.
by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 7:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL flirting with security guards is whackkk
What you need to do is chat to the mechanics or sponsors, if you get where they are going to be the night before the riders arrive, all will be sweet.. and Benna will be there.. I may still come.. if not it will be Belgium for classics, so Benna better watch out there…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
by CycleGirl on Dec 4, 2008 7:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ha ha Phill...
You have me silenced with the pics for at least a day or two with that threat of posting a pic of your own. But thankfully – ha ha sadly others were not fearful of it.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 4, 2008 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The pleasure to be gained from looking at Benna
outweighs the horror of Kohl. No contest ;-)
by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, but what about Kohl and Jay-Z?
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2008/07/22/BernhardJayZ.jpg
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
by Phil H. on Dec 4, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Aaaaaaaaaargh!
Right, I’m looking at Benna again now.
by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't challenge me
I will make you look at even worse… hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
by Phil H. on Dec 4, 2008 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Damn it Albertina!
Look what you made him do! ?!? ! Please make it stop.
Phil…. really, she is sooooooooo sorry. She only meant to pull up the Benna pic and save it for this weekend and she accidently hit post. It was a force she could not control and she really did not mean to do it. (Although after these two pics, that same force is trying to help my ailing eyes get over these pics now too. You’ve been warned.)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 4, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think I'll just go to bed. This whole thing has quite worn me down with shame.
You see, Benna picture accidentally pops up on Google images and I can’t help myself. It is a rare and incurable medical complaint.
by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It's not your fault, but Albertina just had to go there
anyway I won’t pull up another Kohl pic if you find it necessary to get out a Benna pic to ail you burning eyes, it’s even tough for me to look at that pic to be honest.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
by Phil H. on Dec 4, 2008 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL Phil.. those really were hurtful.
I countered with just a cute little pixie to help our eyes.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 4, 2008 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Very good
hopefully Albertina doesn’t have Kohl in her dreams now but it’s her fault if she does. You know I’m kind of happy Kohl doped, because now I don’t feel bad for bashing him, he brought this on himself.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
by Phil H. on Dec 4, 2008 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
True.
Hopefully Albertina saw my pixie for her before she signed off. Dreams of Benna so have to be better for her (and us, as if she has nightmares all night, who knows what it would be like here).
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 4, 2008 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Waaaaaaaaah! What a ghastly night.
Every time I shut my eyes there he was: KOHL. I tried everything. I went on Youtube and watched all the Benna videos from the Giro….and Kohl was still there. I did a Benna search on Gazzetta, and yes, Kohl was still there. I even hung my Liguigas Ciclamino jersey by my bed, but to no avail. What should I do???!!!
by Albertina on Dec 5, 2008 8:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You poor thing.
You may need to go hunt out Benna and see him in person now to rid yourself of this awfulfulness…. lol!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 5, 2008 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How oh how?
He’s currently messing around in the snow on some training camp isn’t he? I don’t see how I shall even find him. Woe is me.
by Albertina on Dec 5, 2008 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
large bomb
My sneaky pick for GW
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris... on Dec 3, 2008 11:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don't think he'll be on form yet.
He’s got to defend his CX worlds title on the 1st of Feb. then probably take a little break. He says he’s more of an ardennes rider anyway, but watch out in 2010 when he fully commits to the road.
by brunopitton on Dec 4, 2008 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
OK OK
I just like saying his name. And I honestly believe he will rule the world someday. But 2009 may be a tad soon.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris... on Dec 4, 2008 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hope you added his nickname to our lexicon post.
Otherwise, anyone not following Cross a bit, may be really lost.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 4, 2008 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Uhhh...
Don’t know who won, Cycling TV hung up with 500m to go.
by cracker on Dec 4, 2008 1:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The same thing happend to me too damn it!
You know it’s bad when CTV locks up in your dreams.
Haha
by Ryan_Liles on Dec 4, 2008 2:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
For many on the your list . . .
. . . . it will be a day to support another team member.
Bennati, Freire, & Boonan will most likely be in support and basically taking the day off because they just went all out on the Ronde a few days prior and will be saving their energy for PR in a few days time.
Both Cavendish and McEwen have never liked the races with bad roads and cold weather and I doubt that will change anytime soon.
So, in this scenario it will probably come down to Ciolek vs Hushovd and I think Thor will get him in the sprint as he will be fresher because he didn’t do the Ronde and will be peaking for PR.
by Ryan_Liles on Dec 4, 2008 2:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
That's nice logical thinking.
I just hope all the sprinters get to next season in one piece….and to that end, I hope Benna is currently wrapped in cotton wool and not careering around on a mountain bike in the snow with Basso!
by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 6:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Could this be the breakthrough-win for Ciolek?
I haven’t realy seen him stand the distance in these things yet but G-W should fit him like a glove.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
by Jens on Dec 4, 2008 4:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I went this way since I really like him
I voted with my heart not with my head. The head says its Cav. But I might be willing to give up my next bike (more valuable than my next child, me thinks) to see Ciolek take a no holds bard sprint royale.
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
by natbla on Dec 4, 2008 9:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
F: Breschel!
Love that guy.. Had to be defintely in that list.. (Aaah stupid English grammer!)
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on Dec 4, 2008 4:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
aah H: Breschel
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
by Frinking on Dec 4, 2008 4:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm also looking at Steegman
Yeah he has robbie in the team, but Gert is there to win and no longer has to lead out for Boonen..
I say watch for Gert…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
by CycleGirl on Dec 4, 2008 4:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Gert would be a very likely person not listed in this scenario.
by Ryan_Liles on Dec 4, 2008 5:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hehehe... Gert is coming to TDU :-)
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
by CycleGirl on Dec 4, 2008 6:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well, at least we know Robbie doesn't read PdC
by Sui Juris on Dec 4, 2008 10:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Either that or
he’s gonna track us down and kill us one by one.
"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."- H. L. Mencken
by ursula on Dec 4, 2008 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
come on, we can take that pipsqueak
oh sheesh I just remembered that I’m using my real name….
just kidding Robbie
by lyne on Dec 4, 2008 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You fool!!!!
Quick! Robbie’s in Europe! You can get a name change before he gets here!!!!!!!
;)
"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."- H. L. Mencken
by ursula on Dec 4, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I read Ursula's very apt fictionalization of next year's race and had the same feeling I do...
… watching the real thing… it’s a miracle that anyone can win one of these things in anything but random fashion… let alone a bunch in one year.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
by crashdan on Dec 4, 2008 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I read this post and it
is making me long for the spring to get here and like NOW! I am so missing Ruthann’s chatter on the scenery as we are attempting to thaw out from our long winter. The screaming of OSCAAAAAAAAAAARITO from Egoat. The fun coffee chat that gets things started as we all work on our probably 2nd POT of coffee for the morning. Then the knowing that come the last 5K’s we all have to pee really bad but don’t DARE move from our seats as we know this is the ultimate action we’ve been checking in on for 2-3 hours prior and waiting for to brag about for the next few days.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
by nikki on Dec 4, 2008 2:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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