Raise the Curtain!
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2009 11:53 PM EST
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It's quite a testament to the beauty and fun of the Tour of California that I nearly made it to Wednesday before even mentioning that the spring cobbles season kicks off this weekend with the Omloop Het Volk Nieuwsblad. It's the moment we have all been waiting for, so it's time to crack up the collective-obsession-O-meter. By Saturday, the 2009 Cycling season will be officially underway.
First, a little history: the Omloop Het Volk was started in 1945 by the Het Volk newspaper, with an aim to creating a rival race with Het Nieuwsblad's Tour of Flanders. Mission not exactly accomplished, and obviously it didn't save the newspaper either, as Het Volk closed its doors last year. With Het Nieuwsblad taking over the race too, I suppose that battle was a rout. But I won't try to insert myself into Flemish circulation wars; the bottom line is that Het Volk etched its place in the spring cycling season as the traditional opening event, and the show goes on.
What matters most to fans I suppose is the sight of the peloton, including many of the local heroes, bouncing over the cobbles of Flanders. As for the riders, it's still a little early to be sending messages, but the similarity between this race and De Ronde means that it's not a bad time to get the cobbles sensations going in the legs.
Like last year there are 11 bergs (hills) and another eight sections of cobbles. The only notable change is that they have eliminated the Grotenberge at km 73 and replaced it with... the Muur van Geraardsbergen, arguably the most famous climb in Belgium. Now, the Muur comes with 100km left to race, but the succession of the Leberg-Berendries-Valkenberg-Tenbosse-Muur is basically the conclusion of this year's Ronde, minus the Eikenmolen and Bosberg.
And that's really the point of the race: a pretty meaty opening act to the Greatest Show on Earth, the Cobbles season. Barring the occasional snowstorm (lovely weather predicted this year), the Omloop is part sneak preview, part dress rehearsal, and its own special act. More on the Omloop's honor roll tomorrow.
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Cobbles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........Cobbles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh this week will take long until Saturday comes around. Here is the complete startlist for Het Newbladder.
"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
Also only 2 ...
I also have only two riders participating in this first race.
My peak will be later this year :-)
I do have a few more in K-B-K
So all is not lost for this weekend.
All my cold-fearing southerners are riding in the Spanish/Swiss sun this weekend.
2 times 4...
But defintly one time the winner…. So I’m gonna write my celebration speech.. I heard something with change can do the trick
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Same here
but at least they aren’t my complete no hopers
Well between Berik Kupeshov...
… Gatis Smukulis, Nico Sijmens, Yauheni Hutarovich, Bram Tankink, Bert Scheirlinckx, Frantisek Kloucek, Sjef De Wilde, and Robert Wagner I think you stand a good chance of running the table.
Seriously… Robert Wagner is going to clean up the Omloop… he’s not all about Hart-to-Hart and reverse mortgages… he LIVES for the cobbles…
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Frantisek Kloucek.. Are you sure?
I know one Frantisek, Frantisek Rabon
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Check the startlist my man...
… there is some dude named Frantisek Kloucek
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Nope... that's 100% pure original whateverthehellcountry...
… but every time I see it, I read it as Fronsac, the main character in Le Pacte des Loups (which is an ungodly kick-ass movie.)
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Robert Wagner is out
He would not abide by the UCI helmet rule for fear of messing up his perfect hair.
He can go back to managing that factory in Chicago...
… that makes miniature models of factories.
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Let's see.....Sonja Henie is out. I'll take Danny Noonan.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
The startlist
at CN is way out of date
http://startlist.cyclingfever.com/startlist.html?_p=startlijst&id=19159
CN
has crap startlists. CyclingFever or Cyclingstartlists.com are the best regular sources.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 25, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
Boooooooooooooooonen
I agree that its a little early to be sending messages but.
If Boonen wins this edition, THAT will be a message.
Yes, and THAT will be a good start for my VDS team
so THAT would be really good to see.
"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
Yep
but THAT is not going to happen.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 25, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
Don't go trying to ruin THAT irrational hope THAT I'm feeling
plus I have some other cobblers who could do well at the Het.
"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
Disney lied to you...
… and there’s a person inside the mouse. It’s a costume.
And there is no Santa… he’s just a guy in Finland that has a time space continuum dealy-bop…
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
I believe in Floyd too!
David Gilmour and Roger Waters will be able to overcome their differences and tour one more time… through Los Angeles… playing extended sets at both the Hollywood Bowl, LA Live and Verizon Amphitheater.
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Is that the same Disney
that left you in tears when they shot Bambi’s mum?
bergs? If it supposed to be Dutch or Flemish you have to remove the s and enter en..
but hellingen/heuvels/klimmetjes will cover the charge(?) better..
So enough complained! The season finally starts! Yahooo!!
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Too hard
We’re Americans, we can’t speak second languages properly.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 25, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions
What about Gavia..
I think she speaks fluently Chiness in 3 weeks if she wants to.. But hey it was a shot in the right direction.. It’s as good as my English ;)
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
That's whay I was yelling at Tommeke as
he climbed the Murr in 2006 – “Give ’em Hellingen!”
Well,…..that’s what I wished I yelled. Instead I lost my composure and merely screamed ’C’mon Tom!"
Starstruck, and the like.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Haha that's funny..
But Give em Hellingen sounds retarded.. It’s like screaming: Give ‘em Mountains..
You’d better say.. Tom. De witte lijn licht boven! Get ’em.. I think he is more motivated
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Um........I was joking about the Hillengen part
;-)
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Hooooooraaaaaay! At long last.
Forget the Six Nations Rugby on Saturday: Flanders is where it’s at :-)
Six Nations Rugby? Since when did Native Americans start playing rugby?
… or is this one of those obscure Basque sports you write about…
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Native Americans? Do they come in six nations?
No, this would be the competition where we get to be rude to the Welsh all in the name of sport (and then get thrashed by them). Actually, the Basques have been known to play rugby. I switched on their online TV to watch a pelota match the other week and discovered local club rugby on! That was quite surprising. And then there’s Harinordoquy, the Basque giant in the French team….
Iroquois Confederacy = Six Nations
The other six nations just play for the right to be slaughtered by South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand
Yes... the come in six nations...
… and in some supermarkets, you can get them by the case.
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Don't forget KBK on Sunday
Cyclingfans is hopefully putting up links for both. I need to check with Ctv and see if my current subscription works for the spring races.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
And early , early saturday morning you find out
if your current subscription works for the spring races.
What's Spring without uncertainty?
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
I should shun you for that.........
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
I thought that was inspired actually.
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
That's it,
you’re shunned too.
Anybody else? I’m feeling very Amish today.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Don't make me put on my
shunning face 
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Oh, you're only shunned
to the outside world. You still show up here at the Cafe. Go try and talk to one of your colleagues – they’ll avoid eye contact and act like you’re not there.
As a site administrator I’m sworn to keep tabs on all posts.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
I work at home, so my colleague is my cat.
She is, in fact, acting like I’m not here. But then again, she’s a cat.
Google is my domestique.
She knows. Trust me.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
I thought Boonan was out for some reason
Didn’t I read that somewhere? Or was that a caffeine deficiency induced hallucination?
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Thnx for the clarification
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Amazing
When I read my comment again it is pretty uncomprehensible steno and you still thought is was clarifying.
Boonen did not join his team for the training ride of part of the parcours because he needed some time to recover from his jetlag after his California trip.
Ohhh... I got me a fine, fine mix of athletes at this event...
7 of them… some with breakaway potential, some with potential to take it at the line in a field sprint…
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
I am riding a train composed entirely of Garmin and Cervelo for this...
…yes, I know, I be doomed.
Is it talk like a Pirate day already?
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
EVERY day is talk like a Pirate day.
How can you not know that?
You can't be serious...
… but perhaps, just perhaps… you ARRRRRRRRRRRR!!
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Worse, I lied. There's a Katuysha in there.
Updated start lists are wonderful.
Do pirates lie a lot?
I got four.
Including my boy Heinrich Haussler.
Freight train’s coming, baby! Freight train’s coming.
Haussler? Htf is Haussler...
But thanks.. I think I get a place for him
Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.
Shit, you took Hausler too?
(sound of footsteps walking away, car door slams, car disappears in the distance)
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
No Haussler here
The members of my team can’t be any geek of the street. They have to be handy with the steel, if you know what I mean. Earn their keep.
REGULATORS!!!!! Mount on!
—-
Man, I so should have named my team The Regulators.
In in for 5 riders for this one
A couple of riders I have I was expecting to ride and aren’t so hopefully they’re up in the coming couple races or they were a big wast of funds.
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Gran Premio dell´Insubria & GP di Lugano
Hey I was wondering if anyone here can enlighten me on these two races which are the Swiss/Italian equilivent of Hey News and KBK. and are held on the same day. I’ve been aware of them, they have decent fields, but I’ve never seen them and just don’t have a feel. Anyone know much?
I know Lövkvist has done GP Lugano in the past
I think they’re run on hillier courses without the massive climbs, they’ve ended in small-group sprints the years I’ve read reports.
Thanks.
I see the course profile for the Suburbia race- flat, flat, flat. THAT’S a sprinters course though Lugano looks like it has some hills. There are a bunch of good riders in both races too. the Italian doppelganger of the Belgian races with most PT team and all those Italian ProC and Continental teams.
Great name for a Belgian cyclist
I don’t know about you guys but I’ll be cheering for Geert Omloop of the PALMANS CRAS team. Can you imagine? Geert Omloop winning Omloop het Nieuwsblad?
Only if Marco Velo comes in second...
and they both transfer to any team managed by Vroomen.
Boonen's a shark... choking on Livestrong chalk and FAIL. Go Cav!
Geert Omloop
has won eight Omloops so far, his first in 1996 (Omloop der Vlaamse Gewesten, Amateurs), the last being the Omloop van de Gouden Garnaal in 2007.
Ok, you got that one
but how many velos has Marco won in his career.
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