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Ronde van Vlaanderen ... LIVE (#1)

Copy_of_pineapple_face_tiny by Chris... on in News

I think it's safe to say we'll need two of these today. Race kicks off momentarily, under something other than sunny skies in Brugge. No more words can describe it... on to the pictures. Enjoy!

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Morning all
"Only those who are dentists can say that the Ronde is not hard. For all others, it's the way of the floss."

I believe I'll take that 5 pts now Chris.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 6:47 AM EDT   0 recs

Good morning!
I started a diary, sorry Chris!  Wasn't sure if you were up yet!

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 6:48 AM EDT   0 recs

Hi guys!
Up? My biological clock went off at 3.44. Not too shabby!

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 6:50 AM EDT   0 recs

ZApped
I deleted it... sorry! For posterity, it was beautifully written.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 6:51 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Thank you!
Isn't this exciting!!??  Live action....NOW! :-)

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 6:52 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Morning!
...the good comes as soon as the coffee kicks in!
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 6:50 AM EDT   0 recs

Anyone getting a pregame show on Ctv
or are you looking at the same DePanne highlights as me?
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 6:51 AM EDT   0 recs

Oh hello Drew
Still waiting for it...

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 6:52 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I was
just kicked over to live feed.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 6:52 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Happy morning thought:
If Congress hadn't messed with daylight savings, it would be 2.50 right now.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 6:51 AM EDT   0 recs

Mumbles ... grunts... rubs eyes....
morning...
============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 6, 2008 6:52 AM EDT   0 recs

I hate Congress
;-)
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 6:52 AM EDT   0 recs

Live ticker
here http://www.sportwereld.be/extra/live/wielrennen/2008/rvv/live/index.html Learn Flams while you wait.

Posthuma, Wesemann and Tom Steels out already.

by Monty. on Apr 6, 2008 6:53 AM EDT   0 recs

Good ol Rabo
What happened to Posthuma?

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 6:54 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

At least
that's what I reckon Opgave means. And Stappen af too.

by Monty. on Apr 6, 2008 6:54 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

do you guys have vid
on ctv?

I can't get pass the Flanderen front page there...

by Bruce on Apr 6, 2008 6:55 AM EDT   0 recs

just got video
here too...

by Bruce on Apr 6, 2008 6:57 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Nothing but errors for me...
No vid... no ctv... nothing ...
============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 6, 2008 6:59 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

same here !!!!
"The ox is slow but the earth is patient."

by Teel 22 on Apr 6, 2008 7:01 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I still get nothing...
I got the first stage of de Panne video but no active link to the Ronde. fume
============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 6, 2008 7:06 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Try saying it out loud lots of times
11:16nog 202 km > Opgave Posthuma

Wat een pech voor de man-in-vorm Joost Posthuma! Hij moet opgeven. De Nederlander - deze week nog winnaar van de Driedaagse van De Panne - heeft een bloedneus waar maar geen einde aan komt. Wat er precies scheelt met de renner is nog niet duidelijk, maar het is voldoende erg voor hem om af te stappen.

Suddenly the odd word clicks.

by Monty. on Apr 6, 2008 6:56 AM EDT   0 recs

My guess
What a pisser for the man-in-form Joost Posthuma! He had to give up. The Dutchman - already this week winner of the 3 days of de Panne - had a bleeding nose ......... .What precisely he .... with the pack is still not duidelijk, but .... it forced him to stop.

by Monty. on Apr 6, 2008 6:59 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I love watching the sign-ins.
Beautiful crowd there, of course!  1200 kbps on c.tv, looking great!

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 6:56 AM EDT   0 recs

Ballan crashed earlier
but remounted. Franzoi is out, possibly with a broken leg.

by Monty. on Apr 6, 2008 7:01 AM EDT   0 recs

Oops, spoke too soon; the live
shots show drops of rain on the camera lens.  Franzoi out w/broken leg already.  Gap 1:41

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:03 AM EDT   0 recs

How's that
bloody mary Ruthann?
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:05 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Very nice, thank you!
First time I've had an olive before noon.  You know me;  always up for new experiences! :-)

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:07 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

holy shit
Franzoi and Posthuma are on my team. That's called 'good luck', right?

by King of Doping on Apr 6, 2008 7:03 AM EDT   0 recs

horrible
conditions!

by Bruce on Apr 6, 2008 7:03 AM EDT   0 recs

Cycling.tv login nightmares
in  3... 2... 1...

And there's the error page.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:05 AM EDT   0 recs

Soooo... is there some trick to this?
Or is this the worst $99 I've ever spent?
============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 6, 2008 7:08 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Keep at it; try closing and
opening a new browser.  It's aggrevating, isn't it?  

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:10 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

try again
I've been on since the preview and the video actually is really sharp.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 7:10 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Rechstreeks: Renders (topsport)
Veelers, Tombak, Jerome (Bweeg!)  Posthuma out with an uncontrollable bloody nose, how terrible!

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:05 AM EDT   0 recs

And we're in!
Keep at it guys and gals, it took 15' but is working now. Just keep refreshing and reloading.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:07 AM EDT   0 recs

Spartacus dressed
like he's riding in Minnesota today. Brian picks Boonen.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:10 AM EDT   0 recs

Vagaries of spring in MN...
it was 63 here yesterday, 50 today.  Got out on my bike for the first time since October yesterday, and am experiencing great pain today in the sitting area of my body.  The Bloody Mary seems to be helping with that, however.

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:24 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Morning all
Took me 20 min to get into cycling.tv. On with the show!

by Veloki on Apr 6, 2008 7:10 AM EDT   0 recs

urge to kill rising
seriously, it's 4am, don't fuck with me cycling.tv

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:11 AM EDT   0 recs

more live stream possibilities in case you can't
http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=9498&part=sports

and with the program Zattoo try channel 'SF INFO'. With good quality but in german!

by King of Doping on Apr 6, 2008 7:13 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

step back...
take huge drink of beer and then try log in.  They commented that tons are trying to log in right now.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 7:15 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

CTV
Guys, it is a little slow...the mad rush to log in all at the same time...slow but working refresh, F5 it is beautiful once in... stay with it there's 4 hours....servers areall fine...busy, but holding up....

by Cycling TV on Apr 6, 2008 7:38 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

viewing
So do those of you that have been doing this forever have 2 computers up or do your screens look like mini multi-screens trying to watch, type, and read!?!  I'm 1/2 thinking to go log in my work laptop to watch one in full screen.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 7:13 AM EDT   0 recs

2 windows for me
I run Ctv with Exploder and everything else in Firefox.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:15 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

two screens
Laptop showing the race. Desktop with PC and various live tickers.

by PopUp Rolen on Apr 6, 2008 7:16 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Brian just said keep refreshing
which I know is the last thing you want to hear but. On a lighter note, I love the Skil Shimano Capt. America kits, but Topsport has a good one too.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:14 AM EDT   0 recs

Did he mention
whether I should refrain from killing anyone?

I like to think that threats get results.

Nice corner there. Yoyoing off the back at de Ronde!

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:24 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

And I'm in ......
finally! Woo Hoo
"The ox is slow but the earth is patient."

by Teel 22 on Apr 6, 2008 7:14 AM EDT   0 recs

The login form is slow
but the browser is patient.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:21 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hehe
I still want 5pts for my entry at the top of the page. I woke up about 3:30 and was thinking about the race and it just came to me. Honestly. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:23 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

The Molenberg climb is at 107k to go,
no rain right now, and mostly dry roads here in Oodenstaat.  Nikki, I'm on one computer, w/the PdC taking up 1/3 of my screen.  Gap 1:58 w/124k to go.

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:17 AM EDT   0 recs

urge to kill subsiding.
I'm in. But at what psychological cost?

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:19 AM EDT   0 recs

CTV
What is they say...if something is worth it it has to have alittle hardship! I hope we now have continuous and lovely streaming. WE believe the headlong rush at start time is over and we should be okay to the end.

Apologies for your troubles....we're shifting on June 3rd to a massive new infrastructure...we'll be off current systems onto JumpTV and that network has over 11 million users a month.

Capacity is no issues now other than the bottleneck on login...it's just getting through...we double servers on Friday night...

Once in the streaming is no problem that is what is really frustrating, once in we could stream to millions at the very high quality.

by Cycling TV on Apr 6, 2008 7:42 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Slippies
No word on Will's knee but I would expect them to try and animate as the day goes on.
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 7:19 AM EDT   0 recs

I'm in!
Morning fellow freaks

by Jimbo... on Apr 6, 2008 7:21 AM EDT   0 recs

Greipel!
Is that the pro tour leader's jersey I see?

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:22 AM EDT   0 recs

What the hell is Van SummerAle
doing at the back? Ride in the front idiot!
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:25 AM EDT   0 recs

Yep, Anthony says it's the UCI leader jersey
Has to be a bad omen.

Mornin' all.

by Cyclingrush on Apr 6, 2008 7:25 AM EDT   0 recs

20 min to get in to c.tv
morning all
America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Apr 6, 2008 7:27 AM EDT   0 recs

Tombak
with the bare arms. Respect.

My favorite chapter in Lance Armstrong's War is the part about Eki, and how the eastern Euro guys pedal through corners, the implication being they don't really care what about happens if they clip a pedal.

Excellent use of a bike lane there.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:28 AM EDT   0 recs

Oops, I did it again
Re-upped w/ cycling.tv. But only after demanding they explain what steps they're taking to become competent humans. After responding nastily to their initial standard email, I got another email that was much more contrite (though it still didn't explain what they're doing to fix the problem. I wouldn't understand anyway).

I guess that'll have to do.

by Cyclingrush on Apr 6, 2008 7:28 AM EDT   0 recs

crazy
cutting through the crowds
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 7:28 AM EDT   0 recs

this is f.up...
40 minutes of error messages, blank screens and freakin' de panne replays?  Unconscionable.
============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 6, 2008 7:29 AM EDT   0 recs

Really?
Dude, I so feel for you... Keep going! It'll be worth it.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:31 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes, it is terrible service,
but hang in there and keep trying.  We've all been there, I'm afraid.  

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:32 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I Don't Understand?!?!??!
I just... just... want... want to kill
============= Daniel

by crashdan on Apr 6, 2008 7:44 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Amazing pictures
of what guys are willing to do to get in position before a climb. If you don't pancake a spectator, you can move up a bit!

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:30 AM EDT   0 recs

Is it more dangerous to be
a spectator during the Ronde or a hunting partner of Dick Cheney? Coin flip.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:30 AM EDT   0 recs

molenberg coming
that padestraat also looks painful

by King of Doping on Apr 6, 2008 7:31 AM EDT   0 recs

Ruthann
time to rename your morning bloody mary a Joost Posthuma. Out of respect for the poor guy.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:33 AM EDT   0 recs

jens
have you framed the ad from road of him yet?
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. -Randy Pausch

by nikki on Apr 6, 2008 7:34 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Done. Poor guy.
Look at the crowds!  So cool.  The gutters along the cobbled street are pure mud and puddles, so it must have rained really hard last night...

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:35 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Cobbles!
Hey, have any of you seen the new Boonen Specialized ad, where his body is morphing into cobblestones? Awesome, wish I could get a poster of that.

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:33 AM EDT   0 recs

Direct link to the Ctv page, anyone?
I can't find my way to it, for some reason... god.

by BDBrian on Apr 6, 2008 7:33 AM EDT   0 recs

Direct Link to Premium
Cycling.tv/channels/premium/live-races/live-race-viewer?id=1102

This is the easiest route

by Cycling TV on Apr 6, 2008 7:47 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

One window to have
If you can handle multiple windows / tabs, here's one to keep handy:

http://rvv.be/2008/eng/parcours/hellingen.html

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:35 AM EDT   0 recs

gap 58 secs

by Bruce on Apr 6, 2008 7:35 AM EDT   0 recs

Allan Davis racing for Mitsubishi
this year, didn't know that.  Shout out from Anthony and Brian, and instructions to check the InnerTube site for instructions on how to get in.

by Ruthann on Apr 6, 2008 7:38 AM EDT   0 recs

Hi Anthony and Brian!
They just issued the hang-in-there message for anyone still waiting to login. I'm convinced it's just a volume issue, will settle down soon.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:38 AM EDT   0 recs

morning all
really morning for some of you west coasters!
-K-

by KevinK on Apr 6, 2008 7:38 AM EDT   0 recs

Brian says
to check into the innertube (for PdCers) and they're offering help getting in. Dunno what that means but maybe they're looking out of us.
"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Apr 6, 2008 7:39 AM EDT   0 recs

or
how you're supposed to get to the innertube if you can't login.

by Chris... on Apr 6, 2008 7:41 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Innertube
Innertube runs off different servers so as not