On the scene at De Ronde Van Vlaanderen

Greetings from the Podium Cafe Belgian headquarters in Ronse! This photo, taken by Megabeth, shows PdC computer central (aka, the dining room), complete with a jetlagged Chris asleep at his terminal.

Early arrivals Will, Drew, and Jens rode the Ronde sportive on Saturday, and then on Sunday, most of our group took the free shuttle from Ronse to the Paterberg. Chris and I drove to Oudenaarde to pick up press credentials, thinking there would be a press shuttle to the Paterberg, but no such luck. So, we drove to a spot about three miles from the Paterberg and started walking. We ended up parking near an earlier climb on the course, the Kortekeer, so we detoured over there and watched the peloton pass by before heading on to the Paterberg.

We got to the Paterberg in time to see the first round of the climb with 51k to go to the finish.

With about an hour to wait until the second pass up the Paterberg, we had time to hit the frites and beer stand.

For the second climb of the Paterberg, just 13k from the finish, I moved up to a spot near the top of the hill for a different vantage point.

That’s all for now, Ciao from Ronse!