Tour of Flanders 2009 now open!

Chip \'oyler

Thanks for the info guys. I thought it might be the PTI building but I didn't want to assume (you know what that does to people!).

I'll be in Yorkshire Velo kit if anyone wants to push me up some bergs.

calvjones

I'll be in an old Kelme Spanish champion's jersey, riding like the Spanish usually do at Flanders

cjcp

Getting very excited too! I'll be in a Kingston Wheeler jersey. There's a few of us going. Will look out for the Luton and Manchester kits.

itboffin

cjcp wrote:

Getting very excited too! I'll be in a Kingston Wheeler jersey. There's a few of us going. Will look out for the Luton and Manchester kits.

So how did it go?

pjm-84

Hated the cycle lanes but loved the cobbles....................and climbs. Did the 260km in under 9hrs (ride time) and felt strong so pretty chuffed considering the ups and downs with training so this year. Particulary sweet was climbing the Koppenburg where I failed in 2006. Even more so on a 39x25 lowest gear.

I gave my 2006 Madone a workout on the cobbles. The poor bike must have taken a battering but it took it in it's stride . Pity the same couldn't be said for my 705 Garmin bike mount. (Hunt the 705!) Water bottle ( Yep I lost one and I had "grippy" cages on especially for it) and Fizik saddle bag (snapped the plastic support). I was running the Pave tyres and rate them highly. Fast and grippy and they look as good as new. Well maybe not so green now.................

mclarent

That was off the hook. What an amazing day! Did the 140km in 5hrs 40mins, all the major climbs, the cobbles, loved it, brilliant! Was dead by the end, but definately going back next year!! Not sure yet if I'll go for the full distance - think that depends on the weather - but definately doing the 140km again.

BTW, friend of mine says it was on the radio that there were 20,000 riders on the day, compared to 10,600 pre-registrations - the queues at Ninove weren't too bad, but then I left early. Crazy Flandriens!

Watched the race on the top of the Mur (Kapel-de-Mur), great stuff!

le_patron

Really enjoyed it, much easier than last year, I think for a few reasons

Less wind, less rain, less snow, pave tyres and better legs. Sat in the mega packs for the first 120k’s, then felt strong on every climb and a full on road race finish with everybody attacking each-other over the Bosberg and the fly into Ninove. The traction on the cobbles was amazing this time, even out of the saddle on the steepest part of the K’berg was possible, never had that before.

Race day was spent on the Muur and great seeing Nicole looking resplendent in her rainbow jersey too. It was very sunny and very beery, a few too many Westemalle’s, Rochefort 8’s and frites & frinkandel from frituur Obelix. Meant a painful rise this morning, but all worth it, great weekend. In the diary again for next year.

Mar ge

There were something like 19.5k participants on the Saturday and allegedly up to 4k on the Friday, hence from next year the event will also officially include the Friday too.

Though perhaps that will mean the Friday participants (most of which choose to avoid the Saturday due to the congestion or reluctance to pay for roads that we can ride every other day for free) move to Thursday.

mclarent

Mar ge wrote:

There were something like 19.5k participants on the Saturday and allegedly up to 4k on the Friday, hence from next year the event will also officially include the Friday too.

Though perhaps that will mean the Friday participants (most of which choose to avoid the Saturday due to the congestion or reluctance to pay for roads that we can ride every other day for free) move to Thursday.

there's no marshalling on the "pre" days though right? I only had to wait maybe 3 times - two of which were for lights, and I wouldn't fancy flying through some of those junctions as I did without a marshall stopping traffic(!)

Mar ge

mclarent wrote:

Mar ge wrote:

There were something like 19.5k participants on the Saturday and allegedly up to 4k on the Friday, hence from next year the event will also officially include the Friday too.

Though perhaps that will mean the Friday participants (most of which choose to avoid the Saturday due to the congestion or reluctance to pay for roads that we can ride every other day for free) move to Thursday.

there's no marshalling on the "pre" days though right? I only had to wait maybe 3 times - two of which were for lights, and I wouldn't fancy flying through some of those junctions as I did without a marshall stopping traffic(!)

This is Flanders we're talking about here. Cyclists have more rights than cars here
Joking aside - the alleged 4k on the Friday were indeed riding without marshals though many of the private feeding stations were open.
I am not sure how easy it will be for the organisers to find marshals for the proposed official Friday event in 2010.
Personally I don't think it will work out, primarily becuase we have so many options in Belgium for sportives. (I didn't ride the road event this year but where the MTB & road routes came together it didn't seem crazy busy either?)

Chip \'oyler

All I can say after doing the 140km ride on Satdi is that Belgium is heaven on earth. The whole weekend was awesome - and I also discovered the hidden jewel that is Gent

cjcp

Yep, had a really good ride and a brilliant weekend.

Was much more confident over the cobbles this time around - managed 40.6mph down the straight, cobbled descent whereas I practically crawled down it last time - and managed the Koppenberg without touching down , although fell sideways in the banking on the left hand side of the Muur just after the steps when a chap in front of me stopped and I didn't have the energy to change direction quickly enough. :oops: Earned some brownie points by getting off at the top of the Muur to give the good wife a big kiss . Legs eventually gave up on the Bosberg. Didn't eat enough during the ride and started to pedal squares.

I last rode it in 2007, but I don't remember the long stretch of cobbles after about 12 miles. They were great fun, but were they there last year?

They need to sort out that scrum at registration though. Something similar to check-in at airports might be an idea.

itboffin

an yet none of you took photos - tut!

cjcp

Took a few. Just need to download them!

firsthippy

Here's my report on my first Tour of Flanders weekend..
http://thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1286

Here's some pics too..
http://www.thehippy.net/gallery/thumbna ... ?album=252

Awesome!

le_patron

Bronzie

itboffin wrote:

an yet none of you took photos - tut!

Did the 70km with my lad (13). We did 65 miles including riding to/from hotel, which is about 20 miles more than he's ever done before so he slept well Saturday night!


Had to take a pic after he climbed the Muur with no dabs - very proud of him! 8)

........and his reward..............



He thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend so a great sucess and he's proudly wearing his "Official Flandrien" T-shirt now.

Good to meet Calv Jones (briefly) in the hotel - very jealous that you got to stay on another night with the Quickstep squad in the hotel as well. Did Stijn Devolder have the "fish in bacon" that caused a few of the CC Luton boys some concerns?

Le Commentateur

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37108440@N ... 6311/show/

cjcp

Bronzie wrote:

itboffin wrote:

an yet none of you took photos - tut!

Did the 70km with my lad (13). We did 65 miles including riding to/from hotel, which is about 20 miles more than he's ever done before so he slept well Saturday night!

Top effort.

I was thinking that I didn't see any Luton jerseys, but, seeing your son's gilet, I did see a couple of those on Saturday. Can't remember where though.

Here's one of me on the Muur (after I did a bit more than dab down ) - I'm in the centre, blue, white and red kit:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3425308452_fd023faf35.jpg?v=0

Mar ge

Chip \'oyler wrote:

All I can say after doing the 140km ride on Satdi is that Belgium is heaven on earth. The whole weekend was awesome - and I also discovered the hidden jewel that is Gent

Couldn't agree more (which I was I moved there )

I can never understand why all the tourists go to Bruges but equally I won't try & drag them away from the place.

Apart from the weather Belgium is cycling heaven. Sometimes I'd like some longer hills but just the fact that you are warmly welcomed as a cyclist & not just a target for car drivers is already awesome.

There seemed to be more cars with British plates this year. That was a pleasant surprise considering I thought the exchange rate might turn a few people away...
Come back and try some of the other sportives. The RvV is an amazing atmosphere but the riding is usually better on the events with less participants.