Cancellara Confirms Retirement

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/1.2493866
Says next year his last and that "the bike is not the only thing in my life". Expected I think, but still sad to see him go, even if I was never his biggest fan.
Hopefully we get fit Tom and Fabs for the last time ever next spring.
Says next year his last and that "the bike is not the only thing in my life". Expected I think, but still sad to see him go, even if I was never his biggest fan.
Hopefully we get fit Tom and Fabs for the last time ever next spring.
"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent
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I hope he can stay crash and injury free, and rip their legs off one last time
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Seen it coming but still gutted. Don't think Boonen will be long after.
I'm sorry we never got a re-match of a fully fit Boonen v Cancellara in the RVV and P-R. The fickle hand of fate saw to that on a few occassions
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It's a reminder of just how good Boonen was that he hasn't been fully fit at the Classics since 2012!
AS to Canc's whining, that was what made me never really warm to him. Although, having ridden the descent off the Stockeau now, I see him trying to neutralise the Tour in a slightly more charitable light
@gietvangent
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That stage victory in 2007(?) where he just rode the sprinters off his wheel is what turned me from a bemused admirer to true cycling fan
- @ddraver
Exactly this. In his pomp, almost impossible to not admire. Praying we get one final Boonen vs Cancellara next year, even if it's only 1 race.
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You can be both.
It must have been open about a year when I popped in there a few years ago (when the Koppenberg was still original) and only several "Pave" blocks, photo's and a couple of bikes to look at.
Yes, but in a two man break of Boonen & Cancellara, where the workload is fairly shared, I'd rather see Boonen win. He seems like he'd be more fun to have a pint with afterwards.
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E3 the year after was something a bit special too. (Check out my man Tankink adding to the drama). This was his first race on cobbles since that Roubaix ride and he came from a looong way back.
http://youtu.be/SHUWTwPu_LA
Listen to how excited Karl gets on the moto.
Didn't make a difference, Canc still destroyed all the sprinters and their teams.
http://youtu.be/BJNLMYpr2TM
http://youtu.be/HA03vSHPBJo
How many TT world champs can sit up and celebrate 500m before the line???
It's wonderful isn't it? I stood in there for ages after riding the sportive this year. Legs were aching and dying for something to eat but I couldn't bring myself to leave. Had to be dragged out! The bikes look like they took them from under him at the finish
Edit: I'm properly gutted he's retiring. Won't be the same without him. Great rider, truly a great
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Thanks, will do!
Makes up a surprisingly large amount of the museum, especially since no other rider gets a room to themselves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA
The part just before he enters the tunnel is probably where he was most daring, but certainly, it was no Sean Kelly at MSR descent.
Tell you what, though. Today's moto riders could learn a lot from that video. This year was a joke in that department.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng82khcwkQ0
Flanders 2010...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z6z7uUe0tVA
It was a perfect cycling moment for me - "sublime", as Harmon called it (I miss him)...
Boonen in his national champs jersey: FC in his... The 2 greatest classics riders of their generation alone together in one of the greatest races on one of the most iconic locations in cycling...
It was the style with which FC dispatched Boonen, though, that was almost chilling.
It was the moment for me that answered their pecking order.
For FC to sit in the saddle and drop a rider like Boonen like he did, when he did....In terms of "cycling moment" of the last 10 years, I can't think of one that has haunted me more. I reckon I've ridden the Muur about 10 times in total, but even at my fittest, the steep bit was always plain ugly.
Boonen getting out of the saddle in the earlier part of the climb past the church must have flagged up to FC that he was knackered because climbing like that on cobbles isn't efficient at all.