Ronde van Vlaanderen 2017 *spoilers*

No_Ta_Doctor
No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,676
edited April 2017 in Pro race
Oh yes. It's that time of the year again.

profiel.jpg

route.jpg

The road book with expected times etc.:
Roadmap (PDF)

Slightly easier to read full timetable:
Timetable (PDF)

A handy guide to the hellingen
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The Muur is back!
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Obligatory Boonen pic... You'll never guess where ;-)
taaienbergboonenboom.jpg

Obligatory refreshments pic:
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Comments

  • slim_boy_fat
    slim_boy_fat Posts: 1,810
    Just took delivery of a new Duvel glass yesterday, bottles already in the fridge, route planned for Sunday morning ride, Mrs and little one out at party in the afternoon, sorted!
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,708
    God I hope I get to watch this...

    However, I hope even more that the boy (now a man, they grow up so fast :cry: ) gets his spot on the Muur
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    A little warm up clip (this is basically porn to Rick)

    https://twitter.com/Laura_Meseguer/stat ... 5730604032
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,676
    RichN95 wrote:
    A little warm up clip (this is basically porn to Rick)

    https://twitter.com/Laura_Meseguer/stat ... 5730604032

    To be fair, that's a pretty sexy line he takes.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,530
    I'm in Manchester on Sunday, I'm guessing the best (only?) chance to watch will be the Rapha café? Having never been to Manchester city centre before where is that in relation to Deansgate where I'm staying and are there any other cycling cafes or bars there that might show it?
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,440
    Pross wrote:
    I'm in Manchester on Sunday, I'm guessing the best (only?) chance to watch will be the Rapha café? Having never been to Manchester city centre before where is that in relation to Deansgate where I'm staying and are there any other cycling cafes or bars there that might show it?

    Very close - Rapha is just off St Anne's Square, which is just east of Deansgate. It's just behind St Anne's Church.

    I'd offer to come meet you but I'm in Scotland at a wedding this weekend. Rapha is a good spot to watch it, if you can stomach the coffee prices - it's where I tend to go for live cycling as you get a good multinational crowd.

    There's a place in Altrincham (Velo Espresso) but that will be much less convenient.

    PM me if you want any other recommendations or anything.
  • Beatmaker
    Beatmaker Posts: 1,092
    Pross wrote:
    I'm in Manchester on Sunday, I'm guessing the best (only?) chance to watch will be the Rapha café? Having never been to Manchester city centre before where is that in relation to Deansgate where I'm staying and are there any other cycling cafes or bars there that might show it?

    Its a couple of minutes away from Deansgate, just off St Ann St.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    bobmcstuff wrote:

    I'd offer to come meet you but I'm in Scotland at a wedding this weekend. Rapha is a good spot to watch it, if you can stomach the coffee prices - .

    Spot the northerner.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,440
    bobmcstuff wrote:

    I'd offer to come meet you but I'm in Scotland at a wedding this weekend. Rapha is a good spot to watch it, if you can stomach the coffee prices - .

    Spot the northerner.

    I'm from Bristol!!

    Yes it's probably "only" the same price as it would be in London.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Yeah, I mean it's not like low rents and subsequent high disposable income makes things like 80p more for a coffee pale into insignificance.
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Yeah, I mean it's not like low rents and subsequent high disposable income makes things like 80p more for a coffee pale into insignificance.

    In Manchester city centre people's average annual full-time pay is £28,900

    The median average UK salary is currently £27,531 while the City of London is the highest-earning region, boasting an average salary of £48,023

    I know 'the City' isn't all of London but everything is relative....

    Would rather live in Manc though ;-)
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,440
    Yeah, I mean it's not like low rents and subsequent high disposable income makes things like 80p more for a coffee pale into insignificance.

    In Manchester city centre people's average annual full-time pay is £28,900

    The median average UK salary is currently £27,531 while the City of London is the highest-earning region, boasting an average salary of £48,023

    I know 'the City' isn't all of London but everything is relative....

    Would rather live in Manc though ;-)

    28k in Manchester or 48k in London - you might just about have an equivalent quality of life!

    When I started work I was offered the same grad job in London or Manchester... I asked if there was a London weighting, and they said not officially but they could add 1 or 2k to the salary - I said no to that one, and took the offer in Manchester. We just bought a house - all my girlfriend's family (she's northern) are like "holy sh!t that's expensive!" and all my London friends are like "holy sh!t that's cheap!". Perceptions are weird.
  • ridgerider
    ridgerider Posts: 2,852
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    bobmcstuff wrote:

    I'd offer to come meet you but I'm in Scotland at a wedding this weekend. Rapha is a good spot to watch it, if you can stomach the coffee prices - .

    Spot the northerner.

    I'm from Bristol!!

    Yes it's probably "only" the same price as it would be in London.
    Their 'long Black' (aka an americano) is just £2.30 in Spitalfields
    Half man, Half bike
  • okgo
    okgo Posts: 4,368
    On £48k you'd need to live in Manchester and commute to London to buy a house.


    I can't wait for this race, its my clear fave of all of the classics.
    Blog on my first and now second season of proper riding/racing - www.firstseasonracing.com
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,530
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    I'm in Manchester on Sunday, I'm guessing the best (only?) chance to watch will be the Rapha café? Having never been to Manchester city centre before where is that in relation to Deansgate where I'm staying and are there any other cycling cafes or bars there that might show it?

    Very close - Rapha is just off St Anne's Square, which is just east of Deansgate. It's just behind St Anne's Church.

    I'd offer to come meet you but I'm in Scotland at a wedding this weekend. Rapha is a good spot to watch it, if you can stomach the coffee prices - it's where I tend to go for live cycling as you get a good multinational crowd.

    There's a place in Altrincham (Velo Espresso) but that will be much less convenient.

    PM me if you want any other recommendations or anything.

    Cheers, the prices are fine - I tend to go in the London one when up there and it's nice coffee and cake to be fair. The bigger problem will be if I can't get a seat as I'm running my first marathon in the morning!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Pross wrote:
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    I'm in Manchester on Sunday, I'm guessing the best (only?) chance to watch will be the Rapha café? Having never been to Manchester city centre before where is that in relation to Deansgate where I'm staying and are there any other cycling cafes or bars there that might show it?

    Very close - Rapha is just off St Anne's Square, which is just east of Deansgate. It's just behind St Anne's Church.

    I'd offer to come meet you but I'm in Scotland at a wedding this weekend. Rapha is a good spot to watch it, if you can stomach the coffee prices - it's where I tend to go for live cycling as you get a good multinational crowd.

    There's a place in Altrincham (Velo Espresso) but that will be much less convenient.

    PM me if you want any other recommendations or anything.

    Cheers, the prices are fine - I tend to go in the London one when up there and it's nice coffee and cake to be fair. The bigger problem will be if I can't get a seat as I'm running my first marathon in the morning!

    Well don't wash and i'm sure no-one will want to be near you ;).
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    Via Inrng, a 15 minute film about a day on the Paterberg (in 2012). English subtitles available.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2J9lbde7E4
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,440
    If you get there in decent time you should get a seat. For big races it tends to only get really busy towards the end. I've only been there a couple of times when it's been standing room only - last mountain stage of the tour last year being one that springs to mind. It'll be good for Flanders. I'll probably go for Roubaix.

    It is good coffee, they've got a couple of decent beers too ;)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    What I do quite like is you see how selective all the prior warm up races were, and then you look start to look at what they've included in the Ronde, and you realise, it's virtually ALL OF THEM. And you see how much more difficult it is.
  • spam02
    spam02 Posts: 178
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/39438171

    Luke Rowe targeting the podium.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Yeah, I mean it's not like low rents and subsequent high disposable income makes things like 80p more for a coffee pale into insignificance.

    In Manchester city centre people's average annual full-time pay is £28,900

    The median average UK salary is currently £27,531 while the City of London is the highest-earning region, boasting an average salary of £48,023

    I know 'the City' isn't all of London but everything is relative....

    Would rather live in Manc though ;-)
    Round here people would gasp at how high house prices are in Manchester ;-)
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    What is wrong with this photo?

    WATSON_00004101-045.jpg

    :P
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    The rider 5th from the back has his glasses tucked inside his helmet straps?
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    the Quick-Step rider is contributing to the group?
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    Some wearing black socks (I don't mind them, but some do)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • maddog 2 wrote:
    the Quick-Step rider is contributing to the group?


    :mrgreen:
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,259
    Sky on the wrong side of a split in the peloton once again.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • spam02
    spam02 Posts: 178
    Skybot - Cannot deviate from pre-set course
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,530
    All bar one of the cyclists is actually obeying the Daily Mail Highway Code and not cycling on the road?