Gallery - Riding the Tour of Flanders
04/03/10
the route! - yes we have 15 muirs (hills) and 25 sections of pave (cobblestones) over 260km (162 miles)
reading the race instructions - note punchcard and computer chipped race number
pregame meal in the atrium - tons of pasta with cheese
I'm ready
before the start - 3,000+ riders mill around in the dark narrow streets
not pictured 40 degree temprature
a frozen smile... can we start yet?
the sun comes up and we shuffle toward the podium for the start
the podium - in the central square directly in front of a giant cathedral
and we're off... still freezing cold...
heading West toward the coast in a long peleton
battling a crosswind from the South
at the harbor in Oostende, time to head South and then East
heading South - echelons in the bitter headwind
flat flat land - and plenty of windmills old and new
heading East toward the Ardennes where the pave and muirs await
nice bike lanes everywhere
and the rain begins - who ordered that?
the checkpoints were a zoo - you have to file through to get your ticket punched
Belgian waffles - energy food. I ate about a hundred...
flat fields soaking up the rain - a gray scene but we're getting close to the Ardennes now
yes, I am soaked, no, I am not warm
picturesque little towns dot the road all the way
another checkpoint - this one is indoors and warm - yay
a respite! - the sun comes out briefly and we get to dry out a little
... but more storm clouds on the horizon ...
... still it is nice for now
the villages are further apart and the land is wilder
entering the Ardennes Forest - beautiful narrow lanes
pave! - miles and miles of it - bumpy and slippery when wet
the first climb and my first experience climbing cobbles - only fourteen muirs left
at the top of the Molenberg is indeed a Molen (windmill), whew
more cobbles to climb - my arms are sore already
how do you spell relief? a-s-p-h-a-l-t. Yay...
incredible churchs in this part of Belgium, and all in good repair
I am six hours into the ride, 180km down, but the hard part remains
the police use horses! how excellent is that?
in between muirs, narrow winding roads through the fields
the weather is turning crappy again - I tucked into this paceline for a while
back country - path is slick and steep
yay, sun! but man this road goes on forever...
The Belgian Lotto posted face cards with Belgian champions all along the route
signs at the top of each climb tell you about the next one
the Koppenberg is the steepest of them all, in 6km
the bottom of the Koppenberg - yippee
wet cobbles and a 20% climb, Belgian cycling at its finest :)
a lone windmill guards a flat plain
man, where is the finish already?
yay! the finish... and of course it is raining again
no matter, I FINISHED! - 162 miles, 12:32 riding time
one exhausted, wet, cold, sore rider...
and feeling rather pleased with myself