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Season Has Well & Truly “Kicked Off”

Well what a great couple of weeks it’s been for cycling fans. The season has well and truly “kicked off” now. First up was Tour of Flanders. Having ridden the public race the day before, I was ready to see how the pro guys did it 24 hours later. I managed to park quite close to the circuit but I did not appear to be in a great location for watching the race. I wanted to be where the action was. I knew I had no chance of getting onto the Kappelmuur as I had been told that thousands of people would be wrestling for a vantage point at such an iconic location.

Back at my hotel room that morning I had studied the route and tried to pick a point that might produce a decisive move. I had settled for the Molenburg climb about 45km from the finish in Ninove. After parking my car, I decided that the best mode of transport was going to be my Verenti Rhigos 3. Although I had managed to wash it down after the previous days excursions, it was still looking a bit sorry for itself, but no matter I pressed on. I was soon at a point where the race would pass, albeit in a couple of hours time. I asked a knowledgeable looking gent (also with his bike) where and how far away was the Molenburg climb.

Luckily it was a mere 4km away and even luckier the gentlemen was heading there to meet his pals to watch the race unfold from a local café. I naturally tagged along. His English was not great, but a damn sight better than my Flemish. Soon I was stood on the cheeky little climb, Molenburg. I was set for a good day that got even better when my guide offered to take me to the café where he was meeting his friends. I locked the Rhigos to a rail and followed my new friend on foot.

Inside the café was bedlam. You couldn’t move, but you could see a little television high in one corner where the peloton where hammering away towards us. I have watched enough racing on Belgian Internet sites to understand the graphics of what was going on. I could have indulged, like many of my fellow spectators, in the local beer, but I was driving to the ferry port directly after the race and that beer is strong stuff I can tell you.

Soon it was time to head out back to watch the race. I managed to push my way back to the place where my bike was and then I could hear the ever-increasing roar of the knowledgeable, appreciative crowd as the leaders approached. As the riders passed me, the look on their faces was a picture of pure hell. I caught a brief glimpse of Tom Boonen and then Dave Millar, who looked in immense pain. Having watched a replay of the race a few hours later in the comfort of my own living room (Mrs Carter was away for the weekend so I wasn’t upsetting anyone, watching the cycling for a change!) I know that about 500m down from where I was standing, Fabian Cancellara blew the race apart with a stunning attack. Only Tom Boonen, in supreme form himself, was really able to stay with him. 20km later on the Kappelmuur, Cancellara attacked Boonen again, this time the elastic snapped and Spartacus was able to ride alone to this finish, unchallenged for his first Tour of Flanders win.

Cancelarra is quite simply, Awesome! He has such strength that he is able to inflict pain on the rest of the field at will and does this with devastating effect. A week later and I was back in the living room watching the Paris-Roubaix classic. Some say that Paris-Roubaix is the classic. I can see the point, but I don’t agree. I believe that there are only a very few riders at Roubaix that have a chance of winning, where as at Flanders there are more challengers in with a shot at victory.

This opinion wouldn’t worry Cancellara however, as he won both races in the same devastating style. I happen to think that he hasn’t stopped there either. I would not be surprised to see him win at any of the Ardennes classics that begin soon! Let’s see if I’m right eh? (I’m quite often wrong by the way so don’t wager any of your hard earned cash on my tips!)

Back to my own preparation for the season. Although not announced officially yet I am 40! There you go I’ve said it. Apparently that’s half of the therapy over. After a few days of celebrating this milestone I’m currently staying at a health spa with Mrs Carter, who has brought me here as a gift for my birthday. I rode the 55 miles to get here. Again on the Rhigos, which I am absolutely loving. Mrs Carter found it difficult to select somewhere that met both my training desires and my “high maintenance” accommodation standards, but she has really hit the spot.

They are catering for my every need and I am just back from a 3 hour “hilly” ride. The Rhigos climbs exceptionally well. It is stiff and responsive and supremely comfortable. There were a couple of 15 minute climbs on my ride and I did not struggle. I just found a rhythm and the bike responded perfectly. I’m really looking forward to riding it this Sunday at the Wiggle Super Series New Forest sportive. The weather looks OK at this point so I’m predicting a really good day for all.

Hopefully I’ll see a few of you there.

Rich