Thats the Tour of Flanders in case your Flemish is a bit rusty! Its abrilliant ride and I'm definately doing it next year and will do the 256km ride this year was just a warm up! First off the weather, it was wet, windy and cold until the Bosberg when the sun came out. Nothing prepares you for the first berg, The Molenberg, one minute your on acyle track the next a sharp rightand you at the bottom of a wet, muddy wall of cobbles. Igot about 20 yards and had to get off as it was just too congested. The mud and rain made it vitually unridable and I dont think any one actually managed to ride up it. The rest of the bergs were ok as things got a bit more , but not much more spread out and you start to get the hang of thigs which is basically to hope no one comes to a stop in front of you or if they do they get of the way as in the conditions you have to not only stay seated but in a dead straight line or the back wheel just slips out, so you grind up shouting "Alle alle" and people get out the way. Its brillant! Inbetwwen the muurs your on cyle paths and narrow lanes, some of which are as steep as the muurs. The problem with the cycle tracks is its hard to get round slower riders.
The best bits? The Kappel muur, the Bosberg and the fast run into Ninove when the Belgiums put the hammer down. Imagine doing the Becs hill climb, but on cobbles and thats the Kappel. its lined with spectaters espsially near the top so there no way your stopping and getting of. as long as you get a clear run, had to shout at a photographer to get out the way and dodge a few mountain bikes its not that hard a climb a lot of rider stop but the red bull had kicked in and I was off. I was feeling good now and in true Flanders fashionn attacked on the Bosberg and got bu a lot of riders and then put the hammer down. Got in with a few flemish clubs who were realyy hammering it. Awsome. Im in the library my times up. To be continued!