I have already waxed lyrical about the Tour of Flanders, how to see it and why you should in a previous post, and as we followed the same tried and tested formula to see the race again this year, this post will just be a short one to share some photographs and musings from this year’s visit.

For the third time the race finished in Oudenaarde following repeated ascents of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, but a tweak to the route that positioned the infamous Koppenberg closer to the finish line made for a much more exciting edition this year. Fabian Cancellara won for the second year in a row, but in a nail-biting sprint rather than a powerful solo attack as we’ve come to expect.

The sign-in

Drizzle at the start of the day threatened to make it a slippery one on the cobbles, but once the race got underway it brightened up.  It was certainly a lot warmer than last year, which meant the riders were more willing to hang around for interviews and photographs.  This year’s Legend in a Leather Jacket wheeled out for a bit of punditry was Andrea Tafi, winner of the race in 2002.  Presumably Johan Museeuw had had a better offer!

 

Bradley Wiggins was a surprise participant in the race, replacing Ian Stannard who had fractured a vertebra in Gent-Wevelgem the previous week.  When it comes to public appearances and dealing with the media, Wiggins can be wonderfully articulate, engaging and hilarious, as we would witness at the Scheldeprijs sign-in three days later.  On other occasions he is sadly a monosyllabic and difficult arse, and today was one of those occasions.  Nice beard though.

In contrast,Tom Boonen accommodated the pre-race formalities with patience and good humour as usual, despite being a superstar who can barely step outside his house without a Belgian press pack documenting his every move.

 

 

The riders weren’t the only ones to be interviewed. We were approached by a reporter for Belgian radio who was interested to know who we would be cheering on.  I amused the soundman no-end with my slightly misty-eyed eulogy about why all the ladies love Fabian Cancellara.

 

 

As usual there was a game of chicken between the big favourites to be the last to sign in.

 

The Oude Kwaremont

 

In the best tradition of Belgian brewers, the makers of Kwaremont beer had this year brought out a special glass from which to drink it, featuring a cobbled pattern on the base and a cyclist climbing round the stem.  Unfortunately the beer didn’t taste quite as nice as last year, I’m not sure if the formula has been changed.

Despite the latest changes to the route, I still think the previous course that ran over the Muur Van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg produced more exciting racing, or at least it did in 2011 when I was fortunate enough to be in Geraardsbergen as the Ronde passed through.  That said, I couldn’t get anywhere near the barriers to physically see the actual race, whereas on the current course, despite 800 000 spectators, it is very easy to position yourself to see the race pass three times.