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MN Peloton's Road Racing Spring Classics 2015 - trois, deux, un..

231 replies

derailleurdePan · 08/03/2015 11:17

Bike We've had training camps in Catalunya and the Canaries, eaten desert dust and limbered up in Strada Bianche yesterday. Some keen team riders have even been on turbos and rollers....or watched other people do that...which is the same thing really...so we are good to go!

If anyone is new to road racing, the spring classics are generally one-day events (but 150-200 kms long!), usually in Northern France or Belgium and are the hors d'oeuvres to the Grand Tours of Italy, France and Spain. Some though, like today's start on the Paris-Nice are multi-stage of a week or so in length.

The remaining UCI-advertised classics up the Giro d'Italia are here..

08.03 15.03 Paris – Nice France
11.03 17.03 Tirreno – Adriatico Italy
22.03 22.03 Milan – San Remo Italy
23.03 29.03 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Spain
27.03 27.03 E3 Harelbeke Belgium
29.03 29.03 Ghent – Wevelgem Belgium
05.04 05.04 Tour of Flanders Belgium
06.04 11.04 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco Spain
12.04 12.04 Paris – Roubaix France
19.04 19.04 Amstel Gold Race Netherlands
22.04 22.04 La Flèche Wallonne Belgium
26.04 26.04 Liège – Bastogne – Liège Belgium
28.04 03.05 Tour de Romandie Switzerland

So shall we roll out of the neutralised zone, and start sweating??
Bike_Bike

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derailleurdePan · 29/03/2015 11:20

G-W today, and I think with Sir Bradders? Here is update to Endo's link

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derailleurdePan · 29/03/2015 14:33

and it looks utterly foul.

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AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2015 16:35

It's been a while since I've posted ... but have been keeping up! Was horribly jealous as DH and FIL went to San Gimignano for a weekend to go and watch the Strade Bianchi. They had a brilliant time, saw all sorts of cycling people at the airport (including Carlton Kirby, with whom they had a nice chat as they headed to the car rental place together) and loads of Lampre support staff whilst out for dinner at FIL's favourite Tuscan restaurant. DH was also v easy to spot on tv as he was wearing www.bigbobblehats.co.uk/rainbow-stripes-bobble-hat-in-stock-p-143.html

Anyway, we just checked the ferry prices again, which had been creeping up but have now fallen again, and have got £30 return on Easter Sunday, so it's a day out at De Ronde van Vlaanderen for us. Always a good one, because if you're in the right place you can see them go past 3 times (or more if you run about a bit!) and the women's race is cunningly slotted in between the men's loops, so gets a good crowd, rather than being an unloved extra the day before or after. Was gutted about Fabian's accident - horrible for him, and am selfishly sad about not seeing him ride. And then we have an overnight trip the next weekend to go to Paris-Roubaix, yay!

AtiaoftheJulii · 29/03/2015 16:49

G-W was good to watch, but that wind!

FelixFelix · 29/03/2015 18:24

Julii that sounds fab, I'm so jealous!!

Tried to watch earlier and got literally about 5 minutes viewing time then dd starting playing up so ended up watching cbeebies instead Shock DP's first race this morning didn't go well. He got dropped on the second lap (along with some other people) as the speeds were insane for a cat 3 & 4 race. They were doing the same speed as the cat 2 race in the afternoon (about 60kmph) so no wonder people couldn't keep up. It's not put him off though and he's going to keep trying this season so I'll be a cycling widow every other weekend!

derailleurdePan · 29/03/2015 19:04

ok Atia, you're resuming your 'on the road' classics reporter duties!Grin

Fixed cleats onto new shoes today - £1,850 a pair from Decathlon - Jimmy Choo do bike shoes - whoda thunk! Bike

That race was grim. only 39 finishers.

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EndoplasmicReticulum · 29/03/2015 20:11

I thought it was windy here, it was obviously windy there too.

DramaAlpaca · 03/04/2015 01:07

I've been watching 3 Days of De Panne.

Wiggo pulled out an incredible individual TT today to take third overall.

Looks like he's coming nicely into form just in time for Flanders on Sunday & for Paris-Roubaix.

UnoPan · 05/04/2015 09:07

Cobbles.

And more cobbles.....

UnoPan · 05/04/2015 12:24

and only 150 km to go..

MrSlant · 05/04/2015 14:33

I am getting as angry as the presenters with the cars today Angry. What sort of people do they have driving them? Ones who have never in their lives bothered to watch any cycling?

Can't believe I have come in from the sunshine to watch either! Have allowed my ex-H in for the day so he can enjoy a family Easter cook me my lunch whilst I watch cycling and pack to go on holiday with y boys tomorrow GrinGrinGrin

MrSlant · 05/04/2015 20:42

It's Losty btw, put on my TP outfit in honour of his memory and decided to keep it. Losty belongs to old life, MrSlant can be the divorced, happier version.

I was exhausted watching that race, the possibilities and permutations and in the end just the two of them to fight it out. Great racing.

FelixFelix · 05/04/2015 21:31

I'm just catching up now. I always wince when I see them going over the cobbles Grin Just at 127km to go.

UnoPan · 05/04/2015 21:42

Successful day for the drivers of Team Shimano-Bellend.

FelixFelix · 05/04/2015 22:09

Jesus I've just seen poor Jesse get skittled! Absolutely horrendous.

FelixFelix · 05/04/2015 22:10

Pan how are you getting on with your new pedals?

DramaAlpaca · 05/04/2015 22:19

Shock Shock!! There are no words for those drivers Angry

Despite all that, great race.

StayingSamVimesGirl · 05/04/2015 22:23

That was atrocious driving today! As bad as the bike that sent Johnny Hoogerland through the barbed wire fence - maybe worse, because they put at least one rider out. Does anyone know what happened to the rider caught in the second incident - I never managed to find out.

MrSlant · 05/04/2015 22:34

Second rider was ok apparently. Shocking watching the footage back.

MrSlant · 05/04/2015 22:35

Well ok as in I think his race was over but otherwise ok.

UnoPan · 06/04/2015 11:23

Shimano enquiry has been handed over to the proper civil authorities and it was found that the riders were to blame. Neither were wearing hi-viz jackets and had no lights on their bikes. Chavanel was under-taking his team car in a reckless manner, and Jesse was riding without thought for the needs of the car driver and so didn't get out of the way. He was also trying to cut up the car. Also this car driver had the sun in his eyes and so was blameless. Chavanel will be pursued for the damage cost to the Shimano car and his own team car.
So that's all good then.....

Pedals Felix - a bit problematic tbh. The cleat keeps coming loose on my left shoe and needs regular tightening, and on both sides my feet still slip around freely - which sort of negates a big feature of having them in the first place!! I think I need to experiment with tighter pedal springs to stop the rocking and rolling. How's things with yours?Bike

DramaAlpaca · 06/04/2015 13:38

Tour of the Basque Country starts today Smile Bike

StayingSamVimesGirl · 06/04/2015 15:09

I should have said, I am usually SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius, but am sporting a name change in honour of Sir Terry of Pratchett too.

DramaAlpaca · 06/04/2015 15:14

Oh it's you, SDTG Smile. Do we still call you that, or will you be staying as Staying? Grin

I gather MrSlant's name is a Terry Pratchett one as well?

StayingSamVimesGirl · 06/04/2015 19:53

Mr Slant is a zombie lawyer in Ankh Morpork.

I will be going back to SDTGetc fairly soon.