Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton passing the Koppenberg Cafe at Melden. Photo MOR
Conditions started off reasonably nice at Melden but soon turned dark, wet & cold. Mathieu Van der Poel was virtually one of the few that didn’t walk up the Koppenberg. It was a VdP smash fest. The beer and community spirit at the Koppenberg Cafe and the “after party” at the Oude Schelde Cafe was something else.
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton passing the Koppenberg Cafe. Photo MOR
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton hits the base of the greasy Koppenberg climb. A lot of riders ended up walking. Photo MOR
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - at the base of the Koppenberg climb this Cofidis rider took a wrong turn ! ! ! … the only cyclist on the planet who doesn’t know the Koppenberg climb. What was he thinking ?. His stupidity is only equalled by the lack of consideration for the three other riders who he nearly collided with on the second attempt. Photo MOR
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV peloton approaching the Koppenberg climb Photo MOR
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - the RVV drinking crew from Ronse hit the Koppenberg Cafe. MOR duly obliged offering guidance where required
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - after the Melden experience MOR pedalled no more than 2 kilometres to the Oude Schelde Cafe - where he met the 82 year old owner and some of the best Flemish people you could hope to meet.
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - MOR may not own the Oude Schelde cafe but he did for 2 hours. Nothing beats being an Aussie at the RVV. It was special.
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 31 Mar - sadly it was time to leave in steady rain for the freezing pedal back to the accommodation at Kluisbergen.
This was the send off for an Aussie guy who they knew for barely two hours. What a day and then Matthews gets relegated … 260k in miserable conditions to then go do that - really ?,
Ronde warm up @ Friday 29 Mar - sighted at the local bus stop at Oudenaarde …. L to R …. Max Walschid, Luke Durbridge, Elmarelmar Reinders & Michael Matthews. Photo Mike Lawson (BiciSport)
Kurri Kurri Interclub @ 30 Mar - Danny O’Keefe (2nd right) rode well in B grade for 6th place
Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 30+31 Mar - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took two podiums over the weekend
FLANDERS FOLLIES - DATES THIS COMING WEEK
April
6 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, Paris Roubaix (Women) 7 Apr - Paris Roubaix (U19, U23, Professionals)
10 Apr - Brabant Arrow (Brussels) 14 Apr - Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands)
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Wout van Aert at the start in Roeselare. Photo MOR
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Julian Allaphillipe at the start. Photo MOR
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Jesper Stuyven at the start. Photo MOR
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Photo MOR
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - LIDL Trek service course. Photo MOR
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - Race service course with MOR (left), Eddy (centre), Freddy (right) & Flanders Baloise team mechanic
Dwars Vlaanderen Classic @ 27 Mar - at the Monsere Monument outside the Koers Cycling Museum in Roeselare ….with MOR (left), Eddy (centre) & Freddy (right)
Roubaix Velodrome @ 4 April - A special night at the Roubaix Velodrome with Roger De Vlaeminck, Andrei Tchmil & Alain Bondue. BiciSport will be there.
