In cycling circles the Tour of Flanders, or Ronde van Vlaanderen, is a widely anticipated and respected event. It is Belgium’s “race that stops a nation”.
Outside its homeland though, the Ronde has lower status. This is largely due to its place in April, one of the cycling calendar’s busiest months.
Just a week after things wrap up at the Ronde, the sports world is stopped by the awe-inspiring romance of Paris-Roubaix (‘Hell of the North’), France’s cobbled gem.
Then it is back to Belgium for Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege and then on to Switzerland for the glorious Tour of Romandie.
Despite such a packed schedule, it is still difficult for me to see how the Ronde could possibly get lost.
It is more than a form gauge for the likes of Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen ahead of the highly celebrated Roubaix. It is arguably cycling’s most exciting one-day classic.
Last night, close to one million people stood roadside and countless others watched live coverage on television as Omega Pharma-QuickStep’s Boonen took out his third Ronde. I was one of the latter.
Audiences were treated to a new look course featuring countless rises and genuine climbs – like the iconic Koppenberg – and many unpredictable sections of pavé.
This year’s installment featured an array of contenders aside from stalwarts Boonen and Cancellara.
The list of potential winners included Liquigas-Cannondale youngster Peter Sagan, Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen and Farnese-Vini’s Filippo Pozzato.
Their task was made easier when pre-race frontrunner Cancellara fell victim to a water bottle in the feed zone 62 kilometres from the finish line and was driven from the scene by ambulance.
The field was further reduced when GreenEDGE’s Sebastian Langeveld clashed with a spectator and suffered a broken collarbone.
With 18 kilometres to race, Pozzato, Boonen and BMC Racing’s Alessandro Ballan developed what would become an unassailable gap between themselves and the field.
Ballan, known more for his nouse than for his speed, made repeat attempts to break away but could not do so and, although Pozzato packs a solid sprint punch, the race was Tommeke’s to lose.
The final kilometre was a breathtaking game of cat and mouse. Ballan’s attacks were reigned in again and again, while Pozzato and Boonen waited to see who was going to blink first.
In what was a predictable, but no less electrifying finish, it was Ballan who opened up the sprint. He was unable to hold off Boonen, who crossed the line first, narrowly ahead of a desperate Pozzato.
SBS cycling commentator and former cyclist Dave McKenzie is not alone in saying the Ronde is his favourite one-day event to watch. I am already awaiting next year’s race. You should be too.
Fancy a wager on your favourite sport? Head on over to PlayUp for great odds and friendly customer service and pick a winner. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Australia's Jai Hindley has said he is "lost for words" after a shock stage victory at the Tour de France earned him the leader's…
Australia's Jai Hindley has said he is "lost for words" after a shock stage victory at the Tour de France earned him the leader's…
Tadej Pogacar has won a drama-packed Tour of Flanders, winning in a breakaway with Matieu van der Poel second, Mads Pedersen third and Wout…
Women are not allowed to compete in the Tour de France. However you choose to re-read that sentence, the fact remains: the most famous…
The jam-packed month-by-month quiz full of 2022 sports trivia!
Australian Grace Brown has won silver in the women's time trial, the first event at the world road cycling championships.
