Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 2 Apr - the day dawned very cold but the wind was pretty soft when compared to previous days. The BiciSport group decided on an early morning ride with the Force Team on the Dutch-Belgian border then headed back to Oudenaarde to see the Ronde. The Womens Ronde (pictured above with 30k to go) was a cracker of an edition and the Men’s event was an all time classic.
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 2 Apr - Belge fan action in the Maarke Kerkem local pub # 1. Laden with genuine Flanders atmosphere all routing for Wout the Wonderful.
Ronde van Vlaanderen @ 2 Apr - Belge fan action in the Maarke Kerkem local pub # 2. A great round of applause greeted the amazing Podge victory.
Ronde Day Training Ride @ De Kikker @ 2 Apr - The Force Team lined up outside De Kikker Cafe in Niewerken Wass before a super brisk ride around the Dutch polders in the Netherlands (the Dutch Belge border is just 10k away).
Ronde Day Training Ride @ De Kikker @ 2 Apr - Koen Verhulst (left) and Mike Lawson (BiciSport - near red helmet) lead the post ride discussion in De Kikker pool room
Ronde Day Training Ride @ De Kikker Cafe @ 2 Apr - the church goers from across the road had departed the local church after Sunday service and headed straight for a cleansing ale at De Kikker (note - we hadn’t reached midday yet)
BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - The Dwars race was a midweek semi Classic over 200k. BiciSport ventured firstly down to the Holleweg cobbles then to the Etikhove Railay Bridge
BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Greg Van Avermatt on the Holleweg cobbles near Oudenaarde
BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Caleb Ewen @ Etikhove Railway Bridge
BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Caleb Ewen @ Etikhove
BiciSport @ Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 29 Mar - Phillipo Ganna on a charge
Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclosportive 2023 @ 1 Apr - Mike Lawson before the start in cold & damp conditions.
BiciSport to Belgium @ 30 Mar - Mike Lawson behind the Tom Boonen bronzed legs exhibition on top of the Taainberg cobbled climb near Etikhove in Flanders
BiciSport to Belgium @ 30 Mar - Mike Lawson (left) & Koen Verhulst after a local training around Oudenaarde. Koen is wearing the Team Force jersey with BiciSport noted across the collarbone. The sponsorship with BiciSport is a 3 year deal.
RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK
3 Apr - 24 Apr
BiciSport to the Belgian Spring Classics
9 Apr
Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)
10 Apr (Mon)
Eastern Creek Raceway (Eric Mather Cup - Waratah Masters)
Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)
BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES
Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings
Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park
Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe
Tues 4 Apr & Thurs 6 Apr
Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee
Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am
Thurs 6 Apr
Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps
Sat 8 Apr
Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am
The upcoming BiciSport Belgian calendar -
April
8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive, 9 - Paris Roubaix Classic
12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive (Netherlands)
16 - Amstel Gold Classic (Neth), 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic. 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic
Paris Roubaix 2023 - a time to eat cobbles as part of a balanced diet
BiciSport to Roubaix 2023 - A different approach for ‘23.
Accommodation is 4 nights in the tiny village of Bachy (located between Orchies & Cysiong) near the top of the attached map. An early morning drive to Compiegne for the Sunday start in Compiegne, dash to the mid race cobbles at Viesly, then more than a mad dash to the cobbles at Cysiong, then find a cafe somewhere with a tv.
Ugo De Rosa RIP - an inspiration to many and one of the most creative frame builders on the planet.