A Ride Through Flanders

The day started by making a trip to the GreenEDGE hotel and having a chat with the mechanics and Matty White who were very generous with their time. It was about 10am and Stuey O’Grady was the only one up and having breakfast (I assume he just got back from a big night out). We’re told that Langeveld is in good hands and is currently seeing the best collarbone specialist in Belgium (we was going 83km/hr when he crashed). Gossy is stick and four others are at the Track World Championships, so they’re running low on men. The rest of the squad is racing in Spain at Vuelta Pais Vasco and Circuit de la Sarthe. The Classics team here will be racing Scheldeprijs on Wednesday (which we’ll be watching) and Paris Roubaix on Sunday. After that, the squad racing Pais Vasco will come to Belgium and race the Ardennes.

We then headed over to the Tour of Flanders Centre in Oudenaarde which plunges you into the atmosphere and history of the famous race. There was some interesting artefacts and interactive media presented there which made you understand what an integral part of the Belgian culture this race really is. Among many interesting things here are a couple of my favorites:

What is a Flandrien?

In the brochure at the museum it’s explained that the nickname “Flandrien” was typical for the Flemish track cyclists who were showmen for the crown at the Six-day races in the 1910’s and 20’s. When the Flandriens took the boat to America to compete in the velodromes of New York and Chicago they were announced as “blokes who eat raw meat”. The characteristics of a Flandrien are:

Characteristics of a Flandrien

also…

“

Why A Male Racer Will Always Beat A Female Racer:

Stamina: Men have more stamina due to a lower fat percentage and more haemoglobin in the blood.

Fat Percentage: Male racers aim for a body fat percentage between 4 and 10%. Female racers possess between 13-17%.

Pulsatory volume: Men can pump ~200ml per heart beat, women 150ml per heart beat.

Oxygen: There is 10% more haemoglobin in the male blood. Men have thus better oxygen transport.

Drag: Women have more curves: wider pelvis, and bosom. So they catch more wind.

Menstruation: Blood loss can limit the oxygen transport. It may also cause touchiness and tiredness.

Muscles: More testosterone means more muscles, so more power. Men can produce 1200 watts during a sprint, women only half as much.

I have no idea how much of that is fact, but I did find some of it hilarious that they took the time to make an exhibition out of this.

After taking some time in the museum and having lunch in their sensational pub we were met with former Belgian national champion and Tour de France stage winner Serge Baguet. He took us around his old training grounds on the cobbled back roads of Flanders. The sun came out and it was a spectacular day riding up the Koppenberg and the Muur (which was sadly taken out of the parcours this year). If you’re a cyclist, riding up the Muur is almost a religious experience.

Tomorrow we head to Ieper, visit the Tyne Cot Cemetery and ride the interesting parts of the Gent Wevelgem course including the Kemmelberg.

A few photos from today…

: Cyclistken Pis

: It’s said that the first ever “Manneken Pis” famous statue is found in Brussels, however we’re told that this statue in the town next to the Muur van Geraardsbergen is the original. The only time he has stopped peeing was for 2 days of mourning when the Muur was excluded from the Tour of Flanders.

: Having a little fun with the staged photos on the Muur

: The town of Geraardsbergen just before the Muur

: The Koppenberg reaches 23% and even many of the pros will need to walk it with 200km in their legs. Top right: Serge Baguet - he still goes well!

: Big Scotty CRUSHING the cobbles up the Koppenberg!

: All sorts of pelotons of these beautifully painted figurines are assembled to represent different editions of the race and the its winners immortalised here.

: Tour of Flanders Centre in Oudenaarde

: Matt White took the time to have a yarn with all of us at the team hotel

Cam

So jealous…
Cam

So jealous…
Cam

So jealous…
Mars

Sitting in the office I see this and can only say you have succeeded in having me wish I was there.

Dare I say another day in paradise?

Love seeing this stuff through your eyes (lens).

Thanks muchly.
Mars

Sitting in the office I see this and can only say you have succeeded in having me wish I was there.

Dare I say another day in paradise?

Love seeing this stuff through your eyes (lens).

Thanks muchly.
Mars

Sitting in the office I see this and can only say you have succeeded in having me wish I was there.

Dare I say another day in paradise?

Love seeing this stuff through your eyes (lens).

Thanks muchly.
Kev Eddy

Yep, add another ‘jealous!’ to the list.
Hardo

My screens green through my envious eyes. Magic stuff CT and great pix Veeral/Wade.
Fred Smith

i hate my life, i want to be in Belgium
http://twitter.com/hkwan H Kwan

Not fair… you know we read this in the office…
https://twitter.com/#!/BPriestie Priestie

Damn, just realised I missed having a pro photographer by not going. Sheez! :)

I bet Scotty is flatening the Muur like he did on the Swaheely!
Slhaydon

monsieur baguette - A comedy name if ever there was one. He should have become a Boulanger.
Tafi

A Baguette is a long thin loaf of French bread. The ex-pro you rode with is Serge Baguet.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Damn spell-check!
  - Anon
    
    baguettes can also mean chopsticks
    - francais
      
      or a magic wand :)
Paul

HTFU guys! Whitey’s wearing a tshirt!

Great photo journal of your rides through the Belgian countryside
- Notso Swift
  
  Whitey looks like he is carrying more than the cyclo-tourists though…
Matcalabria

Whats funny is you blokes in your fleeces etc so it must be a bit chilly and Matty White just shooten’ the breeze in a T-shirt..classic
Paulgolf5

Awesome Wade. Great write up and pics.
Beebs

Wayde - only you could make a “break au natural” look spectacular
- Hardo
  
  Live streaming.
jules

the touchiness thing is real, but then it didn’t seem to slow lance down
Slhaydon

you can take your helmets off and feel the wind through your hair now - make the most of it.
- jules
  
  if it’s a tour organised by a business in australia, i’m afraid the long arm of OH&S law maintains a firm grip
  - Slhaydon
    
    well, only for insurance purposes. no claim and they will never know. is a blog a business?
    
    still ridiculous though.
    - Tim
      
      Not if the tour is organised through a third party who have insurance and WW is just the guide.
      - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
        
        Ive contracted Bikestyle Tours to run the tour. I set the itinerary and they take care of all the operations. They do an awesome job and the guides are top notch. Can’t recommend them highly enough
    - Tim
      
      And yes blogs ARE businesses (ProBlogger, much?)
      If you run a site like this, chances are, you have an ABN
      Especially if you wanna claim DEV expenses
      ESPECIALLY if advertisers want to claim outgoings on advertising through the ATO
Alexpascoe1

Some familiar faces Wade - the old gang from July reunited again?!?! VERY jealous. Say g’day to Dave S and Eric. Cheers AP
Eamon Fitzpatrick

Such a great place!!
B real

This stuff makes me want to be in Belgium. Soooo jealous.

Are you going to sell any CT cyling jersey and knicks any time soon?
Notso Swift

And one man was brave enough to roll on deep section carbons…
Roobay

Wade - please tell me you are not a Collingwood fan. The CT kit looks suspiciously like a “homage” to the filth.
- Jim
  
  You’d know there would probably be a cross over market for jerseys in footy (or rugby) colours
Roobay

Wade - please tell me you are not a Collingwood fan. The CT kit looks suspiciously like a “homage” to the filth.
Ian

Sigh!!!
Fuel

Love to be riding those roads right now!
Envious - Yes!
Anonymous

Wade be sure to have a few brews at ’12 Apostles’ in Ieper. Off the southern edge of the market square on D’Hondtstraat from memory. Hilarious theme to the joint, and a nice change-up from the places on the square. Also proudly preserving the Belgian tradition of dimly lit pubs ;) If it’s not planned already, I HIGHLY recommend making time for last post under Menin Gate. Unforgettable.
Anonymous

Wade be sure to have a few brews at ’12 Apostles’ in Ieper. Off the southern edge of the market square on D’Hondtstraat from memory. Hilarious theme to the joint, and a nice change-up from the places on the square. Also proudly preserving the Belgian tradition of dimly lit pubs ;) If it’s not planned already, I HIGHLY recommend making time for last post under Menin Gate. Unforgettable.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  thanks for the tip. We went by 12 Apostles but it was closed. Just went to the Last Post and very moving.
Tim

Looks like a red letter day (s)
Good to see Derryck there lording it up.
Kenny79

lordy , havent seen a “z” jersey for a while, classy !wot frame is the guy with that jersey on ?looks old time too!!! ps..cyclingtips kit coming soon ?
looks like a good trip
Bracks_ashat

Wade, do I have to shave my legs if I consider riding in Belgium with a team kit + team bike looking like a poseur?
- Notso Swift
  
  Dude! you need to shave even if you want to roll with the big boys on Beach road!
  - Bracks_ashat
    
    Thanks, what if I don’t shave and end up winning a crit? Does that make everyone pissed off?
    - Notso Swift
      
      In that case People will run around calling “Fine Cotton”
      ;-)
http://twitter.com/patrickxsmith Patrick Smith

The way you’re all lined up in that photo with Whitey looks like he’s just told you what he’ll do to you if your VIP car gets in his way! Wonderful photos, I’m very jealous and I only live a few hundred miles away in England.