The two Cobbled Classics are the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) and Paris–Roubaix (both Monuments) with Scheldeprijs held on the Wednesday in-between. The riders of Flanders and Roubaix will typically race in Scheldeprijs to keep sharp, but it’s a Classic with only seven relatively minor cobble sections and the sprinters get a chance to take the glory. Here’s a look back at Flanders, Scheldeprijs and Roubaix with photographs from Belgian photographer Kristof Ramon…
See the Semi-Classics photo-set here. Ardennes coming soon…
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- An escape group of 15 got away straight after the gun at the Tour of Flanders
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- Former double Ronde-winner Stijn Devolder in despair after crashing hard in the descent of the Paterberg (Tour of Flanders). Bleeding and with a broken bike he keeps yelling for the support car to show.
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- Fabian Cancellara up the Molenberg (Tour of Flanders) as one of the last riders after a mechanical at the bottom of the climb. Cancellara eventually crashed out at the feedzone and broke his collarbone which put him out of the rest of the Spring Classics
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- The peloton chasing the escape group at the Tour of Flanders
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- De Ronde van Vlaanderen 2012. Philippe Gilbert showing some panache up the Oude Kwaremont
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- De Ronde van Vlaanderen. Tyler Farrar leading the race up the Oude Kwaremont (1st of 3 runs up it)
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- Tom Veelers smashing it at the Tour of Flanders
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- Daniel Oss on the Kwaremont
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- Tom Boonen charging after Ballan’s decisive move on the last ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. Pozato on his wheel and Ballan right behind (not shown)
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- Tom Boonen sprinting and holding off Filippo Pozzato, taking his 3rd Tour of Flanders victory.
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- Tour of Flanders-winner for the 3rd time: Tom Boonen. Pozzato with 2nd and Allesandro Ballan with 3rd
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- Lotto-Belisol in the team presentations in Antwerp at the start . The Scheldeprijs is a Flanders Classics race which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten. The event, ranked at 1.HC on the UCI European calendar, is seen as a race for sprinters, held on flat roads over roughly 200 kilometres. The race is one circuit of 155 kilometres into the countryside of Antwerp province followed by three circuits of 15 kilometres based on Schoten.
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- Steve Chainel rubbed ready before Scheldeprijs.
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- The Scheldeprijs route includes seven cobbled sections. Until 2009 the race took place in mid-April on the Wednesday following Paris–Roubaix. In 2010 the race switched with the Brabantse Pijl to attract more and better riders and teams. It was formerly known as the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen.
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- Tom Boonen was out on a training ride during Scheldeprijs after just winning the Tour of Flanders. Shown here, he sat on the front of the peloton alone and brought back nearly 2 minutes on the breakaway bunch who were eventually caught
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- Riders crashed after the finish line and Rouleur photographer Taz Darling was seriously injured. Jonathan Cantwell was also taken to hospital for possible rib fractures. Earlier in the race, Wouter Mol of Vacansoleil broke his collarbone in crash eight kilometres before the end.
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- Andre Greipel went down in a post-finishline crash
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- A rainy miserable day at the 2012 Scheldeprijs
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- Belgian photographer Kristof Ramon at work in the Forest of Arenberg. This is Kristof’s first year as a professional cycling photographer. Previously he was in the television industry making documentaries which is one of his many skills that contribute to his beautiful photography
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- George Hincapie tucked behind the leader at BMC’s recon of Paris-Roubaix two days before the race
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- Team FDJ-BigMat training for Roubaix
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- Team Lotto-Belisol rides part of the Paris-Roubaix race route two days before the race
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- A warmly dressed Europcar rider on the Forest of Arenberg two days before the race
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- Juan Antonio Flecha leads the way through the Arenberg Forest along with Jez Hunt and Boasson Hagen close behind. As a side note, the only mechanical that Team SKY had during Paris-Roubaix was one broken bidon cage. Not one puncture.
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- Tom Boonen riding the cobbles two days before the race. The Arenberg Forest was buzzing with fans, photographers and media throughout the day
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- The team doctor prepping Lotto-Belisol rider’s fingers on race day for the constant punishment the cobbles will inflict
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- A motorcycle driver loses his helmet during a cobbled section of Paris Roubaix
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- Edwig Cammaerts found the ditch after crashing on the cobbles
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- Matthieu Ladagnous navigating the Forest of Arenberg
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- The peloton approaching
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- Vladimir Isaichev at the Forest of Arenberg
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- Teams leapfrogged support hands ahead of the race with spare wheels for the riders in case of a puncture or mechanical. The roads are such that team cars cannot get to the all the riders in adequate time if needed
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- Tom Boonen in the lead at Carrefour de l’Arbre after riding off the front with teammate Terpstra who eventually could not keep up
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- Juan Antonio Flecha and Alessandro Ballan chasing Boonen on the Carrefour de l’Arbre
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- Tom Boonen entering the Roubaix velodrome after riding away solo from the peloton for 55kms
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- Tom Boonen greeting the fans with one lap to go having a 1:39 minutes over second place finisher, Sébastien Turgot (Europcar). The win was his ninth of the season and added to other wins in the E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem and Tour of Flanders.
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- Niki Terpstra was instrumental in helping Boonan win the race. Even though he could not keep up with Boonen, he eventually came in a strong 5th
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- Niki Terpstra
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- Kenny Dehaes and Danish film maker Jørgen Leth (his best known work by cyclists is his documentary A Sunday in Hell)
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- Matthew Hayman (8th) and last year’s winner Johan Van Summeren (9th)
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- Taylor Phinney and Greg Henderson
