Ardennes Classics consists of Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège Bastogne Liège and is the third and final act of the Spring Classics. The early season racing begins with fireworks at Milan-San Remo, and then rebuilds throughout the Semi-Classics as a precursor to the Cobbled Classics. The racing then moves from gruelling cobble stones of Flanders and rises into the steep bergs and narrow roads of the Ardennes in eastern Belgium and the Netherlands where a new cast of riders emerge and the Grand Tour contenders come out to play.
What insights can we derive from the Spring Classics with the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France coming up? Here are a few of the obvious but significant ones:
– Thomas Voekler is going well and on track to deliver his exciting attacking style during the Tour de France. As always, he gives us a good show to watch and it’s looking like he won’t disappoint.
– Cadel is far behind where he was last year at this time. He pulled out of Amstel Gold with 60km remaining and withdrew from the rest of the Ardennes races. He finished 29th overall at the Tour of Romandie (which he won last year). Although Bradley Wiggins didn’t race any of the Spring Classics, he’s already won Paris-Nice and the Tour of Romandie and is looking like he’ll be the man to beat at the TdF.
– The Schlecks didn’t make an impact in the Ardennes and RadioShack-Nissan team manager, Johan Bruyneel, has split them apart and threw Fränk into their Giro lineup. WIll this move put them out of their comfort zone and force them race more for themselves? We’ll see…
– Vincenzo Nibali was third in Milan-San Remo and second at Liege-Bastogne-Liege by launching gutsy attacks and getting caught in the final moments. He’s not racing in the Giro, but he’ll be a man to watch out for at the Tour. He came 2nd at the Giro last year and 3rd the year before and won the 2010 Vuelta, so this man has proven that he has the maturity and development to win the Tour.
Photo Gallery
Here’s another beautiful photo gallery from Kristof Ramon of the 2012 Ardennes Classics just past:
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- The peloton in front of Leuven city hall at the start of Brabantse Pijl. In recent years, Zaventem was the city of start, in 2008 however, Leuven became the starting city. Leuven is Kristof’s home town and also the base of many amateur and professional cyclists in Belgium.
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- Thomas Dekker back racing at Brabantse Pijl after his 2 year sanction
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- Thomas Voeckler on his way to winning Brabantse Pijl. Edwig Van Hooydonck holds the record for most wins in the race with four between 1987 and 1995.
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- Philippe Gilbert came in 12th in this year’s Brabantse Pijl. Last year he won it along with dominating the rest of the Ardennes Classics.
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- A tough day after the 195.7kms of Brabantse Pijl
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- 2011 TdU Obscure Pro Angel Madrazo dug deep; VERY deep!
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- The early escapies up the Cauberg at Amstel Gold. The riders climb the Cauberg twice before finishing at the top of the hill on the third ascent. The 2012 World Championships will also finish up the Cauberg however the finish line will be approximately 1500m up the road.
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- The peloton up the Maasberg at Amstel Gold
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- Joost Posthuma – Amstel Gold Race
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- Cadel Evans withdrawing from Amstel Gold with 60km remaining
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- Surprise winner, Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) post-race of Amstel Gold.
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- “Huy” synonymous for “steep gradient”
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- The Spring Classics was alive with professional women’s racing as well. The women’s edition of the Tour of Flanders was won by Judith Arndt (GreenEDGE) and shown here Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-LuluLemon) attacking for the win at La Fleche Wallone
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- Women’s Fleche Wallonne podium: 1. Evelyn Stevens 2. Marianne Vos 3. Linda Villumsen
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- 2012 La Fleche Wallonne podium: 1. Joaquim Rodriguez 2. Michael Albasini 3.Philippe Gilbert.
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- Wout Poels fan painting his name on the Mur at La Fleche Wallonne
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- Andy Schleck chaperoned by Jens Voigt at Fleche Wallonne
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- Nicki Sorensen after turning himself inside out at La Fleeche Wallonne
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- Jens and the RadioSchlecks
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- The peloton approaching (Liege-Bastogne-Liege)
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- Birds-eye view of the peloton at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
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- The iconic Cote de Saint-Roch at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
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- Andy Schleck making his way through his fans and flags in Liege-Bastogne-Liege
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- Philippe Gilbert loosing contact with the leaders up Saint-Nicolas at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
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- Eventual Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner, Maxim Iglinskiy, on Cote de Saint-Nicolas catching up to Nibali who is alone up the road
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- Team SKY getting the bikes ready for the next round of racing only a couple days away
