A Modest Proposal

Fotoreporter Sirotti

 

Does anyone else feel that Ghent-Wevelgem’s move to the Sunday before Flanders has left a gaping hole in the middle of the week between the Ronde and Roubaix?

Ghent-Wevelgem used to be the perfect mid-Monument event, keeping the excitement high, the anticipation peaked, and offering the possibility for some intense racing from those teams to have missed the mark Sunday. Instead we get the Scheldeprijs, a relatively lackluster race run over generally flat roads that almost always produces a field sprint. Yes, the start list is impressive, but many of the favorites for Sunday will either abandon or spend the day as pack fill.

So here’s my proposal: switch them. Return Ghent-Wevelgem to its rightful Wednesday place and move the Scheldeprijs to the Sunday before the Ronde. Doing so would protect the quality of the field in the E3 Prijs, while giving teams a better second option Sunday. No more roster conflicts, no more tough decision for director sportifs. But most importantly, it would maintain the excitement from the Ronde all the way through Roubaix without a lull or anti-climax.

And who knows? With the Scheldeprijs on a Sunday, people might actually watch it.

 

About Whit

My experiences might easily fit many cycling fans' definitions of “living the dream.” Since getting hooked on the sport watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship, I've raced as an amateur on Belgian cobbles, traveled Europe to help build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux. As a former assistant director sportif with Mercury-Viatel, I've also seen the less dreamy side of the sport – the side rife with broken contracts, infighting, and positive dope tests. These days, I live with my lovely wife in Pennsylvania and share my experiences and views on the sport at Bicycling Magazine, the Embrocation Cycling Journal, and at my own site, Pavé.
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4 Responses to A Modest Proposal

  1. Gadi says:

    Let me get it right (please) :
    We'll have the E3 in Sat , and then the Scheldeprijs in the following Sunday , then the Ronde
    in the following Sun , and then the Ghent-Wevelgem in Wed . and only then the PR .
    If it's so – I totally agree ( although I'm still watching today's race….)

  2. Touriste-Routier says:

    While I am sure 99% of fans would be with you on this, the 1 party that matters, the Gent-Wevelgem organizers, don't seem so keen to move back to their traditional slot.

  3. Whit says:

    You got it right!

  4. Lozy says:

    BRING BACK HOLY WEEK!!!

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