Author Archives: Julius

About Julius

Educated by Dutch and Belgian priests halfway around the world from the cobbled classics that he loves, Julius' aspiration is to someday earn Belgian citizenship.

2011 Giro d’Italia – Win, Lose, or Draw

Pavé would like to thank Laekhouse for supporting our coverage of the 2011 Giro d’Italia.   Did the 2011 Giro d’Italia turn out to be a great edition worthy of the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification? Or was it a political flop that drove riders, teams, and organizers to agony? Here’s a special Giro-edition of … Continue reading

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Tour of Belgium – Mini-Preview

  The Tour of Belgium has the potential to be a top-tier race, if only it didn’t have to compete with the Giro d’Italia for attention. While the race’s pancake-flat stages may not be the most exciting,  the middle stages are usually run on parcours familiar to spring classics fans. For example, this year’s Stage … Continue reading

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Rest in Peace, Xavier Tondo

  Not even halfway into the season, and only days after Wouter Weylandt’s tragic death, the cycling world has just lost Xavier Tondo of Team Movistar. Both deaths are shocking, unexpected, and tragic. To many cycling fans, the name Xavier Tondo may seem familiar only because of his recent anti-doping activity wherein he alerted authorities … Continue reading

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Sprinter Form Check – the Giro d’Italia

Pavé would like to thank Laekhouse for supporting our coverage of the 2011 Giro d’Italia.     The halfway mark of the Giro d’Italia is a good time to check the form of the sprinters as we approach the battle royale of the Tour de France (especially as the top sprinters have bowed out ahead of … Continue reading

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Can Philippe Gilbert Win All Five Monuments?

  After Fabian Cancellara won last year’s Ronde-Roubaix double, the talk immediately turned to whether or not the Swiss rider could win all five Monuments—adding Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy to his résumé. This year, following his his historic “quadruple”, Philippe Gilbert—the most versatile of today’s classic specialists—is the latest to possess a legitimate … Continue reading

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Point/Counterpoint: Gilbert v. Rodriguez

Philippe Gilbert will win Liege, and Belgium may form a government. Given his charismatic win in Brabantse Pijl, his convincing defense in Amstel Gold Race, and astonishing sprint in la Fleche Wallonne, it is natural that Gilbert is the favorite for Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Despite speculation of a weaker OmegaPharma-Lotto squad, two domestiques have been stand-outs: Jelle … Continue reading

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