Pavé/Laekhouse Colle delle Finestre Contest

Posted on May 26, 2011 by

We had so much fun with our Cima Coppi contest that we decided to have another!

The challenge: pick the winner of the climb over the Colle delle Finestre. Stage 20’s Finestre climb is further proof that Angelo Zomengan and crew are sadists. 19km, with an average gradient in the neighborhood of 9%. As if that wasn’t bad enough, a massive 8km of the climb is unpaved.

If you’re the only one to correctly pick the first person reach the top of Finestre, you’ll win your choice of a Laekhouse T-Shirt from the Icons or Classics series!

Danilo di Luca was first to the top of Finestre when it was featured in the 2005 edition of the Giro, but José Rujano took the stage. Both are riding this year (I double checked to see if Di Luca was still riding, since no one can remember actually seeing him…) Do either of them have what it takes? Maybe someone else? Just like the last contest, if can’t hurt to guess – if your pick is right, you can always claim you had your reasons!

Entries must be submitted before the start of the stage on Saturday. You can place your pick in a comment, or email us at contest@pavepavepave.com. Only 1 entry per person please! Make sure to use a real email address so we can contact you if you win. In the event of multiple people picking the first rider to reach the top of the Finestre, the winner will be randomly selected from the correct entries. If no one gets it right, we’ll go down the list to determine who got it closest. Good luck!

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The Sticky Bidon – May 25, 2011

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

Fotoreporter Sirotti


Interesting cycling items from across the Internet, May 25, 2011

Seen any cool links we missed? Share ’em in the comments below!

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Letters From Abroad – Taking A Break

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

Editor’s Note: Peter Horn is an American racing with the Geox-Fuji Test Team, the amateur development team of Geox-TMC. As Geox-Fuji Test Team’s captain, he’s looking to lead the team to victories in Belgium and around Europe, and help break the team’s riders into the Professional ranks.

I won’t touch my bike for the next week. After three months of racing, it’s time for a little break and a vacation. In a season that spans eight months and at least 50 days of racing, you need to take a break sometime. It’s not possible to maintain your fitness and your focus otherwise.

Today was my first day off. Tomorrow I drive to the south of France, near Tarbes, to spend a night with friends. Then I’ll meet some other friends in Barcelona for a festival this weekend – Primavera Sound. Next week I’ll spend a few more days in France and get back on my bike. My friends live about an hour’s ride from the Pyrenees – and climbs like the Tourmalet and Aspin. I’ve trained in the Alps, but I’ve never been to this part of France. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to training in such a renowned area.

After a few days of endurance training in the mountains, I’ll return to Belgium and race Wavre-Rijmenam (UCI 1.2) on June 5. At the moment, I can’t stand being away from my bike and I can’t wait to race again. Seriously – during my last training rides this weekend, I had this overwhelming feeling; I love riding my bike! I’ve always loved racing, but it’s been awhile since I had such a desire to be on my bike.

So I must save all this energy and fire and use it for the next races. For now, I’m going to try to forget about racing for a week and go have a good time with my friends. I’ll send my next report when I return to Belgium.

And the Song of the Week: “Jammin’” by Bob Marley. Driving to and from our last race in France, this was the first good song we found after scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling through the radio stations. It really hit the spot.

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Langeveld Leaving Rabobank – Too Early?

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

Photo Luc Claessen/ISPA Photo

 

After a few seasons of high finishes in the cobbled classics, Rabobank’s Sebastian Langeveld finally broke through to win this spring’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after a solo attack saw him out in front for the final 50 kilometers of the race. He’s gone too early, was my thought at the time. But the Dutchman proved me wrong in the end, narrowly defeating defending champion Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky in a two-up sprint.

But now, I find myself wondering if Langeveld has once again left too soon. Each year, the transfer market opens earlier and earlier, and while it’s always fun to speculate as to whom will go where, it’s rare that a rider announces his intentions—and has them linked to another team—as early as the Giro d’Italia.

For Langeveld, this early announcement poses a few problems. First, if I were his sport director, why would I make room for him at races where I have several other riders (who are under contract for the following season and beyond) who deserve their chances to shine? In particular, Denmark’s Matti Breschel is returning from injury and will certainly warrant his share of the glory. Why add a wild card such as Langeveld to a race roster when a dedicated rouleur might be a better fit?

Second, from a business perspective, by announcing his desire to leave the Dutch team Langeveld has also eliminated a means by which he might drive up his price. If I were his agent (if I haven’t already been fired), I’m telling Sky that he wants to stay and Rabobank that he wants to explore other options—essentially creating a bidding war between the two squads for my rider’s service. By admitting that he wants to leave, Langeveld has eliminated half of that equation.

Lastly, from a sporting perspective, is Team Sky really the best answer? Yes, Juan Antonio Flecha’s getting old and Edvald Boasson Hagen is proving to be frail, but Sky has so far proven itself to be adept only at winning field sprints and races during the Belgian opening weekend. With so much potential turmoil on the horizon for several of the sport’s best classics squads, wouldn’t it have been better for Langeveld to wait see what other options might arise?

What’s done is done. Langeveld has again decided to try his chances early—only this time, a victory is far less certain.

Share your comments below.

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The Sticky Bidon – May 24, 2011

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

Photo Luc Claessen/ISPA Photo

Interesting cycling items from across the Internet, May 24, 2011

Seen any cool links we missed? Share ’em in the comments below!

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Tour of Belgium – Mini-Preview

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

Fotoreporter Sirotti

 

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 3 will romp around Ieper, climbing the Kemmelberg twice and finishing not far from the second ascent. Perhaps it is a last-chance race for cobbled pretenders who didn’t shine in this year’s races?

Stijn Devolder (with Vacansoleil this year) certainly took advantage of this last year, using it as a launching board for his double-national champion quest. Other classics stars scheduled for appearance: Philippe Gilbert, Tom Boonen, Greg Van Avermaet, Filippo Pozzato. Last year’s second-place finisher Dominique Cornu is certain to figure in this race, as do some talented riders from smaller Dutch and Belgian teams such as Kenny Van Hummel and Staf Scheirlinckx.

My prediction is that Cornu will be gunning for a GC win, counting on his TT skills to carry the day. It all hinges on his ability to limit losses in tricky Stages 3 through 4. The second stage climbs the Kemmelberg twice, with a fairly fast run-in to the finish. The fourth stage is in Wallonia, including an early climb of the Muur de Huy, middle climbs of Stockeau and Haute Levee, and a rolling finish. These are a better fit for one-day racing than for stage racing, even in Belgium. Tellingly, last year Devolder won the GC without winning a single stage, almost as if by accident.

In terms of stage hunters, I predict a very aggressive Pippo Pozzato. Katusha left him off the Giro d’Italia squad, and recently announced an all-Russian squad for the Tour de France. Pozzato is running out of opportunities to earn a contract for next year. I also don’t think Boonen or Gilbert will take risks as they build up to the second part of the season. Boonen is sure to aim for Tour de France stage wins and Worlds, while Gilbert is likely to aim for a strong autumn campaign. I am actually surprised to not see Sylvain Chavanel on the start list, perhaps to taper off his very strong spring in time for Tour de Suisse and TdF as he did last year.

Skil-Shimano and Van Hummel traditionally do well in the Tour of Belgium, and it serves as a good team drill for summer’s big race. My outside bet is for Staf Scheirlinckx of Veranda’s Willem-Accent to make a good showing. He’s figured in several spring races and lady luck may turn on his favor this time.

Who do you think will impress at this year’s Tour of Belgium?

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