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| Michael Vennard on the Kwaremont |
Riding a 140K Sportive and watching the Professional Race were to be the highlights for Tom Butler, Jonny Croston and Michael Vennard, who boarded the overnight Ferry in Hull on a Thursday evening, heading for Zeebrugge and then Oudenarde in Flanders for a long weekend at the ultimate festival of single day cycling, The Tour of Flanders or Ronde Van Vlaanderen.
On Friday they took a ride to Ypres in preparation for the Saturday Sportive. More than 25000 cyclists took part in the Sportive, a 140k course over most of the iconic climbs of the famous race, including the two used in the finishing circuit, the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg. The Hallmarks of the sportive is the superb organisation and reasonable cost of entry. The route was well marshalled, every turn manned and the route permanently marked.
Every climb was preceded by a sign posted giving length of climb, percentage gradient. 3 hectic official feed stations, employed a ‘funnel’ system to channel cyclists through to waffles, caramel wafers, cake, muesli bars, bananas, water and energy drinks. Shimano vans and mechanics were out providing support to unfortunates suffering mechanicals.
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| At the Sportive Start |
The good weather brought the crowds out, cheering the riders on along the route and particularly at the top of the climbs. Flandrians certainly appreciate cycling, cyclists and the Ronde Van Vlanderen. Our three riders certainly appreciated their support.
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| Tom Butler on the Taaienberg |
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| Jonny and Tom waiting for the Ronde on the Oulde Kwaremont |
In the end, it was a good day for the thousands of locals watching with Tom Boonen comfortably outsprinting his two breakaway companions, Italians, Filippo Pozzato and Alessandro Ballan, to the line. Germany’s Judith Arndt won the women’s race
Michael Vennard’s Video
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| A Well deserved beer. Michael Vennard, Tom Butler, Ian Steeper & Jonny Croston |