When the press was called to Geraardsbergen to announce the 2017 Ronde van Vlaanderen route there were a few changes including a new start in Antwerp. The changes are awesome and we are all rooting for our Trek-Segafredo heroes tomorrow.
Our first iconic picture as part of your Cyclologic Flanders preview is the smaller but more beautiful of the two churches in Geraardsbergen. We spent some time on the Kwaremont too, pictures and commentary below.
Enjoy the worlds arguably finest one day race today!!! We are glued to the Interwebs spectating to the best of our ability.
This cobbled entryway to this stunning church is overlooked by Our Lady holding the infant Jesus. When you see the cobbles that precedes this stretch this surface is welcome.
This is the section that precedes the church before it funnels riders between a fine drinking establishment and onto the church section. Zoom in to see how some of these cobbles are like upward facing blades!!
Not all sections of cobbles are equal, this section is more perfectly manicured although far from flat and perilous in the rain with roads narrowed by rabid fans.
Cobbles eye view...
And now onto the Kwaremont
We came to see the amazing team and fans ofGRINTA! ride 100 times up this beast!
This is the beautiful village at the top of the climb.
But it's not really done yet, the cobble section continues to extends the hurt!
And continues into a series of not to be underestimated rollers!
In the local "refreshment" establishment they have the venerated local Kwaremont beer that is the same % strength as the grade of the climb. Makes perfect sense, eh?
Locals are mostly friendly!!
And here is the GRINTA! special brew to commentate a special day! We gleefully toasted a great race on the eve of the Belgian fan favorite with this limited edition taste of Flanders.
Our host the fantastic Jean Luc de Meyer who completed the 240km sportive today with the other Bike Fitting luminaries Morgan Lloyd and Jon Iriberri. Next year perhaps?
Let's hope there's no carnage like this today! Poor ole Jesper Skibby came a cropper when leading the race back in the good ole days! GoTrek-Segafredo!!!!