Ronde Van Vlaanderen Recon
On Sunday, the 98th edition of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) will take place in western Belgium. Team Garmin-Sharp spent this week preparing for the race, including 160km recon ride of the race course for Sunday. Coming from Ninove in Flanders, we had a seat in the team car with sport director Andreas Klier and Geert Van Bondt while Jered Gruber took take of the stunning images following the riders on scooter.
Tour of Flanders fact #1: 2014 marks the 98th edition of the race.
Tour of Flanders fact #2: the race has been won by a Belgian 68 times. Garmin-Sharp rider Nick Nuyens won the race in 2011.
Tour of Flanders fact #3: the first race was held on May 25, 1913 and covered 330km.
Tour of Flanders fact #4: the “Ronde” is Dylan van Baarle’s favorite race.
Tour of Flanders fact #5: the race starts in the city of Bruges, famous for canals…as well as the 2008 movie “In Bruges”.
Tour of Flanders fact #6: if you live in Flanders, you may get handed free water bottles as professional riders pass by.
Tour of Flanders fact #7: It is beautiful in the countryside of Flanders.
Tour of Flanders fact #8: the cobblestones in Flanders are generally less severe and better maintained than those in Paris-Roubaix.
Tour of Flanders fact #9: in contrast to Paris-Roubaix, many of the climbs in Flanders are steep AND cobbled…with some reaching 20% gradients.
Tour of Flanders fact #10: “oversocks”, or socks you wear over cycling shoes, were first worn during a rainy edition of the race. The socks provided extra traction in the event the riders had to stop and run on foot up the wet cobbles.
Tour of Flanders fact #11: the people of Flanders love bike racing.
Tour of Flanders fact #12: the bike riding is beautiful in Flanders.
Tour of Flanders fact #13: every year on the Saturday before the professional bike race, upwards of 17,000 recreational cyclists take part in the “Flanders Sportif” ride.
Tour of Flanders fact #14: In the finish town of Oudenaarde, you can visit the Tour of Flanders museum every day, from 10am to 6pm.
Tour of Flanders fact #15: Garmin-Sharp director sportif Andreas Klier finished 2nd in the 2005 edition.