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Stunning images of Jered gruber from Team Garmin-Sharps recon of the 2014 Paris-Roubiax course.

As a professional cyclist the view you have of the Ronde Van Vlannderen and how you approach it for future years must all boil down to two things. Firstly how you’ve been introduced to it as a fan, was it something you aspired to tackle, did it catch the imagination and did you sit down every year enjoying the battle unfold on TV. The second I’m guessing is the important one. The one that makes you either love or loath the race. That being a pros first experience of tackling the tough and dangerous roads of the famed classic. (Interview by Shoddy Cycling) For the second year pro, Steele Von Hoff of Garmin-Sharp, this years edition of the race was his first. Garmin had turned up to the race with a strong squad. As with all editions of the Tour of Flanders there is many mishaps, punctures and crashes. This year was no exception. There’s been a lot of news reports around team leader Johan Van Summeren being involved in a bad crash. But this is just one of many crashes throughout the race, one of many stories, some are painful to hear such as Johans. But then there are stories ...

In April, we secured a ride in the MTN-Qhubeka team car for the 3-day stage race, Driedaagse De Panne, in Flanders. We watched the race unfold from the most revealing of vantage points. Enjoy the ride.

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 ...

Feeling comfortable while training or racing is absolutely essential for every athlete. And hey: Who would refuse being aero on top of that? Who ever have had smarting abrasions caused by a wet suit (because one forgot body glide/petroleum jelly or a rubbing zipper/collar) or irritating seams, would die for a worry-free race kit. Body Paint is Castelli’s technology of advanced engineered fabrics to eliminate seams and build components directly into the fabric. The Body Paint men’s and women’s triathlon shorts are each made out of a single piece of fabric yet offer perfect anatomic fit. The leg gripper is knit into the fabric and we don’t need to make extra panels for a contoured fit. The waist band is an engineered flat fabric with a raw edge that lays completely flat. A envelope pocket on the back holds a gel for the run. The near total lack of seams makes for a very aerodynamic product that consistently gives the lowest drag results in our wind tunnel testing. The lack of seams especially becomes evident when you hit the run and realize that you have no chafing. As one Kona competitor told us, “this is the first time that I’ve done an ...