Anyone watching the races?

[endurancerider]

Vande Velde had a good day in the Pais Vasco:

http://www.velonews.com/article/90385/pa%26iacute%3Bs-vasco-vande-velde-third-contador-in-control

And of course, the start list for Paris Roubaix is out:

http://www.velonews.com/article/90425/2009-paris-roubaix-preliminary-start-list

Any favorites? I would like to see George Hincapie win it, I really would. Still can't figure out what happened in Flanders...

[papaver]

Yes I'm watching... the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are my two most favorite races. And I'm glad Stijn won. :)

I'm counting on the double for him!

Go Stijn!!!!

Also a possible winner is Chavanel. He's in great shape.

[Kalidurga]

I need to find a schedule of the races so I can put them on my calendar.

[7rider]

Pais Vasco is being broadcast nightly on Universal Sports network. I never actually heard of the race before this (they are calling it "Tour of the Basque Country" - as Pais Vasco is perhaps a bit to hard for them to say?? :confused:). DH and I have been watching it nightly, but it is hard to stay up for the end of the stage. Usually, we don't. :rolleyes:
I hope Universal Sports broadcasts others....we've become addicted to that channel.

[Aggie_Ama]

We have the DVR set for Paris Roubaix and watched anything Versus will show. I think Big George Hincapie has excellent form, can he break the Roubaix curse he seems to carry? He has been my favorite pro for years so I sure hope so.

[Suzie Green]

I love watching the races too, can't wait for Paris-Roubaix this weekend! I hope George Hincapie can finally do it after years of "almost." If he can stay away from the broken handlebars that cursed him last year....

[ny biker]

Pais Vasco is being broadcast nightly on Universal Sports network. I never actually heard of the race before this (they are calling it "Tour of the Basque Country" - as Pais Vasco is perhaps a bit to hard for them to say?? :confused:). DH and I have been watching it nightly, but it is hard to stay up for the end of the stage. Usually, we don't. :rolleyes:
I hope Universal Sports broadcasts others....we've become addicted to that channel.

Yes I was going to post about this - I've never heard of this channel, but I started getting it when I upgraded to an hd dvr a couple of months ago. The other night I found that they were broadcasting the Basque tour, so I've been recording it every night and watching it the next day. The announcers are kind of generic sounding, but they seem to understand bike racing. And I'm fascinated by the fact that everyone seems to have their own personal way to pronounce "Bouygues" - my favorite so far is "bweeg." (So what's the correct way to say that word, anyway?)

BTW I'm glad to hear that Chris Horner has not broken his wrist. He is the man!

[missjulied]

I am AT the races, and they've been fantastic! Last Saturday I rode in the amateur Tour of Flanders, and let me tell you that riding those cobbles is even harder than it looks!

I got to see the ToF and Gent-Wevelgem from many different vantage points. Had the groups pass within 5 feet of me! Oi, on Wednesday (G-W) they were so filthy they looked like coal miners. It was a horrible day for a spectator - I couldn't even have imagined riding in those conditions.

Today we went for a group ride, and ran across Team Quick Step doing their training ride. Chavanel was way out in front, so you might be right to bet on him this year for Paris-Roubaix.

Look for me on tv! :-)

[Jo-n-NY]

I have also been watching at least whatever Versus shows.

+1 for Big George to win Paris Roubaiz....he had rotten luck with that race the last 2 yrs.

I will have to look into Universal Sports Network. I also have never heard of it.

~ JoAnn

[endurancerider]

I am AT the races, and they've been fantastic! Last Saturday I rode in the amateur Tour of Flanders, and let me tell you that riding those cobbles is even harder than it looks!

I got to see the ToF and Gent-Wevelgem from many different vantage points. Had the groups pass within 5 feet of me! Oi, on Wednesday (G-W) they were so filthy they looked like coal miners. It was a horrible day for a spectator - I couldn't even have imagined riding in those conditions.

Look for me on tv! :-)

Way to go Miss Julie D! We will look for you!

[endurancerider]

I need to find a schedule of the races so I can put them on my calendar.

I can't help you with TV channel schedules, but you can find out when the road races are on Velonews--they have a list of the major races:

http://www.velonews.com/road.html

[endurancerider]

and there is a chance of rain again this year--currently 30 percent!
Go George go!!

[Kalidurga]

I can't help you with TV channel schedules, but you can find out when the road races are on Velonews--they have a list of the major races:

http://www.velonews.com/road.html

Thank you for that link, I hadn't scoured Velonews to the point of finding that. This list (http://www.velonews.com/races.html) is even better and just got bookmarked.

Of course, though, I have a friend visiting from out of town tomorrow who's not into cycling... :rolleyes:

[papaver]

I am AT the races, and they've been fantastic! Last Saturday I rode in the amateur Tour of Flanders, and let me tell you that riding those cobbles is even harder than it looks!

I got to see the ToF and Gent-Wevelgem from many different vantage points. Had the groups pass within 5 feet of me! Oi, on Wednesday (G-W) they were so filthy they looked like coal miners. It was a horrible day for a spectator - I couldn't even have imagined riding in those conditions.

Today we went for a group ride, and ran across Team Quick Step doing their training ride. Chavanel was way out in front, so you might be right to bet on him this year for Paris-Roubaix.

Look for me on tv! :-)

It was great cycling weather yesterday (Friday), wasn't it? :D Is it you that rented a bike at Jowan's ?

[papaver]

You guys can follow Paris-Roubaix livestream here:


http://www.sporza.be/cm/lmc/wielrennen/voorjaar/Comp_Parijs_Roubaix


Comments are in Dutch, sorry for that. It'll go online 13h40 Paris time...

[papaver]

http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a020.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a020.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a020.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a020.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a020.gif

[endurancerider]

So much for George Hincapie. But what a race for Tom Boonen! Wow those guys are so tough!

[jobob]

Paris-Roubaix was excellent. :cool:

[Zen]

Why are they allowed to stand right on the path ?
i would think with a path that narrow it should be taped off.

And those two stupid girls crossing the last (not th e ceremonial part) section of cobbles :eek:
They got some learnin' to do.

[Zen]

But what a race for Tom Boonen!

That would be BIG Tom Boonen ;) :D

[papaver]

Why are they allowed to stand right on the path ?
i would think with a path that narrow it should be taped off.


In a weird way that's what makes cycling so popular. They can touch their heroes.

And as for Tom Boonen: 2 x Tour of Flanders, 3 x Paris-Roubaix, 1 x World Champion... hmmmm... we can't complain. :D

[endurancerider]

And those two stupid girls crossing the last (not th e ceremonial part) section of cobbles :eek:
They got some learnin' to do.

I'm with you! They almost messed up his race!

[Becky]

We just found out the we get Universal Sports since we upgraded to digital cable (Comcast). It's awesome- we got to see the women's cyclocross world championships the other night! I can't wait to actually watch the Giro, rather than the dumb clips shows that Versus does :D

Go to http://www.universalsports.com/fls/23000/tv/where-to-find-on-tv.html to search for it in your area.

[Possegal]

I knew nothing of this station until reading this thread - and there it is, channel 207. How much cycling have I missed, I wonder. :)

[Becky]

I knew nothing of this station until reading this thread - and there it is, channel 207. How much cycling have I missed, I wonder. :)

DH and I are in exactly the same boat! We only found out about it this weekend when a coworker told us about it :)

[papaver]

Tom Boonen had a nasty fall today at his last race. Together with Greg Van Avermaet and Robbie McEwen. :( Petacchi won.

[Christopher]

I am AT the races, and they've been fantastic! Last Saturday I rode in the amateur Tour of Flanders, and let me tell you that riding those cobbles is even harder than it looks!
Aw, respect! We were in Flanders last week and rode a few kilometres of the cobbles and some of the hills (Koppenberg, Paterberg), couldn't get on with the cobbles at all with the pain, shaking and blurred vision, and iffy grip when going too fast. Will try again next year, we might spectate at all three races and maybe do the amateur Ronde, I'll get a sacrificial bike built up for it.

Missed the ToF and G-W, but managed to see Paris-Roubaix, we had a good spot right before the end of the Tranchee d'Arenberg, think my head is visible in one or two of the photos in Monday's l'Equipe. I really do not know how the pros go that fast over the cobbles. So exciting with the helicopters, the cheering, the flags etc. There are barriers set up there to stop idiots getting in the way of the riders, as Pozatto was saying after the race. Terrible news about the motorbike going into the crowd tho (12 hurt, three seriously).

[papaver]

The best way to ride over the cobble stones is to ride really fast and hold your handlebars very loosely. Funny enough I'm one of the very few who really loves riding those cobblestones. They give me wings... :p

And about the accident: the last three victims will be leaving the hospital by the end of this week. http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/d055.gif

[Christopher]

Doesn't going fast over cobbles damage the bike? But I guess that is the only way to do it, we were working hard but barely moving!

oh thanks for the news re the accident victims, that's good to hear.

[papaver]

Doesn't going fast over cobbles damage the bike? But I guess that is the only way to do it, we were working hard but barely moving!

oh thanks for the news re the accident victims, that's good to hear.

you can only put 5 - 5.5 bar on the tires. That helps a lot.

[papaver]

I'm going to watch La Flèche Wallonne next Wednesday. Woohoo!

http://www.letour.fr/2009/FWH/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html

[Christopher]

Thanks for your advice, papaver! One thing I wanted to ask though: is there radio station commentary in French for the Tour of Flanders and/or Ghent/Welvelghem? I know there is for Paris-Roubaix but I speak French, not Flemish!

[papaver]

Thanks for your advice, papaver! One thing I wanted to ask though: is there radio station commentary in French for the Tour of Flanders and/or Ghent/Welvelghem? I know there is for Paris-Roubaix but I speak French, not Flemish!

here you are:

http://www.rtbf.be/sport/

It's La Flèche Wallonne today. ;)

edit: I now realise that it's for Belgium only. Sorry.

[Christopher]

hi
Cheers for that. What I meant to say: is there live radio commentry (in French) during the Tour of Flanders? It would be nice to do that for the Flanders races... I have a decent Roberts shortwave radio that is gathering dust, be nice to use it...

[papaver]

Maybe you can find some frequences here: http://www.rtl.fr/


The definately cover the most important races.

[Christopher]

ta! I have bookmarked the site.
One year we were sat in a campsite in NW Wales and were listening to live Tour de France commentry (from RTL I think), it was clear as a bell on the car radio!

[papaver]

ta! I have bookmarked the site.
One year we were sat in a campsite in NW Wales and were listening to live Tour de France commentry (from RTL I think), it was clear as a bell on the car radio!

I love it the way they give commentry, very very passionate especially when a French racer is ahead. ;)

[papaver]

Marianne Vos just won La Flèche Wallonne for women.

[ny biker]

This just in...Universal Sports will have coverage of the Giro every day on their cable channel, in addition to complete live coverage online.

http://www.velonews.com/article/91723/universal-will-have-daily-online-and-cable-coverage-of-the

I'll be setting the DVR as soon as I get home tonight.

[Kalidurga]

I wonder if I get that channel with basic coverage...