Mystery Meat

If the semi-Classic, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, is known as "the revenge" (for those that missed out on winning Het Volk) then Gent-Wevelgem has to be the mystery meat in between two great pieces of rye, sourdough, dill rye, or whatever bread you've chosen for your favorite sandwich.

No disrespect to this year's champion, T-Mobile's young Marcus Burghardt, or to those champions past (George Hincapie included), but Gent falls somewhere in between being "the revenge" for The Ronde and a tune up for Paris-Roubaix, two Classics monuments. Are the parcours tremendous, the tradition rich, the contestants of caliber? Yes, yes and yes! But, I can't help but feel that Gent-Wevelgem's notoriety is a by-product of falling midweek between such giants. If the race fell anywhere else on the racing calendar, would anyone care about it?

Cranky? Yes. Surly? Possibly.

Photo: Reuters