The Ronde
This is undoubtedly my favorite time of the cycling season, the Spring Classics. Like the other true monuments of cycling the Ronde van Vlaanderen is known simply by its shorter name, The Ronde.
The 92nd edition looks to be hotly contested, as the cobbled semi-classics have produced a variety of winners and the usual power brokers of the cobbles have yet to show their "true " form.
The favorite remains "Tornado" Tom Boonen (Quick-Step), who is seeking his third Flanders victory. Others on the list of top tier contenders are last year's champion, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital), 2008 Omloop Het Volk winner Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), who has surprised everyone by winning this year's Dwars door Vlaanderen and Brabantse Pijl, and Fabian Cancellara (CSC), winner of Milano-San Remo.
My pick to click is Fabian Cancellara (CSC), who surprised everyone by his efforts in the mountains of the Amgen Tour of California.
The Women's version of the race looks to be as equally contested. Usually decided favorites Nicole Cooke (Halfords Bikehut) and Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) may be focused on other prizes this year, such as the Olympics, thereby leaving the outcome of the race highly unpredictable.
My surprising pick to win is rising Swedish star, Emma Johansson (AA-Drink), who lives and trains on the Flanders' parcours.
You can watch all the action LIVE on Cycling.tv, or via the internet on Cyclingnews.com starting at 6 AM EST.
Start List - Men
Start List - Women
MORE:
- Men's Preview (Cyclingnews.com)
- Women's Preview (Cyclingnews.com)
Local Flavors
If you're not fortunate enough to be in Belgium for Flanders or Redlands, California for the Redlands Cycling Classic, below are some local races from a few select regions of the country.
04/05/2008
Wards Ferry Road Race
Sonora, CA
Waterford Hills Training Series
Waterford, MI
2008 Bob Hansing Memorial Cup Series
Encino, CA
Hell of the North
Salt Lake City, UT
Evergreen Park Criterium
Sheboygan, WI
Martinez Bay Front Criterium
Martinez, CA
04/06/2008
10th Colossal Cave Road Race 2008
Tucson, AZ
Santa Cruz Classic Criterium
Santa Cruz, CA
Tyson's Corner Circuit Race
Vienna, VA
Vandervorts Corner
Clarksville, OH
NCA Spring Training Series #3
Papillion, NE
Burnham Racing Spring Super Criterium
South Beloit, IL
Redlands Bicycle Classic-Criterium
Redlands, CA
Anthill Criterium
Irvine, CA
3 RVS Spring Tune Up #2
Auburn, IN
PICC Spring Training Series-Fairview
Fairview Township, PA
For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to TrueSport.com.
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