Spring Classics Overdose?
by Chikashi
from the book Spring Classics via World on Bike
Being based where I am, it seemed a shame not to try the Spring Classics cyclosportives in the region. Therefore, I have registered for the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) Challenge (240 km) on 30 March, the Paris Roubaix Challenge (170 km) on 6 April, and the Liège Bastogne Liège Challenge (271 km) on 20 April. That would be 3 big rides in a period of 4 weeks. Doing just one is probably quite enough, so I have no idea whether I can manage to do all three this year…
I will leave the Gent Wevelgem Cyclo, which is scheduled 1 week ahead of the Tour of Flanders Challenge, for another year. And, I just found out that the registration for this year’s Amstel Gold Race Tourversion closed on 15 January. I was actually relieved to find out that I missed the deadline. If you are so inclined, you can really knock yourself out with 5 consecutive Saturdays of brutal sportives…
If I have any legs left after the 3 events, I might enter the Flèche de Wallonie Sportive on 11 May.
Mad? Quite possibly.
I’m very jealous!
Good luck with the preparation. My husband did the Paris-Roubaix Challenge last year and we did 107km of the Liége-Bastogne-Liége cyclosportif. It was hailing but I still have fond memories. Amazing how the brain forgets about the pain.
Hailing? I think we need the temp to rise soon, but not like in Oz this year… How did your husband find the Paris Roubaix? It’s one ride that actually makes me a bit nervous.
Well, I don’t want to put you off but the first words he mumbled after collapsing in the Roubaix velodrome were “I’m a broken man”. He is quite keen to do it again now if you’d ask him…
If you are interested in reading about his experience, he wrote about his challenge here http://amrcycling.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/heaven-or-hell-of-north.html
Thanks for the link. I just read his account. Scheisse…
Out of curiosity, what were the specs on Alberto’s wheels when he rode Roubaix?