© Tim De Waele
So good was the Early Season Classics campaign I am only now suffering from the dreaded "pave bonk'. It is difficult to say which decade has seen the best races, on a whole it would be close between the 70's and the 80's. Don't get me wrong each year produces one or two great races that will live on in cycling folklore for ever, and will fuel many a cold evening over a beer or two.
© CorVos
The coverage for the races has been easier to see, whether it be on Eurosport or through live feeds from Sporza (I gave up on Cycling TV ages ago) the racing itself has been excellent. Websites like Cyclingfans make the whole process of trying to find a live feed less like a game of battleships.
So who have been this years winners and losers. In no particular order, just how it comes out of my brain this morning.
© CorVos
Cervelo have for a neo Team have stamped their presence on the races like no other. Showing what the word TEAM really means it has been a wake up call for all of their peers. With Thor scoring the only podium win this does detract from the Teams consistent performances so far hitting the podium steps more times than not.
© Tim De Waele
They have got the image right, a very cool uniform and a sponsor list to die for. I find it exciting that the Team is helping to develop products that we'll get to use in 6 -12 months time (the new Zipp 303 should be here late July!) rather than being just a Pro issue only affair (except for the special Roubaix RS).
© Tim De Waele
If the Teams year finished at the velodrome in Roubaix it would have been hailed as a success. Who knows what is possible for the rest of the year.
© Tim De Waele
Other Teams of note are Columbia, Rabobank and Quick Step all have succeeded but on different levels. Columbia much like Cervelo have shown what true team spirit is and have benefited by winning races but also racing in a style that is exciting and will draw sponsors back to the sport.
Rabobank seem to be a team reborn and suddenly a Team that should have been present in the Classics are again a force to be reckoned with. Tactics and bad luck have let them down but aboard the Giant Bikes them seem re-energised. I am sure there are many things to have influenced the change rather than just the bikes, I am sure it's just coincidental. Flecha is long overdue a big win and I hope that he gets one soon, be it in his beloved Northern Classics.
Quick Step have won the two most important races for lovers of the Pave. I am not going to trawl through the history books to see how many times a rider has won it back to back but for the time to have the same result, all I can imagine is that it is not many. Chavanel has been the astute signing for the Team and has become an honorary Belgian in the process. For me he was one of the strongest riders at the Ronde and I am sure that Team orders came into play that a Belgian team mate would win.
© CorVos
The Classic season re-opens after the Tour de France but many of them lack the drama and ardent passion enjoyed by both riders and fans alike. The exception to that rule is probably Lombardia and with it's tough but beautiful parcours it also happens to suit a rider that can go well in the Ardennes.
© Tim De Waele
So only eight months before the semi-classics start and the cycling calendar wheel has turned full circle. I am sure that the drama of the Giro and the Tour will produce some great moments, but they'll have to go along way to beat this years Northern Classics.
© Tim De Waele
