Granfondo - A good year to skip Tour of Flanders :-)

This weekend does feel rather strange. It is the first time in 14 years that I am not riding the cyclosportive version of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, a sacred day for the Flemish cyclist. Doing the tour marks the real start of the cyclo campaign for many. It is not a timed competition, but the meanwhile worldwide famous course is so tough you better be in a decent shape already! Over those past 14 years, there have been editions for which I did not prepare well enough, and that meant riding around the Muur van Geraardsbergen instead of over that renowned wall at the end of the event! The Ronde has become an international challenge with each year about 18,000 participants coming from all parts of the world. Some 3,000 of those do the full tour of 260 to 275km including all the hills and cobblestone paths that shape this race.

Looking at pictures, it does seem I chose a good year to be in China. Rain and wind tortured the riders in Flanders yesterday. The same conditions are expected for the professional race today on Easter Sunday.