Flanders, frites, and beer...

As we all know, yesterday was the Tour of Flanders, like Mr. J I turned off the phone, didn't read the internets and their series of tubes, and basically ignored all media until the race started at 5PM on OLN (I refuse to call is VS). I was NOT disappointed in the result, that much I can say. Stijn is one hardcore bad-ass. He rode away from that small group like they were on fire, and he was trying to save his own life. He put it down, never looked back, and rode that shit solo to the end. I loved it when he had a teammate with that other guy from Liquigas, and the green rider looks over, and gives a look like, "Help me man, he's going to win!" Quick Step guy looks over, gives him a little push on the butt, and is like, "Sorry man, you're fucking on your own. We're going to party tonight!"

Out of all of the classics, I like Flanders the best. I can't help it. To that effect, what I do every year is peel and fry a bunch of potatoes (10 pounds this year), make the best frites you've ever had, invite a bunch of other mindless bike junkies like myself over, and we gorge on frites, mayo, and Belgian beer. This year, it was no different. Turnout was kind of low, because most of my riding friends tend to still race bikes (what they hell are they thinking), and there was a race out of town this weekend. Their loss my friends, their loss. I did almost lose a finger in the process though, got to watch out for those mandolin slicers, they'll take a finger off, it almost got mine.

By the time the race was over on TV last night, I had eaten about 2 pounds of frites, drank a few Chimay's, and was feeling all good. Which was a good outcome because earlier in the day, I set off for what I thought was going to be a 2 hour ride, which turned into a 4 hour I got lost ride. I do hate it when that happens. Luckily, I got some directions from a good old boy in a pick up truck somewhere in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and made it back before I heard something like, "Squeal like a pig boy!"

Back to Flanders though, my wife, seriously disappointed that Boonen didn't win, although she claims that her love for Tom Boonen dissipated somewhat after he started dating the 16 year old. Kind of creepy now isn't he? If we don't keep an eye on him, he could end up like Vince, the Sham-Wow guy. I'm just saying. Anyway, if Flanders is any indication, GW in the middle of this week will be a battle, as will the Hell of the North this coming Sunday. This is my favorite time of the year without a doubt. 3 big races, all in a week, for a bike racing loving asshole like myself, how and where could it get any better? And no, the Giro, nor the Tour is as good as the Classics in my opinion. Stage racing = boring most of the time. Bide your time, ride great in the TT, don't get dropped in the mountains, and you win... Yeah, super. It's almost predictable stage racing is these days. It puts me to sleep. But, I still watch it. I can't freakin' help myself. 

What is the call for Sunday? Who is going to take Paris-Roubaix? Any guesses out there?