Friday File: La Doyenne, New Il Campionissimo Cycling Cap, Watch Our Giro Here I Come!, An Eloquence Of Movement

I'm enjoying the Spring classic races. Good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, we're nearing the end but there is one more big one to go: the 100th Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Affectionately called 'La Doyenne', the oldest race (1892), most prestigious and many say the toughest to win. Iconic climbs are back: Cote des Forges, Cote de La Redoute and Cote de la Roche aux Faucons. What it really means a total of 10 summits many with difficult climbs with a soul-searing 262.9kms. That's damn long. A puncheurs race for sure but also one for the Grand Tour specialists, throw in lots of patience and a shaker of tenacity ...a great champion will be crowned.

“So if you don’t have the physical power, it doesn’t matter how good your team is or how clever your tactics can be, you won’t win. That makes it the most beautiful Classic of them all, because it’s always won by the rider who has got the best form.”

- Didier Malempré, author.

The Climbs...

70km – Côte de La Roche-en-Ardenne – 2.8 km, 6.2 %

123km – Côte de Saint-Roch – 1.0 km, 11 %

167km – Côte de Wanne – 2.7 km,7.3 %

173.5km– Côte de Stockeu (Stèle Eddy Merckx) – 1.0 km, 12.2 %

179km – Côte de la Haute-Levée – 3.6 km, 5.7 %

201km – Col de Vecquee – 3.1km, 6.9%

197.5km – Côte du Maquisard – 2.5 km, 5 %

218.5km – Côte de La Redoute – 2.0 km, 8.8 %

231.5km – Côte des Forges 0.7km, 9.2%

243.5km – Côte de la Rouche-aux-Faucons 1.5km, 9.9%

257.5km – Côte de Saint-Nicolas – 1.2 km, 8.6 %

I have been hopeless in my spring classic predictions, so here I go with my top three: Philippe Gilbert, Rui Costa & Dan Martin.

Gilbert and company recon on La Redoute.

Prize money for LBL...

the winner rakes in $30k+ in Canadian dollars!

A good day in the office.

New: Il Campionissimo cycling cap...

Il Campionissimo

photo Red Dots Cycling

This just in: Cadel Evans has won the short mountainous stage race, Giro del Trentino. The crafty veteran (37 yrs) is on form and committed on winning the upcoming Giro d'ltalia (May 9). From all reports he rode an intelligent race winning stage 3 and riding like a rider hell-bent to win the Giro. If he does he would become the first Aussie to do so. I'm betting he does it. 

Winning Stage 3 and almost mocking, 'Watch out Giro, here I come!' 

Superb image of David Millar on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.
via Jered Gruber

David Millar is riding his final season and he is linked with Fizik shoes supplying him with  fashionable kicks for every race that he enters, check out his video, An Eloquence of Movement...

Very cool! 

David's KBK shoes, complete with 'DPM' David's initials... or disruptive pattern material. These will be the next pair up for auction!

via slipstreamsports.com