So which would you go and see? Have you been to either? what do you recommend on where to watch/stay etc. Thinking about going next year but not sure which to go to. THanks
roubaix
RocketDog why? where would you watch from? I heard that the stadium at the end can be anticlimatic? Or would you race it or just stop at one point? have you been? where did you stay?
Roubaix for the racing, Flanders for the food/beer...
roubaix as you can see quite a bit of it by moving round, flanders is not so easy, forest of Arenberg is always a cool place to watch, but is always busy,but yea, avoid the velodrome
FuzzyWuzzy you been to both? Both look great especially with the hill in Flanders ...oh dilemmmas.
Been to see the ToF and rode the sportive the day before.
If you're canny you can see the race from 2 or 3 places with use of car and bike.
We had a rather well timed trip to Bruges this year and saw the start of the Tour of Flanders. We really wished now that we could have seen more of the race than just the start.
As I understand, having a car is the best way to see much of the race and you can see it at various different points in the route if you plan your day well.
We watched the sign in and the racers leaving, get there early and stand at the opposite side of the square to the stage and you end up with the teams and cars lining up at the start. I was slightly taken aback once the racers had left to be walking up a side street and have Eddy Merckx nearly run over my toes as he rode past after sending the racers on their way 🙂
Seen TdF watched the end of famous 2005 Floyd Landis "win" in Morzine, but fancied something different as the classics are awesome. Thinking o possibly jacking something up for next year (haven't told MR MC ye though!) so just sounding out what's what, which is best, what to do etc.
I'd heard the Arenberg (sp!?) forest was supposed to be awesome.
[i]I'd heard the Arenberg (sp!?) forest was supposed to be awesome. [/i]
Yes but you need to get there very early to be in with a chance of seeing anything! Spectators are packed in 6 deep sometimes!
ToF, as mentioned, if you plan it out well enough, you can see the race at 2 or 3 different points.
I've ridden the RvV sportive twice (and twice watched the race twice). Watching in more than one place is fine if you (a) have access to a car (b) plan where you're going to be and (c) make sure you're at the top of the Kapelmuur to see the lead riders go over before legging it down the hill (full of beer, natch) to catch the finish on the big screen in Geraardsbergen.
Best sportive I've done (including the Ventoux Etape in 2009). But, though I've ridden it, I'd advise against the full edition - ride the middle one (c100 miles) and do all the bergs and get the benefit of the big crowds on the Koppenberg, Paterberg and Kapelmuur without the wind and rain of the ride out to the coast.
I'd like to watch L'Enfer (and ride it - there's talk of an ASO sportive the day before for 2011), but think new family commitments will keep me away for another year or two.
The classics (esp the spring/cobbled races) are the best bike racing I can think of. Nothing beats just how hard they are.
roubaix as you can see quite a bit of it by moving round,
well a friend did an article for a bikemag where they saw the TOF 9 times in one day. the route does a lot of zig-zagging so it's not hard to do (they were on bikes though)
i watched from 4 spots last year but having a press pass to drive on the route helped there.
the sportive is great. i would pick it over roubaix because of the crowds cheering you on (even though it's not a raceday) and the cobbled climbs like the Muur at Geraardsbergen.
Myself and about 8-10 others are going to do the ToF next year, sportive then watch the race. There may be room depending on how many beds we get in our accommodation, do you want me to let you know?
Go to Flanders - ride the sportive on the saturday (beer and frites at the end after putting your lungs back in after climbing up the Muur and refusing to get off and walk in front of so many spectators), on the sunday watch the women's race start in Oudenaarde (pick up the plastic flanders clappy hands,nice chocolate shop in Oudenaarde as well), quick trip to the Flanders museum/cafe, and then head over to either the Moelenberg or the Muur (the steep cobbled climb with the church on top where Cancellara broke away from Boonen last year). Great weekend providing it doesn't rain - rain and cobbles don't mix.
Some great stuff there but to clarify I want to see the races I am not planning on doing sportifs!!!!
Watch? Go and ride flanders sportive the day before, then have great time watching race on the sunday. One of best weekends I spent. Cobbles, rain, frites, Duval, and 23% climbs....get some...
I've not spectated on PR but I live very close to the ToF course so always see it. (though I prefer to watch it on TV)
As already mentioned it's great to ride either the Sportief on the Saturday or at least of couple of the hills Paterberg, Koppenberg & De Muur before the event to appreciate the course in advance and then you can really get the feeling of the race.
Burning legs in Geraardsbergen 🙂
De Muur is nearly always the key location where the action is but it's very busy & hard to get a good spot.
I was told the atmosphere of the PR has been castrated since this year due to the controls & the police presence.
It was getting a bit wild riding between the huge Jupiler fuelled crowds.
Staying in Gent is a really good choice for ToF as you're close by the course but you can still have a really nice weekend there too.