Joaquin Rodriguez of Katusha took the opening stage today just ahead of his breakaway companions Sammy Sanchez (Euskatel), and Kloden and Horner (Radioshack).

All of the big names are present within :18. It’s a star stubbed afair with those already mentioned, both Schleck brothers, Gesink, Basso, Vino, Porte, Cunego, and other stars of the slopes present. Should be a battle to the finish with tons of climbing until Friday and then a decisive time trial on Saturday.

Still anyones ball game.

Why is Flanders so great? Check out this amateur video of the climb up the Koppenberg. Um…..okay.

The best and most thorough article I’ve read about the Koppenberg can be found HERE (via pezcyclingnews.com)

The Ronde van Vlaanderen is only days away! The famous Hellingen (Flemish hills) – little moments of cobbled hell await.

It’s put up or shut up time for predictions. Should I take the easy way out and pick Cancellara…or go for broke Tommy Voeckler style with a bold prediction?

Despite little to show for his spring thus far I like 2008 and 2009 winner Stijn Devolder to add another Ronde victory to his palmares. The Belgian stakes everything on this race. I see Devolder and Philippe Gilbert (another Belgian) attacking like rabid dogs and making it difficult for Cancellara to pull his disappearing act again this year. Or I could be completely wrong and Cancellara could motor away once again with Boonen chasing and Gilbert fading into the distance. Again, the weather will dictate how the race plays out. If it rains, climbing cobbled hills at 18% gradient with muddy tires becomes a war of attrition.

So, I’m taking Devolder to escape the group…I mean, Cancellara to demolish the field. Ah heck, I don’t know.

One  fond memory of my childhood is eating Belgian Frites from a paper cone with mayonaise at the many festivals near our home in Belgium. I was too young to drink back then, but I’m certain there was plenty (too much?) good Belgian beer flowing as well.

The 2011 version of the Tour of Flanders is slated for this Sunday. The build up to the race with Nuyens victory, followed by Cancellara at E3 and Boonen at Gent-Wevelgem has left me clueless who to pick. Thus far, I’ve taken Gilbert in two of the three and came close once. Lots of former winners will toe the line: Cancellara, Devolder, Ballan, and of course Boonen. Play it safe and pick a former winner or go for a guy like Gilbert, Hincapie, Van Avermaet, …or Matthew Goss who showed uncanny ability to climb in the hills at Milano San Remo.

Too early in the week for me to decide. More later. Pass the frites!

It’s a bit surprising to see guys like Sanchez, Vino, and Klodi dropped so significantly on this climb. Sanchez was a full 1:48 back and  last year’s Giro runner up Arroyo nearly 5:00 back.

There are a few bumps along way during tomorrow’s short stage and then the race concludes on day 3 with a short 7km Time Trial. Its likely that despite being better TT riders than Frank, Sanchez, Vino, and Kloden have already lost too much time to contend for the GC victory.

Andy Schlecks undercover early season continues. He’s definately taking the slow build up to the TDF approach.

I love professional cycling, but I’ve been a bit slow to catch onto the excitement of this “Spring classic” thing. Somehow I just wasn’t excited about the big riders powering through the rain while the little guys suffered at the back and had their dental work adjusted by cobbled streets. But I repent. Cancellara’s fine displays at last years Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix convinced me.

So, here we are on the eve E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and two days out from Gent Wevelgem. Stay with me here…I lived in Belgium once, so I know what I’m talking about. E3 Prijs in many ways is a miny Tour of Flanders with plenty of cobbles, narrow roads and short steep climbs (12 of them). Yep, that’s Belgium.

Fabian Cancellara has declared his intent to win E3 Prijs and with the absence of Tom Boonen, it’s likely that he will. I’m taking Cancellara 1st, Stijn Devolder 2nd, and Thor Hushovd 3rd.

Sunday’s Gent Wevelgem is a different story altogether. With many teams bringing their “Flanders squad” everyone is here (apart from Cancellara). It can go one of two ways. The weather is bad and the race explodes with half of the riders climbing into team cars with frozen hands or the weather is nice (by Belgian standards) and the sprinters have their day. Like last year though when Eisel escaped with a handful of others, it’s certainly possible for a break to succeed.

Me? Clueless, but looking forward to it. My picks: Philippe Gilbert 1st, Greg Van Avermaet 2nd,  Yoann Offredo 3rd.

I recently found this picture of one of my favorite riders – the always attacking Philippe Gilbert at Flanders last year. Yes indeed. He’s riding the wheels my wife bought me for my birthday a few years ago: Mavic Ksyrium ES Anniversery Edition (notice the lone red spoke). Thanks wife!

Details here

photo curtesy of www.steephill.tv

Thanks to a victory in the team time trial yesterday last minute Liquigas-Doimo addition Vincenzo Nibali is now the Maglia Rosa. Liquigas team leader Ivan Basso now sits in 2nd on GC.

Full GC standings Here

Is Nibali the “Savior of Italian Cycling”?