Chapeau!

Welcome to the Ardennes. The region is known for its forests, hills, and ridges formed by the Givetian (Devonian) Ardennes mountain range.  So far the racing has been fast and the action good. After racing through the Limburg region of Holland and climbing the famous Mur de Huy in Belgium, it’s time to send out some Chapeau!

Chapeau! to Enrico Gasparatto for snagging the biggest win of his career and ending the drought of classics for the Italians. Amstel Gold proved to be a thrilling race with Oscar Freire mounting a massive attack on the ride to the Cauberg. After some very nervous riding and many of the main contenders not feeling good sensations in their legs, the peloton looked to the great Phillipe Gilbert to bring the Spaniard back. Gilbert went, it was early, it was vicious, and it hurt. Phil Gil sat up and Sagan went. Sagan sat up and Vanendert went. Vanendert went and…….. Gasparatto got him on the line and left Jelle pounding his handlebars in frustration. The Gas Man proved to be the most patient and the strongest on the Cauberg.

Chapeau! to Jelle Vanendert. The Belgian climber was close to snagging the biggest win of his career. At least he got some UCI points for the struggling Lotto squad. Jurgen Hand in Cock was there to watch it all go down.

Chapeau! to Oscar Freire. Is Oscarito planning on winning a 4^th World Championship in the Limburg region in 2012? The Cat still knows how to pounce on the peloton even at the ripe old age of 36. Chapeau!

Chapeau! to Joaquim Rodríguez. El Purito smoked the rest of the favorites on the famous climb of the Mur de Huy. The Walloon Arrow proved to be a very exciting race despite a slow start. All the favorites were there in the end and J-Rod showed why he has been on the podium in the past and why he was widely favored to take this race in 2012. The Mur de Huy is one of the most exciting finishes in cycling and El Purito used the 25% gradient to launch his attack. He immediately gained meters on his rivals and had time to soak in “his greatest day on a bike”.  What a ride! What a finish! What a bad ass!

Chapeau! to Michael Albasini. I have really gotten to like this rider. The Albatross is easily having his best year: 1^st at Catalunya, 2^nd at the arrow. Not bad, not bad at all.

This one may seem a little self-serving or biased but whatever. Who reads this blog anyway? So here it goes. Chapeau! to Phillipe Gilbert. Philbert is coming to form. 6^th at Amstel, 3^rd at the Arrow, jump another 3 places and what do you know. Phil Gil will win Liege. This is his race. Nuff’ said.

Finally, Chapeau! to Giro del Trentino. I know that there were some complaints about the race being included in the Wiskota Fantasy League but despite a less than stellar field this race is a beast. Climbing, climbing, and climbing. Insane Climbing! I would go as far as saying, massive climbing! Chapeau! to Pozzovivo for winning the Giro and Chapeau! to Cunego for being the best placed Wiskota rider and for looking hot in his pink kit, ready to rock the real Giro in a matter of days.

This week’s contra-performance goes to ………drumroll……… Alejandro Valverde. Where is the green bullet? Peaked too early, too cold (this one kills me), still recovering? I expected him to be a major player in the Ardennes classics. Commish... What say you? Will he be a contender at Liege?