Big Ring Winner, Euro Racing

Brothers and Sisters join me in a “Hail Eddy” for  Boy-Spandex, this months winner of the “What does The Big Ring mean to you?” essay contest over in the Forum.  Brother Spandex comes for the world of Triathlon and we welcome our speedo wearing brethren.  The Big Ring embraces all the Velo sports.

The first of the big Pro Cyclocross Pre Season races, Het Volk is tomorrow.  Of all the Pro Road races the Classics are by far the most Big Ring.  The Grand Tours are boring,  a bunch of guys follow each other until the 1st big mountain, one guy gets a big lead then sits in the rest of the race.  Lame.  Long gone are the days of Hinault or Eddy attacking while wearing the leaders jersey just because they can.  The Classics are the last true test left in Pro road racing.  They are for the bold, the strong, they are for The Big Ring.  When Boonen won Flanders for the first time he was asked why he attacked from the lead group when he was the best sprinter of the bunch?  He replied “Flanders is a race to be won solo”.  That is the essence of Big Ring my friends.

Ring of power and mercy,
maker of the front of the race,
to know you is to live,
and to serve you is to win.
Through the intercession of Ghisallo,
be our protection in battle against all evil.
Help me to close the gap and make the break
and to establish your law of wattage and justice.

Hail Eddy