The Spring Classics Week - April 2002
Postcard by Graham Baxter

Click here for a selection of photos from the trip

Friday 5th April:
We had 50 people arriving in the city of Gent for the Tour of Flanders weekend trip and the Spring Classics week trip.

Saturday 6th April:
The weather is fantastic (not a cloud in the sky), and those with bikes had the opportunity of either riding the 140km Tour of Flanders randonee starting in Ninove, or a 100km ride our the Tour of Flanders route from Oudenarde to the finish in Meerbeke. Between the two rides 30 people completed the rides which took in all the famous Bergs including the Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, the recently reopend Koppenberg, Murr and Bosberg.

Sunday 7th April: TOUR OF FLANDERS RACE DAY
Once again there wasn't a cloud in the sky as we left Gent and travelled to the beautiful city of Brugge for the start. People had 1 hour 15mins watching the riders arrive and sign on. We all saw the race favourites (Museeuw, Van Petegem, Hincapie, and Armstrong). One of the most amusing sights was 4 of the Cofidis team arriving to sign on aboard a 4 seater bike.
After seeing the start we saw the race a further 6 times;

First we saw the race at GISTEL (Museeuws home town) after 37km, where 4 riders were just breaking away from the peleton.
After Gistel we moved on to the 2nd sighting at HERTSBERGE after 66km, where the 4 breakaway riders had already made a 15 minute lead on the peleton.

After Hertsberge we moved on to the 3rd sighting at WANNERGAM LEDE, cobbled section after 117km where the lead was 19 minutes.

From Wannergem Lede we showed live t.v. transmission of the race on the coach whilst we travelled to the KNOTEBERG & OUDE KWAREMONT where people got a double sighting of the race on two climbs. As we waited for the riders to arrive on the Knokeberg we went into the bar for a few beers and caught up with the race. As the race approached the Knokeberg we went outside and saw the race. By this stage there was one rider alone from the original breakaway of four, Thys from Collstrop. US Postal were driving the peleton led by Matt White and Lance Armstrong.

After seeing the riders over the Knoteberg we walked on to the Oude Kwaremont where we saw the riders tackle this famous cobbled climb. After seeing the riders over the Oude Kwaremont we rejoined the coach and went to our final sighting, the famous MURR OF GERARDSBERGEN which comes 16km from the finish.

On the MURR OF GERARDSBERGEN we went into a bar and watched the riders on the Berendreis & Tenbose climbs as they approched the MURR. On the MURR we saw Museeuw attack the lead group. After seeing the lead and second group through we went back into the bar and watched the finish on t.v. The atmosphere was electric, each group of Belgian fans cheering for Museeuw or Van Petegem.

After seeing the finish we made our way back to Ghent for a night out in the city.

Monday 8th April:
Today the weekend trip returned to the UK, whilst those on the Spring Classics week visited the Eddy Merckx factory and got to meet the great man himself. We were shown around the factory and saw how the frames are made and painted. After the factory visit, Eddy took time to sign autographs and have photos with the group.
In the afternoon those with bikes went for a spin to Oudenarde and climb the Koppenberg once again.

Tuesday 9th April:
For those with bikes there was an organised bike ride to the beautiful city of Brugge, and day at leisure in Gent for those without bikes. In the afternoon we visited a Belgian Chocolate factory in the centre of Gent, and the process of making Belgian chocolates was explained to us. We also got to sample some of the products!!!

Wednesday 10th April: GENT - WEVELGEM
Today we watched the race Gent - Wevelgem. The day was dry and sunny but very windy. We saw the start in Gent and aterwhich saw the race 4 more times, at Oostende after 63km, Adinkerke after 97km and then we saw the race twice up the famous Kemmelberg. After seeing the race the second time up the Kemmelberg we went into one of the nearby bars and watched the finish live on t.v.

Thursday 11th April:
Today we left Gent and rode 120km to Valenciennes in France. The weather was very sunny and we have a tailwind all the way. During the ride we rode part of the 1988 World Championship circuit in Ronse before having a coffee stop in the town.
Just before arriving at Valenciennes we had a look at the Forest of Arenberg and some riders tried out the cobbles.
When we arrived at the Hotel Campanile in Valenciennes the coach had delivered our luggage and we found that the Credit Agricole team were also staying at the hotel.

Friday 12th April:
Another sunny day as we left the Hotel Campanile in Valenciennes to ride the last 100km of the Paris Roubaix course. Our first encounter of cobbles was the Forest of Arenberg only 10km into the ride. When we arrived at the Forest of Arenberg we met the Mapei team checking out the course. Our group had photos with the team (Tafi, Hunter, Zanini, Bodrogi). After Arenberg we met both the teams of CSC and the formidable DOMO team of Museeuw, Knarven, Rodriguez.
We followed the exact route all the way to Roubaix with the coach on hand for assistance. When we arrived at Roubaix we got to do a lap or two of the famous velodrome before taking a well earned beer in the V.C. Roubvaix club house.
Later that evening our Paris Roubaix 3 night weekend tour checked into the hotel Campanile in Valenciennes.

Saturday 13th April:
Those on the Spring Classics week went to Compiegne for the riders team presentation, and met up with all the riders plus many other cycling heros and Paris Roubaix winners, like Kelly, Hinault, Madiot etc etc. Those on the weekend tour rode the last 100km of the race route from the hotel to the Roubaix velodrome.

Sunday 14th April:  PARIS ROUBAIX RACE DAY
After an early breakfast we left Valenciennes and travelled to Compiegne for the start of the race, which gave people another chance to catch up with the riders.
After seeing the start of the race we caught up with the race a further 7 times including 4 cobbled sections.

The first sighting was at Inchy after the riders had completed 100km, and it was the first cobbled section of the race. It had started raining and the cobbled section had turned to mud. Here there was a 30+ man breakaway which had 3 minutes lead and in the breakaway were danger men such as Mattan and the young Tom Boonen.
After Inchy we went to Querenaing where we saw the US POSTAL team driving the peloton to bring back the breakaway.
After Querenaing we went to the famous Arenberg forest. The atmosphere here was fantastic as the riders ploughed their way through this trechorous section.
From Arenberg we moved onto the cobbled section of Sars et Rosiers where Mattan & Hans De Clerq were away from the lead group and Museeuw & Hancapie were trying to close the gap which was down to 1min 30sec.
After Sars et Rosiers we saw the cobbled section at Orchies from the coach window.
Our last sighting on the course was at Ennevelin with only 38km remaining and Museeuw had just attacked the lead group and was on his own.
From Ennevelin we went to the Roubaix velodrome where we saw Museeuw cross the line victorious.

Monday 15th April:
Both the Spring Classics week and the 3 nights Paris Roubaix tour travelled home after spending a fantastic time.

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