The Tour of Flanders 2008… When I was young (and dinosaurs roamed the earth) I read and re-read Tom Simpson’s autobiography, ‘Cycling is my Life.‘ The races that he won seemed so tough and so glamorous; I idolised him – still do.
But it wasn’t until I actually saw The Worlds, Milan – San Remo and the Tour of Lombardy in the flesh, that I realised how good the man actually was. I’m reminded again today, when I look at the parcours of ‘The Ronde’ what a bike rider he really was.
Tomorrow’s race is 264 kilometres, with 17 of Flander’s toughest ‘bergs.’
Only a Boonen, Cancellara or Ballan can win; but Tom Simpson as a member of a French team won it – an amazing bike rider.