The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman: A Bone-shaking Tour through Cycling’s Flemish Heartlands

by Harry Pearson

Cyclocross is one of those things that at first glance appears a trifle nuts, but which on closer inspection is revealed to be totally insane.

It has been said the Flemish love of cycling is so deep as to be a form of lunacy. If that’s true, then the heart of the insanity is the Ronde van Vlaanderen. In Flanders this race is the sporting event of the year. It’s Wimbledon, the Grand National and the FA Cup final all rolled into one, with a dash of Saint Patrick’s Day. It’s a festival, a second Christmas.