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.
