San Raflaanderrs now part of MWC.

San Raflaanderrs now part of MWC.

In a somewhat expected move, Joos Litvalk,Chairman of Primitief Hamerhoofd het Rennen Organisatie (Savage Bicycling Racing Organization), the organizer and title sponsor of the annual Ronde von SanRaflaanerran spring classic, announced today that this year’s San Raflaanderrs would be the final stage of the newly minted Marin World Cup series.  The MWC, a new creation of the UCI, is a 3 race spring series that, in addition to San Raflaanderrs, includes theMarin-Roubaix (formerly known as the Cirque du Camp Chinois) and The Grand Prix Ken Hushvod, an individual time trial that will essentially serve as a prologue in the series. While many are critical of the new series, calling it contrived and a blatant attempt by the UCI to draw on the prestige and popularity of San Raflaanderrs, Litvalk was characteristically firm in his convictions stating, “The Marin World Cup will serve as a test for the strongest riders in the world proving who is the best over the 3 week series.”  Only the hardest of the hardmen are expected to be contenders in the series which offers terrain as varied as the riders who will race it.  For the first time ever, in addition to the individual race trophies and the attending prestige that comes with them, there will be an overall prize awarded to the rider with the most consistent performances in all three events.  The scoring method for this classification has not been revealed at this time.

 

GP Ken Hushvod Individual Time Trial-Prologue

The opening event in the MWC is going to be an unusual and challenging test for the riders this year.  Although the TT course is only a 12km loop, it includes some of the most varied terrain ever seen in a race of this caliber.  With two significant climbs including the fearfulRoche d’Indien, significant sections of unpaved gravel road and a very fast and technical descent, it promises to be an unforgiving test ground. 

 

Marin-Roubaix

Making a return after a long absence, theMarin-Roubaix is a derivation of its French cousin Paris-Roubaix which features a virtually pancake flat parcours that is punctuated by extended portions of dirt road that inevitably create splits in the group. Several key sections that are the most critical selection points are the Prélèvement du Gallinas and the always fearful Railroad d’Arenberg.  Held on portions of the course that was originally used as the China Camp Time Trial, a prestigious local event, the Marin Roubaix rewards not only the strong but also those blessed by Lady Luck.  With the traditional finish on the velodrome at L’École Secondairé du San Rafáel, huge crowds are a certainty to see the triumphant contenders make their victory circuit.

 

Rondé von SanRaflaanderran

Truly the crown jewel of the MWC is the hugely prestigious Tour of SanRaflaanderrs. An annual rite in the principality of Marin, San Raflaanderrs is often considered by many riders to the the true National Championships of the region.  A extremely demanding race that is punctuated by short and often savagely steep climbs or bergs, the Tour of SanRaflaanderrs winds it often convoluted path throughout the many communities of Marin where the course will be lined with drunken, screaming and rowdy fans who are exuberantly cheering on their local heroes, none more popular than local-boy-made-goodKen Hushvod, last years SanRaflaanderrschampion.  At this years route presentation Gala, PRHO Charman Joos Litvalk unveiled aparcours that was judged my many to be the most challenging in years with a record 9 bergs as well as an uphill finish.

 

Next week: The Contenders for the Crown.