SanRaflaanderrs 2012 Results and Report

Lodewick Does MWC Double After Tense Showdown with Clijisters on Redwoodberg

At the Start Line

Heading to the start line on Sunday afternoon, the 2012 Ronde vonSanRaflaanderran, unlike years past, was a fake-race without a prohibitive favorite. The past week's Marin-Roubaix failed to produce a strong candidate: although Jonas Lodewick took the victory, it was largely due to Ken Hushvod's navigational error in the finale. Thibauld Thomas who rode strong last week was scratched due to a failed doping control while reigning two time RVSR champion Markus Clijisters and perennial Lantern Rouge R.A. vonSchmidt were unknown factors.

Clijisters looking comfortable
 on the Monte-SanRafaael

The group rode out under unusually warm sunny skies which apparently warmed the cockles of Hushvod to the extent that he made a spirited move on the first climb of the day, the Highlandberg. Clearly feeling the whispers of SanRaflaanderrs past and with the looming specter of the Monte-SanRafaael, Hushvod soon saw the wisdom of his ways and made his way back into the fold of the field. 

Lodewick leading the group
over the Monte-SanRafaael

No sooner had the bunch crested said climb, then Hushvod again scampered away, clearly gunning for the first mid-fake-rake hot spot sprint which he took easily, although he would soon pay dearly for his enthusiasm. 
Over the punishing Lindaberg, the familiar Fawnberg and the newly minted Winkleberg, the group rode as a single rider, clearly biding their time for the fearsome Ironberg where almost immediately, Hushvod uttered a prodigious 

Hushvod showing the 

effects of the Ironberg

grunt (what locals call "The Mating Call of the Hedgehog"). Paced by a strong riding vonSchmidt, who was himself intent on sewing up the Lantern Rouge, clearly Hushvod's day was finished. 


After a strong move on the Ironberg by Lake Tahoe regional champion Servais Lengyel that spilt the field asunder, Lodewick, who had managed to just hold Lengyel's wheel, attacked down the tricky and technical backside of the Ironberg. Clijisters, in a bid to make it three straight RVSR titles, made a suicidal decent in 

VonSchmidt and Hushvod
formed an alliance

pursuit of Lodewick and managed to close the gap by the start of the Scenicberg climb. While Clijisters made several halfhearted moves, seemingly to gauge Lodewick's 
resolve, the duo rode steadily shoulder to shoulder over the Scenicberg and Humbleberg and on to the lower slopes of the Redwoodberg.

Servais Lengyel rode 

strong for 4th

Finally Clijisters, not content to take his chances in the sprint with Lodewick, launched a strong attack on the last switchback before the summit of the Redwoodberg in an effort to rid himself of his breakaway rival. Lodewick though, refused to panic and steadily closed the gap before putting Clijisters to the sword with a decisive move over the summit. While Clijisters gamely gave chase, Lodewick only increased his advantage over the Havenberg and rode to the finish with a gap of just under a minute to claim victory.

R.A. VonSchmidt Celebrating 

his 5th Lantern Rouge

Clijisters soloed in for second while a resurgent Hushvod, who had been left for dead on the Ironberg, managed to out fox Lengyel and vonSchmidt for 3rd. VonSchmidt easily extended his record setting streak of five consecutive Lantern Rouges.

For the first time in five years a tearful and emotional Lodewick sprayed the bubbly from the top step of the SanRaflaanderrs podium to claim the Marin World Cup double of Marin-Roubaix and the Ronde.  

Podium

Early Edition MWC News

Clijisters Proclaims, "I am the favorite for San Raflaanderrs!"

In an uncharacteristicly bombastic manner today, Markus Clijisters staked his claim to the San Raflaanderrs crown for 2010. During an interview with reporters from local KRON 4, Clijisters was asked about his chances for the upcoming King of the Classics:

"I really have good sensations right now and am feeling very confident for the Marin World Cup. Lodewick is reportedly looking sub-par and Hushvod apparently has gained 3 stone over the winter. I am the favorite, no question."

His statements were doubly interesting as most pundits had written Clijisters off after a winter of little to no training due to his recently born daughter but the addition to his family has seemed to have bolstered his confidence rather than diminish it. Many are skeptical however with Clijisters' level of race fitness with several reliable sources noting that he has spent less time on the bike this off-season than ever before. One begins to wonder if Clijisters' is feeling contact fitness from his sister-in-law, Evelyn Stevens, the neo-pro wonder kid of Columbia's womens team. Only SanRaflaanderrs will tell.

Hushvod get new Co-Sponsor Discovery Communications

Despite persistent talk that he was planning his retirement from bike racing, repeated speculations about his motivation and skeptical glances at his robust figure, Ken Hushvod has apparently inveigled yet another high profile sponsor to contribute to his already swollen wallet. It was reported on Saturday that Discovery Communications had extended a lucrative contract to Hushvod for the 2010 season and will share co-sponsor team billing with his current main backer J. Crew. Further revealed was a plan for Hushvod to continue in an advisory role with Discovery Communications after his bike racing career is finished. Rumors that this may include a role in the upcoming Sarah Palin travelogue reality series have yet to be confirmed.

Duvel "Drops a Deuce" on San Raflaanderrs

PHRO Front-man, Joos Litvalk held a press conference today to announce a new competition within the Marin World Cup, the "Duvel Drops a Deuce" classification. Belgian beer maker, Duvel has agreed to sponsor an unexpectedly strange "race within the race" that will award points to the 2nd placed rider in each race. The "winner" of the competition will receive 2 bottles of Duvel Belgian Ale, a #2 pencil and a single used Panaracer tire. While some are calling this the "Fredericcio Jersey" (presumably in reference to the consecutive 2nd place finishes in the GPKH and Marin-Roubaix by the rider of the same name), Lodewick denied any connection and simply stated that, "Everyone like Duvel. Even my butler." What this cryptic missive represents, we can only begin to speculate on.

Lodewick say GP Ken Hushvod Time Trial is "A Formality."

In his, by now, expectedly tiresome fashion, Socialite, Gentleman of Leisure and sometime bike racer, Jonas Lodewick has once again expressed his expectation to dominate the GP Ken Hushvod Time Trial that is the MWC opener. While Lodewick made a similar claim in 2009 and was able to indeed claim victory, the margin by which he won was not exactly the comfortable time gap that he had predicted. Regardless, Lodewick announced his boredom with the competition and proclaimed:

"Perhaps, to make it interesting, this year I will ride my bike with only one leg. Or maybe backwards. Then Hushvod will stand a chance of seeing my finishing time without the aid of binoculars. I predict my winning margin to be between 5 and 15 minutes."

When reminded that the TOTAL time for his winning ride last year was only a shade under 20 minutes in total, Lodewick only nodded, got into his Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and drove to his spa appointment.