Spiritual Home of Cycling?

limerickman

On our club run this evening, we had a great chat.
Among the really interesting topics that we discussed was where is the spiritual home of cycling?

That got me thinking.

Many locations come to mind.
D'Huez.
The Galibier.
Champs Elyssee.
The Paris-Roubaix route.
The Dolomites.
The Pyrennees.
Flanders.

It's hard to pick one, when you think about it.

For me the spiritual home of cycling is Belgium. They race in hard, inclement
conditions with a constant wind off the North Sea/English Channel.
So my vote probably goes to P-R, Flanders locations.

Where do you consider the spiritual home of cycling to be and why?

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

1timepro

La Chiesa di Madonna del Ghisallo.

Powerful Pete

I second that. All cyclists should visit it.

But should any of you want to get spiritual, try riding the Tre Cime di Lavardo or the Stelvio.

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De Rosa Planet
Campagnolo Per Sempre!
PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!

Catabolic_Jones

I can't really say, since I've never been to Europe. From just watching on TV, and reading, I'd have to say it would be an epic climb. Probably D'Huez.

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Virenque

Considering most fanatic fans, I will say Flanders and the Basque country.

gitaarfreak

To me it is Flanders/Basque too.

PS: Do you know where that yellow flag is from on the left of your avatar?

Virenque

It`s famous flemish flag! There are plenty of them at Belgian races. They made special rules how to handle with flags on races, because it became very dangerous with so many people waving with them when riders came past!

Oh..now I see you`re from Belgium and you probably now all that..

jhuskey

Cafe Madrid Paris.

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Whenever I can't get excited about riding I just fantasize about someone else's bike.

Ricardo29

L'Alpe DHuez. not even a contest.

rightly or wrongly, EVERYONE knows it. everyone wants to win it. people gravitate to it. 100,000's attend it.

Rob81

Mortirolo,
do it with your own legs, or be part of a 100000 crowd and u can understand

Wurm

All are important places to cycling, and hard to pick from.

I'd say (A) the cobblestones of the Low Countries & northern France, because that's where many of the first pro races were held, and (B) the northern Italy/Dolomites region, because that's where Tullio Campagnolo cut his teeth and built his shop, along with countless other Italian frame makers.

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The aim of big corporations is to separate fools from their money all of the time and ordinary folks from their money most of the time. The rest of us must fend for ourselves.

itxaradia

being basque I would second Basque as the spiritual home of cycling. besides we have a madonna too like in Ghisallo. The Virgin of Dorleta, theoretically the patron saints of spanish and Basque riders( many first class females riders around this area are called Dorleta, a beautiful name and a nice ride, too, as the santuarty cold only be on a rather high hill

Frigo's Luggage

I suppose that Belgium lays claim to it as much as anyplace. Is there really anyplace like the Muur. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoEG...related&search=
M

For personal reasons, I have to also toss in a minor climb in Majorca called the Col de se Creu.

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