R
Robert Clark
Guest
Mike Owens wrote:
> "Robert Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Jonathan v.d. Sluis wrote:
>>
>>>"Ewoud Dronkert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 4 Aug 2005 17:50:49 +0200, Jonathan v.d. Sluis wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>"Kenny" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>The enecotour was only created to give Belgium and Holland a few
>>>>>>Protour race days more. Including the Tour of Belgium and the Tour of
>>>>>>the Netherlands which existed since 1908 and 1948, was out of the
>>>>>>question.
>>>>>
>>>>>Actually the Eneco Tour already existed, but not in the current form.
>>>>
>>>>Maybe he didn't actually say that, but I think it was implied. For the
>>>>foreigners, yes it's a fusion of the Ronde van Belgie and Ronde van
>>>>Nederland and Eneco is the sponsor.
>>>
>>>
>>>But in spite of that the Ronde van België still exists as a separate
>>>tour. So for most purposes, the Eneco tour was just made more
>>>international to suit the protour. Ofcourse it's more than just a bigger
>>>Ronde van Nederland, but neither can it justifiably be called a newly
>>>created event, like the TTT in Eindhoven. For the latter the 'artificial'
>>>label might actually have some justification. But in the case of the
>>>Eneco tour, it doesn't.
>>
>>I have a chance to be road-side for the 4th stage (Landgraaf to Verviers)
>>this Sunday. If anyone knows the route well, could they suggest a good
>>climb to view? From what I can tell of the parcours on the website
>>(http://www.enecotour.com), there should be a couple of climbs in the last
>>30km between Spa and Verviers, though elevations not shown ... any other
>>ideas?
>>
>>Cheers, Rob.
>
> Try the Haute Levee as the riders exit Stavelot. The climb starts less than
> 500 m from the village's cobblestoned center (plenty of bakeries and cafes)
> and has a brutal first 900 m or so (10+%).
>
> After the riders go past, walk through the village and up the Stockeu to the
> Merckx monument.
> -Mike
>
>
Mike & Ewoud, thank you very much for the suggestions ... I was on the
Haute Levee today. Didn't get a chance to see the Merckx monument
though, as we zipped ahead to see the penultimate climb - Cote de Annete
et Lubin - just outside Spa, also a great viewing spot (in the pouring
rain!)
By the way, I live just around the corner from Merckx's childhood home
in Brussels, there is a monument in the small garden in the square, and
one of my neighbours when to school with him!
Rob.
> "Robert Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Jonathan v.d. Sluis wrote:
>>
>>>"Ewoud Dronkert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 4 Aug 2005 17:50:49 +0200, Jonathan v.d. Sluis wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>"Kenny" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>The enecotour was only created to give Belgium and Holland a few
>>>>>>Protour race days more. Including the Tour of Belgium and the Tour of
>>>>>>the Netherlands which existed since 1908 and 1948, was out of the
>>>>>>question.
>>>>>
>>>>>Actually the Eneco Tour already existed, but not in the current form.
>>>>
>>>>Maybe he didn't actually say that, but I think it was implied. For the
>>>>foreigners, yes it's a fusion of the Ronde van Belgie and Ronde van
>>>>Nederland and Eneco is the sponsor.
>>>
>>>
>>>But in spite of that the Ronde van België still exists as a separate
>>>tour. So for most purposes, the Eneco tour was just made more
>>>international to suit the protour. Ofcourse it's more than just a bigger
>>>Ronde van Nederland, but neither can it justifiably be called a newly
>>>created event, like the TTT in Eindhoven. For the latter the 'artificial'
>>>label might actually have some justification. But in the case of the
>>>Eneco tour, it doesn't.
>>
>>I have a chance to be road-side for the 4th stage (Landgraaf to Verviers)
>>this Sunday. If anyone knows the route well, could they suggest a good
>>climb to view? From what I can tell of the parcours on the website
>>(http://www.enecotour.com), there should be a couple of climbs in the last
>>30km between Spa and Verviers, though elevations not shown ... any other
>>ideas?
>>
>>Cheers, Rob.
>
> Try the Haute Levee as the riders exit Stavelot. The climb starts less than
> 500 m from the village's cobblestoned center (plenty of bakeries and cafes)
> and has a brutal first 900 m or so (10+%).
>
> After the riders go past, walk through the village and up the Stockeu to the
> Merckx monument.
> -Mike
>
>
Mike & Ewoud, thank you very much for the suggestions ... I was on the
Haute Levee today. Didn't get a chance to see the Merckx monument
though, as we zipped ahead to see the penultimate climb - Cote de Annete
et Lubin - just outside Spa, also a great viewing spot (in the pouring
rain!)
By the way, I live just around the corner from Merckx's childhood home
in Brussels, there is a monument in the small garden in the square, and
one of my neighbours when to school with him!
Rob.