With the increased popularity of reality based TV shows it was inevitable that televised cycling coverage would jump on the bandwagon. Cycling.tv announced today that it would premier it’s new feature, "Trading Races" at Spring Fling Six in Lawrence, KS and simultanously at the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The premise of the show is to take teams from two entirely different racing cultures and juxtapose them. So on Saturday morning at Clinton Lake, Tom Boonen and his Quick Step comrades will be lining up against mid-America’s finest, while Walt Bleser and teammates from KCOI will sign in on Sunday morning at the Tour of Flanders.
Localcycling.com will carry a live interview from the start in Brugge with Walt. The Tour of Flanders is often charactarized as an "all out" race, but is actually, just as the name implies, a rather leisurely stroll through the Belgian countryside with periodic stops to sample the fine beers produced there. The Spring Fling series on the other hand is often used as a tune up for potential Tour de France winners. Of course that’s also a touring ride. In fact there aren’t really all that many races in Europe.
In a final note, Mr. Boonen told Localcycling.com that while he is worried that American racing may in fact be quite a bit faster than the ‘touring’ style riding he’s used to, he’s heard that the beer at Free State is "quite good."
In a final note, Mr. Boonen told Localcycling.com that while he is worried that American racing may in fact be quite a bit faster than the ‘touring’ style riding he’s used to, he’s heard that the beer at Free State is "quite good."