Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling » Koppenburg http://velochimp.com Euro style, chimp attitude. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:58:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Koppenberg On Foot? http://velochimp.com/2006/03/31/koppenberg-on-foot/ http://velochimp.com/2006/03/31/koppenberg-on-foot/#comments Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:56:53 +0000 Velochimp http://velochimp.com/2006/03/31/koppenberg-on-foot/ bettini_koppenburg.jpg
Since its reintroduction into the Tour of Flanders in 2002 the fabled Koppenburg has been tackled on dry roads. This year, the Belgian weather returned to its normal Belgianess making the Koppenburg which tops out at 25% almost unclimable.

From the looks of the above picture, if a little guy like Paolo Bettini has a tough time, image a big guy like Boonen. They might have to pack their mountain biking shoes so they have enough traction to walk up the rest of the climb.

Koppenberg6.jpg
(The climb is still tough under dry conditions.)

koppenberg.png
(pic and profile from http://www.rvv.be)

The Koppenburg will be tough enough at least to thin out the field. With the climb coming 73km from the finish there is enough time for anyone with strenght to still be in a winning position. The only fear would be losing too much time, or getting run over by a car like Jesper Skibby in 1987, ouch.

Eurosport

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