The "Classics" season has began

Last week, the opening salvo of the European springs classic started in Belgium. These earlier races are about 50km short compared to the 5 monuments (Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy) but they are just as tough.

The weather in this time of year is cold and you can see it in their outfits. But the day at the office, which is about 5 hours, has to be done if you plan to make a splash. The winners last weekend was Sep Vermarke at Het Niewsblad, super sprinter Mark Cavendish and Kuurme-Brussels-Kuurme and last Saturday, it was Fabian Cancellara’s turn to win the Strade Bianchi.

So far, the big surprise was Vermarke as he beat Tom Boonen at his own game in a 3-man sprint. Is Boonen’s sprinting dulled?

So far, the most disappointing has been the new Aussie team, GreenEdge and team BMC. GreenEdge has yet to show up in the European podium while BMC, who boasts of two super signings this year in Thor Hushovd and Phillip Gilbert, has yet to get their money’s worth from their investment. Hushovd had a very successful Tour de France while Gilbert had the most wins last year, 18 but right now, nada.

While the early races are “feeling out” races, you can easily tell who’s doing well and who’s not. In two weeks time, we’ll know who’s hot and who’s not when the peloton rolls off in the 300km Milan- San Remo.

And BTW, since local cable only cares about the NBA and cheerdance, you can watch live streaming from this site: www.steephill.tv. If you have a good internet connection, it’ll be just like cable.

Maasin on my mind

I always have fond memories of Maasin City. I had planned to stay here 18 years ago but I guess the pull of the big city was too much to ignore.

While I never regretted leaving Maasin City, I always missed the place. My wife’s family is still living here so it’s a almost “compulsory” to visit the place.

The next thing I missed about the Leyte is the cycling. There is no better place to ride and race than Southern Leyte- (almost) non-existent traffic, courteous drivers and well-paved roads.

With Frank Kangleon, Jonas Gorgonio and Bano Baculanta, we went for a 120km spin last Saturday. The plan was to ride north to Bato, turn right to the mountains of Bontoc before going home from the southern towns of Tomas Oppus, Malitbog and Padre Burgos.

It was drizzly when we left and along the way and when the sun had finally peered from the blanket of cloud coveras we turned right west to Sogod, we could see the dark horizon. But verdant colors of newly planted rice fields more than made up for its gloominess.

As for me, I always enjoyed riding in the rain, I always feel invigorated when the heavens open up. We had two more pit stops, one in Divisoria in Bontoc and in Malitbog, a once busy town, but now a sleepy little town when the Escano’s business went south, before we headed for home. My home. - THE FREEMAN