Here come The Classics - Ronde van Vlaanderen

The latest weather report from Belgium says it's about 40 degrees, and raining...perfect weather for the upcoming cobbled classics.

Racing in Belgium is unlike anything you've seen here in America. Long, rolling sections of road, punctuated by kilometer-long climbs of 20%...on cobbles...and usually in the rain.

The passion for the sport is ingrained in the people from birth. Thousands and thousand turn out, just to see the riders sign-in and start the Tour of Flanders. And the crowds on the climbs can run 10-15 people deep on both sides of the road.

In the meantime, if you want to get pumped-up for this most-Belgian of all the classics, take a look at the following video. This short black-and-white film evokes the spirit of the race, and the people of Belgium. It's shows that the Ronde van Vlaanderen is much more than just a bike race.