Ballan World's Greatest Classics Rider? Think again!

The Newest issue of Cycle Sport America recently hit news stands with a questionable claim. Allasandro Ballan, winner of last year's De Ronde Vlan Vlaanderen, graces the cover of the most recent issue under the caption "Allasandro Ballan: World's Best Classics Rider On His Love Affair With The Cobbles." World's best classics rider? You have to be kidding. Yes, Ballan is deservedly mentioned along with the best in the world, but no one (including Ballan) would grant him sole status as the best. He has exactly ONE classics victory under his belt. He did that last year in convincing fashion as he dispatched two-time defending champion Tom Boonen on the famous Muur at Geraardsbergen with an attack that no one, including the beloved Belgian, could match.

But he was unable to close down Stuey O'Grady in Roubaix and before that was only 10th at the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen. He didn't even bother to ride Gent-Wevelgem the Wednesday before the Ronde or the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen, another Belgian semi-classic. So where is the alleged love affair with the cobbles that Cycle Sport mentions? Perhaps a love affair with the Ronde, but no more than that.

No, when examining Ballan's season last year, one sees that he put all of his efforts into winning Flanders, which is exactly what one has to do if they are to beat the mighty Belgians. And this year will be no different. Ballan will need a healthy dose of luck and impeccable form to hold off the likes of Boonen, Hoste and Weylandt again at the famous Murr. Ballan will no doubt be in the top ten in any Flanders he targets in the future, but staying ahead of the world's best won't be as easy as Cycle Sport makes it sound.

In actuality, Ballan may not even be the best Italian classics rider. "Pippo" Pozzato, "The Flying Dolphin," already has Milan-San Remo (2006) and Het Volk (2007) under his belt. Even Paolo Bettini allows that as long as former teammate Pozzato can keep his "tifosi and clothing designers" in check, he should "have it all." Strong words, considering they come from the best active one-day rider alive.

The Muur: Narrow, bumpy, steep. A tough combination made tougher with the cold, wet, northern European spring time weather common for the Ronde.