Well, that's the Spring classics over for another year. There was some surprise winners, superb races and entertaining performances. The Cancellara/Boonen break was just what Flanders needed after two years of similar racing and it seems only a yesterday we were wondering whether Peter Van Petegem's Cobbled double was a once in a generation performance, well, Cancellara's cobbled week showed that if you have the form and the power...

There are two distinct memories that strike us at Corza post spring classics. One is David Millar's Ronde and the other is Alexandre Vinokourov's  Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Two riders, two drugs bans and two comebacks in their own way. One we love, the other leaves us a little cold. We aren't the biggest David Millar fans at Corza, we can't help thinking what would have happened if the Police hadn't had a word in 2004. Millar's ride in 'The Ronde' was fantastic though. He deserved so much more that his placing towards the back of the first big bunch of finishers. A gutsy attacking ride that was only really outshone in the aggression stakes by Cancellara. Thanks David, it was great to watch and shows what bike racing is missing in these race radio governed days.

Alexandre Vinokourov's winning ride in Liege certainly showed Kolobnev a clean pair of heels in the finalé. But, and in contrast to Millar, you just get feeling that he would be more than happy to sweep the last two years under the carpet. Its not that easy these days though is it? We're glad he got a grilling in the Liege press conference. Apparently Vino was a bit upset about this and 'wrote a letter' - to whom were not sure! It always seems pretty easy to talk the drugs comeback talk about how the 'past is the past' and its now all about 'showing how you can race clean'. It's not that long ago though that we remember Vino talking about how he was the persecuted one with, what appeared to us, a certain sense of bitterness.

For all their similarities and for what ever reasons these two rides evoke completely different feelings, maybe there is a certain degree of patriotism in there, but Millar's ultimately defeated ride in Flanders was a joy and Vinokourov's win in Liege wasn't.

We love having a prediction or two here at Corza and have even got the odd winner correct on occasions but a whole months worth of spring classics predictions in one go? Why not? Er...We don't know all the start lists yet for one...

La Primavera kicks it all off on Saturday the 20th of March and a new look calender sees Ghent Wevelgem on the following weekend starting three weeks of cobbled racing.

A word of warning though. Whilst we like to think of ourselves as having a fair knowledge of bike racing we really wouldn't recommend phoning up Unibet or William Hill armed with this list of predictions.

Milan - San Remo. Winner: Tom Boonen. In a sprint. He's looked good in Tirreno - Adriatico and looks more fired up than anytime since 2006.

Ghent - Wevelgem. Winner: Edvald Boasson Hagen. Now it may be the case that if Sky can split the Milan San Remo field on the Poggio Boasson Hagen could take the spoils in San Remo, either way Commander Brailsford and crew would love a classics win despite their commendable 'success is not a number of wins' philosophy and at Corza we reckon Ghent Wevelgem could be the one.

Tour of Flanders. Winner: Alesandro Ballan. We may well be revising this after the Three Days of De Panne but after his typically cursed arc-en-ciel year in 2009 Ballan look like he could be back to his best with BMC. If he is Ballan has the motivation, strength and knowledge needed to win De Ronde.

Paris Roubaix. Winner: Thor Husovd. A race that always rewards the wise and strong. Hushovd is both a) wise and b) strong. Now, if he hadn't fallen on the Carrefour de l'Arbre last year...

Jurgen Van Derny speaks...

Our man with his ears to the pavé and eyes peering through the Sportpaleis smoke of bike racing, Jurgen Van Derny, has dropped us a line with his thoughts for the big race this weekend.

Here at Corza we're no experts in Flemish translation but we think it roughly translates as this...

"Yes, the Challenge De Hesbaye is a big event and my money will be on Bobbie Traksel, that guy is a legend around these parts now despite being Dutch. Milan San Remo? Is that this weekend? Pozzatto or Ballan to jump away or Boonen in the sprint. Tot ziens. Jurgen"

photo tetedelacourse

Due to demand from recent publicity our Hour Record Tshirts are flying out of the door faster than Tom Boonen in stage 2 of this year's Tirreno-Adriatico. As such delivery is currently a little slower than usual. To make the wait worthwhile we are offering free delivery if you order a second Tshirt at the same time as your Hour Record Tshirt. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

In the build up to the current season, and amid the fu-ore surrounding Team Sky's debut there were two things which stuck in the mind. The first was the luxurious team Sky coach, all leather seats and massage areas. It epitomised the Sky approach. All new, shiny and presentation, presentation. The second was Stein Devolder eschewing sunny training camps to stay at home and toughen up in one of the coldest European winters for years. It's a great contrast, traditional Belgium grit against shiny new cycling presentation.

It did get us here at Corza wondering, in the heat of the battle on a cold Belgium spring Sunday who's mindset is going to be the winning one? The guy who is thinking of the luxury of the leather seats in the warm team coach or the local hard man enjoying the 1°C temperature because he can take his gloves off?

Well hats off to Team Sky's Ian Stannard and his third place in Sunday's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. A race taking place in the tail of a hurricane is never going to blessed with excellent weather and when the race is also a Belgium semi-classic that uses some of Flanders' toughest Bergs the ingredients are there to create a hard man's classic. Stannard's gutsy ride in the winning break didn't have even a flicker of thinking of the team bus about it.

Combined with Juan Antonio Flecha's ride in Het Nieuwsblad it was a great opening to the Classics season for Team Sky. Bring on March and April...