Crucial parts of #RVV: Stem for bergs, cobbles and feedzones. Handlebars for weight in beer. cc @Mattbrammeier85 pic.twitter.com/e1e98BA6sm
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) April 5, 2015
As this photo shows, Matt Brammeier had only two things on his mind at the start of the Tour of Flanders today; getting up the road and winning his weight in beer.
And the Irishman, riding for MTN-Qhubeka, did exactly that.
He got clear in the early escape that stayed away for some 150km. In there with him were Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory Racing), Damien Gaudin (AG2R La Mondiale), Ralf Matzka (Bora), Clément Venturini (Cofidis), Dylan Groenewegen (Team Roompot), Lars Ytting Bak (Lotto Soudal) and Marco Frapporti (Androni).
The rider who pass 1st in the village Sint Eloois Winkel after 34km will have his weight in Steene Molen beer 75cl #rvv2015 @Vannieuwkerke
— Nico Mattan (@NicoMattan) April 4, 2015
And while Brammeier was clearly the designated man for his team to get into the early move, the image in his notes on his handlebars revealed his other goal; beer.
He's scribbled in a picture of a beer with a reminder of where the all important sprint lay along the route.
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Former pro Nico Mattan had tweeted that he had organised a prime at Sint-Eloois-Winkel, some 33.6km from the start in Bruges.
And the rider first through that point would win his weight in Stene Molen beer.
Brammeier went up the road today at the Tour of Flanders, putting in a brilliant ride in the iconic race and also winning his weight in beer; which is always nice... (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
Brammeier rode very strongly in the escape to the 80km remaining mark where the move disintegrated. And he took the beer prime along the way.
While he may have reinforced a few Irish stereotypes for targeting the booze prize, he has undoubtedly won plenty of fans for his riding and his sense of humour.
Good to see him up there again today after similarly strong riding in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad semi classic in Belgium just over a month ago when he spent 140km up the road.
Brammeier, who weighs 73kg, will get his prize before Scheldeprijs on Wednesday in Antwerp, in 75cl bottles. So the beers are definitely on him for the next while!
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