S9 Ep27: Trailer: The Lionel of Flanders

<div> <em>This is a trailer for a five-part series available for Friends of the Podcast.</em><br> <br> Four years ago, Lionel and Simon went to Flanders to see the traditional preparation races that lead up to the Tour of Flanders. The result was a five-part series for Friends of the Podcast called <em>The Lionel of Flanders</em>. (Thanks to producer Tom Whalley for coming up with the title).<br> <br> The order of the races may have changed since but with the Classics approaching again we've decided to add the series to the Friends of the Podcast feed this week, starting on Wednesday morning.<br> <br> Join them as they explore Flanders, discovering the culture of the region and the history of the races as well as heading over the border to Roubaix to the famous velodrome.<br> <br> <strong>Wednesday: Episode 1 – Dwars Door Vlaanderen</strong><br> After checking-in to their floating hotel in Kortrijk, Lionel and Simon head from Roeselare to Waregem to watch the 72nd edition of Dwars Door Vlaanderen. We learn about Flandrian cycling from a man who has lived there for more than 40 years after moving from Australia to chase his professional racing dream, and from a former winner of the race. They also find out why Zulte Waregem FC play at the Regenboogstadion (the Rainbow Stadium).<br> <strong>Run time: </strong>37mins<br> <br> <strong>Thursday: Episode 2 – The Road to Roubaix</strong><br> With a day off between races, Lionel and Simon head over the border into France to the André Pétrieux velodrome in Roubaix. On the way, they stop in the Rue du Dronckaert, an anonymous stretch of the road on the border and scene of one of the most seismic events in cycling history. After a couple of laps of the bumpy concrete track, Lionel has a look round the famous stone showers.<br> <strong>Run time:</strong> 20 mins<br> <br> <strong>Friday: Episode 3 – Harelbeke</strong><br> It's time for a race that's come to be thought of as the Little Tour of Flanders, using as it does many of the same roads and cobbled hills as De Ronde. Cri