Favorite Solo victories in a Classic
For me, this would have to be Eric Vanderarden's solo escape to victory in the Tour de Flanders, jumping away on the Muur de Geraardsbergen, the last climb of the race, after he and Peter Post teammate Phil Anderson caught Hennie Kuiper. With two members of the same team on his wheel, Hennie could just watch Eric ride away to victory in the greatest race a Belgian can win, The Tour of Flanders. The conditions were attrocious that day. Rain fell so heavily there as 3-4 inches of it on the ground and the riders were drenched. But movies of Vanderarden show him composed, in form, smooth, and powerful as he left the best behind. His cap perched jauntily, he rode in the maelstrom with the camera bikes next to him, and graciously removed his raingear while riding to show the Belgian national champion jersey he owned at the time while crossing the finish line amongst his home fans.