Reason 29: It is featured in the Tour of Flanders Museum

If the Muur is featured in the museum it would stand to reason it is a pretty big part of the history of the race and should be kept in place as part of the race.

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/gallery-inside-the-tour-of-flanders-museum-at-oudenaarde/214776

Reason 28: Stijn Devolder and Peter Van Petegem get it

Quotes from http://www.xpats.com/en/features/tour-flanders

“If you had changed the route 30 years ago it would maybe not have been big news, but now the race is international – it’s shown on TV all over the world and everybody in cycling is always talking about it.” - Van Petegem

Source: http://blog.seniorennet.be/wielergekte_original/archief.php?ID=55484

“The Muur was unique – there’s never going to be a final like that without the Muur.” - Devolder

Source: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7949/Stijn-Devolder-Boonen-should-be-scared-of-Cancellara.aspx

Reason 25: The list of towns 

between the Muur and the finish Ninove-Meerbeke

So here is the logic. Not all of these are on the old course but they are close in proximity to the old finishing route. Therefore they probably had some economic impact given to them from the old race and the amateur event. Now that income or spending money is gone.

Geraardsbergen

Atembeke

Onkerzele

Moerbeke

Sint-Paulus

Galmaarden

Keringen

Waarbeke

Bovenkassei

Nieuwenhove

Roost

Denderwindeke

Hemelrijk

Eichem

Ninove-Meerbeke

Reason 24: Weaker looking photographs

Graham Watson and Kristof Ramon took some photographs at the 2012 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen. The photos did not do the Muur or the people of Geraardsbergen any favors. 

Obviously when the Muur is not in a decisive position during a big race it does not look near as exciting and important.

Source: https://twitter.com/grahamwatson10/statuses/183315395636244480

http://twitpic.com/90c1kt

Also check out Kristof Ramon's shots here:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/kristoframon/sets/72157629288648492/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristoframon/7009537079

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14538377@N06/7009537481

Reason 20: The "New Logic" in route planning has some scary implications.

"If the new route is succesful, the Ronde could set an example for all one 

day classics. To race from A to B doesn't have much longevity no more" -The director of Flanders Classics, Wouter Vandenhaute

 If the quote above does not literally scare the living shit out of you then I do not know what will.  

I mount my soapbox now. Check out the similarity in look and feel between Amstel and Flanders below. Kind of wild. Amstel really has no choice to organize the race as they do, because they race in an area the size of a postage stamp. But for other classics to adopt an "up the same climb multiple times" philosophy, I believe, puts in jeopardy what so many of us love about point to point racing. That being the varied nature of the route and the inability to know exactly what is coming next under racing conditions. When riders race up the same climb multiple times in the same race they become accustomed to it and understand it better and therefore the course becomes less a factor than the condition of the rider. Some may argue that the point is indeed to find the best or strongest rider, so who cares where they race in Flanders, just as long as it is still held in Flanders and we maximize fan interaction. However I disagree to some degree here. What makes a Spring Classic great is the ability for the rider to conquer not only the other riders, but also conquer a course that engages the geography to the maximum, fans be damned. Consider this absurd comparison to the Tour de France. Why not race the same circuit race in Bordeaux the first 7 days for the sprinters, up and down the Alpe du Huez 7 days in a row, and down the Champs for the final 7 days to finish it off. While that is an extreme exaggeration I feel it makes my point. The course does matter and to repeat yourself is to cheat the venue and reduce the uniqueness of the event which, like it or not, provides part of the romantic attraction of the sport we love.

In all honesty, I will definitely watch this year for sure, and root for Boonen, I will most likely gasp at the insanity of taking on the Paterberg 3 times but as I gasp I will most likely wonder what other 4 climbs could have been added instead of the 2 Oude Kwaremont's and 2 Paterberg's whether or not 2 of those others could have been the Bosberg and Muur.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11195/Debate-continues-over-new-Flanders-route-organiser-explains-change.aspx#ixzz1p9ayfJH3 

 

Reason 19: Fabian Cancellara gets it

"The traditions of the sport are counting for less and now on they have changed something crucial."

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/cancellara-riders-are-scared-of-new-tour-of-flanders-route/207863 

Reason 18: Heinrich Haussler gets it

"Why did they have to change it? The prestige of the race has changed. It’s just really hard. I don’t like it. Why do they have to change a race like Flanders? It’s like not having Roubaix finish in the velodrome — it’s just stupid."

 

Source: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/news/qa-heinrich-haussler-the-legs-are-back_209363

Reason 17: Riis will be upset

http://cyclismas.com/2012/02/tour-of-flanders-2012-riis-is-briefed-on-muur-and-bosberg/

Reason 15: Depression

All of these folks are now sad.

I feel depressed already staring this sorry lot and thinking of what they will be missing this year.

The race directors need to help fight mental illness by bringing the Muur back.
Bring back the Muur, and a ray of sunshine will enter into the souls of the people pictured here.

Source: http://www.steephill.tv/2009/tour-of-flanders/muur-fans-banner.jpg

Reason 14: The amateur version will also skip the Muur.

20,000 riders will NOT have an opportunity to spend their time AND MONEY in Geraardsbergen in 2012.
This guy from last years event was already pissed he could not drop $20 at the local tavern in 2012.

Source: http://sport.be.msn.com/cyclingtour/rondevanvlaanderen/2011/fotospecial/index.html?fotospecial_id=7686&foto_order=79&language_id=3

Reason 12: Sayings like this will disappear.

“The Muur is a rendezvous with your character,” 

Eddy Planckaert, 1988 Tour of Flanders winner

Source: http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/iconic-places-the-muur-van-geraardsbergen/

Reason 11: Tom Boonen gets it

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/5314134/Tom-Boonen-barred-from-Tour-de-France-after-second-positive-drug-test.html

"Not finishing in Meerbeke would be like removing the track from Paris-Roubaix"

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7773/Tom-Boonen-Not-finishing-in-Meerbeke-would-be-like-removing-the-track-from-Paris-Roubaix.aspx#ixzz1oXyu3ioV

Reason 10: Context

When people ask how the race is going
 the next question is always in some way shape or form like the following.

How far are they from the Muur? How long to the Bosberg?
Pardon the language in the video...keep the sound down at work ;)

Reason 9: The Muur was the Logo of the Brand

"Logos are the entry point and the shortcut to the brand for your mind."
It can take years to craft an identifiable brand and the associated logo. Fools throw that away.
The Muur was the identifiable logo for the brand that is the Tour of Flanders.
Read this: http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=6929

Source: http://zuzie.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/images/2011/04/08/dsc_0137.jpg

Reason 8: The names

The names "Muur" and "Bosberg" are badass.

Why?

"Muur" means "Wall"

Racing up the Wall? BADASS!
Correction via @wielergekblog:
Its replacement the Oude Kwaremont translated means Old Kwaremont. "Square Mountain".
Might as well be called "Yo Grandmas favorite climb"

Source: http://www.cyclingstory.nl/2011/04/05/fotos-ronde-van-vlaanderen-2011-muur-van-geraardsbergen/

"Bosberg" means something close to "Wood Hill".

That is descriptive but does not really resonate, actually kind of weak. 

BUT in English...

Bos, pronounced as "Boss" sounds badass like "Boss Hill"
That is why us English speakers like it.
Its replacement the Paterberg means Father Hill but to us English it sounds like
Patsy Hill or Pansy Mountain. Weak. 

Source: http://inrng.com/2011/04/the-bosberg/

Reason 7: This framed scene

Every year we see some version of this picture and put ourselves right there.

Every year we wish we were the camera man.

Every year we gawk at the freakish faces captured through the lens.
No longer...


Source: http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PM00639975B.jpg



http://www.flandriacafe.com/2012/02/photo-of-day-eddy-bosberg.html

Source: http://www.bnr.nl/topic/sport/2011/04/03/belg-nuyens-snelste-in-vlaanderens-mooiste

Source: http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/iconic-places-the-muur-van-geraardsbergen/

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/chain-gate-voted-cyclingnews-biggest-moment-of-the-year/113629

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/ronde-van-vlaanderen-goes-with-traditional-route-in-2008/32961

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/belgians-mourn-decapitated-tour-of-flanders/110850

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/now-online-the-2010-cyclingnews-reader-poll/114626

Source: http://www.colchonero.com/stijn_devolder_en_kapelmuur-fotos_del_atletico_de_madrid-igfpo-158760.htm

Source: http://now.rabosport.nl/user/rabosport/view/9137473

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/113823

Source: http://cyclingart.blogspot.com/2010/04/gone-with-wind.html

Source: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2394807983_a7a515ff5c.jpg

Reason 6: This sign

What cycling fan does not see this sign and realize that the end of the

race is near and if decisions have not already been made they are about to be.
Losing this piece of history from the race sucks.

Source: http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=2971

Reason 5: The run in to the Muur

It is like riding downhill into a stadium and then riding back out through the stands.
This clip gives me chills.  

In reverse

Reason 4: Edwig Van Hooydonck (Eddy Bosberg)

No Bosberg, makes Edwig's nickname not so cool any more.

Note the finishing straight.

Photo: © Sirotti

Reason 3: The finish line

The finishing staight in Meerbeke was PERFECT.

Long enough for sprints to be very contentious.

Straight enough for the lone escapee to take it all in.