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 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 23: More Passion


The people of Geraardsbergen are venting again. This video is awesome.
Passion like this should not be denied!
I have no idea what they are saying but it looks like they are MAD...and drunk.

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 16: The cycling art of Geraardsbergen

Incredible Tour of Flanders inspired art, from sculpture to poetry, will be left behind without proper context.

The RVV cyclo tourists from the earlier post will also miss out on 50 years of homage to the great race.
http://wielersport.slogblog.nl/post/1/5279

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37690648

Willy Verhegge poems on Eddy Merckx and others

Source: http://n-io.no-ip.biz/GC00001/tct2009/website/nieuws/nieuws2006.htm

"The Spectators"

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/21394815

There is also a poetry route in Geraardsbergen
http://www.marf.be/nl/html/brons_frameset.html

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 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/