Finally, racing season has started. Sure, we’ve been watching the hot, empty roads of the Middle East and Australia, but when Opening Weekend in Flanders rolls around we know that the good stuff is here.

The next six or so weeks is all about the wind, the rain and the cobbles, with fingers crossed for more of what we saw at Omloop and K-B-K. Watching on TV from afar is great, but being there is a whole different experience. Standing in the cold while hundreds of cars and motorcycles race past blaring horrible Belgie-techno and watch jingles at you, the sound of tyres on pavé and the breathing of the riders, you can actually taste the race.

These fan-made roadside videos are like a mini-doc of the spectators’ day, traversing the countryside to strategic viewing points, the colour and noise of the sign-on, the sound of the wind whipping across muddy fields and the chaos that follows the riders as they seek cobbled glory or just survival.