109th Paris-Roubaix. The Hell of the North.

[The Hitch]

Spartacus's revenge

Sunday April 10th.

Are you ready?

#|km|Name|Length
27 98 Troisvilles à Inchy 2,2
26 104,5 Viesly à Quiévy 1,8
25 107 Quiévy à Saint-Python 3,7
24 115,5 Saint-Python 1,5
23 119,5 Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon 2,3
22 126,5 Capelle-sur-Écaillon à Ruesnes 1,7
21 142,5 Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes - Famars 2,6
20 146 Famars à Quérénaing 1,2
19 149 Quérénaing à Maing 2,5
18 152 Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon 1,6
17 164 Haveluy à Wallers 2,5
16 172 Trouée d’Arenberg 2,4
15 178,5 Millonfosse à Bousignies 1,4
14 183,5 Brillon à Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes 1,1
14 186 Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières 2,4
13 192,5 Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies 1,4
12 197,5 Orchies 1,7
11 203,5 Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée 2,6
10 209 Mons-en-Pévèle 3,0
9 215 Mérignies à Avelin 0,7
8 218,5 Pont-Thibaut à Ennevelin 1,4
7 224 Templeuve - L’Épinette 0,2
7 224,5 Templeuve – Moulin de Vertain 0,5
6 231 Cysoing à Bourghelles 1,3
6 233,5 Bourghelles à Wannehain 1,1
5 238 Camphin-en-Pévèle 1,8
4 241 Carrefour de l’Arbre 2,1
3 243 Gruson 1,1
2 250 Willems à Hem 1,4
1 256,5 Roubaix 0,3
DISTANCE TOTALE DES SECTEURS PAVÉS 51,5

Official prediction: Cancellara makes it 3. The race will be won or lost by Cancellara. Its all about him. If he makes a mistake he might lose but he is so far above the rest, he will truimph otherwise.

 

[icefire]

Im amazed no one has made a thread about this yet. After yesterdays events, this is going to be very interesting.

We're all exhausted

 

[L'arriviste]

What is the early weather forecast for next week's Roubaix? I really do hope for a day like 2002 when they were just covered in mud. For those that remember, it was the Roubaix where Tom Boonen upstaged his (then) leader for the race, George Hincapie, to come 3rd on his debut at the Hell of the North.

Craig asked this on the General News Thread.

The answer at the moment is pretty good indeed. 23 degrees and sunny. Importantly though, no rain expected in the days leading up to it.

So it's bring on the dustclouds!

 

[spalco]

I can't wait. Isn't it sunday already?

 

[The Hitch]

I unfortunately will miss this as Ill be in Madrid. Believe me, it hurts.

Ill either try to catch a stream, or record PR AGR and FW, and watch them all when i come back. That would be one awesome day of watching cycling but its not as good as watching it live with the forum.

 

[boomcie]

I unfortunately will miss this as Ill be in Madrid. Believe me, it hurts.

Ill either try to catch a stream, or record PR AGR and FW, and watch them all when i come back. That would be one awesome day of watching cycling but its not as good as watching it live with the forum.

That's bad! I would probably need pain killers.

 

[Tuarts]

O'Grady's stocks just rose.

I'll think we'll see the same sort of tictacs as in the earlier part of RvV. A few 3rd string favourites (eg Hayman) will form a group of 5-10 and will only be caught by a group of favourites riding away from the peloton. Boonen definitely be the favourite but I think Cancellara will be even more motivated to win this now.

 

[Tuarts]

I unfortunately will miss this as Ill be in Madrid. Believe me, it hurts.

Ill either try to catch a stream, or record PR AGR and FW, and watch them all when i come back. That would be one awesome day of watching cycling but its not as good as watching it live with the forum.

cyclingtorrents.nl not an option?

 

[Jamsque]

Geraint Thomas. Book it. If he goes in to the velodrome in the lead group he will TEAR IT UP.

 

[Tom T.]

I hope QS lets Chavanel go for the win. He's clearly stronger than Boonen although I expect Tom to be good next week.

 

[roundabout]

Chavanel isn't riding.

 

[Tom T.]

Chavanel isn't riding.

Really? Where did you see that?

 

[roundabout]

Provisional start list where he's only listed as a substitute

http://www.letour.fr/2011/PRX/RIDERS/us/engages.html

 

[Lanark]

After Vlaanderen he said he most likely will be riding. Would be completely stupid not to do it anyway.

 

[roundabout]

And be a stooge for Boonen again?

After Devolder it's a one man team regardless of how strong the domestiques are.

 

[Tom T.]

Has Chavanel not ridden it in the past? I don't seem to remember him being one of those guys who can't cut it at PR so doesn't ride. It would seem ridiculous for QS not to ride him considering the form he's got right now.

 

[Lanark]

He won't be a domestique, he wasn't yesterday either. Patrick Lefevere even said he expected him the win before the race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'm calling it Cancellara vs Boonen. Boonen will finally reach his 100% form, and Cancellara will be close or on top form once again.

 

[roundabout]

Expectations of victory is probably why Chavanel attacked from 85km out and was told not to work with Cancellara.

Chavanel was pretty good in 2009 in Roubaix. He was top 10 iirc.

 

[sublimit]

Should be good, 5 hours of coverage on Eurosport again.

I cant believe that Chavannel wont be riding, Quickstep will be dumb not to put him in. Anyway yes, we can look forward to plenty of dust getting thrown up and I hope its windy also.

 

[rghysens]

Expectations of victory is probably why Chavanel attacked from 85km out and was told not to work with Cancellara.

Chavanel was pretty good in 2009 in Roubaix. He was top 10 iirc.

8th

blabla for 10 characters

 

[boomcie]

After Vlaanderen he said he most likely will be riding. Would be completely stupid not to do it anyway.

+1

Chavanel confirmed (@Sporza) he would be riding PR. So expect him to be there.

 

[The Hitch]

cyclingtorrents.nl not an option?

All the streams i saw yesterday were crap, stopping every few seconds.

And i dont like the dutch language.

It doesnt really compare to watching it on tv with commentary.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Geraint Thomas. Book it. If he goes in to the velodrome in the lead group he will TEAR IT UP.

he wont.
I would bet my house on it.

He is very good, but not that good.

I am undecided

 

[Jamsque]

He was 2nd to Thor on the Roubaix stage of the Tour de France last year, and he's only gotten better since then.

I was being facetious, though, I don't actually think he's going to win. He has a real shot though, and unless bad luck strikes I am certain he will animate the race.