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

[Jamsque]

Here is my real prediction: Cancellara got beaten in the sprint at Milano - Sanremo, and got beaten in the sprint at De Ronde van Vlaanderen.

I think Cancellara is going to get beaten in the sprint at Paris - Roubaix.

 

[roundabout]

What Cancellara should do

wait til the last 5* sector and take off

What Cancellara will do

go early again

 

[boomcie]

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.

Yes please. I need entertainment!

 

[Cimber]

I wanna say Hushovd, but I am sure Garmin will find a way to screw it up

I cross my fingers for good old Hincapie though. He has been so unlucky in PRB before, so I wouldnt mind see him winning. And he did do well in RVV. Ballan is also looking strong and so did the whole BMC-team, so I reckon they can do something. Wouldnt mind Flecha winning either.

Nuyens wont be there so I reckon SBS will hang their hats on Tosatto and Cooke who have looked quite good this spring. I dare not say it after what happened in RVV, but I doubt that SBS will be in the mix for a win.

QS looks strong and if Boonen rides spart this time he and Chav does have good chances.

Spartacus is ofcourse the big big favorite, and PRB probably suits him even better than RVV. His team is a little weekened by Poosthuma crashing out, but still a fine team for PRB.

 

[rghysens]

What Cancellara should do

wait til the last 5* sector and take off

What Cancellara will do

go early again

mmm... I think he learned a lesson. I think he will wait till the carrefour de l'arbre (last 5* sector) and take off.

 

[sublimit]

If Ian Stannard doesn't burn himself out early on I reckon he can go well on Sunday, He reminds me of Magnus Backstedt - IE a big strong rouleur but maybe not to that level yet. He's doing well for a youngster though.

Depends on Sky tactics but they have so many good riders in that team for this race.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Boonen's form is on the rise whereas Cancellara already peaked for my money and left a lot on the road yesterday. I make Boonen favourite out of the two and Quickstep a big favourite assuming Chavanel rides

Can't see anyone else being super strong

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

MSR was the best MSR i have seen in years. Flanders was the best Flanders I've seen in years. The monuments are 2-0. C'mon trifecta

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.

I really can't see him having a real shot. Top ten maybe if he had a free role. But Flecha is always better at PR then flanders, he has looked very strong, sky will work for him.

 

[boomcie]

MSR was the best MSR i have seen in years. Flanders was the best Flanders I've seen in years. The monuments are 2-0. C'mon trifecta

Imagine PR being the best one in years. That's going to have to be huge, cause I remember some pretty awesome editions...

 

[Lanark]

Gonna be an easy one for Canc. Flecha, Ballan et al. just aren't good enough to beat him, unless something weird happens (O'Grady edition, or last Flanders ). Boonen just isn't good enough, yesterday was probably his weakest Vlaanderen since his breakthrough, outside maybe 2007. I don't see how he could improve enough in a week to be competitive.

Besides, unlike Vlaanderen, Roubaix is highly suited to long solos. Nobody has done a long solo in Vlaanderen in recent memory, but guys like Museeuw, Tschmil and The Man Himself have all done it in the last 15 years. You certainly won't have a team with 7 guys on the front of the peloton with 40k to go in Roubaix.

 

[Ney the Viking]

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.

http://www.eurosportplayer.com <- they should stream it all online in decent quality with commentary. Though the commentary may vary with country. In Denmark I do not have access to the English commentaries, but I was in Turkey and there I had access to English but not Danish. Maybe send them a mail and ask what is available in Spain. The prices are decent even if you just need the 1month membership for 2 races

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Imagine PR being the best one in years. That's going to have to be huge, cause I remember some pretty awesome editions...

PR is almost always awesome tho
last year an exception.

 

[sublimit]

MSR was the best MSR i have seen in years. Flanders was the best Flanders I've seen in years. The monuments are 2-0. C'mon trifecta



I really can't see him having a real shot. Top ten maybe if he had a free role. But Flecha is always better at PR then flanders, he has looked very strong, sky will work for him.

I just remembered Wiggans is riding so he probably gets the free role.

Thomas is going like a train though and learning all the time- particularly from an expert like Nick Nuyens in how to finish a race off.

 

[boomcie]

PR is almost always awesome tho
last year an exception.

Absolutely +1

 

[beer_thirty]

PR is almost always awesome tho
last year an exception.

2006 I'd have to say was my favorite of the last 10 years; recorded the last 100K and have watched it about 50 times I'd say. From the moment Hincapie crashed, right up to where the 'train crossing' incident occurred, is some of the most exciting bike racing footage you will ever see.

I am really on the fence when it comes to dry or wet Roubaix; of course the mud makes it epic, but there is something about the dry dusty years, when they hit the 5* sectors going about 55kph, that really does it for me.

Come on trifecta indeed!

 

[toolittle]

Spartacus fly with Big George/Ballan.

Then, BMC team won't chase again.

And Spartacus outspritit Ballon / lose to Big George.

 

[Roland Rat]

Thor.

This is the one he wants. Paris-Roubaix. His entire season hinges on this race. He is wearing the rainbow stripes - when better to cross the line in the velodrome than when wearing the rainbow stripes? His failure in RVV was no surprise, he's never shone in Flanders. No-one is talking about him, everyone has written him off. Boonen and Cancellara will watch each-other and each-other alone. Perfect. He will rip out his earpiece and that of Hammond, and together they will smash the race.

This race is Thor's.

 

[maltiv]

If Ian Stannard doesn't burn himself out early on I reckon he can go well on Sunday, He reminds me of Magnus Backstedt - IE a big strong rouleur but maybe not to that level yet. He's doing well for a youngster though.

Depends on Sky tactics but they have so many good riders in that team for this race.

I think Sky will go crazy with the attacks on sunday. I think they should change their tactic a bit though and perhaps let EBH ride defensively (in case it comes together for a 10 man sprint or so). Still with Stannard, Hayman, Flecha and Thomas they have quite a lot of opportunities to make something happen.

 

[luckyboy]

Map + Cobbled Sectors

 

[Rocksteady]

Thor.

This is the one he wants. Paris-Roubaix. His entire season hinges on this race. He is wearing the rainbow stripes - when better to cross the line in the velodrome than when wearing the rainbow stripes? His failure in RVV was no surprise, he's never shone in Flanders. No-one is talking about him, everyone has written him off. Boonen and Cancellara will watch each-other and each-other alone. Perfect. He will rip out his earpiece and that of Hammond, and together they will smash the race.

This race is Thor's.

I vote Tyler for Garmin. He has been the strongest of the team this year. I would love to see Hincapie take this too, except I think he would probably havea heart attack and die on the finishline.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Boonen and Hushovd will be lots better than last sunday!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'll say it here again, watch Thomas if he doesn't have to work for Flecha all the time

 

[Tuarts]

Tyler being the strongest has more to do with the other 2 riders being ****e atm than him being good imo.

 

[Granville57]

And i dont like the dutch language.

That't the best part!!!

As for predictions:
If this year has been instructive at all, it's to expect the unexpected.
San Remo, Flanders...who made those picks for the top of the podium?!
I think it's very likely that we'll see some surprises, but I wold love to see Thor and his Rainbow Jersey cross the line first. He'll be gunnin' for it, and even though he wasn't at his best for Flanders, his strength had been on display plenty of times so far this season. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Fabian is obviously in the crosshairs, but just imagine if he had gone to BMC, as was rumored, before he landed at Le0pard. BMC looked extremely good at Flanders whereas Fabian has to do most of the work himself.

Whatever happens, it will be great. It's Paris-Roubaix!

Now where can I file a complaint about this lack of rain in the forecast?

 

[Echoes]

last year an exception.

Why should it be? Last year was awesome too. A clear hierarchy as always in Paris-Roubaix. Some editions might be more disappointing than others but in the end it's always the greatest race in the calendar.


And I agree with Beer Thirty (*** Tonk Time). I don't understand this fuss about the weather in Paris-Roubaix. I personally wish bad weather for races such as Paris-Tours or the Tour of Flanders. About Roubaix, I might contend with a hot sunny day, it's always great. I also remember this 2006 edition. Devolder atttacking on a section and getting out of a huge dust cloud. Wonderful to watch. A real muddy and rainy Paris-Roubaix would just be the cherry on the cake.