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

[El Pistolero]

Well, I don't know about Hushovd, but I have yet to hear Flecha or Haussler claim they'd surely have been on the front of a race, making the calls and being decisive. But for Boonen, that's routine.

Yes, routine for being up there at all those P-Rs. He has been up there in the final ever since 2005 in every single edition. Every edition he did not wheelsuck and tried to set the pace. So he has every right to say the race would have been different if he was there. Hushovd and Ballan ride like losers and that's their result. Hushovd wouldn't have ridden differently if Johan wasn't there up front.

 

[Anonymous]

The race would have been different if Boonen was there. If someone asks him a question and he answers then there's no reason to throw your tampon on him at an online forum.

The race would have been different if a meteor would have landed on cobble section 17 just as the race passed. There is no reason for you to be slapping your willy around while thinking about my period simply because there are an infinite number of possibilities that would have changed the outcome.

 

[roundabout]

I'll give credit to Boonen. For a rider with a fast sprint he doesn't sit on wheels in the classics almost regardless of how good he is feeling.

 

[The Hitch]

Last time I checked GW was not a monument

Yeah I kind of made that clear with this bit

Well to be fair he won GW this year, and if your counting only monuments, well theres only 2 of those (stretching 3 if you count MSR)

Lots of people get 2nd, and everyone has to look up the races on Wikipedia to remember who they were.

Yeah, but my point was monuments are so hard to win, its not saying much about a rider if they go without one for a few years. The TDF theres 200 riders but being the strongest will get you the win if you leave it till the mountains. In Boonens monuments, being the strongest is at best a minor advantage.

Look at Canc. The strongest both weeks and no wins.


THere is so much else that goes into play and so many people going for it. A win is heavily against the odds every time, so going 0 for 4 even isnt a failure in my eyes.

 

[Havetts]

Plus Boonen is a 3 times winner of P-R already, guess he should be able to say something about that race.

But glad to see Boom being able to survive 200+ km's, seems he made that step now .

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah I kind of made that clear with this bit






Yeah, but my point was monuments are so hard to win, its not saying much about a rider if they go without one for a few years. The TDF theres 200 riders but being the strongest will get you the win if you leave it till the mountains. In Boonens monuments, being the strongest is at best a minor advantage.

Look at Canc. The strongest both weeks and no wins.


THere is so much else that goes into play and so many people going for it. A win is heavily against the odds every time, so going 0 for 4 even isnt a failure in my eyes.

And my point was that if someone is going to place themselves as the decisive factor IF they shoulda' woulda' coulda' been there, then it might be more effective if it hadn't been 2 years since they won won of the monuments.

 

[Granville57]

Just got back from a ride, and Versus coverage of Paris-Roubaix starts in 15 minutes. I think I'll watch.

But just to follow-up on this morning's musings:

Random riders to watch, out of curiosity:

Robbie McEwen (Radio Shack)
Fumiyuki Beppu (Radio Shack)
Steven Cozza (Team Netapp)
Leonardo Duque (Cofidis)

Without a doubt, and honorable mention has to go to:

4th place, Grégory Rast (Swi) Team RadioShack
Boy, that would've spoiled a lot of parties had they pulled that off.

But just to follow up on my original watch list (I just had to include George )

42 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:04:46

48 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Team RadioShack 0:09:16

54 Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis 0:10:10

71 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Team RadioShack 0:12:58

DNF Steven Cozza (USA) Team Netapp
(He was joined by nearly half the riders from the start list.)

 

[Anonymous]

Plus Boonen is a 3 times winner of P-R already, guess he should be able to say something about that race.

But glad to see Boom being able to survive 200+ km's, seems he made that step now .

Yea "I had a bad day, congratulations to the winner" comes to mind. "The whole thing would have ended differently if I didn't have bad luck because I would have been the decisive factor" is a different case to me. I don't have a problem with fans pontificating about things, but the rider needs to shut the F up and deal with the fact that every race he ever rides would have been different if _______________had/hadn't happened.

 

[Havetts]

Yea "I had a bad day, congratulations to the winner" comes to mind. "The whole thing would have ended differently if I didn't have bad luck because I would have been the decisive factor" is a different case to me. I don't have a problem with fans pontificating about things, but the rider needs to shut the F up and deal with the fact that every race he ever rides would have been different if _______________had/hadn't happened.

You are right, maybe he shouldve said that, but Boonen is Boonen and thats how he is . Can't deny that something else wouldve happened, but I don't doubt that he's happy for JvS.

 

[Anonymous]

You are right, maybe he shouldve said that, but Boonen is Boonen and thats how he is . Can't deny that something else wouldve happened, but I don't doubt that he's happy for JvS.

I am sure he probably is, and I would not have an issue (I was hoping he would be there for the betterment of the race) had he said just that.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yea "I had a bad day, congratulations to the winner" comes to mind. "The whole thing would have ended differently if I didn't have bad luck because I would have been the decisive factor" is a different case to me. I don't have a problem with fans pontificating about things, but the rider needs to shut the F up and deal with the fact that every race he ever rides would have been different if _______________had/hadn't happened.

He congratulated the winner in that interview. But hey, if you only want to read one part and ignore the rest please do.

 

[Anonymous]

He congratulated the winner in that interview. But hey, if you only want to read one part and ignore the rest please do.

I read what was available. I don't have The Belgian News Channel, and I have yet to see what you say he said in writing...so unless you figure I can remote view with my mind, I stand by what I said.

 

[Anonymous]

He congratulated the winner in that interview. But hey, if you only want to read one part and ignore the rest please do.

Hey, do you realize that if your mom were a man, your dad would be gay? It would have changed everything. Hell, if Boonen didn't like the nose candy, his Wikipedia entry would look different too. Dang, the world of infinite possibilities is fun to play with.

 

[El Pistolero]

I read what was available. I don't have The Belgian News Channel, and I have yet to see what you say he said in writing...so unless you figure I can remote view with my mind, I stand by what I said.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/vide...aix_2011/MG_Parijs-Roubaix_reacties/1.1000693

The interviewer basically asks him what would've happened if he was there.

Now stop wasting your time trolling and use it to learn Dutch instead.

 

[hrotha]

I had never noticed but boy does Boonen have silly ears.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/vide...aix_2011/MG_Parijs-Roubaix_reacties/1.1000693

The interviewer basically asks him what would've happened if he was there.

Now stop wasting your time trolling and use it to learn Dutch instead.

Hey, do you realize that if I were born Dutch, I could understand that perfectly? Man, this game is fun!

 

[Anonymous]

I had never noticed but boy does Boonen have silly ears.

The only thing I understand about that interview is that he has freaky ears.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Also a late "chapeau" to John Degenkolb.

22 years old, 19th place at first Roubaix, and youngest rider in Top30
Sad he had some bad luck in final, when he lost contact with leading group because a rider crashed in front of him.

Anyway, he says: "Paris-Roubaix ist geil !"
http://www.johndegenkolb.de/

 

[auscyclefan94]

Poor quinziato was hit by a motorbike when he attacked from his group. That was a shame for him as he would of gotten a big result.

 

[auscyclefan94]

According to Phil Liggett Andre Greipel is Australian! Also, the Carrefour d'labre is now the forest d'labre.

 

[greenedge]

mitchell docker did well i thought. Hopefully in a few yrs he can go well maybe at greenedge?. Don't get how Degenkolb ended up so far behind. Bmc raced ok i suppose. Hats off to Garmin and especially Johan. Unlucky for a few riders crashing. Katusha had their riders disappear like flies. Leopard need to help Cancellara more.

Find it amazing that Johan proposed to his girlfriend after and she accepted.

 

[Parrulo]

I had never noticed but boy does Boonen have silly ears.

hahaha indeed. he looks like an elf (legolas from the lord of the rings comes to mind)

also right a guy who won P-R 3 times and RVV 2 times and looked to be strong during his chase back to the main group before some1 crashed and took him down has no right to say that if he hadn't been taken out, the race would have prolly been a bit different. . . .

boonen hasn't won a monument in 2 years but he races to win and isn't afraid of attacking even tho he could wait for the last 100 meters and out sprint most of them. there is a reason why he still is the rider with the most cobbled monuments in activity.

anyway you are just trolling so meh

 

[luckyboy]

boonen hasn't won a monument in 2 years but he races to win and isn't afraid of attacking even tho he could wait for the last 100 meters and out sprint most of them. there is a reason why he still is the rider with the most cobbled monuments in activity.

Yeah I don't see how saying he hasn't won a monument in two years is proof of them not being a big factor. Hushovd, Flecha, Haussler has never won a monument + Pozzato has never won a cobbled one but they're still talked about as being in contention.

Cancellara hasn't won a monument for a year.

 

[Velo Dude]

Thor moved out from behind Cancellaras wheel. He's not going to suck wheels ALL the way

I don't understand not helping at all. Those guys cared more about making sure Cancellara lost than about winning themselves. That's nuts.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Yeah I don't see how saying he hasn't won a monument in two years is proof of them not being a big factor. Hushovd, Flecha, Haussler has never won a monument + Pozzato has never won a cobbled one but they're still talked about as being in contention.

Cancellara hasn't won a monument for a year.

Well, Hushovd has been on the podium at P-R twice and he's the current WC.