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

[luckyboy]

Nobody works against their own team-mates. Well, nobody should.

 

[danjo007]

ever since FB chased and got into Evans break at TDF, and then demanded Evans get out of it so they wont be chased; i've hate him.
im happy every time the guy fails.
he's a prima donna who believes in his own hype.

 

[auscyclefan94]

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

So why would you chase a team mate who's in the lead? Garmin eventually did that which was odd.

 

[luckyboy]

If they were sitting on and didn't have team-mates up the road (like Pozzato always does), then that would obviously be worthy of all the criticism. But when the strongest guy doesn't have anyone in the break and you do, I don't know why you would work.

I must be missing something

 

[AntonioRossi]

are there any links for the recap of the race?
i read somewhere that someone bought the rights to the classics and so that is why there are no recaps on youtube

thanks a lot

 

[knewcleardaze]

are there any links for the recap of the race?
i read somewhere that someone bought the rights to the classics and so that is why there are no recaps on youtube

thanks a lot

This website has the race recap in blow by blow detail.

 

[fatandfast]

This website has the race recap in blow by blow detail.

the sbs.com.au has a good recap if you want some video

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just some general thoughts and questionsI have from yesterday.

- Why was Devolder, Thomas, Leukemans & Hoste caught so far back when going into and through Arenberg?
-Quickstep, I don't think I have ever seen such a disastrous race for a team. Chavanel has real panache to keep on riding and fighting on like he did. Chavanel today reminded me of Stage 3 TDF 2010.
-Lotto's break tatics were rather smart but they unfortunately didn't have the firepower to finish it off.
-Cancellara needs a new team.
-Flecha looked quite weak thorughout the race as he let quite a few wheels go in the finale of which Ballan and Hushovd had to chase back.
-Garmin's tatics were strange even though they won. Should of rode more like they did yesterday in Roubaix.
-Surprised that Hayman, Cooke and QUinziato were left behind when the split went though Quinziato was hit by a motorbike when trying to attack.
- Lars bak did too much work all day, he kept trying to attack way too early and was taking too many turns. He could of won today.
- Van summeren's win is great for cycling. A domestique for the likes of mcewen and evans over the years deserves a big win. He was screwed over big time when he was caught out by the crash of hushovd and flecha.
- BMC were a bit dissapointing though they Hincapie had to chase back hard from a mechanical right before Arenberg. Quinziato hit a motor bike which was in the way of the riders. Burghardt was also caught out with a puncture. I think Ballan deserved a podium along with thor as they were the two strongest along with cancellara.

 

[Bennyl]

I could not agree more; this really has to be looked at seriously. No way the motors should have the kind of impact on this race they seem to (and other races as well....). I realize TV is what makes it for people forking over the $$$ for the broadcast, but to get in the way of attacks, nearly bring people down, provide a draft for attacks, etc, is not acceptable. It's not the 70's any more for f***s sake.

that incident was very bad. I was spewing when it happened and would love to have seen what would've happened if the attack had not been stopped by thew camera crew... even a couple of minutes later I was still thinking about it as it was now or never at that stage for the favourites to move but sadly no. The motorbike should've ridden into the ditch to get out of the way.

 

[Escarabajo]

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:

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.)

I was dying to find out the results since this morning, but I did not want to spoil the TV Bradcast on Versus. But one of the big reasons was to find out if Leonardo Duque had become the first Colombian to ever finish the PR, which he was.

 

[luckyboy]

- Why was Devolder, Thomas, Leukemans & Hoste caught so far back when going into and through Arenberg?

Would've been more odd to see Devolder at the front.

-Quickstep, I don't think I have ever seen such a disastrous race for a team. Chavanel has real panache to keep on riding and fighting on like he did. Chavanel today reminded me of Stage 3 TDF 2010.

Yeah, QST today showed how much luck comes into it in these races. Sucks.

-Cancellara needs a new team.

He needs someone like a Quinziato, Maaskant,, Terpstra or Steegmans. Someone strong who can stay up there til the closing km's and can hold their own in a break like today's.

I think he would be a good fit at HTC. Obviously great for lead-outs/TTTs, and (as well as Bak did today) they have a good cobbled team but nobody who can really pull off a Roubaix or Ronde win under normal circumstances (Eisel is good, but not that good).

 

[Bennyl]

Just some general thoughts and questionsI have from yesterday.

- Why was Devolder, Thomas, Leukemans & Hoste caught so far back when going into and through Arenberg?
-Quickstep, I don't think I have ever seen such a disastrous race for a team. Chavanel has real panache to keep on riding and fighting on like he did. Chavanel today reminded me of Stage 3 TDF 2010.
-Lotto's break tatics were rather smart but they unfortunately didn't have the firepower to finish it off.
-Cancellara needs a new team.
-Flecha looked quite weak thorughout the race as he let quite a few wheels go in the finale of which Ballan and Hushovd had to chase back.
-Garmin's tatics were strange even though they won. Should of rode more like they did yesterday in Roubaix.
-Surprised that Hayman, Cooke and QUinziato were left behind when the split went though Quinziato was hit by a motorbike when trying to attack.
- Lars bak did too much work all day, he kept trying to attack way too early and was taking too many turns. He could of won today.
- Van summeren's win is great for cycling. A domestique for the likes of mcewen and evans over the years deserves a big win. He was screwed over big time when he was caught out by the crash of hushovd and flecha.
- BMC were a bit dissapointing though they Hincapie had to chase back hard from a mechanical right before Arenberg. Quinziato hit a motor bike which was in the way of the riders. Burghardt was also caught out with a puncture. I think Ballan deserved a podium along with thor as they were the two strongest along with cancellara.

i am a big fan of bmc (because of evans), but if Ballan wanted a podium he would've pulled and bridged the 20 second gap to the leaders and reset himself in the group until Cancellara moved again. So would've Hushvod. I notice that he said Quinziato was in the lead group so he couldn't. Rubbish I think. Quinziato was never going to win ahead of some the names in the leading 17 or so riders. He was mostly trying to slow down the group for Ballan, Hincapie and crew. (it was a great race by Quinziato, however)

I loved Ballan's race and think he was very strong and yes, in the top 3 riders for the day. But i think in hindsight, he should've pulled and bridged the gap when Fabian cracked it - which was fair enough since he bridged a minute by himself. So really I think Ballan deserved what he got. He had great legs, but didn't really go for the win (or podium) like he could've.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Did you know that Tjallingi (3rd) is a vegetarian?

 

[Ferminal]

Just some general thoughts and questionsI have from yesterday.

- Why was Devolder, Thomas, Leukemans & Hoste caught so far back when going into and through Arenberg?
-Quickstep, I don't think I have ever seen such a disastrous race for a team. Chavanel has real panache to keep on riding and fighting on like he did. Chavanel today reminded me of Stage 3 TDF 2010.
-Lotto's break tatics were rather smart but they unfortunately didn't have the firepower to finish it off.
-Cancellara needs a new team.
-Flecha looked quite weak thorughout the race as he let quite a few wheels go in the finale of which Ballan and Hushovd had to chase back.
-Garmin's tatics were strange even though they won. Should of rode more like they did yesterday in Roubaix.
-Surprised that Hayman, Cooke and QUinziato were left behind when the split went though Quinziato was hit by a motorbike when trying to attack.
- Lars bak did too much work all day, he kept trying to attack way too early and was taking too many turns. He could of won today.
- Van summeren's win is great for cycling. A domestique for the likes of mcewen and evans over the years deserves a big win. He was screwed over big time when he was caught out by the crash of hushovd and flecha.
- BMC were a bit dissapointing though they Hincapie had to chase back hard from a mechanical right before Arenberg. Quinziato hit a motor bike which was in the way of the riders. Burghardt was also caught out with a puncture. I think Ballan deserved a podium along with thor as they were the two strongest along with cancellara.

If Flecha didn't kill himself to hold onto Cancellara, Hushovd and Ballan may never have made it across. I don't think he recovered after that.

 

[jobiwan]

I was dying to find out the results since this morning, but I did not want to spoil the TV Bradcast on Versus. But one of the big reasons was to find out if Leonardo Duque had become the first Colombian to ever finish the PR, which he was.

Congrats to Duque, and I also enjoyed the VS broadcast because I finally got to see the last 35 km; but I don't know why they took a commercial break 5 KM from the FINISH!

 

[Maxiton]

I lost a lot of respect for Canc in Flanders and PR. Today complaining and having a go at the Garmin car was lucency. What does he expect? Guys from other teams to ride for him to win? He doesn't have a team. He's paying the price for that. He can't expect everyone to work with him. Fabian is becoming a one horse trick. He has one type of attack and thats it. Everyone knows what he's going to do. He needs a new game. At least with Riis he had some brains but today was just stupidity.

Bruyneel or Riis would never let one of their riders ride like Canc did today. No repect for the race or his fellow riders.

+1, if "Spartacus" continues his idiotic narcissistic behaviour towards his fellow riders, the peloton is going to continue punishing him. Keep making enemies, peloton can't make you win races, but sure as hell can make you lose them.

Great race by Van Someren, it is always great to see domestique riders getting wins like this one.

Overall, an amazing race!!

When you watch the race with a seeing-eye dog, does the dog bark at key moments to let you know what's going on? How does that work?

F-ing awesome ride by Summie, it was so beautiful

Hushovd got was coming for him, didn't want to work because of Summie-as if that was the reason , and he paid the price. No win at his obsession. Respect for the Canc for not riding into his own destruction

+1. Exactly.

He didn't complain. He just sat up and told them he wasn't dragging them any further. Hushovd was the one who got angry about it.

+1. And exactly again.

A great race and a great if somewhat surprising winner. A brilliant ride by Van Summeran. Cancellara was strongest but isolated again. My unsung heros of the day were Elminger, who was never off the front in the breakaway all day, Chavanel who after 2 bad crashes was just about to rejoin the main peloton when the big guns attacked, pity Chavanel & Boonen had such bad luck as they would have made a big difference. If Cancellara wants to win the monuments he needs a few strong team mates to cover the breaks and do some pulls when needed, until then the other teams will be happy to isolate him and sit on his wheel.

He definitely needs a better team. Such an extraordinary rider deserves his own team. Does he have a one year contract with Leopard, or two?

This thread has been the most entertaining thing I've read since . . . since PR last year!

 

[Wergeland]

Kurt Asle Arvesen rode 20kms withouuut a saddle. Video here: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_opvallend/1.1000639

 

[luckyboy]

Wow. Guess that's why he didn't finish in the time limit then, or did he just DNF? Cost me 5 CQ points!

It's always cool when we hear about the little stories that come out after the race.


Feels like Christmas has ended.

 

[Cimber]

Cancellara lost it cos his team was too weak.

According to Kim Andersen (DS of Leopard) part of the reason is that the team worked hard to keep things together in the beginning. Now if that is true its really awful tactics by the team. They were obviously afrad of a break going off so they would have to work, so they work hard to prevent that. What happens is that they burn out the team and a break goes away later on which means that the guys in the break are fresher towards the end. Bad tactics by the Leopard team imo.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

Tom Boonen says...

In 10 years at the Roubaix I’d never had a flat and before this edition I’d only fallen twice, in 2003 and 2009.

that's crazy! amazing.. watching a race it seems like everyone gets a flat twice per race, lol.

He definitely needs a better team. Such an extraordinary rider deserves his own team. Does he have a one year contract with Leopard, or two?

pleeeease god nooooo.. if Fabu had a really strong team just for him, the classics would be sooo boring. it's actually fun to watch these races when this swiss time machine of destruction has the odds against him..

 

[aahmadhu]

Tom Boonen says...

that's crazy! amazing.. watching a race it seems like everyone gets a flat twice per race, lol.

were u giving him a compliment or just saying he was talking total ********?

 

[Ferminal]

Kurt Asle Arvesen rode 20kms withouuut a saddle. Video here: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_opvallend/1.1000639

Cooke's Bike

http://twitpic.com/4jhgof

Was his second one, the first one got trashed in a crash and he also broke a cleat and was pedaling without the replacement shoe for a few kms.

 

[Roland Rat]

Happy for JvS, but the race really missed Geraint, Chavanel and Boonen in the last 25k.

 

[kukiniloa]

maybe this belongs in the Leopard Trek thread, but

here are the placings of Garmin-Cervelo and Leopard Trek, respectively:

(1) Shoomie
(8) Hushovd
(20) Vanmarcke
(23) Rasch
(28) Farrar
(49) Klier
DNF Hammond
DNF Haussler

(2) Cancellara
(94) Mortenson
DNF Klemme
DNF Nizzolo
HD OGrady
DNF Posthuma
DNF Stamsnijder
DNF Weylandt

FunnY! They really punted this race! I hope that their 4th place in Pais Vasco makes it worth it!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

boonen had some nasty luck.
I was pretty happy with how boom rode. He is making progress after all