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

[L'arriviste]

You shouldn't take Boom's side of the story and repeat it as some sort of absolute truth without any regard for Flecha's version.

+1. Didn't see anyone else out there getting shirty with Flecha. Nice to see Boompje get past 200km yesterday though. Quite an achievement.

 

[theyoungest]

Boom is Dutch, Flecha is Spanish. Have you met D_T before?

Flecha has never made himself many friends in the classics, certainly not in Roubaix. Remember Hoste a few years ago?

(okay, Hoste is a whining *****, but he had every reason)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Boom pushed Flecha, how can Flecha give a better explanation why he did that than Boom himself?

+1

I only explained why Boom pushed Flecha. Period. No reason to go all @#%@#% on me

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

to be fair it is not like boom is denying why he pushed flecha, just explaining why. Really can't see why he'd lie.

flecha isn't the most popular guy in the peleton. But I suppose riding in an anglo-saxan team must mean he can't do any wrong.

Not supporting what boom did, but I really can't understand why he would lie.
He did the pushing, he knows why... but yeah I'm sure flecha has more insight into the mind of boom lol.

 

[hrotha]

Boom knows why he pushed Flecha. Doesn't mean he wasn't imagining things or getting too carried away in the heat of the moment. But yay nationalism!

 

[hatcher]

to be fair it is not like boom is denying why he pushed flecha, just explaining why. Really can't see why he'd lie.

flecha isn't the most popular guy in the peleton. But I suppose riding in an anglo-saxan team must mean he can't do any wrong.

Not supporting what boom did, but I really can't understand why he would lie.
He did the pushing, he knows why... but yeah I'm sure flecha has more insight into the mind of boom lol.

Problem is that

"Flecha was riding dangerously all day, pushing people out of position and not caring if it could cause any fall."

is stated as fact, not opinion. "In Boom's opinion" before that sentence would have been far more fair.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I thought it was pretty obvious that was Boom's opinion as the sentence above said it was what Boom explained on the Dutch TV

But apparently you read selectively

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Boom knows why he pushed Flecha. Doesn't mean he wasn't imagining things or getting too carried away in the heat of the moment. But yay nationalism!

yep logic is totally nationalism

like I said, boom made his statement, explained why he pushed him, even if he did imagine it, it was still on that basis. Not saying I support it, but that is why he pushed him. If it was for another reason I am sure he would have mentioned it. My point was he has no reason to lie, and he himself if the best source of understanding why the push occurred. But again, why not get flecha's take on Boom's mind.

 

[hrotha]

I thought it was pretty obvious that was Boom's opinion as the sentence above said it was what Boom explained on the Dutch TV

But apparently you read selectively

"Flecha learned that you don't mess with Boom"

Maybe sentences like that one made us think that it was your editorialized take on Boom's statements?

 

[sublimit]

Flecha finished in front of Boom anyway despite being completely stuffed.
Boom should shut his mouth and forget the handbag next time.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Flecha finished in front of Boom anyway despite being completely stuffed.
Boom should shut his mouth and forget the handbag next time.

To be fair, I assume flecha had higher expectation then beating Boom in a sprint. As for the handbag, dude Boom acted like a thug

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

"Flecha learned that you don't mess with Boom"

Maybe sentences like that one made us think that it was your editorialized take on Boom's statements?

You're right about that one.

Not judging on Flecha going straight to the peloton tho, I think that is necesarry for anyone wanting to win a cobbled race. You got to use your shoulders, hands and arms if you want to be in front. I'm just glad Boom is not one of those riders who easily lets themselves get pushed away

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Flecha finished in front of Boom anyway despite being completely stuffed.
Boom should shut his mouth and forget the handbag next time.

On one of the final cobbled strokes, Flecha dropped like a fly while Boom was still following. Says enough about who had more strength in this race. A sprint for 7th place says nothing to me.
You'd say Eisel is better than Hushovd too then? Hahaha

 

[Anonymous]

I was talking about him being a decisive factor, as clearly bolded in the quote, he didn't win but he was bloody decisive

MSR 2010? He was the decisive factor? Um, 25 riders contested the final sprint. If that is what you would consider "decisive," I suggest you look up the word "decisive" in the dictionary.

2010 RvV and P-R...um, I think Cancellara was the "decisive" factor in the race. Everyone else was decisively not "decisive."

 

[Jamsque]

On one of the final cobbled strokes, Flecha dropped like a fly while Boom was still following. Says enough about who had more strength in this race. A sprint for 7th place says nothing to me.
You'd say Eisel is better than Hushovd too then? Hahaha

I didn't see Boom marking any of Cancellara's attacks, or chasing with no help when he missed one. Do you really think Boom was stronger than Flecha?

 

[Anonymous]

When I zoomed right in on this it's not what I'd expect to see with a chain trapped up against the frame.

That don't look like no chain-suck to me...???

 

[El Pistolero]

MSR 2010? He was the decisive factor? Um, 25 riders contested the final sprint. If that is what you would consider "decisive," I suggest you look up the word "decisive" in the dictionary.

2010 RvV and P-R...um, I think Cancellara was the "decisive" factor in the race. Everyone else was decisively not "decisive."

Yeah, we saw what happened to Cancellara this year when he doesn't have someone pull for him from time to time like Boonen last year.

Clearly not decisive

 

[hrotha]

It's impossible to compare Boom and Flecha. Boom was dropped when he punctured so he didn't have to deal with the accelerations and therefore he had probably saved some energy by the time he and Leukemans got back when Cancellara stopped. On the other hand, without that puncture there's no telling where Boom would have finished.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

It's impossible to compare Boom and Flecha. Boom was dropped when he punctured so he didn't have to deal with the accelerations and therefore he had probably saved some energy by the time he and Leukemans got back when Cancellara stopped. On the other hand, without that puncture there's no telling where Boom would have finished.

yeah... on a whole I really don't think there was a lot of difference on the day.
I think flecha peaked a little early. He looked a lot better a few weeks and at omloop imo. But it was a good result for Boom, certainly some progress, and should end the 200+BOOOMMM! myth

 

[Escarabajo]

Haha, truth. He's very Schleck-esque, isn't he?

Chapeau Van Sum--that was one hell of a show he put on. I'm really glad he got the win. (But I have no idea how he's already able to sit in the saddle again.)

I think Cancellara would have won if he would have stuck to his original attack. Two or three more accellerations would have shelled Hushovd and Ballan, I think, and he was only 25 seconds back from the Van Sum group at that point.

I also think he would have won had Boonen survived Arenberg, b/c of the Belgian's penchant for driving the pace so hard over the stones. And when Canc attacked, Boonen would have gone with and worked with him.

Bummed about QS's terrible luck, but what can you do? PR is a dangerous mistress.

What a wonderful race! I can't believe we have to wait twelve months for the next edition.

+1.

I just don't understant why he stopped. He had the lead group on his view. He just needed 2-3 more accelerations to ride Hushovd off.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, we saw what happened to Cancellara this year when he doesn't have someone pull for him from time to time like Boonen last year.

Clearly not decisive

I wasn't aware that Boonen was pulling for Cancellara last year...someone better tell Lefevere because I think he will be p!ssed to know that happened...

It's also interesting to know that taking a pull now an then is the "decisive" factor in another rider blowing off the front like cruise missile. All these years riding, and I never knew that I could blow the race apart like that and never did it...man, think of the trophies and money I could have won...2x

 

[More Strides than Rides]

+1.

I just don't understant why he stopped. He had the lead group on his view. He just needed 2-3 more accelerations to ride Hushovd off.

He was tired? It's easy to forget that these are people-powered machines. Tactics are one thing, but it is a contest of fitness.

 

[boardhanger]

Johan Van Summeran's Garmin Race Data

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2011/04/11/data-johan-van-summerens-garmin-edge-500-data

 

[sublimit]

On one of the final cobbled strokes, Flecha dropped like a fly while Boom was still following. Says enough about who had more strength in this race. A sprint for 7th place says nothing to me.
You'd say Eisel is better than Hushovd too then? Hahaha

I bet you feel better for that.. Some people can care too much.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I didn't see Boom marking any of Cancellara's attacks, or chasing with no help when he missed one. Do you really think Boom was stronger than Flecha?

Then you watched with your eyes closed. The attack on Carrefour de L'Arbre from Cancellara was marked by Boom....

I also saw Boom leading in the forest of Arenberg and Flecha in 2nd position, where Flecha was unable to even hold the wheel of Boom and dropped back to the favorite group. I also saw Boom in the attack with the Vansummeren group and dropping out due to a flat tire which costed loads of energy.

Boom >>> Flecha this race