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

[TRDean]

Yeah and Boonen's playground

So very true!

 

[beer_thirty]

(cough Dr Ferrari cough cough).

Off to the clinic with you, please.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Whats with the personal attacks there fella...I watch plenty of cycling. Final results don't mean much depending on how much a rider was working for the team...and Tom has never been good in the hills...I recall he spent the day in a break earlier (E3 Prijs maybe?) And last year he was 13th in PR if I'm not mistaken...so sure I think he has a chance.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. I was actually just being sarcastic against theyoungest (whom I quoted and replied to - not you).

 

[TRDean]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. I was actually just being sarcastic against theyoungest (whom I quoted and replied to - not you).

Its cool...I just am a big fan of Skil...and I get emotional sometimes. Tom probably won't do great...but I will still be rooting for him. Maybe I was channeling my inner ACF??

 

[TeoSheva]

What about Eisel? can be a top5?

 

[masking_agent]

anyone know what time the race starts at ?

 

[Archibald]

anyone know what time the race starts at ?

10.50am if the schedule I have here is correct...

 

[Lanark]

What about Eisel? can be a top5?

Probably somewhere between place 11 and 15 is most realistic (in ideal circumstances a top-5 is always possible then of course, but not likely).

 

[masking_agent]

thanks. then that means one early morning approximately 5am for myself to watch the start. yikes !

 

[Archibald]

back to the weather... it is unexpectedly hot here (Belgium/Gent) no matter what they say and Sunday is supposed to be the hottest day of the week (with no rain forecast between now and then).

i expect to see dust clouds from here

O'Grady to sneak off in the heat again, while the rest all mark Spartacus?
would be great to see this happen!

 

[Archibald]

thanks. then that means one early morning approximately 5am for myself to watch the start. yikes !

our coach pulls out at 7am to get to the start

 

[Cobblestoned]

Boonen ready for Roubaix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYGyhe3OBik

 

[Flamin]

I go for 2008 revisited: a 3-man sprint with Boonen, Cancellara and Ballan. And the same outcome back then.

 

[mr. tibbs]

GET HYPE

 

[boomcie]

GET HYPE

Dear God. I can't f'ing wait for Sunday. That's what I hate about these weeks: the time inbetween Sundays. (Though Fleche will help to bridge a week soon)

 

[auscyclefan94]

the warmth will make Roubaix interesting. Maybe Spartacus won't like this.

 

[beer_thirty]

Dear God. I can't f'ing wait for Sunday. That's what I hate about these weeks: the time inbetween Sundays. (Though Fleche will help to bridge a week soon)

My God, seriously. The anticipation always just kills me the week between RVV and Roubaix. That first picture in the link is so iconic; single file in Arenberg. Wow. Most all of life is just waiting this week.

A little anecdote:
I'm from the US, and the National College basketball championships just finished; it's a HUGE event in the US... betting pools, everyone talking about it, the works. I'm so out of that loop, I didn't even know who was playing in the final.

HOWEVER, I can name damn near every stretch of cobbles, rattle off the palmares of all the top guys riding, and many of the not top guys, give an impromptu play by play of quite a few of the finals over the years. I couldn't watch an inning of baseball if you paid me, but I'll take time off work to watch semi-classics. I'm depressed when I'm riding and it's 70 and sunny, and in heaven when riding and it's rainy and chilly. How the hell this happened to me I do not know; I'm pretty much agnostic by nature, but I thank whatever powers there are in the universe that made out of me an honorary Belgian, and the month of April is when it all makes sense.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

GET HYPE

OK, this is perfect.
This is the definition of cycling.

 

[Cobblestoned]

GET HYPE

Ahhhhhhhhh

 

[BeachBum]

In honor of P-R I had mayo on my french fries last night-- my daughter thought I'd gone insane.

As far as the race may go-- somebody else mentioned heat and O'Grady. What if O'Grady covers a move, or makes a softening up attack, and gets out in front on a hot day? Would Cancellara launch his own attack to catch him?

 

[mr. tibbs]

In honor of P-R I had mayo on my french fries last night-- my daughter thought I'd gone insane.

As far as the race may go-- somebody else mentioned heat and O'Grady. What if O'Grady covers a move, or makes a softening up attack, and gets out in front on a hot day? Would Cancellara launch his own attack to catch him?

O'Grady off the front is tough. It could be a good possibility for the same reasons Chava off the front is good for QS. But if Stuey goes, I can see someone like Sylvain covering, and that probably won't end well for the Australian. (I don't think it would come down to a sprint if the move stays away.)

And considering Spartacus's past dominance and current form, Leopard can use Stuey to cover and chase b/c Cancellara is so strong that he basically starts every race with a bonus teammate up the road. I still can't believe last year. *shakes head

P.s.: Jaylew (not Barrus ) is handing out bans for fries and mayo, so watch yourself. >_>

 

[ansimi]

the warmth will make Roubaix interesting. Maybe Spartacus won't like this.

He's not good in heat and his team isn't even really strong as water carriers. He might have to attack early just so the team car will be able to keep him hydrated when he runs out of teammates.

I'm getting hyped. Keep the pictures coming

I've made it this far in life without trying mayo on anything and it sounds like a terrible thing to do to fries. I'll be watching the race early in the morning with lots of coffee. Maybe I'll make crepes or something for the occasion.

 

[Pirate]

SBS Paris-Roubaix doco

SBS Australia served up a nice teaser to the weekends coming attraction - a doco titled "Hell of the North". It's an in-depth look at Stuey's win from '07 featuring Cancellara, Hincapie, Riis, Hushovd and also some background on the event from Leblanc, Devlaeminck, Duclos-Lasalle and others. Well worth a look if you can get hold of a copy.

 

[User Guide]

predictable

Spartacus coasting in alone....Boonen,Hushovd,Thomas the tank engine battling for podium.
When I lived in Holland putting mayo on fries seemed last thing youd want to do, i know realise its the only thing to do.

 

[spalco]

SBS Australia served up a nice teaser to the weekends coming attraction - a doco titled "Hell of the North". It's an in-depth look at Stuey's win from '07 featuring Cancellara, Hincapie, Riis, Hushovd and also some background on the event from Leblanc, Devlaeminck, Duclos-Lasalle and others. Well worth a look if you can get hold of a copy.

This is the best documentary film preparation for Roubaix.