114th Paris-Roubaix - UCI World Tour (10/4-2016)

[doperhopper]

Re:

maybe sky is kicking themself. Their ex member win the monument. What a ride by hayman.

If he was still in SKY, he would be scientifically and marginally burnt to ashes long before the velodrome... to save Luke Rowe or someone.

 

[TMP402]

Anglos 1 and 3...

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

Matty white is saying haymen has two days of racing last six weeks after broken arm. Holy crap

Forget the traditional MSR, Harelbeke Ronde prep - the way to win Paris-Roubaix is not to ride in Feb or March and then take in a couple of spanish 1 day races

Finishing back with Betancur should be the go to lead up prep haha

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re:

It was telling that every single rider from that group tried to get away solo before the velodrome. None of them felt confident in the sprint as they were all cooked. They also knew that everyone else was cooked so were just hoping that their attack would be the one where the group hesitated just a bit too long.

Those last 5k were spectacular. The attacks were good, but the chasing was even better.

No games. No sandbagging. Just a do or die: chase or lose.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

maybe sky is kicking themself. Their ex member win the monument. What a ride by hayman.

If he was still in SKY, he would be scientifically and marginally burnt to ashes long before the velodrome... to save Luke Rowe or someone.

That did happen more than once. I remember Sean Kelly bemused at Sky having hayman on the front working for Hagen.

I still remember Kelly's line: 'Hagen may have better numbers in a lab, but the cobbles are not a lab'

 

[Billie]

Re:

nvrmind

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hayman broke his elbow in het Nieuwsblad. That makes this effort even more amazing

 

[mr. tibbs]

Re: Re:

Boonen is the moral winner.

Boonen lost the race when he had to chase back Hayman's only attack. Boonen was the best sprinter remaining, but he had no gas left in the tank. Hayman is moral winner.

Boonen had more in the sprint, but the final juncture threw a wrench into the positioning. When Vanmarcke and Stannard came up, Boonen's sprint lane disappeared.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

It was telling that every single rider from that group tried to get away solo before the velodrome. None of them felt confident in the sprint as they were all cooked. They also knew that everyone else was cooked so were just hoping that their attack would be the one where the group hesitated just a bit too long.

Those last 5k were spectacular. The attacks were good, but the chasing was even better.

No games. No sandbagging. Just a do or die: chase or lose.

Real racing. I'm still amazed that none of those attacks stuck.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

It was telling that every single rider from that group tried to get away solo before the velodrome. None of them felt confident in the sprint as they were all cooked. They also knew that everyone else was cooked so were just hoping that their attack would be the one where the group hesitated just a bit too long.

Those last 5k were spectacular. The attacks were good, but the chasing was even better.

No games. No sandbagging. Just a do or die: chase or lose.

Yes, that was noticeable and refreshing.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

WTF!!!!!!

This was racing of old. Action from km 0. Everyone did his best. All the front deserved the victory. Even Boasson Hagen.
Boonen is a hero. Best cobbled rider ever. Such a beast today.
Hayman!!! Matthew Hayman! Incredible ride. When was the last time where a rider won Paris - Roubaix from the early breakaway?
Erviti is a boss. Sieberg and Saramontins as well. Is really nice to see such reliables gregario doing such races.

Best Paris - Roubaix I've ever seen.

Now to the boring Ardennes...

There is a new standard in cycling. The Ardennes will be brutal too

 

[laurensde+]

Re: Re:

It was telling that every single rider from that group tried to get away solo before the velodrome. None of them felt confident in the sprint as they were all cooked. They also knew that everyone else was cooked so were just hoping that their attack would be the one where the group hesitated just a bit too long.

Those last 5k were spectacular. The attacks were good, but the chasing was even better.

No games. No sandbagging. Just a do or die: chase or lose.

Yeah, it was kinda last man standing at the end, and I'm not sure if I've ever seen three riders look so wasted on the podium.

 

[TMP402]

So Stannard skipped opening weekend for the first time and Hayman rode no cobbles after crashing in the opening weekend - new blueprint for a successful classics season.

Edit: and I should add, this might not be a good thing. Yes we just had an amazing race but we don't want the best cobbled riders skipping the best cobbled races that aren't RVV and PR.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Re: Re:

WTF!!!!!!

This was racing of old. Action from km 0. Everyone did his best. All the front deserved the victory. Even Boasson Hagen.
Boonen is a hero. Best cobbled rider ever. Such a beast today.
Hayman!!! Matthew Hayman! Incredible ride. When was the last time where a rider won Paris - Roubaix from the early breakaway?
Erviti is a boss. Sieberg and Saramontins as well. Is really nice to see such reliables gregario doing such races.

Best Paris - Roubaix I've ever seen.

Now to the boring Ardennes...

There is a new standard in cycling. The Ardennes will be brutal too

Haha right. The ol' soft pedal to a slow motion, uphill "sprint."

Should be amazing.

 

[Irondan]

Gotta give EBH credit, I didn't think he'd be there in the end but his result was well deserved.

 

[JRanton]

Re:

I don't blame Stannard for looking pretty down. If he'd saved his two attacks for 2-3km to go, I say he'd have had enough to stay away. If he'd not attacked at all and saved it for the sprint, I further assert he could have won the sprint. He'd still have been third at the very least.

Yeah, he isn't incredible on the cobbles but I think he was the strongest in the finale. Still, he'll have plenty more chances and he really needed to get a good result in a monument this year so it's not that bad for him!

 

[Saint Unix]

This is hands down the best race I've ever had the pleasure of watching. If you want to get someone interested in cycling, you better not show them this edition, because everything they watch after it will just be boring as hell.

A phenomenal win for Matt Hayman. Chapeau!

 

[Gloin22]

Re:

So Stannard skipped opening weekend for the first time and Hayman rode no cobbles after crashing in the opening weekend - new blueprint for a successful classics season.

Many big names skip Omloop, Cance has been doing for years. It just depends on rider.

 

[spalco]

Re: Re:

Boonen is the moral winner.

Boonen lost the race when he had to chase back Hayman's only attack. Boonen was the best sprinter remaining, but he had no gas left in the tank. Hayman is moral winner.

Boonen had more in the sprint, but the final juncture threw a wrench into the positioning. When Vanmarcke and Stannard came up, Boonen's sprint lane disappeared.

I disagree, he didn't seem to be closing in on Hayman on the last 10 meters, he just didn't have the speed anymore.

And I think the idea of a "moral winner" is *** stupid.

 

[Irondan]

Anytime Kristoff doesn't win is a great race!

 

[StephenC2020]

Re: Re:

I need Hayman's wtf face for my avatar

Thanks

 

[kwikki]

That was truly awesome racing. All the podium riders deserved to be there.

Bonus points to Hayman for having to be told he'd won

 

[GP Blanco]

What a race and what a cobbled season. I really hope the Ardennes riders saw this and will repeat it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Ardennes is going to be aids. I agree

 

[maltiv]

Re:

Gotta give EBH credit, I didn't think he'd be there in the end but his result was well deserved.

Finally a top 5 in a monument. After 2014 I completely gave up the idea of him ever winning one, but now it looks plausible again