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

[The Barb]

Re:

time for Boom to shine all that back luck in Flanders has got turn for him here and he should be in the final selection.

Agree. He will be amongst the strongest and just needs a little luck to win. Rain would've helped but can't ask for everything.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

I'll root for Vanmarcke, he's a true flandrien and it'll be a good race if he wins

He's too good to not win Flanders or Roubaix at least once in his career. Two things keep him from winning: he doesn't have a sprint and he doesn't have a team.

Regarding the sprint, he can always attack. Roubaix is such a weird race that I always have hope that he can find some good timing to place a deadly attack. Not likely, not easy but not impossible.

About his team, probably only Wynants, Tjallingii, Wagner and Teunissen are decent at this level. I would try to put any of them in the breakaway otherwise I fear Sep will be isolated right after Arenberg.

Yes, without bad luck he will certainly finish close, but winning is so hard. His name would look good on the victory list!

This is his greatest problem imo - Not his team or a lack of a sprint....he always seems to have bad luck.

 

[hfer07]

I don't know why but I have a strange feeling that Sagan is going to achieve the double....

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Looking forward to reading the live ticker for this and tuning in for the last 10 or so km to see the sprint

You're so sure it's gonna be boring and end in a sprint? Why? Because it isn't raining?

 

[yespatterns]

Re: Re:

The last 4 hours of Roubaix offer pretty much no recovery. You're either on the pave or racing for position ahead of the next set of pave. I just don't think Sagan can be at his explosive best in that situation. Cancellara can and has done many times in the past.[/quote

Especially for Sagan, who is such a good descender he can gain time in these recovery periods. It's also worth noting that, while Sagan is a decent bike handler, he's comparatively inexperienced on the distinctive and difficult pave of Roubaix (especially in the mud).

*****Cancellara
****Vanmarcke, Stybar
***Sagan, Kristoff, Boom, Terpstra
**Stannard, Rowe, Boonen
*Roelandts, Keukeliere[/quote]

Sagan is a "decent" bike handler? C'mon buddy.

 

[jens_attacks]

Any pics with the cobbles right now?

Fabian ftw

Think lars boom will do great

 

[Hakkapelit]

Guarnieri out due to sickness.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Why do people think Vanmarcke doesn't have a sprint?

 

[Alexandre B.]

 

[gerundium]

Re:

Any pics with the cobbles right now?

Fabian ftw

Think lars boom will do great

Not of today, but this was Arenberg yesterday during the day:

Can't imagine it being completely dry today. It's still going to be slippery i think.

 

[VanBsr]

Last race for Popovych

 

[Wallenquist]

Today is also Paris Roubaix Juniors, 111km, 28,9 of cobbles. Juniors will face last 16 sectors from elite race. If you are intersted, you can read my preview here: http://cyclingu19.blogspot.com/2016/04/paris-roubaix-juniors-2016-preview.html

Race starts at 11:15

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm interested to see how the Danish kids will do in the Junior Race, been doing pretty well in recent years.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I'm interested to see how the Danish kids will do in the Junior Race, been doing pretty well in recent years.

Thats maybe a little understatement there, we love the JANTELOV

 

[Wallenquist]

Re:

I'm interested to see how the Danish kids will do in the Junior Race, been doing pretty well in recent years.

They bring their best possible team. Each of them can win but they are not the top favorites with Philipsen and French guys on start

 

[Andro]

Does anyone know when the race is estimated to end? I can't watch until 16.00 and I hope I won't miss the action.

 

[Flamin]

Sad day. Good weather and the classics season ends.

Anyway, go Sep. And please no bloody flat tyres this year.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

it's unfortunate the weather today. the cobbles will be dry soon

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

it's unfortunate the weather today. the cobbles will be dry soon

It rained all night. There will be dry parts, wet parts and slippery parts. And no one is used to these conditions in a race. I expect carnage.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re: Re:

it's unfortunate the weather today. the cobbles will be dry soon

It rained all night. There will be dry parts, wet parts and slippery parts. And no one is used to these conditions in a race. I expect carnage.

when the sun is shining, roads will dry up in a few hours. this isn't italy where roads stay wet for weeks

 

[hrotha]

And even if they didn't dry up, slightly slippery isn't gloriously muddy. :\

 

[Bushman]

Re:

Why do people think Vanmarcke doesn't have a sprint?

Because every other contender (except for Terpstra perhaps) seems to have a better sprint.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Even the start line is cobbled! That's not one of the numbered sectors is it?

 

[jens_attacks]

Yes it's very sad...there will be some mud but too little, it will dry

 

[Scarponi]

They were bouncing pretty hard on those early cobbles haha