115th Paris-Roubaix 2017 - April 9, 257k

[DirtyWorks]

Strange race. Did not have the feeling like anyone could really drop anyone on the cobbles. It's that GVA, Langeveld and Stybar got away on the asphalt that made the decision. They in turn were stronger than the others they were with on the carrefour.

I'm glad GVA won. Stybar wheelsucking as always didn't deserve ****. Super happy Langeveld got 3rd, I was afraid it was thrown away when Moscon and Stuyven returned.

It was reported the event was mostly a tailwind.

Fair point on Stybar. Stybar just couldn't keep it together long enough on the track and GvA could. That last 50m doesn't seem that long ~250m out.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

He was in a horrible position when Sagan, Bodnar, Oss and Stuyven were in front and in my opinion, that could have been the winning move. Instead, Sagan punctured giving GvA a dream scenario with a teammate in front (who was stronger than his companion) and carte blanche to do nothing.

Instead, every time the favorite group split, Sagan had to close all the gaps and burn a lot of matches. Nevertheless, GvA managed to let Sagan get away another time and put himself into a winning position just to puncture again!

At the same time, Trek-Segafredo demonstrated complete and utter horrible tactical imbecility and chose to put Stuyven in front, which gave Degenkolb an alibi not to work and try to catch the GvA front group. But how stupid can you be to do this? It was by no means an advantage to have Stuyven up there as he was clearly never going to win and prevented Degenkolb from being in contention.

And when are the others going to mark GvA a little bit? Why always Sagan? Cycling isn't fair, I guess.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm bitter, and no, GvA was not lucky (but clearly the strongest) in the finishing kilometres - but I think he was inferior to Sagan who rode like a beast until his second puncture. It's hugely frustrating that they didn't get the chance to face off.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Sagan just gave up after the second puncture. He was tremendously unlucky in having punctured right after his attacks

The second attack I'm not so sure about, seemed strange timing to try to cross a relatively big gap - especially when he could have leaned on Quickstep to chase a bit at the time.

But he made it and it wound up being the winning move.

Yeah, that's true, but I think it only ended up being the winning move because he wasn't it. Sagan being in a group completely changes the dynamics - I doubt GVA and Stybar were going to help to close down Oss/drop Boonen if they were dragging Sagan along with them.

 

[Irondan]

I miss Fabian.... :sad:

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Sagan just gave up after the second puncture. He was tremendously unlucky in having punctured right after his attacks

Yeah, i have to agree, the timing of his punctures was really, really hard on him. The first move he did was absolutely the right tactic imo as well; personally I doubt that it would have stuck until the finish, but it made sense to use a team-mate to do something useful while he was still there, and also to pressure other riders who had relatively recently had to chase back on. Looks like he's trying to do something before getting played in the final 10km or the sprint, which is a step in the right direction. The second attack I'm not so sure about, seemed strange timing to try to cross a relatively big gap - especially when he could have leaned on Quickstep to chase a bit at the time.

What? Stybar was in front of him, remember? So he kind of had to close that gap. And it looked so good, when nobody answered.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Sagan just gave up after the second puncture. He was tremendously unlucky in having punctured right after his attacks

Yeah, i have to agree, the timing of his punctures was really, really hard on him. The first move he did was absolutely the right tactic imo as well; personally I doubt that it would have stuck until the finish, but it made sense to use a team-mate to do something useful while he was still there, and also to pressure other riders who had relatively recently had to chase back on. Looks like he's trying to do something before getting played in the final 10km or the sprint, which is a step in the right direction. The second attack I'm not so sure about, seemed strange timing to try to cross a relatively big gap - especially when he could have leaned on Quickstep to chase a bit at the time.

What? Stybar was in front of him, remember? So he kind of had to close that gap. And it looked so good, when nobody answered.

I think we might be talking about a different attack. i mean when he tried to close the gap to the five riders - before the one were Stybar went.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Re: Re:

Langeveld did what he had to to achieve the maximum possible result in this case. Yeah, he could have pokered for more, and then most likely would have finished 5th.

Very, very likely. His last couple of digs weren't very big.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

He was in a horrible position when Sagan, Bodnar, Oss and Stuyven were in front and in my opinion, that could have been the winning move. Instead, Sagan punctured giving GvA a dream scenario with a teammate in front (who was stronger than his companion) and carte blanche to do nothing.

Instead, every time the favorite group split, Sagan had to close all the gaps and burn a lot of matches. Nevertheless, GvA managed to let Sagan get away another time and put himself into a winning position just to puncture again!

At the same time, Trek-Segafredo demonstrated complete and utter horrible tactical imbecility and chose to put Stuyven in front, which gave Degenkolb an alibi not to work and try to catch the GvA front group. But how stupid can you be to do this? It was by no means an advantage to have Stuyven up there as he was clearly never going to win and prevented Degenkolb from being in contention.

And when are the others going to mark GvA a little bit? Why always Sagan? Cycling isn't fair, I guess.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm bitter, and no, GvA was not lucky (but clearly the strongest) in the finishing kilometres - but I think he was inferior to Sagan who rode like a beast until his second puncture. It's hugely frustrating that they didn't get the chance to face off.

This... even when he punctured, he had the help of motorbikes and the peloton slowed down after arenberg, after that all the stars alligned to his win

 

[Gigs_98]

The finale of this race really was a letdown after it has been absolutely incredible from 80 k's on. Especially GVA as a winner is meh. It's not like I dislike him and he surely deserves this win, but I think he kind of is a boring rider. Not because he is a negative racer, no, he is often very aggressive, a very smart racer and nobody that wins in a bunch sprint, but he just always wins in the same way and at some point it's just not surprising anymore. All the classics he enters feel kind of predictable because you can be sure at a point between 40 and 20 kilometers he will join a group, the group will be the crucial break and he will win in a sprint against a few riders. That was the case in the Omloop, in Harelbeke and in GW and it probably would have been the case in the Ronde if Sagan hadn't crashed. It's not really his fault but usually there is always someone I'd prefer as the winner.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

He was in a horrible position when Sagan, Bodnar, Oss and Stuyven were in front and in my opinion, that could have been the winning move. Instead, Sagan punctured giving GvA a dream scenario with a teammate in front (who was stronger than his companion) and carte blanche to do nothing.

Instead, every time the favorite group split, Sagan had to close all the gaps and burn a lot of matches. Nevertheless, GvA managed to let Sagan get away another time and put himself into a winning position just to puncture again!

At the same time, Trek-Segafredo demonstrated complete and utter horrible tactical imbecility and chose to put Stuyven in front, which gave Degenkolb an alibi not to work and try to catch the GvA front group. But how stupid can you be to do this? It was by no means an advantage to have Stuyven up there as he was clearly never going to win and prevented Degenkolb from being in contention.

And when are the others going to mark GvA a little bit? Why always Sagan? Cycling isn't fair, I guess.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm bitter, and no, GvA was not lucky (but clearly the strongest) in the finishing kilometres - but I think he was inferior to Sagan who rode like a beast until his second puncture. It's hugely frustrating that they didn't get the chance to face off.

Did Trek hold Degenkolb to follow Van Avermaet's wheel?! He jumped from his group, why he didn't follow? It was his own fault, Trek did alright tactically. BMC also had a man up front, and it worked for them.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

He was in a horrible position when Sagan, Bodnar, Oss and Stuyven were in front and in my opinion, that could have been the winning move. Instead, Sagan punctured giving GvA a dream scenario with a teammate in front (who was stronger than his companion) and carte blanche to do nothing.

Instead, every time the favorite group split, Sagan had to close all the gaps and burn a lot of matches. Nevertheless, GvA managed to let Sagan get away another time and put himself into a winning position just to puncture again!

At the same time, Trek-Segafredo demonstrated complete and utter horrible tactical imbecility and chose to put Stuyven in front, which gave Degenkolb an alibi not to work and try to catch the GvA front group. But how stupid can you be to do this? It was by no means an advantage to have Stuyven up there as he was clearly never going to win and prevented Degenkolb from being in contention.

And when are the others going to mark GvA a little bit? Why always Sagan? Cycling isn't fair, I guess.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm bitter, and no, GvA was not lucky (but clearly the strongest) in the finishing kilometres - but I think he was inferior to Sagan who rode like a beast until his second puncture. It's hugely frustrating that they didn't get the chance to face off.

Did Trek hold Degenkolb to follow Van Avermaet's wheel?! He jumped from his group, why he didn't follow? It was his own fault, Trek did alright tactically. BMC also had a man up front, and it worked for them.

But afterwards, before the Carrefour, they were just 15 seconds behind or something with a big group containing a lot of Trek riders. It was a big mistake not to chase there and close the gap.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, that was fun!

Why were they in such a hurry?

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

He was in a horrible position when Sagan, Bodnar, Oss and Stuyven were in front and in my opinion, that could have been the winning move. Instead, Sagan punctured giving GvA a dream scenario with a teammate in front (who was stronger than his companion) and carte blanche to do nothing.

Instead, every time the favorite group split, Sagan had to close all the gaps and burn a lot of matches. Nevertheless, GvA managed to let Sagan get away another time and put himself into a winning position just to puncture again!

At the same time, Trek-Segafredo demonstrated complete and utter horrible tactical imbecility and chose to put Stuyven in front, which gave Degenkolb an alibi not to work and try to catch the GvA front group. But how stupid can you be to do this? It was by no means an advantage to have Stuyven up there as he was clearly never going to win and prevented Degenkolb from being in contention.

And when are the others going to mark GvA a little bit? Why always Sagan? Cycling isn't fair, I guess.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm bitter, and no, GvA was not lucky (but clearly the strongest) in the finishing kilometres - but I think he was inferior to Sagan who rode like a beast until his second puncture. It's hugely frustrating that they didn't get the chance to face off.

Pretty sure GVA was in that group

 

[DirtyWorks]

Re: Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

The dumb luck factor is the best part of bike racing. It's why the classics are so great.

It's impossible to know why some of those things happen. It's still humans going incredibly fast over very difficult terrain for hours despite having former winners talking in their ear. Meanwhile, pre-race plans that probably fell apart less than half-way through the event.

I love your enthusiasm.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Ridiculous luck for GvA today. After his re-entering of the peloton after Arenberg, of course.

He was in a horrible position when Sagan, Bodnar, Oss and Stuyven were in front and in my opinion, that could have been the winning move. Instead, Sagan punctured giving GvA a dream scenario with a teammate in front (who was stronger than his companion) and carte blanche to do nothing.

Instead, every time the favorite group split, Sagan had to close all the gaps and burn a lot of matches. Nevertheless, GvA managed to let Sagan get away another time and put himself into a winning position just to puncture again!

At the same time, Trek-Segafredo demonstrated complete and utter horrible tactical imbecility and chose to put Stuyven in front, which gave Degenkolb an alibi not to work and try to catch the GvA front group. But how stupid can you be to do this? It was by no means an advantage to have Stuyven up there as he was clearly never going to win and prevented Degenkolb from being in contention.

And when are the others going to mark GvA a little bit? Why always Sagan? Cycling isn't fair, I guess.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm bitter, and no, GvA was not lucky (but clearly the strongest) in the finishing kilometres - but I think he was inferior to Sagan who rode like a beast until his second puncture. It's hugely frustrating that they didn't get the chance to face off.

Did Trek hold Degenkolb to follow Van Avermaet's wheel?! He jumped from his group, why he didn't follow? It was his own fault, Trek did alright tactically. BMC also had a man up front, and it worked for them.

If I remember correctly GVA attacked after Sagan so you are right, Degenkolb still had a chance to suck GVA's wheel. Especially considering there was another BMC rider in front it was clear that the race would most likely be over if GVA manages to join that group. But I think the bigger mistake Trek made was to still use Stuyven as a rider to mark moves so Degenkolb could sit back. The problem was that Stuyven already was in the break which formed with 80 kilometers to go, so ofc he was dropped by fresh riders. Stuyven should have been used as a typical domestique for degenkolb who could either close gaps or extend the lead of their group.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Re:

Well, that was fun!

Why were they in such a hurry?

Well played, sir.

 

[Jancouver]

Moscon messed it up for Stybar when he attacked right away when they caught the trio. Perhaps, that’s what Sbyby deserved for not working with them. I'm not blaming him, but perhaps, a little bit of karma for him. Kind of boring edition IMO.

 

[Echoes]

I cannot help rejoicing at seeing haters hating but then they would say it's trolling. Nobody deserves more a big classic than Greg but he wins the greatest of them all, the one that was least suited to him. On top of the World now. Everything that comes afterwards would be bonus. He has a place within the Belgian greats. He's a real hard worker, an aggressive rider, low-profile and humble. Never anything to get attention. He's winning everything under the sun and each time he wins they would say he was lucky. You can get lucky once, not six times in 9 months, period

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Well, that was fun!

Why were they in such a hurry?

Well played, sir.

Sir?

 

[yaco]

The finale of this race really was a letdown after it has been absolutely incredible from 80 k's on. Especially GVA as a winner is meh. It's not like I dislike him and he surely deserves this win, but I think he kind of is a boring rider. Not because he is a negative racer, no, he is often very aggressive, a very smart racer and nobody that wins in a bunch sprint, but he just always wins in the same way and at some point it's just not surprising anymore. All the classics he enters feel kind of predictable because you can be sure at a point between 40 and 20 kilometers he will join a group, the group will be the crucial break and he will win in a sprint against a few riders. That was the case in the Omloop, in Harelbeke and in GW and it probably would have been the case in the Ronde if Sagan hadn't crashed. It's not really his fault but usually there is always someone I'd prefer as the winner.

You are always negative - It was an interesting race made more so by the inordinate amount of mechanicals which affected the favorites - You finish with 3 riders who were in a group of 6 who rode flat chat for the last 30kms - Do you expect the riders to sit up and wait for the peleton ?

 

[alspacka]

But afterwards, before the Carrefour, they were just 15 seconds behind or something with a big group containing a lot of Trek riders. It was a big mistake not to chase there and close the gap.

Have to agree. A large group of maybe 30 riders consolidated and were literally freewheeling losing time to a severely depleted Daniel Oss, 20km out and 20 seconds behind. Not a pretty sight imo.

 

[hokicz]

Um. Not sure why Styby gets negative comments for not working in the last breakaway.

I mean - did GvA contributed when Oss was in front? (with all the respect for his own effort to get back before) As far as I remember he did only when he faced attacks from other leaders. Yet that was the part, when Styby was for the long kms the only one to left for his own leader. And he worked hard.

When things changed and he was in front, with Boonen tearing the group behind and trying to close the gap, why to blame Styby he took his time-out? Yes, having a teammate behind is bit different from in front, but still it is a card you can play. Especially when it is your captain in the last race of his career.

I do generally not like wheelsucking, but this time I think it is more team tactics then the rider's own decision or philosophy. Styby is a member of QS that often plays too many cards (and a lot of fans wish him to leave), but he can work hard too when it is needed. The things are not that black and white, that is my opinion.

 

[KGB]

I missed Cancellara there today.Very boring edition.Stybar failed very bad after all how things was set up.

 

[KGB]

Re:

Um. Not sure why Styby gets negative comments for not working in the last breakaway.

I mean - did GvA contributed when Oss was in front? (with all the respect for his own effort to get back before) As far as I remember he did only when he faced attacks from other leaders. Yet that was the part, when Styby was for the long kms the only one to left for his own leader. And he worked hard.

When things changed and he was in front, with Boonen tearing the group behind and trying to close the gap, why to blame Styby he took his time-out? Yes, having a teammate behind is bit different from in front, but still it is a card you can play. Especially when it is your captain in the last race of his career.

I do generally not like wheelsucking, but this time I think it is more team tactics then the rider's own decision or philosophy. Styby is a member of QS that often plays too many cards (and a lot of fans wish him to leave), but he can work hard too when it is needed. The things are not that black and white, that is my opinion.

Stybar played perfectly but *** up end.

 

[Echoes]

Re:

I mean - did GvA contributed when Oss was in front? (with all the respect for his own effort to get back before) As far as I remember he did only when he faced attacks from other leaders. Yet that was the part, when Styby was for the long kms the only one to left for his own leader. And he worked hard.

Indeed he countered attacks while he didn't have to. Quick Step gave Styby weird team orders. Styby had as many chance to outsprint Greg than Boonen to outsprint Degenkolb if not more. Fortuantely, everything ended the way it should.