2013, Paris - Roubaix: 254Km

[masking_agent]

As much as I'd like to Fabian solo win it. I am going to predict its a day for the domestiques as the favourites are once again going to overly mark each other and no one will want to "toe them" to the line. I would love to see Stijn Devolder or Jens Voigt , a rider from FDJ or Lotto run away with it though.

 

[sankaa]

What do people think about Kristoff? With his results this season he could be good for the podium, but he's never done anything in PR and it's a specialist's race.

On a good day, he can manage a top 10 if he is lucky. The difference between this race and the other he has done well in, is that in PR riders will come in to the finish in groups of 2-5 guys instead of a big bunch like in the flanders and I dont think he will be in the first, second or third group this time.

He has the ability to just hang on all the time and his stamina is a lot better this year, so things can happen.

Hope he proves me wrong, though, and makes the podium.

 

[doperhopper]

How about multiteam TTT against Motollara - as suggested by bonerless Lefevere, buy few skyborgs and cover everything ("Team Sky could be some sort of companion for us in the race." )?

 

[Orbit501]

Nope, based on horses for courses. ATMO Stannard or Hayman will be best placed of the Sky riders.

This is what I reckon too. Hayman especially has proper form and experience in this race.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Emmy-winning broadcast of the 1988 Paris-Roubaix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kQsJK81rZ4E

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Mens cobbles:

You may try and wheelsuck, but it will hurt anyway.

 

[jaylew]

because in the future when people try to search for this thread having a proper name will make it easier, simple as that

I'm sure the title "hell of the north" and the sticky status would be a dead giveaway, but ok.

Glad to hear, officially, this.

"Hushovd will share leadership with the American rider Tayor Phinney. Although the latter is just 22 years of age, he’s twice won the under 23 version of the race and was a fine fifteenth last year in his debut in the pro edition."

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...but-everything-is-possible.aspx#ixzz2PgUJHMWQ

And then there's this which sounds like he'll only fully ride for himself if Hushovd is out of the mix.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/phinney-insists-hushovd-is-bmc-leader

 

[infeXio]

In the spirit of tomorrow's, hopefully, great race, I thought I'd share a little teaser from a couple of years back - awesome video - contains some great slow motions video bits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QSpuhIQg1A

Thought it'd do it justice.

 

[trevim]

I'm sure the title "hell of the north" and the sticky status would be a dead giveaway, but ok.


And then there's this which sounds like he'll only fully ride for himself if Hushovd is out of the mix.

Bottom line: Phinney will ride for Phinney and rightly so Hushovd's showing on the cobbled races has been at least shameful.

 

[leftover pie]

i rode the paris-roubaix challenge today (which included all the cobble sections)

absolutely punishing.

my of how fast the pros do the cobbles sections has gone up immeasurably.

can't wait for tomorrow!

 

[Panda Claws]

I'm sure the title "hell of the north" and the sticky status would be a dead giveaway, but ok.

You might not remember that this particular year the Paris-Roubaix thread was called 'Hell of the North'.

It is not a big deal either way.

 

[jaylew]

Bottom line: Phinney will ride for Phinney and rightly so Hushovd's showing on the cobbled races has been at least shameful.

Doesn't sound like that's the bottom line at all no matter how much we might wish it was.

 

[jaylew]

You might not remember that this particular year the Paris-Roubaix thread was called 'Hell of the North'.

It is not a big deal either way.

yes, I named it. Agree with you that's its not a big deal.

 

[search]

Bottom line: Phinney will ride for Phinney and rightly so Hushovd's showing on the cobbled races has been at least shameful.

last year Hushovd was in aweful shape and still finished one place ahead of Phinney. I know, it was his first participation and generally it was a good result, but he still needs to prove he can fight for the podium in a race that long/hard, he was completely invisible in every single preparation race and he had to skip the Ronde with knee injuries just one week ago...

 

[serfla]

A cobbled pursuit Cancellara vs Phinney would be exceptionally entertaining.
Between one and two minutes for Taylor and twenty kilometers in solo ride before Cancellara gets off at, about, 30 - 40 k's to the velodrome.
That would be an epic pursuit.
With a strong symbolic message.

 

[Pentacycle]

Funny how Phinney's results on the cobbles somehow give him the right to be BMC's leader, while he's not been more impressive than Hushovd and some other possible leaders in his team.

Phinney:
78 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
46 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
41 Gent - Wevelgem
DNS Ronde van Vlaanderen

Hushovd:
77 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
DNF E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
17 Gent - Wevelgem
DNF Ronde van Vlaanderen

BMC have better options, or at least 2 riders who at least have some results so far:

GVA:
5 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
24 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
17 Gent - Wevelgem
7 Ronde van Vlaanderen

Oss:
47 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
3 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
52 Gent - Wevelgem
12 Ronde van Vlaanderen

Oss and GVA have had great shape so far this season, but of course PR doesn't suit them as much as it does for Phinney and Hushovd. However, if they perform it'll come out of nowhere, because they both haven't finished a race in two weeks as shown above.

 

[manafana]

careful guys GVA is not racing per some althou his twitter seems to think he will be racing.


Paolini could go well and suprise.

 

[trevim]

"Wesemann came in third and he had shared some of the work, but Flecha really profited from our work. We never talked about it, but he knows. You feel that during the race. I was the second best rider that day and only finished fourth. It was because of my own impetuosity," Leukemans said.

So, no team work at Vacansoleil it seems. Where are the news?
Anyway, Leukemans won't work with Flecha, Flecha won't work with Hushovd, Cancellara won't work with anybody, Hushovd won't work at all. Looking forward to this race!

 

[DenisMenchov]

Leukemans or Katusha rider (Paolini or Kristoff) FTW.

 

[manafana]

Leukemans or Katusha rider (Paolini or Kristoff) FTW.

Paolini is owed one by kristoff he led out at flanders so surely gets to give it his go this time

 

[Afrank]

last year Hushovd was in aweful shape and still finished one place ahead of Phinney. I know, it was his first participation and generally it was a good result, but he still needs to prove he can fight for the podium in a race that long/hard, he was completely invisible in every single preparation race and he had to skip the Ronde with knee injuries just one week ago...

IMO, giving him joint leadership with Hushovd is how he can prove himself. He'll never be able to deliver on his potential if he's not given the chance.

Also don't forget that he didn't show anything leading up to PR last year either and yet still in his first participation was 15th. And so far this year he did well in Qatar and Oman plus got a top 10 in MSR. From what I've seen his form seems much better than last year. I think he could definitely get a top 10, but I am really hoping to see him on the podium.

 

[Afrank]

Funny how Phinney's results on the cobbles somehow give him the right to be BMC's leader, while he's not been more impressive than Hushovd and some other possible leaders in his team.

Phinney:
78 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
46 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
41 Gent - Wevelgem
DNS Ronde van Vlaanderen

Hushovd:
77 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
DNF E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
17 Gent - Wevelgem
DNF Ronde van Vlaanderen

BMC have better options, or at least 2 riders who at least have some results so far:

GVA:
5 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
24 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
17 Gent - Wevelgem
7 Ronde van Vlaanderen

Oss:
47 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
3 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
52 Gent - Wevelgem
12 Ronde van Vlaanderen

Oss and GVA have had great shape so far this season, but of course PR doesn't suit them as much as it does for Phinney and Hushovd. However, if they perform it'll come out of nowhere, because they both haven't finished a race in two weeks as shown above.

But what have GVA and Oss ever done in Roubaix? Oss's best place in it was 60th, and GVA's best was 27th, Phinney has only competed once and did much better than either of them have ever done.
And like I said in my last post, Phinney didn't do anything last year leading up to the race either and was still 15th. And he's had much better results so far this year than last.

Edit: Thinking more about it, Phinney has shown he's not a rider that needs racing to get in good form. Just look a the Olympics, hadn't raced since the Giro and still came to the Olympics and got 4th in both the TT and RR.

 

[DenisMenchov]

When does the coverage start ? When are they expected to get to Arenberg?

 

[Afrank]

When does the coverage start ? When are they expected to get to Arenberg?

From cyclingfans
Race starts at 10:20am CET
(4:20am U.S. Eastern)

Finish at around 4:51pm CET
(10:51am U.S. Eastern)

Live video from *12:50pm CET
(*6:50am U.S. Eastern)

No idea about when they'll get to Arenberg.

 

[Big Doopie]

Phinney.

If he can hold cancellera's wheel he can beat him in a sprint.