2014 Paris-Roubaix, 257 Km's, Sunday April 13th (1.UWT)

[gospina]

?? He's got the power. Maybe not the best guy to win a fight for wheels though.

I thought the same thing. He did ok in Flanders, dropped out with 30km to go, but so did most of the field at that point. Very young to be doing this race too, in his 1st pro career. He had said in an interview last year he wanted to try it.

 

[Tournesol]

I'm finding the whole Wiggins Roubaix chat mildly ridiculous,not even in the hunt,even the most ardent fan would be ecstatic with a top 10.

 

[jsem94]

I can't believe CN and others are hyping Wiggo for PR so much. It's pure click-bait for anglophones.

 

[The Hitch]

The extra publicity is working in UK. The BBC has live 'radio' coverage on their digital channel 5Live Sports Extra from 1pm local time. Perfect for me as I will be in my car.

I saw in the Standard - **** paper I know, they had a bit about all the things to look forward to this weekend in sport. There were about 10 events from 6 different sports. Paris Roubaix was not on it.

 

[The Hitch]

I think 2010 showed that GC contenders aren't as useless on the cobbles as one might expect.

Cast your mind back to stage 3 of the TDF in 2010: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2010/stage-3/results

Ok if Canc hadn't been chaperoning baby schleck he could've stormed off but you've got the more robust GC guys right up there Evans/Hesjedal/Wiggins/Vino/Menchov and even Schleck/Contador/VDB.

I don't see any big reason why someone with the physique of Vino/Menchov/Evans and importantly Wiggins couldn't be competitive in PR. It's just we never see it because none of them want to get injured.

You can't base that on 1 stage - far shorter than Roubaix, that went over the cobbles in 2010.

First of all the cobbles guys go on peak for the cobbles. Its a month peak, generally the top guys are on form already in Oman.

In July they are all on minor peaks or not even at the Tour, while the GC guys are on their major peaks. Of course the gc guys did better. They were the ones who cared.

If you look at the top guys from PR that year what they did at the Tour stage

Canc - could have won by 5 minutes, domestiquing for Schleck
Hushovd- staying with Canc knowing he would win sprint
Flecha - domming for Wiggins
Hammond- Not there
Boonen - not there
Leukmans - not there
Pozzato - not there

Of course the gc guys did well. They were the ones with their teams working for them and they were the ones who cared.

in Paris Roubaix, 50k of cobbles, 250k total, when these guys are on form, and they race like that, your Menchovs and Evans are not going to ever be in the hunt. Could they finish in respectable groups 3 minutes down - maybe, but there's no point in doing that.

 

[The Hitch]

A strong team is always good in PR should something happen say before Arenberg. But if Cancellara is in top form he will be a key factor at the business end regardless of Devo imo. Disregarding bad luck as well of course.

OPQS have a ****ing good team. They can (though RVV showed they are too dumb maybe) start sending people up from 80k out and an isolated Canc is going to struggle with that.

Lets not forget what happened last time Canc was defending PR

 

[DenisMenchov]

It' OPQS race to lose.

 

[helium2]

It's EBH's race to lose

 

[analogue17]

Last time that was stated he won the double the year after. All the stuff with his wife losing their baby naturally plays a factor this year. He will be back with a vengance next year.

I guess he lacks motivation vastly. In young age he could sprint, go in breakaways, win in a different manner. Today he can hardly turn his mind to northern classic and even this doesn't work every year.

 

[Klubban]

Kristoff looked incredibly strong in RVV last week. Very curious to see what he can do today. A strong Paolini will be important for Kristoff

EBH to look great with 30k to go, then the usual fade.

My bet for winning: Vanmarcke. Just hope he plays it smarter in the end than last year.

 

[ILovecycling]

Hard to believe,but its OPQS race to lose.I dont want to underestimate Kwia,but i dont think he can win one of the ardennes,so omega needs! to win this.

Terpstra ftw.

 

[VeloHuman]

Hard to believe,but its OPQS race to lose.I dont want to underestimate Kwia,but i dont think he can win one of the ardennes,so omega needs! to win this.

Terpstra ftw.

If they want to win, Stybar and Terpstra need to be aggressive. Vandenbergh isn't going to beat anyone in this race, and if they all just stay together, they will be on the defensive rather than setting the tone.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Vandenbergh could win it the Vansummeren way; but those odds are really small

 

[Flamin]

If they want to win, Stybar and Terpstra need to be aggressive. Vandenbergh isn't going to beat anyone in this race, and if they all just stay together, they will be on the defensive rather than setting the tone.

How often does PR end in a sprint? If Vandenbergh is up the road in a select group without Canc, Vanmarcke,..., good luck trying to follow him on Carrefour.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

OPQS have a ****ing good team. They can (though RVV showed they are too dumb maybe) start sending people up from 80k out and an isolated Canc is going to struggle with that.

Lets not forget what happened last time Canc was defending PR

The pace is usually so high in PR that sending people up the road mid race is easier said than done. Even without Devo, the team can't be as weak as in '11. Besides I think Cancellara is smarter tactically these days.

Also Vanmarcke is not a wheelsucker. Him and Cancalerra will likely help each other until the business end.

And then we have incidents along the road.....

 

[Flamin]

Also Vanmarcke is not a wheelsucker. Him and Cancalerra will likely help each other until the business end.....

True, although I reckon Vanmarcke won't be so eager anymore. Did it twice, got beaten twice.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Its a shame indeed they only seem to use him as a filler for the classics so far

He has done fairly well though so far, considering the races, hopefully he will not get injured now and will soon get a chance to race in some stageraces instead.

true but you people should not forget he's no nairo quintana. he's completley different rider, characteristics and he's also build way more heavy. he's a classical rider and a true puncher and as long as no pressure is involved and he feels ok there3's no problem with spreading his horizon.

 

[Lexman]

Attack of 8 riders including Senechal

 

[Lexman]

Senechal caught, some others try..

 

[Dazed and Confused]

True, although I reckon Vanmarcke won't be so eager anymore. Did it twice, got beaten twice.

His approach seems very good to me. He lacks a bit of experience at the absolute end of the race, but that will come.

 

[Lexman]

All together, fast pace...

 

[Lexman]

After 23km De Haes, Jarrier, Murphy, De Troyer, Boucher, Schillinger, Kolar & Koretzky have 20"

 

[jens_attacks]

seems like they're flying. i remember last year with no breakaway and devil pace

what hour the first live images pls? my eurosport doesn't broadcast any cycling classics

 

[jens_attacks]

sometimes i wonder if some of us will live another muddy roubaix...i don't think so, especially us in the 20-30 years category of course we might get snowy sanremo's on the other hand.

stupid weather

 

[manafana]

we will all be on anti depressants once this is all over come 4pm.