- Apr 12, 2009
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- Apr 12, 2009
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People tend to forget that PR and RvV are very different races. A lot of riders are good at both of them, but actually they require a different skill set.
- Mar 10, 2009
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I don't know what to think about it, but German Eurosport mentioned Greipel has his eyes set on Paris-Roubaix. He was quite strong in RVV, so the form is there.
- Mar 17, 2012
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Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
I think that it will be open this year, very open.
Thomas and Vanmarcke will want to rise from ashes after Ronde, Terpstra will want drop Kristoff this time in his attack, Then there's Sagan, Avarmaet, Boom, Stybar, Degenkolb, hell even Greipel and others, and all of them are basically on very comparable level.
From all this, actually, I think Kristoff is most likely not to finish in front group. He was very good in Ronde, but I don't think what he shown was not that different compared to last year. In poker terminology, he hasn't have the best hand, but others played their hands so bad, that his hand seemed to be the strongest in the end.
All the others mentioned seemed to be in good shape to in Ronde, Sagan physical and event mental condition seems to be getting better with every race, Greipel showed something that really surprised me, I even actually would like to win the race with what he shown, Degenkolb, Boom did well too, Vanmarcke just wasn't at the right time in the right place, but that might and might not repeat in PR, Avarmaet is quite good too, Stybar will just follow anyone and Thomas, after ronde, hopefully nobody will be that stupid to leave everything to him like ronde, because the result would be obvious. They would all race only for fourth place, with Kristoff, Degenkolb and Greipel in the mix.
I think that it will be open this year, very open.
Thomas and Vanmarcke will want to rise from ashes after Ronde, Terpstra will want drop Kristoff this time in his attack, Then there's Sagan, Avarmaet, Boom, Stybar, Degenkolb, hell even Greipel and others, and all of them are basically on very comparable level.
From all this, actually, I think Kristoff is most likely not to finish in front group. He was very good in Ronde, but I don't think what he shown was not that different compared to last year. In poker terminology, he hasn't have the best hand, but others played their hands so bad, that his hand seemed to be the strongest in the end.
All the others mentioned seemed to be in good shape to in Ronde, Sagan physical and event mental condition seems to be getting better with every race, Greipel showed something that really surprised me, I even actually would like to win the race with what he shown, Degenkolb, Boom did well too, Vanmarcke just wasn't at the right time in the right place, but that might and might not repeat in PR, Avarmaet is quite good too, Stybar will just follow anyone and Thomas, after ronde, hopefully nobody will be that stupid to leave everything to him like ronde, because the result would be obvious. They would all race only for fourth place, with Kristoff, Degenkolb and Greipel in the mix.
Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
Or Rast, Stuyven, Rolston... Other than Quickstep, name a "TEAM" that has been stronger then RLT/TFR? Those guys did their jobs to a tee, wearing people down and controlling the pace (along with QS) until Fabin was ready to launch.
nepetalactone said:
Or Rast, Stuyven, Rolston... Other than Quickstep, name a "TEAM" that has been stronger then RLT/TFR? Those guys did their jobs to a tee, wearing people down and controlling the pace (along with QS) until Fabin was ready to launch.
PR doesn't really suits Kristoff, as he said during an interview last Sun, after the podium.
Maybe just hiding? Don't know. What it is certain is that he is currently in top form and his confidence sky high, which sometimes is all it takes to make a difference at that level.
I'll definitely put Sagan on my list. He seemed in pretty good form on Sun. He's got the legs, he's got the riding skills. He must find again the winning mindset.
And Van Avermaet. He is 100% a contender for Sun.
Maybe just hiding? Don't know. What it is certain is that he is currently in top form and his confidence sky high, which sometimes is all it takes to make a difference at that level.
I'll definitely put Sagan on my list. He seemed in pretty good form on Sun. He's got the legs, he's got the riding skills. He must find again the winning mindset.
And Van Avermaet. He is 100% a contender for Sun.
- Mar 17, 2012
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Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
I don't think Kristoff was just trying to shed some eyes from him regarding P-R. As I stated earlier, his performance from sunday didn't suggest that he was in much better shape compared to last year. Last year he was fifth in Ronde and had he believed in himself, he might have stayed on fabians wheel too. This year, the race was less demanding compared to last year and also he was given 30s headstart both on kwaremont and paterberg due to stupidness. Had the race been tougher and he started the kwaremont with others and he would stay with them with ease like he seemed with terpstra, only that would allow us to see, if he really is in such a super form eveybody is telling.
With all this, his true shape is a mystery and nothing(Kristoff himself including) says, that he should be a factor in P-R. Same as last year, perfect performance in Ronde and than in P-R nothing special.
I don't think Kristoff was just trying to shed some eyes from him regarding P-R. As I stated earlier, his performance from sunday didn't suggest that he was in much better shape compared to last year. Last year he was fifth in Ronde and had he believed in himself, he might have stayed on fabians wheel too. This year, the race was less demanding compared to last year and also he was given 30s headstart both on kwaremont and paterberg due to stupidness. Had the race been tougher and he started the kwaremont with others and he would stay with them with ease like he seemed with terpstra, only that would allow us to see, if he really is in such a super form eveybody is telling.
With all this, his true shape is a mystery and nothing(Kristoff himself including) says, that he should be a factor in P-R. Same as last year, perfect performance in Ronde and than in P-R nothing special.
- Oct 23, 2011
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Gilbert also said Huy was too hard for him before he set a record ascent time on the Mur de Huy in 2011 
Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
Kristoff punctured and crashed in and after Arenberg last year, and DNF. So we have never really seen Kristoff in this kind of form in Paris - Roubaix. But it's no doubt that in the past years RvV has been his favourite race of the two.
tomorrow said:
Kristoff punctured and crashed in and after Arenberg last year, and DNF. So we have never really seen Kristoff in this kind of form in Paris - Roubaix. But it's no doubt that in the past years RvV has been his favourite race of the two.
- Mar 17, 2012
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Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
Ok I wasn't aware of this, or just have forgotten, still, on sunday, it could be borefest till carrefour or it could be very exciting race. It depends only on the riders, and I hope they will make the race already from arenberg, since nobody will want to have Kristoff, Degenkolb and Greipel with them and they won't just leave it to bots. We saw how that work out in Ronde.
Balleballe said:
Ok I wasn't aware of this, or just have forgotten, still, on sunday, it could be borefest till carrefour or it could be very exciting race. It depends only on the riders, and I hope they will make the race already from arenberg, since nobody will want to have Kristoff, Degenkolb and Greipel with them and they won't just leave it to bots. We saw how that work out in Ronde.
- Sep 2, 2011
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Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
Kristoff looked like the strongest rider in the race to me.
Wether this is enough to be at the top in PR is obviously debatable. But he's better than last year, no question.
After the Kwaremont gap was at 15 seconds and Thomas had to basically finish himself to do that.tomorrow said:
Kristoff looked like the strongest rider in the race to me.
Wether this is enough to be at the top in PR is obviously debatable. But he's better than last year, no question.
- May 25, 2010
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Re:
True, Gilbert of 2011 was a 'special' kind of Gilbert. Never has he been close to that lvl again.
Maybe Kristoff is special as well.
Maaaaaaaarten said:Gilbert also said Huy was too hard for him before he set a record ascent time on the Mur de Huy in 2011
True, Gilbert of 2011 was a 'special' kind of Gilbert. Never has he been close to that lvl again.
Maybe Kristoff is special as well.
- Mar 17, 2012
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Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
the gap was not 15s after Kwaremont, but was 15s during Kwaremont when Thomas attacked, BMC was riding same pace as kristoff with terpstra, and by the time they reached summit, they brought Thomas and Stybar back.
Kristoff looked ok during kwaremont, they question is, how he would look like, had he been togheter with others on the bottom of kwaremont and sagan with avarmaet would join thomas and stybar during the attack. Sagan and Avarmaet looked to me like they could continue with the attack opposing to thomas. By the way, the hardness of the race can be seen on times on last kwaremont and paterberg. Sagans and Kristoffs time on kwaremont were both only 5s slower then cancellara's in 2013 and sagan's time on pater was same as cancellara's in 2013. No way, they would be able to do that with proper racing before the last lap.
EDIT: just to add, I am not saying, that kristoff would/wouldn't be able to follow, just only that only in this occassion we would be able to tell he was really "such a beast" many are saying. To me, he has same shape as last year, cause he hadn't been made to show more than last year and only he knows how much reserve did he have.
SafeBet said:
the gap was not 15s after Kwaremont, but was 15s during Kwaremont when Thomas attacked, BMC was riding same pace as kristoff with terpstra, and by the time they reached summit, they brought Thomas and Stybar back.
Kristoff looked ok during kwaremont, they question is, how he would look like, had he been togheter with others on the bottom of kwaremont and sagan with avarmaet would join thomas and stybar during the attack. Sagan and Avarmaet looked to me like they could continue with the attack opposing to thomas. By the way, the hardness of the race can be seen on times on last kwaremont and paterberg. Sagans and Kristoffs time on kwaremont were both only 5s slower then cancellara's in 2013 and sagan's time on pater was same as cancellara's in 2013. No way, they would be able to do that with proper racing before the last lap.
EDIT: just to add, I am not saying, that kristoff would/wouldn't be able to follow, just only that only in this occassion we would be able to tell he was really "such a beast" many are saying. To me, he has same shape as last year, cause he hadn't been made to show more than last year and only he knows how much reserve did he have.
- Apr 5, 2015
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Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
Well, Kristoff has indicated that it was kind of a confidence thing that made him not try harder to follow on the Kwaremount last year. Not saying he could have anyways, but he seems to think himself that he might have botched a little bit with his tactics there.. And as GVA this year, he DID seem strong in the end last year.
And he himself has also said that he isn`t much better than last year, just a tiny little bit (I suppose from testing in training), but that extra 0,5-1% better (or whatever), might just make a world of difference.
Apparently that has been the case with him for the last few years.. He tests just a little bit better from year to year, which indicates to me that he isn`t a "special" version of himself as Gilbert might or might not have been in 2011.. I don`t see Kristoff wininning L-B-L, ever.. Can`t see him even considering starting that race...
All of this translated to PR this year though: I`m surprised he is the odds favourite to win. Only 9th as his best finish, though he did look good until Arenberg last year. I just can`t see him among top 2-3 favourites. The favourites for me are Stybar & Thomas. But he most def is in that next group of riders that could win it on the day with some luck. Boom, Terpstra, Vanmarcke, Wiggins(!), Degenkolb, Sagan seems the obvious other candidates.
Flamin said:
Well, Kristoff has indicated that it was kind of a confidence thing that made him not try harder to follow on the Kwaremount last year. Not saying he could have anyways, but he seems to think himself that he might have botched a little bit with his tactics there.. And as GVA this year, he DID seem strong in the end last year.
And he himself has also said that he isn`t much better than last year, just a tiny little bit (I suppose from testing in training), but that extra 0,5-1% better (or whatever), might just make a world of difference.
Apparently that has been the case with him for the last few years.. He tests just a little bit better from year to year, which indicates to me that he isn`t a "special" version of himself as Gilbert might or might not have been in 2011.. I don`t see Kristoff wininning L-B-L, ever.. Can`t see him even considering starting that race...
All of this translated to PR this year though: I`m surprised he is the odds favourite to win. Only 9th as his best finish, though he did look good until Arenberg last year. I just can`t see him among top 2-3 favourites. The favourites for me are Stybar & Thomas. But he most def is in that next group of riders that could win it on the day with some luck. Boom, Terpstra, Vanmarcke, Wiggins(!), Degenkolb, Sagan seems the obvious other candidates.
- Apr 12, 2009
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Vanmarcke was shite last weekend because of 2 things:
1)RvV course these days doesn't really suit him
2) His team asked him to race conservative. Not to attack before the last 25k. Sep has no idea how to do this.
1)RvV course these days doesn't really suit him
2) His team asked him to race conservative. Not to attack before the last 25k. Sep has no idea how to do this.
Re: Paris - Roubaix 12th April 1.UWT
Vanmarcke's form perplexes me. One month ago I thought he would be clearly the man to beat in Paris-Roubaix, even before Cancellara came out. But then he went from being a beast in Strade Bianche, to pretty good in E3 Harelbeke, to questionable in G-W, to poor in Flanders.
I hope he can turn it around this weekend but it's not looking good.
Vanmarcke's form perplexes me. One month ago I thought he would be clearly the man to beat in Paris-Roubaix, even before Cancellara came out. But then he went from being a beast in Strade Bianche, to pretty good in E3 Harelbeke, to questionable in G-W, to poor in Flanders.
I hope he can turn it around this weekend but it's not looking good.
*****Kristoff
**** Terpstra, Stybar, GVA, Boom, Sagan
*** Pozzato, Greipel, Degenkolb, Vanmarcke, Thomas
** Oss, Chavanel, Haussler, Trentin, Stijn, Roelandts, Stannard, Wiggins, Langeveld
Don't know the rest of the startlist so a bit hard. I think Pozzato will take it, his riding style is so elegant and he seems to be in form, the hills at RVV were probably just too hard for him.
Pozzato
Stybar
GVA
Of course for CQ purposes I'd hope that Trentin wins, followed by Sagan/Stybar/Boom/Stannard.
**** Terpstra, Stybar, GVA, Boom, Sagan
*** Pozzato, Greipel, Degenkolb, Vanmarcke, Thomas
** Oss, Chavanel, Haussler, Trentin, Stijn, Roelandts, Stannard, Wiggins, Langeveld
Don't know the rest of the startlist so a bit hard. I think Pozzato will take it, his riding style is so elegant and he seems to be in form, the hills at RVV were probably just too hard for him.
Pozzato
Stybar
GVA
Of course for CQ purposes I'd hope that Trentin wins, followed by Sagan/Stybar/Boom/Stannard.
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