2015 Paris - Roubaix, 12th April 1.UWT, 253.5 Km

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Sep's breakfast:

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Sep's breakfast:

Ahh. I see. He went with the Cruchy Nut Corn lumps then .

 

[sir fly]

I'm glad to see more vivid forum than the last weekend.
I hope no one in the race will end with broken bones, just dreams.
My pick is Vanmarcke.
Sagan is cracking under the pressure and the race hasn't even started yet (just read the article).

 

[SeriousSam]

You're right, it does sound like Sagan is close to a nervous meltdown.

 

[sir fly]

Re:

You're right, it does sound like Sagan is close to a nervous meltdown.

I'm sympathizing with him 'cause I'm feeling the straw that's braking the camel's back is certain gentleman and not the race itself.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Riders in the nine man group:Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing)
Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge)
Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling)
Pierre-Luc Perichon (Bretange-Seche)
Tim Declercq (Topsport-Vlaanderen)
Frederik Backaert (Wanty Groupe Gobert)
Ralf Matzka (Bora Argon 18).

 

[Felice Gimondi]

Even if they fear Kristoffs sprinting and endurance capabilities, it would be nice to see teams attacking from far out. Today's scenario is not new to anyone and in many previous cases the talk has been just that, come race day they all take turns in towing the likes of Kristoff to the finale where it might be to late to challenge him.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The guy negotiated a pay package around EUR3-4M (wild azz guess) , so naturally pressure comes along.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Riders in the nine man group:Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing)
Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge)
Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling)
Pierre-Luc Perichon (Bretange-Seche)
Tim Declercq (Topsport-Vlaanderen)
Frederik Backaert (Wanty Groupe Gobert)
Ralf Matzka (Bora Argon 18).

You forgot De Bie. Sütterlin has joined now as well. Edit: Or has not made it completely yet (?)
Not a bad group.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Re: Re:

Riders in the nine man group:Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing)
Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge)
Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling)
Pierre-Luc Perichon (Bretange-Seche)
Tim Declercq (Topsport-Vlaanderen)
Frederik Backaert (Wanty Groupe Gobert)
Ralf Matzka (Bora Argon 18).

You forgot eDe Bie. Sütterlin has joined now as well.
Not a bad group.

I just copied it from cyclingnews live text.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

According to the live text Wiggins got dropped in crosswinds, but got back on. If he does that all day, he'll never win.

 

[thequestionmark]

Etixx, Katusha, Sky, Lotto-Jumbo, Giant, Tinkov all without a rider in the breakaway.

However Lotto Soudal are again represented in the break. I hope they will animate the race.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

I seem to remember Saramotins in a break at P-R before. I will have to try and check.

EDIT: He was in the break in 2012.

 

[Beacon Hill]

Here it is ... my favourite day of the whole cycling year

Degenkolb i think will win today. Hopefully a decent farewell from Wiggins and fingers crossed for the usual strong man kamikaze attack from Gaudin.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Just watching footage of last year's race. Do we know whether the paths next to the main cobbled sections are blocked off, or will they be able to ride on smooth paths next to the Carrefour de l'Arbre again?

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Just watching footage of last year's race. Do we know whether the paths next to the main cobbled sections are blocked off, or will they be able to ride on smooth paths next to the Carrefour de l'Arbre again?

There were some footages of the mechanization plowing the Arenberg roadside. Maybe it's just for the barriers.
They've probably processed the Carrefour the same way.

 

[ILovecycling]

Duhh Stybar and Wiggins on the tail in crosswinds,what the heck?

 

[reallystupid]

Re:

Riders in the nine man group:Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing)
Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge)
Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling)
Pierre-Luc Perichon (Bretange-Seche)
Tim Declercq (Topsport-Vlaanderen)
Frederik Backaert (Wanty Groupe Gobert)
Ralf Matzka (Bora Argon 18).

It's like Sky are incapable of learning their lessons from past classics failure. Stick someone in the break and make someone else do the work for a change for Christ's sake.

Not that I think that getting someone in the break would guarantee them a win, but just that it's surely time they try something else because what they've been doing is crap.

 

[Yingge]

Re:

Just watching footage of last year's race. Do we know whether the paths next to the main cobbled sections are blocked off, or will they be able to ride on smooth paths next to the Carrefour de l'Arbre again?

Having been to Arenburg 3 years ago, the West side is ploughed, and no spectators allowed on that side. The barriers are on the footpath on the East side, but very close to the cobbles. Anyone seeking to ride the narrow smooth strip risks hitting the feet of the barriers.

 

[trevim]

Re: Re:

Riders in the nine man group:Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing)
Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge)
Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling)
Pierre-Luc Perichon (Bretange-Seche)
Tim Declercq (Topsport-Vlaanderen)
Frederik Backaert (Wanty Groupe Gobert)
Ralf Matzka (Bora Argon 18).

It's like Sky are incapable of learning their lessons from past classics failure. Stick someone in the break and make someone else do the work for a change for Christ's sake.

They don't have to do anything, Ettix, Saxo and BMC aren't in the break either.

 

[thequestionmark]

Eurosport live coverage starts.

 

[rainman]

Thank God its not CK.

 

[Carols]

Oh crap....NBCSports streaming is up and it is Phil & Paul They are even worse then Kirby......

 

[The Hitch]

Thought I'd watch a replay of the greatest PR ever while I wait.

Watching it again, I decided that now that Canc's glory days are over and he isn't in the race, Sep Vanmarke deserves a PR win. I'll be cheering for him, though there's plenty who I won't mind see win.

 

[happytramp]

Ah, the grand national of bike races. Fallers from the very first fence. .