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

[shalgo]

Re:

To celebrate Styby's awesomeness and hopefully his Paris-Roubaix win, after 6 long years I have decided to change my avatar.

Sorry Cipo! ... but dont worry, you will always be near my heart!

So that's who it is. I thought it was some hockey player from the '50s.

 

[the sceptic]

hopefully a Wiggo DNF early so the circle jerk love fest in the cycling media can finally end.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

To celebrate Styby's awesomeness and hopefully his Paris-Roubaix win, after 6 long years I have decided to change my avatar.

Sorry Cipo! ... but dont worry, you will always be near my heart!

So that's who it is. I thought it was some hockey player from the '50s.

 

[DirtyWorks]

The frequently useful velowire.com has the list of 2015 sectors and where they are.

http://www.velowire.com/article/918/en/ ... north.html

130KM things get progressively harder topping off with the Arenberg sector at 158KM.
What makes Arenberg difficult is the sectors before. Yes, it's a brutal, sort-of downhill sector done at an incredible speed. But riders have to make the selection over some pretty tough sectors.

190KM things get progressively harder again until about 205KM.
The race should be sorted out by 205KM.

One more set of progressive cobbles ending with Carrefour de l'Arbre at 236KM.
Carrefour de l'Arbre might add some drama, but I doubt it.

 

[SafeBet]

**** Stybar
*** Kristoff, Terpstra, Boom
** Thomas, Degenkolb, GVA, Pippo, Vanmarcke, Sagan
* Wiggo, Benoot, Demare, Chava, Oss, Greipel, Leukemans, Vanderbergh

 

[manafana]

PR just so special, Boom is one who got to mind considering how well flanders went for him

 

[kanari]

***** Terpstra
**** Boom, Stybar
*** Degenkolb, Kristoff, Vanmarcke
** Van Avermaet, Sagan, Thomas
* Greipel, Gaudin many others

 

[Alexandre B.]

Always interesting

 

[Sasquatch]

***** Terpstra
**** Boom, Stybar, Kristoff
*** Wiggins, Degenkolb, Sagan
** VanMarcke, Greipel, Van Avermaet, Thomas, Demare
* Gaudin, Pozzato, Oss, Devolder, Stannard, Vandenbergh, Benoot, Haussler etc

 

[Volderke]

djee. 2 stars for Vanmarcke. Guy with the biggest engine and only one of few able to rip the field apart and to keep going...(ever saw that from Stybar?)
I will smile if he shakes off the rest of the pack with 50K to go (even if he doesn't make it till the end). Hoping for relentless attacking after the Forest of Arenberg by Vanmarcke or any other guy trying to make this a very hard race (Bersee and Mons-en-Pevele are my favourite parts, perfect attackers' playground!).
Let the race begin!

ps: if it comes down to a sprint, Degenkolb will be very close.

 

[Flamin]

Also notable: a domestique (Greipel) gets mentioned everywhere, but no mention of the actual leader of the team (Roelandts).

 

[Sasquatch]

Re:

Also notable: a domestique (Greipel) gets mentioned everywhere, but no mention of the actual leader of the team (Roelandts).

What has Roelandts ever done in his career to have him in the list of potentials?

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Also notable: a domestique (Greipel) gets mentioned everywhere, but no mention of the actual leader of the team (Roelandts).

What has Roelandts ever done in his career to have him in the list of potentials?

Fair enough if he's not mentioned (I would give him 1* at best too), I just find it odd that people here expect more from his domestique.

And to answer your question: not that much, but he has also had a lot of bad luck throughout his career and he's now in the best shape of his life.

 

[ILovecycling]

djee. 2 stars for Vanmarcke. Guy with the biggest engine and only one of few able to rip the field apart and to keep going...(ever saw that from Stybar?)
I will smile if he shakes off the rest of the pack with 50K to go (even if he doesn't make it till the end). Hoping for relentless attacking after the Forest of Arenberg by Vanmarcke or any other guy trying to make this a very hard race (Bersee and Mons-en-Pevele are my favourite parts, perfect attackers' playground!).
Let the race begin!

ps: if it comes down to a sprint, Degenkolb will be very close.

Stybar easily rode with Canc in his best form in 2013,I doubt VM will ride better than the whinning machine

 

[Sasquatch]

Re: Re:

Also notable: a domestique (Greipel) gets mentioned everywhere, but no mention of the actual leader of the team (Roelandts).

What has Roelandts ever done in his career to have him in the list of potentials?

Fair enough if he's not mentioned (I would give him 1* at best too), I just find it odd that people here expect more from his domestique.

And to answer your question: not that much, but he has also had a lot of bad luck throughout his career and he's now in the best shape of his life.

With what Greipel did last week in Flanders, and with PR suiting him, it's not surprising people have Greipel on the list.

Maybe you are right and Roelandts will be their guy, but I think Greipel will finish ahead of Roelandts based on current form.

 

[Pantani_lives]

*****Kristoff, Degenkolb
****Terpstra, Stybar
***Vanmarcke, Thomas, Boom
**Van Avermaet, Sagan
*Wiggins, Vandenbergh, Greipel, Devolder

 

[Oliver]

Etixx Quickstep has to win this... I hope Stybar!

 

[Volderke]

djee. 2 stars for Vanmarcke. Guy with the biggest engine and only one of few able to rip the field apart and to keep going...(ever saw that from Stybar?)
I will smile if he shakes off the rest of the pack with 50K to go (even if he doesn't make it till the end). Hoping for relentless attacking after the Forest of Arenberg by Vanmarcke or any other guy trying to make this a very hard race (Bersee and Mons-en-Pevele are my favourite parts, perfect attackers' playground!).
Let the race begin!

ps: if it comes down to a sprint, Degenkolb will be very close.

Stybar easily rode with Canc in his best form in 2013,I doubt VM will ride better than the whinning machine

I saw Canc having some trouble on the cobbles of Gruson and Hem just following Vanmarcke, while Stybar couldn't close a 20-meter gap. I also saw Canc in his best form beating Vanmarcke and telling in the interview that he never went this deep to win Roubaix. But everybody likes to see what he likes best

 

[lemon cheese cake]

djee. 2 stars for Vanmarcke. Guy with the biggest engine and only one of few able to rip the field apart and to keep going...(ever saw that from Stybar?)
I will smile if he shakes off the rest of the pack with 50K to go (even if he doesn't make it till the end). Hoping for relentless attacking after the Forest of Arenberg by Vanmarcke or any other guy trying to make this a very hard race (Bersee and Mons-en-Pevele are my favourite parts, perfect attackers' playground!).
Let the race begin!

ps: if it comes down to a sprint, Degenkolb will be very close.

Stybar easily rode with Canc in his best form in 2013,I doubt VM will ride better than the whinning machine

I saw Canc having some trouble on the cobbles of Gruson and Hem just following Vanmarcke, while Stybar couldn't close a 20-meter gap. I also saw Canc in his best form beating Vanmarcke and telling in the interview that he never went this deep to win Roubaix. But everybody likes to see what he likes best

Stybar was knocked off his bike on the Carrefour de l'Arbre.

 

[Volderke]

djee. 2 stars for Vanmarcke. Guy with the biggest engine and only one of few able to rip the field apart and to keep going...(ever saw that from Stybar?)
I will smile if he shakes off the rest of the pack with 50K to go (even if he doesn't make it till the end). Hoping for relentless attacking after the Forest of Arenberg by Vanmarcke or any other guy trying to make this a very hard race (Bersee and Mons-en-Pevele are my favourite parts, perfect attackers' playground!).
Let the race begin!

ps: if it comes down to a sprint, Degenkolb will be very close.

Stybar easily rode with Canc in his best form in 2013,I doubt VM will ride better than the whinning machine

I saw Canc having some trouble on the cobbles of Gruson and Hem just following Vanmarcke, while Stybar couldn't close a 20-meter gap. I also saw Canc in his best form beating Vanmarcke and telling in the interview that he never went this deep to win Roubaix. But everybody likes to see what he likes best

Stybar was knocked off his bike on the Carrefour de l'Arbre.

Thanks for the info (like I didn't know, I even remember the exact location = 200mtrs before the cafe at the Carrefour)
But it's completely irrelevant for not closing that 20-meter gap. He was cooked and the collision with camera (who technically didn't knock him off his bike) just showed he could barely follow.

 

[elfed68]

Re:

To celebrate Styby's awesomeness and hopefully his Paris-Roubaix win, after 6 long years I have decided to change my avatar.

Sorry Cipo! ... but dont worry, you will always be near my heart!

He looks like somebody you'd see in a Pathe News film from the fifties, all he needs is a flat cap to finish the look.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

djee. 2 stars for Vanmarcke. Guy with the biggest engine and only one of few able to rip the field apart and to keep going...(ever saw that from Stybar?)
I will smile if he shakes off the rest of the pack with 50K to go (even if he doesn't make it till the end). Hoping for relentless attacking after the Forest of Arenberg by Vanmarcke or any other guy trying to make this a very hard race (Bersee and Mons-en-Pevele are my favourite parts, perfect attackers' playground!).
Let the race begin!

ps: if it comes down to a sprint, Degenkolb will be very close.

Stybar easily rode with Canc in his best form in 2013,I doubt VM will ride better than the whinning machine

I saw Canc having some trouble on the cobbles of Gruson and Hem just following Vanmarcke, while Stybar couldn't close a 20-meter gap. I also saw Canc in his best form beating Vanmarcke and telling in the interview that he never went this deep to win Roubaix. But everybody likes to see what he likes best

Stybar was knocked off his bike on the Carrefour de l'Arbre.

Thanks for the info (like I didn't know, I even remember the exact location = 200mtrs before the cafe at the Carrefour)
But it's completely irrelevant for not closing that 20-meter gap. He was cooked and the collision with camera (who technically didn't knock him off his bike) just showed he could barely follow.

He wouldnt get back on after a crash that hard. Espaciallly as he was suffering at that point which I do agree with you.

 

[djconnel]

If Kristoff is using 25 mm tires this race on his Aeroad he has no chance.

 

[del1962]

So Benoot 80-1 not bad for an each way bet

 

[shalgo]

Re: Re:

For comparison: