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

[thrawn]

So just got home. What's the weather like?

 

[mrhender]

Devolder down hard...

 

[thequestionmark]

Dry. But some cobbles are still muddy because of the rain yesterday.

 

[ILovecycling]

Ohh god, he was slowed to 5km/h, how was he supposed to chase them down when all of them were almost on their limits?
You should try some racing,then you may understand

I have done a fair amount of racing, but it's sad when you have to take this personal. But hey, what do you know in Prague without any decent coverage of the race, while I can ride those cobbles any day and watch the race live in HD?

Because you only have youtube to analyse previous races, I do recommend you to actually watch the race...

this was last year on Carrefour de l'arbre:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... sVc#t=8116
Vanmarcke upping the pace and Cancellara / Stybar just suffering. Terpstra was not even able to follow Vanmarcke.

this was the year before on the same place:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... yuQ#t=6618

If you care to analyse, you see Vanmarcke is the best cobbles rider of the last 2 years.
Cancellara is happy to follow.
Stybar is happy to follow, but if he is slowed down (to approx. 20/h), he looses it. He doesn't have the big engine.
Terpstra is more than happy to follow, because he could simply not follow! Don't forget that...
Same with Kristoff. They can only win with some tactic games in the lead group, e.g. if guys like Vanmarcke stop riding in the front.

Admitted Vanmarcke is showing signs of early form this year and going downhill from GW on. And Terpstra / Kristoff look stronger this year than last year. But what you fail to see is that there is a higher level of cobble riders than those 2. They consist of 3-4 guys: Stijn Vandenbergh, Sep Vanmarcke, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara. Unfortunately, 2 of them are out, Vandenbergh is pushed in a helper's role and Vanmarcke is not the greatest of shapes. So this race will always be one with an open and degraded field... And Vanmarcke still the favorite.
So please stop calling Vanmarcke a whiner when you clearly don't know too much of the sport, reading your comments.

And I see no one mentions Devolder? The guy can ride cobbles and he can TT. If he is in the mix, he will be dangerous...

If you think VM was stronger than Canc in 2013 then I've got nothing to talk about with you

 

[Rollthedice]

Devolder down?

 

[thequestionmark]

Yes. Devolder down

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Devolder down?

That's what the ticker is saying. Horrible spring classics season for Trek....

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Devolder down?

That's what the ticker is saying. Horrible spring classics season for Trek....

Yep, and Mollema falling a week before AGR is also an ominous sign. Although Felline seems to be in top shape

 

[ILovecycling]

I feel sorry for Rvv to say this,but this race is on another level and we can see this right from the start.(today)

 

[thequestionmark]

Sky's bike suspension is great marketing. The commentators mention it far too often.

 

[happytramp]

If you think VM was stronger than Canc in 2013 then I've got nothing to talk about with you

Oh dear. Anyone who thinks that, either didn't watch the race or doesn't understand racing.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Traditionally I eat pie during PR, but now I'm on a diet. So this is my schedule:

100K Soya balls with fennel
80K Pineapple
60K Cantaloupe melon
40K Mango
20K Yogurt
FINISH Too excited to eat. Photo finish reveals Greipel beats Kristoff by 1 mm.

 

[ILovecycling]

If you think VM was stronger than Canc in 2013 then I've got nothing to talk about with you

Oh dear. Anyone who thinks that, either didn't watch the race or doesn't understand racing.

He said he was present at the race iirc


@Pantani_lives
fvck the diet man,more km on bike ,diet svcks

 

[Jspear]

A rider just rode with no hands to adjust his shirt on the cobbles. I think he was in the lead breakaway.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Kelly just now talking about the new Sky bike "only the real hard men survive, you cannot put a climber into Paris-Roubaix and give him all the best material, it just doesn't work"

 

[trevim]

Re:

Kelly just now talking about the new Sky bike "only the real hard men survive, you cannot put a climber into Paris-Roubaix and give him all the best material, it just doesn't work"

Kelly is a funny guy

 

[Jspear]

Anyone think Sky is up at the front too early again like in Flanders?

 

[The Hitch]

Out of interest does French Eurosport broadcast this, or since its shown by France 3 do they let it go.

PS does anyone have a stream of either. (thank you very much to anyone who has).

 

[Brullnux]

Noooo! No Kirby! He's a bad commentator I admit but he makes any race fun, even if it is really boring.

 

[happytramp]

Re:

Noooo! No Kirby! He's a bad commentator I admit but he makes any race fun, even if it is really boring.

Yes, but this is not a boring race.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Out of interest does French Eurosport broadcast this, or since its shown by France 3 do they let it go.

PS does anyone have a stream of either. (thank you very much to anyone who has).

http://www.yopika.tv/20150411/v-haha_sport_9_name-1046853-5529727ad78837.78937125.html

English Eurosport.

 

[sir fly]

The wind should give some unexpected opportunities.

 

[Dedelou]

Re: Re:

Kelly just now talking about the new Sky bike "only the real hard men survive, you cannot put a climber into Paris-Roubaix and give him all the best material, it just doesn't work"

Kelly is a funny guy

Yeah. Kelly makes up as a commentator for being the sternest guy in the peleton back in the days.... you know the days when guys like Greg LeMond , a climber if there was one, was trying to win PR in the mud ...remember that Sean?

 

[Dedelou]

we can't get live coverage here .. I am going cycling.. it's too much of a beautiful day to stay in . I will have to DVR it

 

[happytramp]

Re: Re:

Yeah. Kelly makes up as a commentator for being the sternest guy in the peleton back in the days.... you know the days when guys like Greg LeMond , a climber if there was one, was trying to win PR in the mud ...remember that Sean?

Yes. They gave him a front suspension road bike and he didn't win it.