2018 Paris - Roubaix

[d-s3]

Replay shows that Dillier did not have a chance.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

You're doing it wrong if you're watching for the last 40km. The race is made in the 100km before then and while this year there weren't any huge moments it was a very interesting tactical affair.

Good win.

Was it? It was a great move by Sagan, clearly he's studied the passivity of the other favourites and thought the gamble worth while. But other than that, there weren't many great tactics on show. Even Dillier didn't attempt to create problems in the last 10km.

I think the only one who could have closed the gap to Sagan this year was Terpstra.

GVA tried to react but he was clearly below his 2017-shape.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re: Re:

You're doing it wrong if you're watching for the last 40km. The race is made in the 100km before then and while this year there weren't any huge moments it was a very interesting tactical affair.

Good win.

Was it? It was a great move by Sagan, clearly he's studied the passivity of the other favourites and thought the gamble worth while. But other than that, there weren't many great tactics on show. Even Dillier didn't attempt to create problems in the last 10km.

From 100-50k to go, it was. I was worried when Gilbert went away. I honestly thought that was the start of another QS clinic. Then Stybar. And the spurts and bridges in between. Even Oss went.

But teah, then it calmed down.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

You're doing it wrong if you're watching for the last 40km. The race is made in the 100km before then and while this year there weren't any huge moments it was a very interesting tactical affair.

Good win.

Was it? It was a great move by Sagan, clearly he's studied the passivity of the other favourites and thought the gamble worth while. But other than that, there weren't many great tactics on show. Even Dillier didn't attempt to create problems in the last 10km.

I think the only one who could have closed the gap to Sagan this year was Terpstra.

GVA tried to react but he was clearly below his 2017-shape.

Yeah, Terpstra's definitely the one who missed out the most. He was in monstrous shape today. Let down by the hubristic tactics of Quickstep though. I guess they can't win them all, but still, they should have made more of a race of it today.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

still don't get why QS didn't jump on the wheel when Sagan went.

by the way they all reacted when Debusschere tried twice and when Sagan goes no one reacts

Had Stybar and Gilbert not spent all that energy for nothing, QS would have reacted...they were too cocky, and when time came to react, they couldn't, it seemed. Bravo Sagan, props to Diller. PR never disappoints.

 

[Brullnux]

It was because they were backing Gilbert, but he just wasn't strong enough.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

You're doing it wrong if you're watching for the last 40km. The race is made in the 100km before then and while this year there weren't any huge moments it was a very interesting tactical affair.

Good win.

Was it? It was a great move by Sagan, clearly he's studied the passivity of the other favourites and thought the gamble worth while. But other than that, there weren't many great tactics on show. Even Dillier didn't attempt to create problems in the last 10km.

I think the only one who could have closed the gap to Sagan this year was Terpstra.

GVA tried to react but he was clearly below his 2017-shape.

Yeah, Terpstra's definitely the one who missed out the most. He was in monstrous shape today. Let down by the hubristic tactics of Quickstep though. I guess they can't win them all, but still, they should have made more of a race of it today.

I doubt he would have ridden away from Sagan and had no chance in a sprint.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

still don't get why QS didn't jump on the wheel when Sagan went.

by the way they all reacted when Debusschere tried twice and when Sagan goes no one reacts

It was right after GVA's attack, right? Perfect timing as everyone was recovering

The true epic ride was by GVA who conserved his energy to unleash a monster sprint and take 4th place.

Conserved his energy? He went on the attack and was actually distanced a couple times. He just didn't have the legs.

 

[Frankschleck]

Don't really understand why Dillier didn't chill behind sagan in the last 5 minuttes.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

wolfpack
sent
packing

 

[MuskyOurSaviour]

Re:

wolfpack
sent
packing

how many teams would die for a PR podium..

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

I doubt he would have ridden away from Sagan and had no chance in a sprint.

Perhaps not, but he'd certainly have offered more problems than Dillier did.

 

[ppanther92]

Yes, GVA just didn't have it. He was in trouble not only once.

 

[trucido]

Re:

The true epic ride was by GVA who conserved his energy to unleash a monster sprint and take 4th place.

Last chance saloon for him next weekend.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Don't forget that Sagan couldn't be considered a major threat. Not only had he shown sub par form before today, he was also brought back relatively easily last week. Couldn't have anticipated Diller's strength and contribution. And today he went with 50k to go.

Just like last week, there was no way to know that this move was the move.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

What a ride! What a champion!

What a runner-up!

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

still don't get why QS didn't jump on the wheel when Sagan went.

by the way they all reacted when Debusschere tried twice and when Sagan goes no one reacts

Had Stybar and Gilbert not spent all that energy for nothing, QS would have reacted...they were too cocky, and when time came to react, they couldn't, it seemed. Bravo Sagan, props to Diller. PR never disappoints.

Quickstep obviously thought the race was going to break up more than it did and laid their cards down a bit earlier that they should have. Gilbert's move was never going to work.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Worthy winner. The strongest wins. The fact that they couldn’t get gap below 45secs near the end tells you all you need to know.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Don't forget that Sagan couldn't be considered a major threat. Not only had he shown sub par form before today, he was also brought back relatively easily last week. Couldn't have anticipated Diller's strength and contribution. And today he went with 50k to go.

Just like last week, there was no way to know that this move was the move.

Unless you have seen any other classic this season, where a very similar scenario has panned out.

 

[Sestriere]

Re:

There won't be a way around QS, I think. Stybar netting a big one would be great. However, this is Roubaix and with all the madness I could definitely see an outsider hanging on from the early break or a super-dom sent ahead with 60 to go get the win. All things considered, obvious Silvan Dillier win is obvious.

Btw, why is Marc Soler racing this?

Who would've thought Sagan was so strong?

 

[Jancouver]

Dreams do come through from time to time!

Great ride by Dillier and I'm not sure if Sagan would have made it to the finish line alone without him.

Kudos to both!

 

[El Pistolero]

Lame race. They just let him ride away. Not Sagan's fault of course. Dillier was just incredibly dumb as well.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

I doubt he would have ridden away from Sagan and had no chance in a sprint.

Perhaps not, but he'd certainly have offered more problems than Dillier did.

Yes but Quickstep will be the first to admit their tactics were off today.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

There won't be a way around QS, I think. Stybar netting a big one would be great. However, this is Roubaix and with all the madness I could definitely see an outsider hanging on from the early break or a super-dom sent ahead with 60 to go get the win. All things considered, obvious Silvan Dillier win is obvious.

Btw, why is Marc Soler racing this?

Who would've thought Sagan was so strong?

I think Dillier will look back on this later in his career and think what might have been. There was no reason for him to take a pull in the lat 5km, let alone go to the front as they passed under the Flamme Rouge.

He'd probably have lost whatever he did, but he certainly didn't give himself the best opportunity to win.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

You're doing it wrong if you're watching for the last 40km. The race is made in the 100km before then and while this year there weren't any huge moments it was a very interesting tactical affair.

Good win.

Was it? It was a great move by Sagan, clearly he's studied the passivity of the other favourites and thought the gamble worth while. But other than that, there weren't many great tactics on show. Even Dillier didn't attempt to create problems in the last 10km.

I think the only one who could have closed the gap to Sagan this year was Terpstra.

GVA tried to react but he was clearly below his 2017-shape.

Yeah, Terpstra's definitely the one who missed out the most. He was in monstrous shape today. Let down by the hubristic tactics of Quickstep though. I guess they can't win them all, but still, they should have made more of a race of it today.

I doubt he would have ridden away from Sagan and had no chance in a sprint.

I agree. Terpstra didn't look "monstrous" to me, evident from the fact that he was unable to drop Vanmarcke, Stuyven and GVA on the pavés. He was definitely good and this was probably the edition of Paris Roubaix where he was strongest (mind you, he was dropped numerous times in 2014 before let go). But when he's got no team to back him up, being marginally stronger than the others is of little use.