Paris-Roubaix 2012 - The Queen of the Classics (257.5km)

[Waterloo Sunrise]

not really as van keirsbulck is their biggest talent. perhaps the level of tom boonen even

In that case I totally buy that Tom doesn't want to win and is happy for the neo-pro to ride off in a break - clearly no reason for OPQS to ride later on.

 

[wirral]

Van Keirsbulck has won it. No need to watch.

Sky and Rabo miss their break. Didn't need to tell me, knew already.

 

[Gloin22]

Van Keirsbulck has won it. No need to watch.

Sky and Rabo miss their break. Didn't need to tell me, knew already.

So did BMC

 

[spalco]

not really as van keirsbulck is their biggest talent. perhaps the level of tom boonen even

That may well be, but the odds have to be astronomically against him to win at this age anyway.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Thor Hushovd drifting in on betfair.

Have to say, I can't see any way he wins. He's not near the best cobbles rider, especially given form, and he's not the best sprinter of the reasonable cobble riders.

 

[jens_attacks]

guillaume is by far the strongest in the breakaway.no way should omega chase this.
i think the first winning move was just done.very clever

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

That may well be, but the odds have to be astronomically against him to win at this age anyway.

bmc will have to ride and basically every team(that missed the break) but quickstep. you will see

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

bmc will have to ride and basically every team(that missed the break) but quickstep. you will see

I just can't see how the other teams will be so *** as to bring back a break so Tom can use his strong team to win.

If the break stays away Quickstep is one of the biggest losers.

 

[Gloin22]

I don't think Van Keirsbulck would win out of this group tbh, doesnt have the experience. OPQS will have to chase as the favourites later on, no need for Sky/Rabo doing anything imo. BMC and Farnese might help them though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

boonen had no experience in his first roubaix either? he finished 2nd or 3rd?

 

[zamzonait]

garmin,bmc,sky not in the break

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

boonen had no experience in his first roubaix either? he finished 2nd or 3rd?

2nd or 3rd from this guy with a winner from the break and Tom outside the top 10 without ever having a chance is a massive failure for OPQS.

They are the screaming favourites, and until Tom, Chava or maybe Terp is up the road, everything is their responsibility to chase.

 

[zamzonait]

Thor Hushovd drifting in on betfair.

Have to say, I can't see any way he wins. He's not near the best cobbles rider, especially given form, and he's not the best sprinter of the reasonable cobble riders.

he has been top 3 cobbles rider the last 3 years,at least in P-R

 

[jens_attacks]

garmin,bmc,sky not in the break

sky and bmc chasing a little bit now
guillaume is that strong,omega won't have to do the chase,that's my opinion

 

[hrotha]

boonen had no experience in his first roubaix either? he finished 2nd or 3rd?

Boonen's team didn't have the overwhelming favourite, and it still would have been silly to gamble everything on a 22-year-old performing that well.

 

[jens_attacks]

Boonen's team didn't have the overwhelming favourite, and it still would have been silly to gamble everything on a 22-year-old performing that well.

bmc will chase anway let's face it

 

[hatcher]

If OPQS are happy with this at the end then they are insane. Boonen/Chava/Terpstra vs the rest is a better bet than Van Keirsbulck vs that group.

Good that they got him in there, and they won't need to work because of it, but push come to shove they'll be hoping it comes back together.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

you will see. bmc and sky are now chasing, not quickstep

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

you will see. bmc and sky are now chasing, not quickstep

The coverage specifically says it isn't a chase, but don't let that stop you.

Whilst we're on the ticker - was I the only one who noticed they confused Johan Museeuw and Johan Bruyneel. Another classic.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I agree that Van Keirsbulck is very strong - after all I've been hyping him quite a bit - but I also agree that if someone from the break won and Van Keirsbulck would get second or third, it would be considered a failure for OPQS.
He's been pretty unlucky this year (in Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde and Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen) so he probably hasn't gotten the attention he deserves but just wait and see - he will be the big news at some point.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

The coverage specifically says it isn't a chase, but don't let that stop you.

Whilst we're on the ticker - was I the only one who noticed they confused Johan Museeuw and Johan Bruyneel. Another classic.

you don't understand tactics do you?

quickstep won't chase. they will simply attack in the forrest or some place and then have van keirsbulck as an extra. the other teams need to chase if they don't want that to happen. he's a pion moved up front, so whoever of quickstep gets up front isn't alone unlike bmc, sky, garmin etc

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Boonen isn't going to isolate whole teams with an early attack without putting his own men well in the red - BMC and Sky have reasonable depth as well.

I'll be interested to see how much value this lad can add in the later stages, we will see.

 

[spalco]

I agree that it's an advantage for OPQS, and pretty significant failure by Farnese, Sky, and BMC to allow it to happen, but I don't think it will decide the race.

 

[The Sheep]

not really as van keirsbulck is their biggest talent. perhaps the level of tom boonen even

he will get third then

 

[Libertine Seguros]

not really as van keirsbulck is their biggest talent. perhaps the level of tom boonen even

Judging by his fashion sense, I'd say more the level of Philippe Gilbert.