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

Page 9 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Sep 9, 2009
6,483
138
17,680
Ryo Hazuki said:
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.
 
Mar 28, 2011
3,290
302
14,180
Van Keirsbulck has won it. No need to watch.

Sky and Rabo miss their break. Didn't need to tell me, knew already. ;)
 
Feb 1, 2011
9,403
2,275
20,680
Ryo Hazuki said:
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.
 
Sep 9, 2009
6,483
138
17,680
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.
 
Sep 8, 2009
15,306
3
22,485
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
 
Mar 31, 2010
18,136
6
0
spalco said:
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
 
Sep 9, 2009
6,483
138
17,680
Ryo Hazuki said:
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.
 
Apr 10, 2011
4,818
0
0
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.
 
Sep 9, 2009
6,483
138
17,680
Ryo Hazuki said:
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.
 
Feb 17, 2012
10
0
0
Waterloo Sunrise said:
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
 
Jun 10, 2010
19,897
2,256
25,680
Ryo Hazuki said:
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.
 
Sep 8, 2009
15,306
3
22,485
hrotha said:
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
 
Jul 24, 2010
1,857
0
0
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.
 
Sep 9, 2009
6,483
138
17,680
Ryo Hazuki said:
you will see. bmc and sky are now chasing, not quickstep :rolleyes:

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.
 
May 9, 2010
11,076
2,545
28,180
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.
 
Mar 31, 2010
18,136
6
0
Waterloo Sunrise said:
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? :rolleyes:

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
 
Sep 9, 2009
6,483
138
17,680
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.
 
Feb 1, 2011
9,403
2,275
20,680
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.
 
Feb 20, 2010
33,066
15,280
28,180
Ryo Hazuki said:
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.

album_large_4268469.jpg