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

[rghysens]

If Boonen pulls this of, he really earned is place with the greatest classic riders of all time.

His palmares lacks a bit of variation to be counted among the greatest classic riders of all time (De Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Kelly, Museeuw, Raas, Moser,...)

 

[El Pistolero]

His palmares lacks a bit of variation to be counted among the greatest classic riders of all time (De Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Kelly, Museeuw, Raas, Moser,...)

Nonsense, you can only compare Museeuw from that group. All other riders were from different times.

The only classics Museeuw won that Boonen didn't win are Paris-Tours, Amstel Gold Race and the Zürich-Metzgete.

The Amstel Gold Race finished in Maastricht back then and Zürich-Metzgete doesn't even exist anymore. As for Paris-Tours, Boonen can definitely win there.

Boonen did win the green jersey in the Tour though, something Museeuw hasn't done.

 

[greenedge]

As mentioned elsewhere, the sooner Cancellara can switch to Katusha/Astana(?) or even EuropeCar with Voeckler as super-domestique his greatness may finally eclipse Boonen's. That's bike racing though. Strongest guy doesn't always win.

GE or SBS in my view would be more likely to pick up Cancellara than Europcar.
1. He might be too expensive.
2. He would have a solid support cast at GE/ they would pay good money for him.
3. SBS would be likely because of the Riis connection.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

His palmares lacks a bit of variation to be counted among the greatest classic riders of all time (De Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Kelly, Museeuw, Raas, Moser,...)

Year, it will be awhile before Boonen can get close to somebody like Kelly. In fact I don't think its possible.

 

[dlwssonic]

Ballan to go solo on the Carrefour de l'Arbre

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Nobody will have more victories than Boonen in: RVV, PR, E3, Kuurne Brussel Kuurne & Gent-Wevelgem.
But true, maybe if he had won MS at least once, and also lacks a victory in Omloop het Volk. His palmares is not that diverse (apart from his WC and Green Jersey), but in this kind of races, his palmares is one of the best of all times.

 

[Sophistic]

If Boonen wins this, he is the greatest cobblestoned-classics rider of all-time (if he isnt already..).

 

[Parrulo]

Actually, no there is very little footage showing Hushovd riding at all. If you watch Hushovd for 20 seconds, do you think you have seen what happened before and after that clip? No, of course you don't. And that is what I mean, there is little footage showing him charging, and there is little footage showing him sucking.

And last year he could not attack on account of the team.

not enough footage of him over the last 3 editions of roubaix? oh my are you blind?

2009: attempting to suck boonen's wheel to the velodrome but since he lacks boonen's class he misjudged a corner and fell on the carefour.

2010: sucking boonen's wheel (like every1 on that group) until the carefour and then sucking flecha's wheel until the velodrome where he out sprinted flecha, flecha even sarcastly clapped after he beat him in a sprint and called him wheel sucker on the post race interviews

2011: attacked once on the first few hundred meters of mons on pevele and then wheelsucked the rest of the race.

we could put together ours of hushovd wheelsucking in roubaix from just the last 3 editions. thats why he will never win the race

 

[Parrulo]

If Boonen wins this, he is the greatest cobblestoned-classics rider of all-time (if he isnt already..).

indeed tho i want to see him beat the record of wins for the ronde and roubaix

 

[Cimber]

one word: RAIN!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/weather-service-predicts-rain-for-paris-roubaix

 

[El Pistolero]

If Boonen wins this, he is the greatest cobblestoned-classics rider of all-time (if he isnt already..).

Currently he's tied with Museeuw who won Roubaix and Flanders 3 times as well.

 

[LugHugger]

If Boonen wins this, he is the greatest cobblestoned-classics rider of all-time (if he isnt already..).

Erm, aren't we forgetting both the cannibal and the gypsy?

 

[El Pistolero]

Erm, aren't we forgetting both the cannibal and the gypsy?

Eddy has 3 Roubaix's and only 2 Ronde's.

 

[Magnus]

Erm, aren't we forgetting both the cannibal and the gypsy?

If Boonen wins Sunday I can't see how they top him.
Boonen will have they highest number of victories in RVV and P-R combined and nobody will have won more times than Boonen in either race.

 

[LugHugger]

It's a personal bias but I would place more emphasis on roger's 4 roubaix's. For me, Roubaix are the hardest cobbles so I rank them marginally above Ronde victories. Plus, Roger was 'cross WC so he's definitely got the edge on the rough stuff!

 

[DominicDecoco]

one word: rain!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/weather-service-predicts-rain-for-paris-roubaix

get in!

_____________

 

[DominicDecoco]

Will Matti Breschel ride this years Paris-Roubaix?
He said no, but now hes on the startlist.
Does anybody know?

Doubt it. He's just recently, before Flanders, said there was no way he would be fit enought to do both P-R and the Ardennes.

 

[Parrulo]

one word: RAIN!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/weather-service-predicts-rain-for-paris-roubaix

 

[luckyboy]

First wet Roubaix in 10 years if it does rain.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

First wet Roubaix in 10 years if it does rain.

And it would be cool if we had a similar winner... Knaven then, Terpstra now?

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope it doesn't rain. Even more water in my beer! Bah.

 

[will10]

I hope it doesn't rain. Even more water in my beer! Bah.

Why not. Tom didn't do so bad back in '02

 

[DominicDecoco]

 

[jens_attacks]

I hope it doesn't rain. Even more water in my beer! Bah.

for this you should be instantly banned

now seriously it won't rain,we'll see on sunday

 

[RedheadDane]

I hope it doesn't rain. Even more water in my beer! Bah.

Heard of lids?

Or get one of these:

Look at it from the bright side: Your beer definitely won't go warm!