Paris - Roubaix 2021 (03.10)

[SafeBet]

No. It might be a good idea to ride them carefully with some space to the rider in front of you.

Or even better with no rider in front of you. Like Deignan did.

 

[Red Rick]

Or even better with no rider in front of you. Like Deignan did.

Alaphilippe confirmed not riding Roubaix cause he shouldn't motorpace here.

 

[Amazinmets87]

If there were to be any alterations to the route, seems they'd have to be within the next few hours, no?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Because if the cobbles are underwater, the fields would be dry?..

No, but if you fall or crash in the mud, you don't hurt yourself as much.

 

[titan31]

Be interesting to see how VDP does. If his positioning is as bad as it was at the WC, he'll likely be dropped on the Arenberg sector.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Be interesting to see how VDP does. If his positioning is as bad as it was at the WC, he'll likely be dropped on the Arenberg sector.

VDP positioning was also terrible in Sanremo this spring. Always fighting for space in his own while the rivals sat comfortably with their teams.

In the other hand, if the race start aggressive, VDP will have the strength courage and balls to be up the front. In a peloton he is poor.

 

[titan31]

VDP positioning was also terrible in Sanremo this spring. Always fighting for space in his own while the rivals sat comfortably with their teams.

In the other hand, if the race start aggressive, VDP will have the strength courage and balls to be up the front. In a peloton he is poor.

Ya, you get caught out at Arenberg though, and be behind a front group that has most of DQS there and he might not see the front of the race again.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Be interesting to see how VDP does. If his positioning is as bad as it was at the WC, he'll likely be dropped on the Arenberg sector.

if the weather is as bad as it's supposed to be he should just go pretty early, it's better to be the hammer than the anvil.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

if the weather is as bad as it's supposed to be he should just go pretty early, it's better to be the hammer than the anvil.

Yeah with wet Roubaix you just want to be up the road for as long as possible. Avoiding most possible problems.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Be interesting to see how VDP does. If his positioning is as bad as it was at the WC, he'll likely be dropped on the Arenberg sector.

Don't think this race is very good with his back issues.

The areas of Denain and Valenciennes will see rain the whole night until 2/3 pm. 40-50 liters/m² the next hours. This is crazy.

The strong winds will do their part too. Could be that everybody is already wet and tired, when they reach the pavés.

 

[Volderke]

It sounds counter intuitive, but rain overnight will actually make it less treacherous than it was today.
the problem with mud today was that it dried just enough so it gets super slippery, while rain makes it more predictable and easier to anticipate and plow through muddy sections. Rain also makes the whole race a bit slower.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Even a pessimist like me is beginning to believe there might actually be a drop of rain before noon.

 

[Red Rick]

if the weather is as bad as it's supposed to be he should just go pretty early, it's better to be the hammer than the anvil.

"Mathieu, here's the tactics. There are no tactics. There are also no plans. It's better to be the hammer than the anvil. Also there is no anvil. Just cobblestones"

I should be a DS

 

[sir fly]

The weather/road conditions should provoke the selection earlier than usual.
Everybody knows the front's the place to be. And the fewer of them there are - the better.

 

[Jagartrott]

Because if the cobbles are underwater, the fields would be dry?..

You think the fields are dry in cross?
It started as a joke, but now I want this to really happen. Road, cobbles, fields, 250 km. Bring it on.

 

[Mayomaniac]

"Mathieu, here's the tactics. There are no tactics. There are also no plans. It's better to be the hammer than the anvil. Also there is no anvil. Just cobblestones"

I should be a DS

I'd give riders a Teddy Atlas speech on the radio:

 

[titan31]

"Mathieu, here's the tactics. There are no tactics. There are also no plans. It's better to be the hammer than the anvil. Also there is no anvil. Just cobblestones"

I should be a DS

Also, keep on saying Do it for Oscar over and over again.

Telling him to attack, shout it. Mathieu complains about the cold or having no legs or being tired, just shout it again, or go with the guilt trip of I bet Oscar wishes he was tired.

 

[Keram]

So much changed in the world and generally in my life since last Roubaix. When I am thinking about some things it is to me like it was in past life. It is surreal. We deserve epic Roubaix. Roubaix 2016 should be Scheldeprijs compared to this edition. Cycling gods owe us race to be spoken for decades!

 

[Amazinmets87]

The rain is supposed to taper off around 1 or 2. Nearly a quarter inch predicted, so crashes are likely even on the tarmac.

 

[Ricco']

"Mathieu, here's the tactics. There are no tactics. There are also no plans. It's better to be the hammer than the anvil. Also there is no anvil. Just cobblestones"

I should be a DS

I just hope the weather conditions will be a topic of conversation tonight at Alpecin's dinner table.

 

[dutchdescent]

where is the poll??????????

 

[limak_]

I just hope the weather conditions will be a topic of conversation tonight at Alpecin's dinner table.

"- Mathieu, why weren’t you at the front when the peleton hit that muddy sector at 50k to go?! We've been discussing it over and over at yesterday's meeting...
- Well, I was not aware of it, there was no mud there during the reconnaissance."

 

[Leinster]

"- Mathieu, why weren’t you at the front when the peleton hit that muddy sector at 50 k to go?! We've been discussing it over and over at yesterday's meeting...
- Well, I was not aware of it, there was no mud there during the reconnaissance."

“Those barriers in the bike lane weren’t there on Wednesday…”

 

[Martinstranger]

I fear for the riders tomorrow and hope everone stays in one piece.

Hopefully everyone will be ok - but we will see crashes.

Sorry - but I'm all in and think the rides should decide for themselfes. I feel the same for Formula 1 - they can always slow down (watched the documentary about M. Schumacher - he could really do a difference). Why punish the riders who can actually race in difficult conditions - I just don't get it.

Btw.: Mads Pedersen is saying to a danish newspaper "safety - come on - we have seen cobblestones with mud before. It's not an easy race. It's dangerous and it is not normal to race at those cobbles. It will always be dangerous".

 

[johnymax]

Stybar wins tomorrow