Paris - Roubaix 2021 (03.10)

[Jagartrott]

Whatever the weather, the cobbles will be humid, and potentially with much more vegetation between them. DQS seem way overpowered - I wouldn't want to assign leaders with that team. I think anyone of them have a shot at winning. Even Declercq, with the good old 'breakaway of the day that is never caught back' move (who would chase that break if Declercq is in it, besides?).

 

[Dk one]

Indeed, Senechal seems in good form and this is the big goal for Lampaert who was great here in last edition. And then there's Asgreen who had bad legs yesterday but should be a top 10 favorite.

Asgreen had an upset stomach and puked on his bike.

 

[Monte Serra]

Recent reports spoke of lots of vegetation between the cobbles. But that is apparently being scrubbed off. At least at de Troueé d' Arenberg:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1442537390032056324

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/A_ParisRoubaix/status/1442537390032056324


Btw, no profiles of the long-awaited women's race in the OP?

 

[Max Rockatansky]

I wonder if Colbrelli just isn't over his peak right now. I reckon flying during Benelux was too early for the Worlds and especially Roubaix.

He was the only one able to answer on the first hard attack of Alaphilippe. Yeah, but I think he is a bit over his peak.

I also believe, that Bahrain should have send him to Tre Valli Varesine and Gran Piemonte and then go for Lombardia. In his Eneco or Euro shape, he would have been a serious contender for all of these races. Or go for Paris-Tours instead, which they aren't even racing.

With riding Roubaix for the first time, his season will be more or less over after Sunday.

 

[RedheadDane]

Btw, no profiles of the long-awaited women's race in the OP?

Don't worry, unless someone else does, I'll make a thread dedicated solely to the women's race.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

5 stars - WvA, Quickstep
**** - MvdP
*** - van Baarle, Colbrelli, Pollitt, Stuyven
** - Sagan, Kung
* - Naesen, GvA, Laporte, Demare, Degenkolb, Kristoff

 

[Mayomaniac]

5 stars - WvA, Quickstep
**** - MvdP
*** - van Baarle, Colbrelli, Pollitt, Stuyven
** - Sagan, Kung
* - Naesen, GvA, Laporte, Demare, Degenkolb, Kristoff

I rate Styven and Politt above the other 3 star guys, probably even above MvdP. They are in good form and have a history of being good in Paris-Roubaix.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Can‘t wait for Roubaix... Gonna be an epic show, as usual...

Hope for a sprint WvA vs MVdP in the velodrome... May the best rider win.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Rain is predicted 3 of the days leading to the race. Even if it regrettably doesn't rain during the race, the cobbles should be a mess.

 

[Keram]

Recent reports spoke of lots of vegetation between the cobbles. But that is apparently being scrubbed off. At least at de Troueé d' Arenberg:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1442537390032056324

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/A_ParisRoubaix/status/1442537390032056324


Btw, no profiles of the long-awaited women's race in the OP?

I would rather bring MTB bike

 

[Volderke]

5 stars - WvA, Quickstep
**** - MvdP
*** - van Baarle, Colbrelli, Pollitt, Stuyven
** - Sagan, Kung
* - Naesen, GvA, Laporte, Demare, Degenkolb, Kristoff

No love for Vanmarcke?
If it rains, half of the favourites will have bad luck, mechanicals or no motivation…

 

[Tim Cahill]

It will all come down to whoever gets the Stannard/Traksel/Flens 2010 awful weather conditions buff when the heavens open.

 

[Amazinmets87]

I would rather bring MTB bike

A MTB is definitely faster over the pave. It's the tarmac where you'd have trouble keeping up

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It will all come down to whoever gets the Stannard/Traksel/Flens 2010 awful weather conditions buff when the heavens open.

Sonny Colbrelli says hi.

 

[Leinster]

No love for Vanmarcke?
If it rains, half of the favourites will have bad luck, mechanicals or no motivation…

Until they go back to the routes of the early 1900s and ride the whole thing over pave right to the velodrome, no. No love for Vanmarcke in this bike race. Sorry Sep.

 

[SafeBet]

No love for Vanmarcke?
If it rains, half of the favourites will have bad luck, mechanicals or no motivation…

But what are the odds of Sep being in the half not having issues?

 

[RedheadDane]

Until they go back to the routes of the early 1900s and ride the whole thing over pave right to the velodrome, no. No love for Vanmarcke in this bike race. Sorry Sep.

Would it even be physically possible to do the whole thing on paves?

 

[Volderke]

But what are the odds of Sep being in the half not having issues?

Honestly, I don't know how he's doing on wet cobbles. But he got 6th in 2018, 4th in 2019 and 5th in the 2021 Tour of Flanders.
He was doing a good Vuelta until he crashed out and is clearly only trying to peak for Roubaix ever since.
So he'll be up there in the mix (barring bad luck), and just a simple reasoning: there are 14 (+ let's say 3 riders from DQS, makes it 17) riders in that list of favourites. It's a bit strange to overlook a constant top 10 finisher (even top 5 and podium). I also think he won't win, but he has a better shot, just going by results, than half of the names in that list (Colbrelli, Kristoff, Naesen, Kung, + I don't see a fading Degenkolb doing well after crashing out in the worlds, I don't see van Baarle doing any better than his best, which was 16th, just because he did very well in the world's...).

So if that list has to have some filler material, I reckon Vanmarcke should be in there.

 

[Velolover2]

A shame Ala isn't riding this race in this kind of shape. He is french and one of the key element of the Roubaix is taking risks. They can safe some of the heavier guys like Asgreen and Senechal for the finale.

I almost think he has a better chance here than in the new climber's Lombardia.

 

[Amazinmets87]

A shame Ala isn't riding this race in this kind of shape. He is french and one of the key element of the Roubaix is taking risks. They can safe some of the heavier guys like Asgreen and Senechal for the finale.

I almost think he has a better chance here than in the new climber's Lombardia.

He's simply too light for the cobbles and the risk of injury is too high. Makes no sense to ride it as a dom.

 

[Mayomaniac]

He's simply too light for the cobbles and the risk of injury is too high. Makes no sense to ride it as a dom.

I'm more sad about Nibali riding the Giro della Cosa Nostra instead of a potentially wet Roubaix at the end of the season...

 

[Red Rick]

I'm more sad about Nibali riding the Giro della Cosa Nostra instead of a potentially wet Roubaix at the end of the season...

Nibs preserving his mythical status

 

[ice&fire]

I'm more sad about Nibali riding the Giro della Cosa Nostra instead of a potentially wet Roubaix at the end of the season...

Nibali must think that with Froome and Valverde in the start list that's the race that matters

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Quickstep 'B' would be one of the best teams in this race: Archbold, Cavagna, Cerny, Jakobsen, Steels, Steimle, and Van Lerberghe

 

[gunara]

But what are the odds of Sep being in the half not having issues?

Far less than being among the firsts in the wrong half. He couldn't even catch a break when he slept on cobble bed.