Paris-Roubaix 2023, one day monument, April 9 (men's)

[Zoetemelk-fan]

How about this one:

Ganna to pull the trigger early from a reduced fav/outsider group, on normal roads, just post Orchies.
MvDP only one able to follow.

Chasing group a very reduced TJV-train +varied bunch of outsiders, unable to cooperate in the moments of almost closing the bridge again.
On Mons-en-Pevéle Ganna's 2nd punch. MvDP, now on the tip of his nails, just able to catch him.
Ganna+MvDP tandem bridging up to remains of morning starters, as always showing to be surprisingly ready for anticipating the group.
Carrefour de l'Abre third round battle, but still status quo.

Velodrome. Ganna doing his track thing, pulling a last lap monster, leaving MvDP in the dust.

Sorry for the jinx. My writing probably ends up in a MvDP + Ganna DNF due to various misfortunes.

 

[Nick2413]

How about this one:

Ganna to pull the trigger early from a reduced fav/outsider group, on normal roads, just post Orchies.
MvDP only one able to follow.

Chasing group a very reduced TJV-train +varied bunch of outsiders, unable to cooperate in the moments of almost closing the bridge again.
On Mons-en-Pevéle Ganna's 2nd punch. MvDP, now on the tip of his nails, just able to catch him.
Ganna+MvDP tandem bridging up to remains of morning starters, as always showing to be surprisingly ready for anticipating the group.
Carrefour de l'Abre third round battle, but still status quo.

Velodrome. Ganna doing his track thing, pulling a last lap monster, leaving MvDP in the dust.

Sorry for the jinx. My writing probably ends up in a MvDP + Ganna DNF due to various misfortunes.

Hard to bet against Ganna winning in a velodrome.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Well, what have you been drinking?

Ah, I think pro cycling always should include a little bit of show entertainment, so I like this stuff. Sadly it isn‘t too common in nowadays‘ cycling any more…

At least the winner of Tro Bro Leon still gets awarded a living pig on the podium of the race.

I hope to see de Lie in the finale of Sunday‘s race. He also has this farmer‘s look, and a down-to-earth mentality. That‘s probably why Lefevere can‘t wait to sign him…

 

[Open Horizon]

Should be a very different race than De Ronde. MvdP and WvA really can't afford to give a group with Pedersen, Kung, Mohoric, Ganna etc a 3 minute gap this time around. But then again, if Jumbo succeeds in sending Van Hooydonk and Laporte in that group, it's up to Alpecin to reign them in. Can they?

 

[Andy schleck]

MV(d)P.

 

[Rackham]

Your're right. Even he couldn't escape the brain.

TJV with an official Krang themed helmet from The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

 

[Lequack]

I know one guy who could've used a brain themed helmet. Mario Cipollini flesh colored TT suit.

 

[Gigs_98]

One of the things I really love about PR is that in the week leading up to the race everyone comes up with their neat little theories and plans about how the race will go. Then at some point after Arenberg it turns out everyone was terribly wrong, no plan worked even remotely, someone scrambles and that ends up being the winning move.

Now I might be exaggerating a bit and sometimes team plans might actually work but I still love it when everyone has to make up their plan on the spot. Like 2018 when QuickStep was consistently winning classics by just playing the numbers game, so they once again sent out attacker after attacker after Arenberg. But then their opponents actually chased them down and they were completely flabbergasted and had no idea how to respond when Sagan went on the attack. Those are the kind of moments I feel like only this race consistantly produces. For about 100km the winning move could happen at any point and there is just no one right way to approach it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I personally don't really want to see a bunch of dudes hanging brain on Easter Sunday, but I do support the message behind it.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

[1.WT] Paris - Roubaix (09.04) - Page 4 - 2023 - Le Gruppetto - Forum de Cyclisme

[1.WT] Paris - Roubaix (09.04) -

legruppetto.fr

That's a fantastic preview of the pavé sectors. So great that Haspres is back.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I know one guy who could've used a brain themed helmet. Mario Cipollini flesh colored TT suit.

What a f**king legend!

 

[Pantani_lives]

Team DSM to block everything on the cobbles of Wallers, then suddenly accelerate and get away. John Degenkolb wins his second Paris-Roubaix.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Team DSM to block everything on the cobbles of Wallers, then suddenly accelerate and get away. John Degenkolb wins his second Paris-Roubaix.

This block tactic is something else. Imagine DSM decides to suddenly block the peloton In Arenberg while having a guy in a breakaway (pushing the brakes hard for an even better effect!)

 

[Lequack]

Team DSM to block everything on the cobbles of Wallers, then suddenly accelerate and get away. John Degenkolb wins his second Paris-Roubaix.

Actually that blocking at Flanders was a nice tactic. I don't see it as dangerous, certainly less than mass sprints are at high speed. And it's not like they were alone, Ineos were right beside them and also going slow.

 

[Berniece]

Actually that blocking at Flanders was a nice tactic. I don't see it as dangerous, certainly less than mass sprints are at high speed. And it's not like they were alone, Ineos were right beside them and also going slow.

It is dangerous because it can go slower behind them due to the density which means people might fall

 

[Lequack]

It is dangerous because it can go slower behind them due to the density which means people might fall

They might need to put their foot down yes. But DSM fought to be at the front, why must they be obliged to go fast.

 

[staubsauger]

Actually the blocking was re-introduced by Trek during Across Flanders already! It's just stupid IMHO.

According to Leclercq TI-Raleigh (or was it Kwantum already?) used to do this for Jan Raas at the Amstel Gold Race?

 

[Lequack]

Recon

 

[Lequack]

Another goat came for a visit

 

[Red Rick]

One of the things I really love about PR is that in the week leading up to the race everyone comes up with their neat little theories and plans about how the race will go. Then at some point after Arenberg it turns out everyone was terribly wrong, no plan worked even remotely, someone scrambles and that ends up being the winning move.

Now I might be exaggerating a bit and sometimes team plans might actually work but I still love it when everyone has to make up their plan on the spot. Like 2018 when QuickStep was consistently winning classics by just playing the numbers game, so they once again sent out attacker after attacker after Arenberg. But then their opponents actually chased them down and they were completely flabbergasted and had no idea how to respond when Sagan went on the attack. Those are the kind of moments I feel like only this race consistantly produces. For about 100km the winning move could happen at any point and there is just no one right way to approach it.

You can make solid plans, they just can't be "I'm gonna ride away on Carrefour and that's that." But it should be about where do you wanna be i nwhich position, what kind of moves you wanna respond to, and in a typical breakaway tactic situation, what riders you wanna let go and what riders you wanna follow, or in which cases you wanna attack yourself.

 

[Lequack]

Wout van Aert revealed he is still physically and mentally bruised after defeat at the Tour of Flanders. He did not seem optimistic about Sunday's Paris-Roubaix after a final cobbles recon ride

'I could be better' – Wout van Aert rues Flanders crash ahead of Paris-Roubaix

'I've not really had a great feeling on the bike in the last days' says Jumbo-Visma leader after final cobbles recon ride

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Peyroteo94]

Wout van Aert revealed he is still physically and mentally bruised after defeat at the Tour of Flanders. He did not seem optimistic about Sunday's Paris-Roubaix after a final cobbles recon ride

'I could be better' – Wout van Aert rues Flanders crash ahead of Paris-Roubaix

'I've not really had a great feeling on the bike in the last days' says Jumbo-Visma leader after final cobbles recon ride

www.cyclingnews.com

He is downplaying his chances to get more freedom. Smart move.

 

[Gratemans]

Wout van Aert revealed he is still physically and mentally bruised after defeat at the Tour of Flanders. He did not seem optimistic about Sunday's Paris-Roubaix after a final cobbles recon ride

'I could be better' – Wout van Aert rues Flanders crash ahead of Paris-Roubaix

'I've not really had a great feeling on the bike in the last days' says Jumbo-Visma leader after final cobbles recon ride

www.cyclingnews.com

I get so tired of statements like this. Most of the times they're just pulling the wool over our eyes. Which makes those times they are actually not well all the more frustrating

 

[OlavEH]

Roubaix is usually a good race for outsiders winning and underdog stories, this year it needs to be that way more than ever given that almost this entire spring has been the big 3 and Jumbo-Visma taking turns dominating races. I have this feeling that QS are going to save their spring here, not sure who will be the one to do it but I could definitely get behind Asgreen drawing a line under his injury troubles here or local boy Sénéchal ending France's 26-year wait at their home monu

Van Aert and Van der Poel looks so much better than everyone else that it is difficult to get pass them, especially if they avoid punctures or crashes. Also none of the outsiders seem to have the form of Van Baerle last year or Colbrelli in 2021 (except perhaps Laporte). The best and most likely option is a really strong breakaway without those two. Including one or more of guys like Asgreen, Lampaert, Ganna, Küng, etc. I'm btw curious about the Jumbo tactic. Will Van Baerle, Laporte and Van Hooydocnk be allowed to go on breakways. Or will the mainly work for Van Aert.

If Van Aert or Van der Poel don't have significant accidents or there are none really strong breakways, these two are big favorites. Most important outsiders IMO are Asgreen and Pedersen.

 

[OlavEH]

Wout van Aert revealed he is still physically and mentally bruised after defeat at the Tour of Flanders. He did not seem optimistic about Sunday's Paris-Roubaix after a final cobbles recon ride

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/i-...t-rues-flanders-crash-ahead-of-paris-roubaix/

I only watched RVV in replay, and therefore not the whole ting. Just where in the race did he crash?