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

[DNP-Old]

Van Avermaet is simply a professional, and if you read his interviews he's 100% aware his best days are behind him.

100% correct on the first part and I applaud him for that. Friday he did a reckon of Roubaix with the AG2R junior team, beautiful to see. After the comma, however, not so much. He did an interview in Nieuwsblad the day before De Ronde and he still has this idea in his head that he can hang with your average Kung, Laporte and Pedersen. Those days are over. And there's his comment about giving jabs to Wout and Mathieu last winter.

 

[dobrien]

I'm inclined to say that Greg's decline has been worse to watch than Sagan's, as weirdly as that may sound. Sagan evidently doesn't care very much and his training ethos probably reflects this. Van Avermaet, otoh, as of two weeks ago, still has visions of Fata Morganae where he can hang with the best and spends gazillions of hours on the bike.

Sagan has retired and lives like a retiree, Van Avermaet has retired but nobody has told him yet.

I think this is a little unfair to Greg; he was quoted weeks ago as saying he was going to make a decision on his career after the classics season, so I think he's well aware the writing is on the wall, no delusions. Based on what I've seen of him over the years I'm thinking he wants to at least do what he can to give himself the best chance before hanging it up. He seems like a levelheaded guy but for some it's just really hard to make that call; it's in their blood. Of course one thing that really kept driving him was Flanders, the one that got away. Impossible to ever know but I think he would have had the measure of Sagan if they wouldn't have been taken down, and I'm guessing that really tortured the guy into continuing past the point of no return.

I don't see it happening for him though again, but man, his peak period from 2016-2017 was a stretch the majority of riders could only dream about. Was standing outside their bus the morning of E3 and when he came out he received a very warm welcome; still has a lot of fans.

 

[dobrien]

100% correct on the first part and I applaud him for that. Friday he did a reckon of Roubaix with the AG2R junior team, beautiful to see. After the comma, however, not so much. He did an interview in Nieuwsblad the day before De Ronde and he still has this idea in his head that he can hang with your average Kung, Laporte and Pedersen. Those days are over. And there's his comment about giving jabs to Wout and Mathieu last winter.

Didn't see that one!

 

[chinaski]

He had also never done the race before.

I have no doubt that Ganna has the physiological capabilities needed to win the race. If he saves himself for the finale (Mons-en-Pévèle) and avoids bad luck, an attack by him would be super deadly.

Youve just realised me that Colbrelli rode his first ever PR, he won it and hell never ride it again. That`s it. Noone will ever have better statistics in this race, considering average wins. Jaw drops...

 

[Carols]

I'll be rooting for Mads. Okay he's Never even come close but he's had a strong spring and I'm tired of MVDP and WVA

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1644784676681183235

View: https://twitter.com/NBCSCycling/status/1644784676681183235?s=20

 

[tobydawq]

He had also never done the race before.

Neither had Vermeersch nor Van der Poel. It was not a good day for those people who always say that performing well in a big rave requires plenty of experience in it.

 

[Valanga]

he did what must have been the longest interview of his life today, so seems to be in a really good mood

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM1Tf23ko6E


Among others, there's one with van Avermaet as well. He'll go for the Mathew Hayman tactics and try to join the breakaway.

I love the end:

- Was Roubaix the biggest victory of your career?
Sagan: Well, the worlds, Roubaix and Flanders were the biggest
Interviewer silently: "oh so it wasn't just Roubaix "

You were supposed to say yes, Peter!

 

[Boehmand]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1644784676681183235

View: https://twitter.com/NBCSCycling/status/1644784676681183235?s=20

Gonna miss Sagan's one-liners.

I remember in 2016, after he won stage 2, a journalist asked him:

"What is the next stage you are targeting for a win?"

Sagan replied:

"Every day".

 

[Ilmaestro99]

- Was Roubaix the biggest victory of your career?
Sagan: Well, the worlds, Roubaix and Flanders were the biggest
Interviewer silently: "oh so it wasn't just Roubaix "

Fans of Belgian Pozzato would argue that stage 3 of the 2012 tour de france to boulogne-sur-mer should be considered the biggest win of his career

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

(Unofficial) order of the convoy, based on PCS's start list:

1. Jumbo-Visma
2. Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Lotto Dstny
4. Trek - Segafredo
5. Groupama - FDJ
6. Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
7. INEOS Grenadiers
8. Bahrain - Victorious
9. Soudal - Quick Step
10. UAE Team Emirates
11. Movistar Team
12. Intermarché - Circus - Wanty
13. BORA - hansgrohe
14. Team Arkéa Samsic
15. Israel - Premier Tech
16. TotalEnergies
17. Team DSM
18. Cofidis
19. AG2R Citroën Team
20. EF Education-EasyPost
21. Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
22. Astana Qazaqstan Team
23. Team Jayco AlUla
24. Bingoal WB
25. Team Flanders - Baloise

What is this based on? What has Uno-X done to deserve this?

 

[topcat]

Het Nieuwsblad's star rating for tomorrow:

**** * van Aert
**** van der Poel, Ganna
*** van Baarle, Küng, Pedersen
** Vermeersch, Stuyven, Asgreen, Vanmarcke
* Lampaert, Philipsen, Turgis, Mohoric, Politt

And said with a straight face…

 

[search]

What is this based on? What has Uno-X done to deserve this?

UCI ranking of the best participating rider (if I didn't get that wrong). Kristoff still has plenty of points from 2022

 

[Sciatic]

Well their 2 leaders are using it so clearly they believe it will be beneficial

Or they are being paid more to use it. I’m sure this has been debated elsewhere, but how is this not a machine-assist and prohibited? Of course, I do know the answer to my question: UCI decisions = $$$

 

[titan31]

Actually, Tim van Dijke should be Jumbo's secret card tomorrow, he's their's Ganna and was good on cobbles this season

I think van Dijke is a good cyclist and has the ability to do well here but not in this Jumbo team. He's going to be working very early here to do well. He's at best 5th in their order

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lol @ claiming Greg's decline is worse than Sagan's. Greg understands that he might as well retire if he doesn't spend the hours on the bike and prepare for Flanders as if he was the favorite. That should be applauded. He's a serious sportsman, thats what he receives he paycheck for for crying out loud. He should have won Flanders, he didn't, but at least he has Roubaix and Olympics to show for it. Thats two big wins, and thats probably on par for a rider like him. Well done to Greg.

Sagan on the other hand, you applaud for living the life and not spending the time needed. How's that respectful? And do you even know that to be the truth anyways?

Christ, some of these takes are just god awful!

 

[repre]

Lol @ claiming Greg's decline is worse than Sagan's. Greg understands that he might as well retire if he doesn't spend the hours on the bike and prepare for Flanders as if he was the favorite. That should be applauded. He's a serious sportsman, thats what he receives he paycheck for for crying out loud. He should have won Flanders, he didn't, but at least he has Roubaix and Olympics to show for it. Thats two big wins, and thats probably on par for a rider like him. Well done to Greg.

Sagan on the other hand, you applaud for living the life and not spending the time needed. How's that respectful? And do you even know that to be the truth anyways?

Christ, some of these takes are just god awful!

Also GvA is much older and his regress is kinda has to be expected...Not everybody can be Valverde and ride at top form till the 40s

 

[Valv.Piti]

Exactly, and on top of that he isn't the natural talent that Sagan is, hence he probably should work more on average for his wins. That shows when he's off-form and on the decline as well and that is only something that we can respect, father-time is getting us all!

That being said, he should definitely call it quits by now IMO. I haven't seen him in any races this year and I'd like to think I pay attention especially to the flemish classics.

 

[Orbit501]

And Küng, Mohoric, Pedersen. Hell, Movistar seems to be in on the classics as well nowadays, so I might as well drop Ivan Garcia's name here.

Anyway, after not bagging RVV, Van Aert wants to (and should be) their main man, despite him stating he's had a "physical and mental knock". They do that all the time at Jumbo. Those games work when you're an underdog. Not when you're one of the favourites. Like anybody is gonna let Wout ride because he said he wasn't feeling all too well. That's cute.
But this is Paris-Roubaix. Flats and mechanicals are all over the place so as a DS you want to have a plan B. Problem is, their team might be too strong. I don't think a lot of teams would be happy letting Laporte or Van Baarle go in a break either. My prediction: it's gonna be Van Hooydonk in a break once again. In that case Jumbo have a tough choice to make.

But why am I typing this anyway? It's PR, anything can and will happen. Ganna might have said it best: Paris Roubaix is just a game of Russian Roulette.

Van Hooydonk has been sick and not able to ride recons. Van Baarle is on his first race back since crashing out of E3.

For a change, it's actually MVDP that has the stronger team here.

 

[Orbit501]

Only fifteen French riders are on the start list of their home country's monument. The last French winner was Guesdon in 1997. Biggest hopes for Sunday: Laporte, Turgis, Démare and Sénéchal.

Someone's forgetting Louvel

 

[Gigs_98]

Just realized Van Aert is now older than Sagan was when he won PR. That just seems absurd to me. PR was Sagans last big win in his last good season, while for Van Aert it feels like his peak has only just begun.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Just realized Van Aert is now older than Sagan was when he won PR. That just seems absurd to me. PR was Sagans last big win in his last good season, while for Van Aert it feels like his peak has only just begun.

WVA will be bast his prime in 3/4 years. He must win now or he will be one of the biggest IF's in cycling history

 

[Nick2413]

Just realized Van Aert is now older than Sagan was when he won PR. That just seems absurd to me. PR was Sagans last big win in his last good season, while for Van Aert it feels like his peak has only just begun.

You never know until you know, but the fall from the top can happen pretty fast. Looks like JA is already on that trajectory, and guys like Wout could only be a year behind for all we know.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

WVA will be bast his prime in 3/4 years. He must win now or he will be one of the biggest IF's in cycling history

He sure makes you eat up a lot of bandwidth right now...

 

[Boehmand]

It'll be interesting to see how UAE rides the race.

They are the top ranked team in the world, but are being led by Trentin, who despite doing PR numerous times, has never managed better than 36th.

We may even see Bjerg get his shot, though it would be crazy to get his first shot at being a protected rider at PR.