Paris - Roubaix 2024, one day monument, April 7

[Salvarani]

Van Baarle out, sick. Thats not good. Terrible spring for him.

 

[Netserk]

Good Roubaix, everyone.

What a shame that Van Baarle won't start. My picks for today will then have to be Bettiol and Rex. The big beasts Tarling and Milan will also be interesting to follow.

 

[dobrien]

Think last year was perfect for them... and Van Aert had bad luck, puncturing twice. Degenkolb crashed. Pedersen also had mechanicals.

Jasper had to change his bike once, but other than that they had a perfect race with few problems.

Big favorites but a lot can happen. I would like to believe so and that it will be an entertaining race, no matter who wins.

You and I both!

I am speaking this year just of the conditions; no question last year they had the dice roll their way as well.

 

[iBanesto]

Let's hope there are no spectator caused crashes.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It's 2:25am in CA, me getting up this early is a mistake...I should just sleep...I will nap some more...but here I am for the start, just realizing that for the US coverage, I'll have to listen to dumb and dumber, for the rest of this race. Ugh...

 

[dobrien]

Good Roubaix, everyone.

What a shame that Van Baarle won't start. My picks for today will then have to be Bettiol and Rex. The big beasts Tarling and Milan will also be interesting to follow.

I share your interest in following Tarling and Milan today; either one or both of them seem capable of a really big day out today. That's just another of the many things I love about Roubaix; seemingly more than any other race it's the stories that play out within the race, victory or disaster alike, that are as interesting to me as who actually wins.

 

[Netserk]

Visma-LAB reduced to breakaway fodder.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Can you imagine being strong enough to take up a full gas attack from this far out? Jebus, this is a lovely sport.

 

[Red Rick]

Visma-LAB reduced to breakaway fodder.

Visma is that the same team so many have complained about their dominance?

 

[dobrien]

I'll have to listen to dumb and dumber, for the rest of this race. Ugh...

Seriously, you and I both on this one. I can't stand these two; reminds me WAAAAAAYYYYYYYY too much of the bad old days when they had their noses so far up 'someone who's ass shall not be named' they couldn't see straight. Going to hang with the Tiz feed for as long as it works today instead; D and D are a last resort.

 

[DNP-Old]

AJ is trying to join the break.

 

[Ricco']

Today is the day Prince Madis will announce his claim to the throne.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

EBH finally going to live up to his potential!

 

[Tim Cahill]

Jens on the bike makes me miss Wiggo, at least by the end of the broadcast he would be 20 vodkas deep and let a few wild comments fly. Back to the commentators!

 

[Salvarani]

EBH finally going to live up to his potential!

He has 81 wins, but ok.

 

[Rackham]

Visma is that the same team so many have complained about their dominance?

But... complaining has actually worked, has it not?

Collective voodoo based on popular demand after last year. It makes total sense for Visma to have a nightmare season because that's what the 'people' wanted.

 

[Volderke]

I'm so stoked for this race, from the very start!
I will stay enthusiastic until:
1. the latest fashion of big champs crashing will take place in this race;
2. MvdP goes very early and the race is over with 60K to go.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Visma-LAB reduced to breakaway fodder.

This is sad...but true. I know they are a hated juggernaut, but that team really needs someone to get a good result today, for team morale.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He has 81 wins, but ok.

Yes, but there was a point where he was lauded as possibly becoming a dominant force in the peloton, so let's not go overboard here on his success.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He has 81 wins, but ok.

...and I'm a fan...it was just a pithy statement, not meant to offend...save your ire for when I write something really snotty...

 

[Salvarani]

Yes, but there was a point where he was lauded as possibly becoming a dominant force in the peloton, so let's not go overboard here on his success.

He has had a great career and was very much a big part of the Sky dominance in the Tour. One of the best domestics we have seen in the GTs. You dont see that on his palmares, you just had to watch it to know how good he was.

He still got 81 wins of his own, as mentioned.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

I've seen this a few times, and its not been an issue. It seems like one time they just stayed low, and out of the way, and another, they actually stalled a little before entering. As I'm typing this, I can't remember the years, nor the racers though.

Now my memory lacks too, can't remember exact years, but happened plenty times before.

Unless she alludes to the extremely delicate situation where one or more riders in a decisive winning group on the last lap open the sprint early and at the same time break out at the outer part of the track and at the same second as the next group enters the velodrome.

I may as well admit that I myself have pondered that situation every single time the time difference between groups could result in total disaster.

A thought that has haunted me rigth since my first time watching the race all the way back to the mid-80s.

However the statistics and fate have been gentle to the riders. Though still every year I think about when the riders hit the 0.5% probability of risk A worrying that still haunts my mind.

So you're not alone about your pondering, @RedheadDane

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He has had a great career and was very much a big part of the Sky dominance in the Tour. One of the best domestics we have seen in the GTs. You dont see that on his palmares, you just had to watch it to know how good he was.

He still got 81 wins of his own, as mentioned.

...but he never turned into Tom Boonen...and there was a point where he was hyped as thst being possible. Something I would have loved to see. But go ahead, take offense...

 

[Squire]

Yes, but there was a point where he was lauded as possibly becoming a dominant force in the peloton, so let's not go overboard here on his success.

I appreciated the joke.

There are a few interesting what ifs regarding his career. If his body was able to absorb nutrients during a race like other riders, and if he was riding for a team with less rigid tactics and GT focus during his prime years.

Edit: Quote got messed up. Replying to @ChewbaccaDefense.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I can support Rabobank now they are once again the most ill-fated team in the peloton, been getting Peak Belkin vibes the past few weeks.

Mick van Dijke is going to surprise us all today, or Tim, whichever the best one is, and he certainly won't be suffering a poorly timed puncture. Think Lars Boom in that Tour stage he won, and not Sep Vanmarcke in every single monument he rode.