Paris - Roubaix 2024, one day monument, April 7

[Volderke]

Was it downhill just before Arenberg earlier or also slightly downhill along the cobbled section? If the there is uphill along the section going the other way, it should provide even bigger chance to create gaps in Arenberg (save from crashes).

Arenberg (as they do it now) goes downhil 2-3% in the first 500 meters. After that, it undulates but very little and where they come off and go left is the lowest point of the secteur.

The stressfull part is those first 4-500 meter where everybody arrives at 50+ K/hr and goes 2-3% downhill so no other option than to try and keep that speed while the bike/wheels feels like breaking up any moment.
It's a 3-3:30 minute effort at 400-450 watt.

If they would arrive at the opposite direction, the speed they enter will be slightly lower but not by much.

 

[tobydawq]

Sounds like something that could be achieved by dropping cobbles from. let's say. a helicopter.

Do they do it while the riders are riding there? That could also prove efficient.

 

[Nick2413]

How does the average power profile for PR compare to Flanders? Is it still a little lower despite more cobbled riding?

 

[Volderke]

How does the average power profile for PR compare to Flanders? Is it still a little lower despite more cobbled riding?

about the same power, but RVV is 30-40 minutes longer.

 

[Sciatic]

On the subject of crazy ideas, why not get them to race over the nearby slag heaps in Raismes? That would thin out the peloton and coming from Raismes they would enter Arenberg via the right-hand turn.

Fancy racing along a slag heap? Welcome to Raismes

They come in groups, alone, with friends or as a family to take part in an extraordinary event: the Slag Heap Race. Expert or novice, young or old, the 5000 annual runners can choose the event w

www.pnr-scarpe-escaut.com

It would also add to the historic value of the race

 

[RedheadDane]

More cobbles dont suddenly halve the group sprinting into the Arenberg trench

My "thought" was that if part of the problem is the abrupt change from tarnac to cobbles, then... make it less abrupt!
Of course, practically it wouldn't be possible.

I think maybe RhD means cobbles directly in Arenberg going into the forest that string out the bunch before the really bad cobbles start.

Basically this.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775555073629729232

View: https://twitter.com/parisroubaix/status/1775555073629729232


It is official now.

 

[pastronef]

someone will more injured than if they crashed in the forest

 

[Extinction]

So now they can crash in the chicane AND the forest. Brilliant.

 

[ice&fire]

Someone needs to invent a headwind machine. That would probably be a safer way to slow the peloton down.

 

[search]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775555073629729232

View: https://twitter.com/parisroubaix/status/1775555073629729232


It is official now.

good to see @Benotti69 still babbling about motor doping in the replies to that tweet. Has been a while since I saw his name

 

[Amazinmets87]

Weather updates?

 

[RedheadDane]

So now they can crash in the chicane AND the forest. Brilliant.

Then I suppose they can just file it under
"Ideas that didn't work", and drop the chicane for next year.

 

[pastronef]

good to see @Benotti69 still babbling about motor doping in the replies to that tweet. Has been a while since I saw his name

ahahah Benotti still going on about motors. dear me. EVERYTHING is about motors for him. ASO changes the Arenberg approach: MOTORS! the greatest thing about these invisible motors is they are not there and nothing will ever happen to give Benotti the joy of saying "I told you". he'll blab forever in his echo chamber and never fcking enjoy a race.
back to the racing: ROUBAIX, wow. the joy
the joy

 

[Extinction]

Then I suppose they can just file it under
"Ideas that didn't work", and drop the chicane for next year.

Yea, but can you imagine if half the field goes down in the chicane? I doubt the organiation would simply chalk it up to, "oops, we tried". It would be a travesty, in addition to a farce.

 

[Red Rick]

Yea, but can you imagine if half the field goes down in the chicane? I doubt the organiation would simply chalk it up to, "oops, we tried". It would be a travesty, in addition to a farce.

Then riders should finally take some responsibility for their own riding.

The whole problem with the Arenberg trench is that you can be in a perfect position, hit the cobbles at 65kph and then your bike decides to break and injure you

 

[ice&fire]

Yea, but can you imagine if half the field goes down in the chicane? I doubt the organiation would simply chalk it up to, "oops, we tried". It would be a travesty, in addition to a farce.

It's a CPA request, so the organiser will point his finger to the appropriate target.

 

[Extinction]

Then riders should finally take some responsibility for their own riding.

The whole problem with the Arenberg trench is that you can be in a perfect position, hit the cobbles at 65kph and then your bike decides to break and injure you

This is something else to consider, back in the day they were on steel frames and entered at 55kph and nothing broke, but it's not like they were going slow. PR is a unique race for a particular type of rider! I understand riders are scared, but were they no less so in the past? It's an essential part of PR (danger and fear), otherwise take the Forest out, right? And will the chicane do something to make it "safer"?

 

[search]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775573185171177660

View: https://twitter.com/stefanorizzato/status/1775573185171177660

 

[QueenStagiaire]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775573185171177660

View: https://twitter.com/stefanorizzato/status/1775573185171177660

Netserk is Thierry Gouvenou confirmed!
Also, 30-35 kph??

 

[Ricco']

If we get rain, the braking point will be over the wet railroad

 

[Extinction]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775573185171177660

View: https://twitter.com/stefanorizzato/status/1775573185171177660

Mamma mia!

 

[Extinction]

Effectively, they are neutralizing the race for that point or else it will be pure carnage.

 

[pastronef]

I think the peloton will race Haveluy at warp speed to stretch them to the max. one long line hopefully

 

[Netserk]

Netserk is Thierry Gouvenou confirmed!
Also, 30-35 kph??

The first rider can maybe reach 30 km/h by the time he enters the forest, but the turn will see more riders standing still than Molenberg.

The most radical solution would be to use the chicane between the train tracks and the cobbles, forcing the riders to an almost stand-still.