Paris - Roubaix 2024, one day monument, April 7

[Volderke]

FYI, Arenberg has been done in the other direction before. The discussion about the safety of entering this section downhill has been going on for decades.
It's just not easy to keep the 'flow' of the cobble sections if doing Arenberg the other way around (in short, it's a detour with more asphalt in between), so for now, they keep the S-->N direction and hope for the best.

But the reality is that many favourites have seen their race lost at Arenberg (Boonen), or worse, have crashed and had to abandon the race (last year, the winner of 2022 Dylan van Baarle), and more extreme, some have had career-threatening injuries (Johan Museeuw).

So it's not that strange (I would call it respectful) to consider measurements in order to try and improve the safety of riders. It's a big thrill to see them going into the forest at 50-68(*)K/hr, but it a recipe for chaos (and some might even call it hell) and there is a fine balance between riders providing us entertainment vs. the rider's safety situation.

(*) Ganna almost got to 70K/hr while chasing the favourites' group in 2022...!

 

[RedheadDane]

I'll admit, this is crazy, and mostly a joke.

Maybe add more cobbles on the run-in to Arenberg, but make it so they get gradually worse.

 

[kn0s]

Three bunny hops right before the start, job done.

 

[tobydawq]

Just gather the goats who have been grazing the cobbles before the entrance of the forest. The riders would slow down to check them out. Problem solved.



Seriously, I think a chicane is a good idea and I don't see the problem with introducing it four days in advance. It's not like suddenly removing or adding a climb to a stage.

 

[AmRacer]

I think we should have them enter the forest at a completely different point and have them make their way to the other side on foot. Just seems more fair imo.

Why not, I mean if you can run up a mountain without your bike....

 

[AmRacer]

Just gather the goats who have been grazing the cobbles before the entrance of the forest. The riders would slow down to check them out. Problem solved.



Seriously, I think a chicane is a good idea and I don't see the problem with introducing it four days in advance. It's not like suddenly removing or adding a climb to a stage.

If MvdP is informed and made sure he understands the change, then it's okay I guess.

 

[Volderke]

I'll admit, this is crazy, and mostly a joke.

Maybe add more cobbles on the run-in to Arenberg, but make it so they get gradually worse.

In 2022, the group of favourites with WvA and MvdP entered Arenberg with a small lead on the peloton, after they forced it on the previous secteur (Haveluy). So yes, riders do have a choice to try and go up the road. There aren't any worse secteurs nearby Arenberg than Haveluy, so that base is already covered.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

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

 

[Volderke]

They actually have those, but I guess that's not enough

 

[Berflamand]

I don't really understand the negative perception towards the possible introduction of a chicane before Arenberg.

Yes it probably doesn't prevent crashes from happening now before or in the chicane but I think it does reduce the risk for serious injuries because the crashes won't happen at 60km/h on a two metre wide cobbled sector.

I also think it might make the Arenberg sector even harder because they will hit it at lower speed.

Imo, it's at least worth a try and afterwards it can be evaluated if it had any positive effects.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Is Ganna going to be doing this race? A tag team with him and Tarling would be fun to watch (but not so much fun for anyone trying to follow)

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I think we should have them enter the forest at a completely different point and have them make their way to the other side on foot. Just seems more fair imo.

I wouldn't mind a bit of bike orienteering in some races. It could shake up a few boring flat stages if the breakaway suddenly discovered a shorter route than the peloton.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'll admit, this is crazy, and mostly a joke.

Maybe add more cobbles on the run-in to Arenberg, but make it so they get gradually worse.

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

 

[AmRacer]

I wouldn't mind a bit of bike orienteering in some races. It could shake up a few boring flat stages if the breakaway suddenly discovered a shorter route than the peloton.

Or a detour so they arrive one hour after the peloton.🤣

 

[Salvarani]

I wouldn't mind a bit of bike orienteering in some races. It could shake up a few boring flat stages if the breakaway suddenly discovered a shorter route than the peloton.

I already made a list of riders, who would fail miserable at that. They would just set off and go completely the wrong way.

 

[Lequack]

Made a separate women's thread here:

Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2024, one day monument, April 6 (women's)

Fourth edition of this women's Parix-Roubaix. SD Worx don't have it all their way this year, will we have an actual race on out hands? Last year it was an unexpected win by the Canadian Alison Jackson, who was part of a winning breakaway. Notable riders: Vos, Kopecky, Wiebes, Consonni, Balsamo...

forum.cyclingnews.com

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Or a detour so they arrive one hour after the peloton.🤣

It would be a gamble at times, if one route has more climbing in it or less favourable wind and weather conditions, but if you believe you're gonna get caught anyway, it might be worth the risk.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

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

While they're riding?
Sounds selective to me.

 

[hayneplane]

Is Ganna going to be doing this race? A tag team with him and Tarling would be fun to watch (but not so much fun for anyone trying to follow)

Very unlikely as he is on altitude camp at the moment with Ineos core Giro squad plus Pogacar who tagged along to a training ride a couple of days ago.

 

[OlavEH]

FYI, Arenberg has been done in the other direction before. The discussion about the safety of entering this section downhill has been going on for decades.
It's just not easy to keep the 'flow' of the cobble sections if doing Arenberg the other way around (in short, it's a detour with more asphalt in between), so for now, they keep the S-->N direction and hope for the best.

But the reality is that many favourites have seen their race lost at Arenberg (Boonen), or worse, have crashed and had to abandon the race (last year, the winner of 2022 Dylan van Baarle), and more extreme, some have had career-threatening injuries (Johan Museeuw).

So it's not that strange (I would call it respectful) to consider measurements in order to try and improve the safety of riders. It's a big thrill to see them going into the forest at 50-68(*)K/hr, but it a recipe for chaos (and some might even call it hell) and there is a fine balance between riders providing us entertainment vs. the rider's safety situation.

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).

 

[repre]

Ok, last night I had a dream where Alexander Kristoff won this race from the breakaway. It was very vivid actually and MVDP was solo and catching him fast but not fast enough. MVDP also was involved in a huge crash earlier and that held him back and let Kristoff win, but a win is a win and it's going to happen! I just saw the future

nah, mate. MvP doesn't crash, he is all luck after his Flanders-2019 crash...

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Mads the salesman

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqBpHo-ukGY

Just for this I have voted for Mads.

 

[rallybanana]

I think we should have them enter the forest at a completely different point and have them make their way to the other side on foot. Just seems more fair imo.

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

 

[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.