Paris - Roubaix 2024, one day monument, April 7

[Sciatic]

Many people are underestimating Van der Poel for liege bastogne liege. He can win the race if he focus the preparation for that race plus the shape he have at the moment, plus not going to amstel and rest until there.

I doubt the riders he’d face at LBL are underestimating him given what h’s showed the past few weeks.

 

[Tim Cahill]

A bit harsh on Van Dijke I think, yeah he cut the corner but it made absolutely no difference as they'd just let him go

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I've just voted Tarling. I believe he came first on the horse route.

A Dane should know not to ride the white horse.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Honestly don't even think Van der Poel expected this to be the winning move, but when everyone else capitulates instantly...

funny quote to pull back from mid race. But you are actually right.

Van der Poel did not make this move to go solo. He said afterwards it was just a tester. Field is just so washed that he could go on.
Race really needs a good Van Aert/Visma honestly. Maybe he would not beat him but at least it would've been very interesting.

I do think personally VDP made another step up compared to last year. This looks more like Glasgow VDP. Not sure even prime Van Aert can do anything here

 

[RedheadDane]

A Dane should know not to ride the white horse.

A Dane once very famously rode a white horse.
Or maybe it wasn't quite white, and they sorta chalked it whiter...

 

[KZD]

Its true that this wasn't the most interesting edition of Paris-Roubaix but Van der Poel's performance today was just extraordinary, it lacked the drama of the Worlds last year but it was as impressive as that one. It also ended the idea, at least for me, that Van der Poel is stronger in Flanders than in Roubaix and gives him his 6th monument win, now one more than Pogačar.

Not only was Van der Poel the strongest rider, Alpecin was also the strongest team controlling the race from afar which coupled with some good fortune enabled not only Van der Poel to win but also Philipsen to finish second again and even a very hard working Vermeersch to get sixth.

Sadly other teams were either too feable to start with or suffered too much bad luck to be a serious threat. Still a stoic performance from Pedersen once more and also good performances from the Groupama duo, Waerenskjold , Mihkels and even from the Visma youngsters. Pidcock also with a decent elite debut.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You didn't see Boonen in his prime right?

yup, this is exactly the same when Boonen went for 50k solo's and won with Quick Step controlling behind. Or with Cancellara, or in the past with Museeuw

Also, it usually comes with the star. If your leader is that good, you become more motivated as a teammate. Morale is at an all time high

 

[awavey]

Spent way too much of my day watching this. Maybe it’s time to stop bothering with the elite men’s races and watch the others.

My theory was to watch the start, go for a bike ride aim to get back for the finish...which didn't work, just, probably 30mins too late in the end, and it was obviously because it was the fastest ever and not because I was hideously slow or anything

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

hmm, idk. While I want to believe. There's just so many climbers that are stronger than VDP. LBL is really at the limit of what he can do, and with Pogacar there it's just really difficult to imagine.

Even AGR is gonna be hard with Ayuso lining up

I don't think Ayuso is the only problem for AGR. But he's lucky Evenepoel is not riding. For AGR now i would also seriously look at Skjelmose and Healy.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't think Ayuso is the only problem for AGR. But he's lucky Evenepoel is not riding. For AGR now i would also seriously look at Skjelmose and Healy.

Yeah I'm well aware. Ofcourse VDP is also stronger than he was. But he's gonna have difficulty with all these 60kg climbers and freak Pogi

 

[Tim Cahill]

VdP couldn't beat Pogacar in Flanders, he won't beat him in LBL even in this form

UAE's entire team, Healy, Carapaz, Pidcock, Skjelmose, Teuns, Jorg will be tough to beat in Amstel

 

[skippo12]

Alpecin was stronger than any version of Visma or Quickstep in the last 10-12 years. Almost have to feel bad for Vermeersch. Probably could have followed the second group but played it perfectly for the team. Still easily dropped the 3rd group and caught Pithie.

 

[DNP-Old]

hmm, idk. While I want to believe. There's just so many climbers that are stronger than VDP. LBL is really at the limit of what he can do, and with Pogacar there it's just really difficult to imagine.

Even AGR is gonna be hard with Ayuso lining up

I don't think Ayuso is the only problem for AGR. But he's lucky Evenepoel is not riding. For AGR now i would also seriously look at Skjelmose and Healy.

Tbh, Spaniards hate, abhor, detest and despise the Gold Race for its many twist and turns. From Valverde to Freire, they all went home seasick. I think Van der Poel smokes Ayuso here.

 

[AmRacer]

Amstel will probably be more of the same.............

Since Remco crashed.

 

[Rob5091]

Chapeau MvdP & Philipsen & Alpecin. The win was expected and he duly delivered from 60 km out.
To be honest, the race was done in a manic manner - due to the tailwind I suppose, and the pressure to always be at the front.
That it was the fastest ever is not surprising. (even without WvA) As the last 3 years races have been the fastest ever, is also not a surprise.

 

[houtdffan]

Notice how nobody crashed in either the forest or chicane?

got lucky the race had already split up

would have been a disaster had the peloton been together

 

[Tim Cahill]

OTLing people in this race always seemed po-faced

 

[Screecher]

Watching Alpecin bully the peloton was pretty depressing. Almost felt bad for some of them.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

That race is a replacement for one that went under, so it's already a bit of a Mickey Mouse event.

A race with froome, Pozzovivo and vinokurov cannot be Mickey mouse. It is a serious event . Thanks

 

[Izzyeviel]

Well thats the season over. Nothing to do now until the Omloop starts.

 

[RedheadDane]

OTLing people in this race always seemed po-faced

"Aren't you proud you made it to the Velodrome? Too bad, doesn't count!"

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

yup, this is exactly the same when Boonen went for 50k solo's and won with Quick Step controlling behind. Or with Cancellara, or in the past with Museeuw

Also, it usually comes with the star. If your leader is that good, you become more motivated as a teammate. Morale is at an all time high

2010 Paris Roubaix average speed 39.32kmh (the one where people question whether Fabian had a motor)

2012 Paris Roubaix average speed 43.4kmh (Last time Boonen won)

2024 Paris Roubaix average speed 47.85kmh (And they had a freaking chicane)

Canc and Boonen don't make top 50 in todays race. Max Walscheid Joey Rosskopf is a superior rider to both of them.

EDIT:
In fact, every rider (even those outside of the time cut) beat Canc, and they also beat Boonen. Both are OTL in today's race.

You do the math.

 

[Red Rick]

Did I miss something or was Van Dijke relegated?

 

[Faserr]

Did I miss something or was Van Dijke relegated?

Yes. Relegated.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I felt sorry for the commentators. They had to continue talking for over an hour when the race was already decided.

"You have some more interesting statistics to share with the viewers?"