Paris-Roubaix 2025, one day monument, April 13 (men)

[masking_agent]

Gilbert never rode solo into the velodrome.

ah I forgot that. thanks for reminding me. its been so long

 

[topcat]

ah I forgot that. thanks for reminding me. its been so long

6 years since Gilbert outsprinted Politt in the velodrome.

 

[kingjr]

Do you get why American baseball fans hate the Dodgers or many European football fans hate Real Madrid or Manchester City?

Any hate should be directed at the others for not being good enough.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Gilbert never rode solo into the velodrome.

Gilbert Duclos Lassalle did though

 

[tobydawq]

Gilbert Duclos Lassalle did though

Touché

 

[Samamba]

So probably no rain but echelons

 

[hayneplane]

I'd go for Tarling, Walscheid, Rex, Groves, Bisseger, Abrahamsen...

Think Abrahamsen would be a very good shout to be in the break of the day then outlast his compatriots to end up top 5/10 at the finish.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Any hate should be directed at the others for not being good enough.

I only punch up, not down.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

After today, I just don't rate Philipsen as a real contender. He hasn't shown great form this spring, YET. I just don't see him being able to beat any of the other major players right now, unless for some reason he were in a long break that holds on to the end, but I cannot imagine anyone letting him up the road, so I don't think that happens.

 

[VanBsr]

This talk again... tell me a non cobbles specialist who does/did great in RVV and PR (in last 15 years)? Only two names, Pogacar and Gilbert.

I remember Andy Schleck following Cancellara fabulously on the cobbles during the 2010 Tour, with Cadel Evans also in his wheel.

 

[kingjr]

I only punch up, not down.

I guess the way I'm looking at it is this: If A happens to be better than B, I want to look for a way B can get to the level of A instead of hoping A disappears or declines back to the level of B.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I remember Andy Schleck following Cancellara fabulously on the cobbles during the 2010 Tour, with Cadel Evans also in his wheel.

First, Stages with 10 km of cobbles are not exactly the same as PR with 260 km and 60 km of cobbles.
Other thing is: Do you really think Cancellara was going all out?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I guess the way I'm looking at it is this: If A happens to be better than B, I want to look for a way B can get to the level of A instead of hoping A disappears or declines back to the level of B.

I don't think physiologically, anyone can match the genetic talent of Pog or Mathieu. No amount of training will change the physiological reality everyone else faces. Certainly, that doesn't mean nobody else has a chance of winning, but that will almost certainly require misfortune or tactical mistakes...and with Pog, he's strong enough to overcome both.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'm looking at a slight uptick in Quick Steps performance which may spill into PR. Hopefully the team can play a serious role.

 

[kingjr]

I don't think physiologically, anyone can match the genetic talent of Pog or Mathieu. No amount of training will change the physiological reality everyone else faces. Certainly, that doesn't mean nobody else has a chance of winning, but that will almost certainly require misfortune or tactical mistakes...and with Pog, he's strong enough to overcome both.

I think P-R this year is wide open, certainly now that van der Poel is apparently still not over his illness.

 

[jono]

I think P-R this year is wide open, certainly now that van der Poel is apparently still not over his illness.

Is there an article about this somewhere?

 

[kingjr]

Is there an article about this somewhere?

No, it was Berniece in the vdP thread who said that, who I don't believe is the type to pull that out of their ass. Maybe they have an inside source, idk.

 

[Red Rick]

I remember Andy Schleck following Cancellara fabulously on the cobbles during the 2010 Tour, with Cadel Evans also in his wheel.

Main difference that day was made by Fränk Schleck heroically sacrificing his collarbone for his younger brothers GC bid.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910008507862045071

View: https://x.com/BLAZJEMEC69/status/1910008507862045071

 

[SHAD0W93]

Main difference that day was made by Fränk Schleck heroically sacrificing his collarbone for his younger brothers GC bid.

Frank did and sacrificed more for Andy’s GC bid than Andy ever returned to Frank.

 

[Purito91]

Valverde never won Amstel though, despite riding it most years and it being in the period where he peaked for. I don't see that he would have been able to win Flanders, had he targeted it properly, when he couldn't win Amstel which suited him much better and he did target.

You say he could have a much more diverse palmares, but he never won Amstel and he never won Lombardia. And he did target those races. Sure he came close, but the fact he didn't win races fairly similar to his best terrain shows I don't think he could have won on more diverse terrain.

He should have won amstel and lombardia at leat one time in his carreer. But the problem with valverde was always that he just rode passiv and did not attacked.
Then, when the decisive move came he just wait for others to folllow.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

After today, I just don't rate Philipsen as a real contender. He hasn't shown great form this spring, YET. I just don't see him being able to beat any of the other major players right now, unless for some reason he were in a long break that holds on to the end, but I cannot imagine anyone letting him up the road, so I don't think that happens.

I can see him beating Van Aert in a sprint but that would require a Pog and MvdP crash or badly-timed mechanical.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Pogi gonna wind it up right at the Carrefour de L'Arbre (the duclos la salle attack point) and say bye bye and probably ride solo into the velodrome as did Gilbert did many years ago.

My memory must be rusty. I was quite positive that his solo win and breakaway from his competitors (a strong break already established at Arenberg) was before Carrefour de L'Abre. But I've just checked the results list from that edition, time gaps seems too small for a much longer solo attack.
(Regretfully, I lost my VHS with the full splendid coverage with my by then preferred speakers, but now you've set me for a late night task ).

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I think P-R this year is wide open, certainly now that van der Poel is apparently still not over his illness.

In all honesty, while I hope for a Wout win, I would also be elated to see someone throw a monkey wrench into the narrative, and do something stupid that nets them a win. Vansummeren wins are joyful experiences for a lot of people.

 

[Cookster15]

He should have won amstel and lombardia at leat one time in his carreer. But the problem with valverde was always that he just rode passiv and did not attacked.
Then, when the decisive move came he just wait for others to folllow.

Pretty understandable knowing Valverde's strengths: An elite climber who had the best sprint.

If you are a betting man who can sprint you would bet the best chance to win a race is to follow the attacks then win the sprint. Cycling 101. Having said this, Valverde's 2018 world title win at Innsbruck won me over on that monster course.