Paris-Roubaix 2026, one day monument, April 12

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Bissegger says the podium is very well possible for him today. A victory within reach as well.

You gotta bring some confidence, I guess.

 

[AmRacer]

How's the weather forecast and the condition of the cobble sectors?

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's hard to believe how much faster they ride Paris-Roubaix nowadays compared to twenty years ago.

In 2006 Cancellara won the race in 6h 07' 54". Last year he would have been out of time with that. The winner's speed went from 42.2 km/h in 2006 to 47.8 km/h in 2024.

Material improvements are disk brakes, single chainrings and better aerodynamics. The biggest difference are the tires. They are wider and have a lower pressure. Van der Poel and Pogacar will probably use tires of 35 mm, while 25 mm was the norm two decades ago.

 

[KoopaCycling]

With improved material, chaos in Roubaix get reduced every year. As such it is not the same race as it was 20 years ago.
Still a grand old race, but not the same. As such we can assume pogacar cleans this one today.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don‘t think chaos and punctures have been reduced that much. The new material have contributed to the speed increase, but I think about half the contenders have at least one mechanical during the race. Don‘t think the likes of Cancellara had more punctures.

 

[Taxus4a]

Personally, I am with WVA this time. He deseerves another monument and he had bad luck this year at some cobbles races. He did the mistake at Flandes to try to follow Pogacar and he payed it later. He is better than his result but anyway he is not at the level of MVDP for Roubaix today.
But we face the possibility of History for Pogacar. By one side, maybe he doenst come back if he win...what a pity, but I would understand. But is always nice to see a man of his weight, the favourite for TdF, to win this race. He deseerves to have 5 monuments. In this era is more difficult than when De Vlaemick or Van Loy got It, becouse Lombardia had lot of flat at the end. Pogacar has changed cycling nowadays. Yesterdays Seixas attacked with no sense, his director was ungry and told him WTF are you doing, stop, and he send him to *** ( we say in Spain mandar a la mierda). Vingegaard has attacked sometimes from far with no real necessity, and so on...Ir is more in the charácter and capacity of Remco those long attacks, but maybe are today influenced by Pogacar. It is not just to win, you have to win from far if the profile help to that.
We must be very gratefull to that to Pogacar. So I am with him this race ( maybe not the rest of the year) and I hope he uses the best strayegy for that even if that imply dont collaborate with MVDP when no necessary.
Van der Poel. He is one of the best riders for this race on history. Maybe the best. He deseerves to have as well a 4th tittle and to make history. He is the clear favourite and Pogacar must act like this.
Pedersen. He is a very talented Rider for this race and a foldman Who put lot of pasión and training. One of the clear favourites with bad weather conditions, especially cold. He counts, of course.
Ganna. Another super rider for this race. He has showed when overpass WVA he is in good shape and how good he IS on the flat after 200 km with cobbles. Good to have him here. The race has more level.
Another riders could be there and play a role, real specialist for this races and strong Riders, but for me these are the real contenders to win in normal conditions.

Enjoy this magic edition of this amazing tace! This is real history of cycling.

 

[gavia88]

I think the length is generally ok, but what I have really felt is that the race needs one more really hard section of cobbles after the Carrefour, say a 4 star with about 8k to go. (Not sure that’s feasible, it’s just what I think the race needs.) I just feel like the air kind of goes out of the race a touch once they come of the Carrefour and take that right turn, though I accept that 2016 was one of the most exciting finishes ever and most of that happened in the last 15k. A contradiction perhaps, but I just recall being really ticked off that Sep was the strongest on the Carrefour but was not rewarded for that.

If nothing else I would for sure like to see more effort put into keeping the riders on the cobbles by preventing/discouraging/blocking the riders from riding the packed dirt on the side of road; that stuff is like riding fresh tarmac compared to the cobbles and really reduces the effort massively.

Anyway, I’ll be tuned in at the start, can’t wait for this one. Heart says Wout, but head says Pog. I think Pog has the momentum, hes on a quest to make history, and I think barring disaster he will find a way to win this one.

a few years ago they were talking about a new section replacing the one of Hem. But a few year later it apparently didn't happen and nobody is talking about it anymore.

 

[RedheadDane]

For everyone who wants rain, I have some bad news:
The sun is shining at the velodrome.

 

[vappa]

Third Pogačar vs Van der Poel battle this year, the first two were won by Pogačar so Van der Poel is under pressure to turn at least get one major win this season.

I am going with Van der Poel to win this and become the first rider ever to win 4 Paris Roubaix in a row. Very hard to see him getting dropped (bad luck aside) and in the sprint he should have the upperhand against Pogačar.

Pogačar still has a decent chance of winning though because I see him dropping everyone not named Van der Poel and then benefitting from some bad luck. If he does it, not only he will all 5 monuments but also will all 5 of them in less than 12 months which would be one of the biggest feats in the history of this sport.

I wouldn't mind Van Aert or Pedersen winning this though. Both of them have a decent chance of taking the winning if they don't get dropped which is obviously a big if.

I would argue that 5 monuments in a season (if he actually pulls this off) is more complicated than 3 GTs in a season and thus the biggest feat in cycling

 

[QueenStagiaire]

View: https://youtu.be/BPLbOO_VT0o?si=cRcXRjHS30miOWuc

Interview with the top favorite.

 

[RedheadDane]

View: https://youtu.be/BPLbOO_VT0o?si=cRcXRjHS30miOWuc

Interview with the top favorite.

The top favourite who hasn't done recon?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

For everyone who wants rain, I have some bad news:
The sun is shining at the velodrome.

They do also ride outside the velodrome, too, you know.

 

[RedheadDane]

They do also ride outside the velodrome, too, you know.

I'll bring a report from the start once I've seen images.

Seems the interviews they're showing are from yesterday.

 

[Netserk]

a few years ago they were talking about a new section replacing the one of Hem. But a few year later it apparently didn't happen and nobody is talking about it anymore.

thankfully

if anything the route is too backloaded , and it is plenty selective

 

[ice&fire]

The top favourite who hasn't done recon?

Does he need it being the top favorite?

 

[RedheadDane]

Does he need it being the top favorite?

I think it might help...


According to Mads P, Trek has made a "*** plan".

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The largest climb on the course comes after 18 kilometers, I think Pogačar should use that to attack.

 

[ice&fire]

I think it might help...


According to Mads P, Trek has made a "*** plan".

I'm surprised to know that Mads needs Trek to made a *** plan for him. The way he rides looks like the *** plan is of his own.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The top favourite who hasn't done recon?

He only has to ride fast and not crash. More info than that is not required.

I think it might help...


According to Mads P, Trek has made a "*** plan".

It should be a five star plan for this race.

 

[Taxus4a]

I forgot Phillipsen. last year had an impiortant role, and hisn presence makes more favourite to MVDP. He won Wevelgen, but It is a mistery if his shape is enought to this race. It would be a surprise for me if he is ok to help Mathiu or play a role as last year and the team try to hide It.

 

[Monsi]

I forgot Phillipsen. last year had an impiortant role, and hisn presence makes more favourite to MVDP. He won Wevelgen, but It is a mistery if his shape is enought to this race. It would be a surprise for me if he is ok to help Mathiu or play a role as last year and the team try to hide It.

Apparently Philipsen has been dealing with sickness before PR so he may not be in the best of form.

 

[Netserk]

View: https://youtu.be/BPLbOO_VT0o?si=cRcXRjHS30miOWuc

Interview with the top favorite.

the entire team should work nonstop the first 100 km to place him in the break . guaranteed podium then

 

[Tim Cahill]

They should've told Larsen in advance so he can properly prepare for this race like Tour of Denmark and Loir et Cher

 

[Netserk]

redbull with red helmets

no other gimmicks ? visma without brains this year ?

 

[YavorD]

Paris Roubaix has the single biggest problem of all the monuments, but the one that is easiest to fix:

It is too short (Monuments should be 6 hours at least).

I am not saying this only out of principal, but in this specific case it could also improve the racing. The last 160k are great, but the 100k of tarmac before are too short. This screws the break and makes the whole race less interesting.

If break formation takes 30-40k and then the fight for position starts 20-30k before the first cobble sector. Then a single rider like Dillier only needs to control for 30-50k and can easily hold any break at 2 minutes, making it pretty irrelevant.


So I would suggest adding 30-40k of distance (pure tarmac). They could also start in the north of Paris again by doing this, making the name more accurate. Then the break would have more distance to gain significant time before the cobbles. This would make the break relevant (again) and also weaken the favourite's team more by having to control a longer distance.

I might be mistaken, but Roubaix is the monument where the break is the most relevant out of them all.
We often see people finishing top 10 out of the break already.
I don't think you need to fix something if it isn't broken (at least as far as the break argument goes).