Paris-Roubaix 2026, one day monument, April 12

[Hugh Januss]

Yeah but probably not many had as big a farce as MVDP bike change.

An homage to the Keystone Cops or maybe the Three Stooges

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

We're not seeing many cases of a leading group being caught in the last 10-15 kilometers (at least in the big races). A shame. It used to be one of the characteristics of cycling, and as a viewer, you knew that the suspense would increase towards the end.

Now, the motorbikes keep the speed up and reduce factors like the wind and the drag. It's not that costly to be sitting out in front.

I know some say the motorbikes have always been there, sure - but the races are also different these years. The top 5 riders are much stronger than the second best. They don't need help to be dominating.

It would be great if there was more focus on removing the mentioned external factors. We have great ways of filming the riders nowadays, with drones supplementing the helicopters well. The front view shots from motorbikes are no longer as important to the understanding of the races. I also doubt that the world really needs dozens of still photographers on the road in a race.

In any case, fairness should be prioritised above media access. My suggestion is introducing a 3 second rule as the default minimum distance between motorbikes and riders.

(And yes, I was happy to see Van Aert take the win today instead of the usual suspect, but it doesn't change my view on the tendency.)

Yeah, there are a lot of vehicles and motorbikes in the race, and they definitely affect the outcome, IMO. They barrage some riders, but can't always do that for everyone, and the camera bikes in a race like this, with the technical turns and sectors, give a draft.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Pogacar, being slower, shouldn't have taken turns at the front. But those who complained about the rotations the other day said nothing today.

We're blinded by fanaticism.In the end, the problem wasn't the riders taking turns at the front; it's whoever doesn't win, whoever we don't want

 

[canina82]

Yeah but probably not many had as big a farce as MVDP bike change.

But a lot of that time was due to panic. If Jasper didn't stop and Del Grosso gives him his bike, he would lose way less

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Conditions were absolutely perfect today, tailwind and very dry cobbles, 139 finishers inside the time limit and Alastair Mackellar outside the cut, few crashes as well

Until we got to the first images in the women's race. I am not sure who that was on the ground, on the right, but she was not moving, and it looked really bad.

 

[noob]

Anyone else who didn't even noticed who got bronze?

I literally still don't know. I was too high on my own adrenaline

 

[Didinho]

Yeah but probably not many had as big a farce as MVDP bike change.

Who even decides to put riders on different pedals in a monument.

 

[Red Rick]

Who even decides to put riders on different pedals in a monument.

Jasper Philipsen, cycling terrorist.

 

[Sciatic]

He was 25" behind and somehow was lucky Bora helped him.

He helped BORA as well—one of the two didn’t take turns chasing

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Anyone else who didn't even noticed who got bronze?

I literally still don't know. I was too high on my own adrenaline

Jasper Stuyven, although you don‘t get Bronze here, just a small cobblestone

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Jasper Philipsen, cycling terrorist.

It was a heat of the moment thing, but I also sometimes get the feeling that Jasper has the intelligence of a Golden Retriever.

 

[Red Rick]

It was a heat of the moment thing, but I also sometimes get the feeling that Jasper has the intelligence of a Golden Retriever.

Well what can I say, Flatcoats are the master race breed

 

[noob]

Jasper Stuyven, although you don‘t get Bronze here, just a small cobblestone

Oh! I didn't think his attack would be enough!

 

[Unchained]

Yeah but probably not many had as big a farce as MVDP bike change.

Much longer waits for majority, elites have spare bikes provided roof to the road, no dropper post, no 120 stem, with neutral seat, 40 bars like Shimano neutral support bikes,
MvdP made strategic decision to wait for his bike instead of ride teammates, ride broken bike with new front wheel. His chase was absolutely monumental, the guy is an absolute machine, he rides with such control and discipline that he is the example of racing in control.
He knew if he chased harder, alone, he would just drag a bunch of wheel suckers and maybe blow up trying to hard to cross the gap. The effort he put in to close the gap on the best classics, best riders in the world was absolutely amazing.
His presence of mind to find his friend Wout laying on the ground in disbelief to give immediate congratulations was sportsmanship, friendship 101.
Mathieu van der Poel won today in my mind, guy is awesome.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Yeah, there are a lot of vehicles and motorbikes in the race, and they definitely affect the outcome, IMO. They barrage some riders, but can't always do that for everyone, and the camera bikes in a race like this, with the technical turns and sectors, give a draft.

They do give a draft except for the times they park in the exit of corners

 

[RobertCrawley]

Wout and Ted's Most Excellent Adventure! The last 20 km was a measure of ever-diminishing fuel in the tank of both riders. Some will criticize Wout for sitting on in sections that favored Tadej but his #1 job is to stay in the fight. He took turns when he could and his team car could definitely notice that Tadej needed to get out of the saddle to recover every time he took Wout's wheel in the last 10km. That boded well for Wout's sprint and, if they gave and he needed advice it would be: make Tadej lead in the low lane on the track. Tadej's track strategy was losing from the second they rolled in...Wout kicked from the higher bank in a smaller, quicker gear. The gap he got was unbridgeable by Tadej; particularly grinding that big gear. In fairness; that was the maximum rpm Tadej could turn at that point. He may play that in his head for many nights after viewing the video.
Real hero, though: RBH medical staff in Austria that put Wout back together without him losing much form. They worked wonders with Lindsey Vonn to get her Olympic ready, too.

Hard to forget that crash at Pau on the barrier at the 2019 Tour. It was so gruesome people hid it from the cameras with the barrier.

Today, it looked like MVDP was going to catch them. The seconds were dropping quickly. But somehow Wout and Tadej dug deeper and pushed the gap back up. It was glorious riding.

 

[noob]

It was a heat of the moment thing, but I also sometimes get the feeling that Jasper has the intelligence of a Golden Retriever.

I might have a better word for it, but then I would get a warning so I can't say it

But isn't a Golden a bit more friendly?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I might have a better word for it, but then I would get a warning so I can't say it

But isn't a Golden a bit more friendly?

Significantly

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It was a heat of the moment thing, but I also sometimes get the feeling that Jasper has the intelligence of a Golden Retriever.

To be fair, to be an elite sprinter you already need to have something of a lack of regard for your own personal safety, it's not always just about wisdom or lack thereof.

 

[elguapo]

TDF route planner should include an ITT stage over some cobbled stretches used in the PR so that the big/heavy riders could also shine.

 

[Revelation]

It was a great day. Thanks for checking in.

It was a great race in the end even though I wasn't a fan of all the randomness. Having that opinion definitely isn't the reason I have a problem with half the forum, it's quite easy to see what is if you're willing.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

TDF route planner should include an ITT stage over some cobbled stretches used in the PR so that the big/heavy riders could also shine.

This is cooking on gas, would be immense to see, like something out of the Peace Race in the 50s.

I do think we'd have absolute social media catastrophe with regards to fairness because of punctures etc. however, as that kind of thing, although it can often even out over the course of a Grand Tour, creates far more drama when it happens in a stage race because the time is important for all of the stages to come as well, rather than being a one-day first-past-the-post type thing, which is why you don't often see fair play / unwritten rules drama come up in one-day races - and I think they might have to enforce using the road bike because I dread to think about riders handling the TT bikes through some of those sections.

 

[canina82]

And once again we saw something very obvious:

PR>>>>>>>>>RVV>>>>>>> every other race.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It was a great race in the end even though I wasn't a fan of all the randomness. Having that opinion definitely isn't the reason I have a problem with half the forum, it's quite easy to see what is if you're willing.

There isn't a problem though. This is just how internet forums go, particularly with sport. It isn't any different in soccer, basketball, skiing, triathlon , or sewing forums. People have favorites, and other's have competing favorites, who compete with their favorite. I don't actually dislike anyone riding...well, Philipsen, but I mean, that should be self evident.

I don't take any of this too seriously, though I will admit that today was a great day for me. I have always rooted for the underdog, and Wout fits that in today's peloton. It's how I have always been. I don't cheer for the guy who is clearly the strontest, probably because I can relate on a personal level to the guy who will never be the strongest...I mean, I did pretty well in law school, but even then, I was only 4th.

I have never discounted Pog, and I truly believe there has never been a more talented cyclist. Doesn't mean I want to see him win everything, nor is that an illogical desire.

 

[Gratemans]

I might have a better word for it, but then I would get a warning so I can't say it

But isn't a Golden a bit more friendly?

Way less dangerous to be around at the very least