Wout is free, passed it off to the women's team
Watched this bit later as I was out riding myself in good weather slot.
What a monument. Must admit I shouted so hard it was about to smash the windows of my apartment. And then I cried. So happy he won it, after such long long long wait.
What a monument. Must admit I shouted so hard it was about to smash the windows of my apartment. And then I cried. So happy he won it, after such long long long wait.
Most had these in the top 5, but one was excused as he was really affected by a crash .... 2 months earlier.
- Nov 16, 2013
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- Jul 15, 2021
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- Feb 20, 2010
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Of course, but I felt like with the mechanicals it might have left us with a larger selection, or some riders like Pedersen still there as wildcards at least until somewhere like Carrefour de l'Arbre. I think something like 2011 or 2016 where the big guns cancel each other out was unlikely, but I'd hoped that we'd still have more options on the table until a bit later on. As it was, we got a great middle phase of the race, but it all calmed down a lot for the last 40-50k once it was clear that the duo was decisively away, and the most excitement until they actually got to Roubaix was when Mathieu was getting the gap down to only around 20-25 seconds. And I don't really have the attachment to the narrative of van Aert or Visma-LeaseABike as an "underdog", because they're still so OP generally so I wasn't particularly attached to either outcome, I preferred van Aert of the two, but not enough to feel particularly invested in the outcome.
Im not sure which one of Wout and Mads you're talking about here. Surely it's true for both of them.
More so about the randomness in terms of deciding the win, if nothing happened MVP was very likely to win IMO, Wout with an outside chance to staying in his wheel for a sprint.
- Jul 3, 2022
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I dont understand people complaining about unfairness at PR with riders getting punctures? That is the nature of the race (and the sport) ...that these things can happen otherwise its not PR, its not cycling
Cycling is most of the time a 5 minute excitement slot in 4 hours of nothing much ,
Paris Roubaix is the most exciting of all pro cycling races imo exactly because anything can happen
Anyway so glad for Wout. It would have been a shame if he completed his career and never won PR considering he is so talented and tenacious and was built for cobbles
Cycling is most of the time a 5 minute excitement slot in 4 hours of nothing much ,
Paris Roubaix is the most exciting of all pro cycling races imo exactly because anything can happen
Anyway so glad for Wout. It would have been a shame if he completed his career and never won PR considering he is so talented and tenacious and was built for cobbles
- Jul 15, 2023
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But the randomness is the unique thing about PR that sets it apart from the other races. It is brutal in a way the other races aren’t, both physically and emotionally. It breaks hearts as well as bodies and to win it you need less unluck than your competitors. Indeed there have been many editions of the race where Wout was the strongest rider, but had no luck at all. The cycling gods must smile on you with many other races, but especially so for this one.
- Jul 3, 2022
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That's why good teams win these races. Punctures and other mechanicals are going to happen. Teams must be prepared and ready along the route for every possibility.
And that means making sure everyone on the team has the same cleats so they can switch bikes.
My complaint is the opposite. It was ridiculous for Alpecin to wait for Pogacar before Arenberg.
- Jun 11, 2021
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If you told me 5 years ago how much I'd cheer for WVA to win a race I would have laughed at you. Very happy he finally gets it and we don't have another alien victory. At 30km to go I was certain he would get cooked but he actually played it perfect all the way.
Side note but MVDP incredible strong to actually finish 4th despite being over 2 minutes down after Arenberg with about 50 riders ahead of him at that point. Think a comeback like that hasn't happened in a long time and gone a bit under the radar.
Side note but MVDP incredible strong to actually finish 4th despite being over 2 minutes down after Arenberg with about 50 riders ahead of him at that point. Think a comeback like that hasn't happened in a long time and gone a bit under the radar.
- Aug 9, 2021
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It tells me one thing only; he wants to win 3 GT
- Jun 30, 2022
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Normal riders like Van Aert had to settle for just one place of 1st, 2nd and 3rd while Niklas Larsen has 1,2 and 3 in front of his name on the result sheet.
- Jul 10, 2012
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Not normally a Wout fan, but today I am for saving us from a monument sweep for at least another year.
Really too bad that disc brakes and mismatched pedals cost mvdp so much time getting going again. If you're not gonna make jasper run the same pedals then why does he even stop for Mathieu? I get heat of the moment decision making but this seems like something you gameplan ahead of time. Having one more teammate help him get back to the front could have made a big difference
Really too bad that disc brakes and mismatched pedals cost mvdp so much time getting going again. If you're not gonna make jasper run the same pedals then why does he even stop for Mathieu? I get heat of the moment decision making but this seems like something you gameplan ahead of time. Having one more teammate help him get back to the front could have made a big difference
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I was actually kinda happy with all the mechanicals. I was a bit afraid, that with all the improving tech like 35mm low pressure tires, tube, milk, inflatable inner liners and so on, that PR could become a predictable road race in good weather. But the cobbles proved me wrong. So I am looking forward to the next year already.
There's many ways to look at it, unpredictability is welcome at the current era of predictability (Pog&MVP), and if the possible winners of this race were Wout & MVP, then this particular randomness/luck was more than deserved for the former.
But randomness of punctures at PR aren't desirable in a vacuum, IMO. The main problem is the lack of rider control, sure probably over multiple events better ability on the cobbles will reward you with less punctures, but for this event, I seriously doubt there was any particular mistake from MVP/Pog/Wout that caused their punctures. When you add to this the fact that depending where it happens, as seen in this race, the cost can vary between 15 seconds to 2+ minutes, yeah, I'm not a fan in general.
But randomness of punctures at PR aren't desirable in a vacuum, IMO. The main problem is the lack of rider control, sure probably over multiple events better ability on the cobbles will reward you with less punctures, but for this event, I seriously doubt there was any particular mistake from MVP/Pog/Wout that caused their punctures. When you add to this the fact that depending where it happens, as seen in this race, the cost can vary between 15 seconds to 2+ minutes, yeah, I'm not a fan in general.
- Jul 3, 2022
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Happy to see del Grosso finishing the race after the debacle in Arenberg.
+22:14.
Next year its time to move up.
+22:14.
Next year its time to move up.
- Aug 29, 2009
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the official result is still incorrect, by the way, with Tim (instead of Mick) van Dijke in 6th and Boivin instead of Askey in 13th
- Mar 19, 2009
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Pog did for example, his front wheel was 35mm, his back wheel 32mm IIRC.
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