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
- Mar 17, 2022
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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.
- Jul 10, 2012
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I missed what happened to JP after he got his bike back. Was he able to assist Mvdp in the chase at all?
Also was there a good reason for tibor to swap wheels instead of giving him his bike?
- Jul 10, 2012
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They all had punctures. To some extent the difference was how they dealt with it. Alpecin really shot themselves in the foot by not having a plan. But yea in arenberg they could probably do with having some neutral service bikes on hand especially for the favorites. Tadej's neutral bike was well set up for him and promptly delivered in that earlier secteur.
- Apr 1, 2026
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I have my doubts. This feels more like a heat of the moment reaction to losing the race he wanted most, especially with MVDP out of the way. I think he will try to win PR again next year.
It felt like his main goal was the monuments. Winning the Tour is almost "easy" for him and he has already proven he can take both Giro and Tour in the same year. The real thrill seems to be in one day classics, the media hype, the challenge and the chance to beat the specialists on their own turf.
Would he put himself through the long, exhausting grind of three CTs "just" for another trophy? It is not about the fatigue. He probably just lacks the patience for it when he could be cementing his super status as an eternal unreachable legend in the classics. I doubt he would trade the hunt for all the monuments for a year of pure exhaustion. But again, maybe he is just that bored.
Of course, there is always that massive temptation of winning all three GTs in a single season. No one has ever done it. Is it really that impossible for him to just sweep everything?!
- Jul 10, 2012
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Is that not what he usually does (apart from those km being in the middle and not end of the race this time)?
- Jan 10, 2019
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- Jul 3, 2022
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Moments you cry as an adult man:
✅ cutting onions
❌ second kid gets born
✅ Bike crash, frame cracked
❌ Mother-in-law dies
✅ WvA wins P-R
✅ cutting onions
❌ second kid gets born
✅ Bike crash, frame cracked
❌ Mother-in-law dies
✅ WvA wins P-R
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