Paris-Roubaix route change: better or worse?

[Echoes]

This year's route from the thread's OP:

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=479015&postcount=1

I'd like to compare it with the 2008 route:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Paris–Roubaix#The_cobblestones

So the section of Millonfosse was meant to consolidate the gaps created by the Forest because it follows it immediately. It did not.

The section of Aulnoy before Arenberg is apparently 5 stars. I would give it 3 maximum.

And for this they scrapped the 3.7km section of Hornaing to Wandignies and the 2.4km of Warlaing to Brillon. Does that make the race harder?

If they were to make the gaps created by Arenberg consolidated, they should really put back into the route the infamous section of Wallers to Hélèsmes, which is also 4km after the Forest, had 4 stars too, with Hornaing and Warlaing next. But Pescheux's considered it too dangerous for 3 years now. I guess "Les Amis de PR" have been working on it, they've been doing a great job for years, now. Can't it be re-used by now? As a matter of fact, I've never seen any crash on that one.

And I thought Arenberg was again meant to be scrapped. No crash on it this year.

Oh by the way, in 2008, the cobbled distance was longer despite the section of Auchy (Chemin des abattoirs) being cut down for safety again. Same for last year's route.

 

[boomcie]

It's hard to say. This year’s edition is difficult to compare to the last few editions.

1) It was really dry this year
2) It felt as if the top contenders were afraid to put the hammer down on the Trouée d'Arenberg. Boonen could even return after waiting for over 1: 30…

So drawing conclusions seems unfair to me.