Rate Paris-Roubaix

[More Strides than Rides]

Cycling fans aren't used to watching races of attrition. Thats exactly what today's race was, and what it has not been in the past. Everyone who attacked at some point, -Boonen from 60k, Sagan from 30k, Cancellara, Sep, and everyone who fought just to hold their wheels- they all spent their matches too early. The one who won was the most conservative throughout the race, and it was fascinating watching them beat each other over the head early on, realizing in my head that they could not sustain it to the finish.

It is the habit of cycling fans to want the winner andthe most aggressive rider be the same, but so many forget that it is a physical test. That angle, for me, is what made it so compelling.

Most will disagree with me, whoch is fine. But, one positive for everyone was that this race was not decided by mechanicals or crashes (except GVA), which is always nice.

 

[Klubban]

Great seeing Boonen today. He really went for it and made the race very interesting.

 

[MonkeyFace]

you are contradicting yourself, by saying he was not nearly one of the strongest you disrespect him

He only wasn't with the best on carrefour because of Boom falling in front of him. Then he dragged Boonen's *** back to the front group, and then attacked and Thomas/de backer clearly couldn't close that down.
He wasn't the strongest maybe, but he wasn't that far off

How come nobody mentions how good of a teammate Bonnen is. If Boonen demanded that his teammates only ride for him like Armstrong did, there is a good chance he would have one or two more monuments. Devolder I doubt would have won one Flanders let alone two with those long solo attacks. Terpstra has served Boonen well the last couple of years and fully deserves this win. As much work as he did last year and to still finish 3rd only shows that he is legit. Terpstra is a much better PR rider than Hincapie ever was and Boonen would have been forced to ride support had he stayed with Postal. Maybe, Boonen is a good teammate because of the crap he had to deal with with being forced to ride second fiddle to Hincape. I don't know. Quick-Step had the most cards to play and played them exactly how they should be played.

 

[peloton]

Cycling fans aren't used to watching races of attrition. Thats exactly what today's race was, and what it has not been in the past. Everyone who attacked at some point, -Boonen from 60k, Sagan from 30k, Cancellara, Sep, and everyone who fought just to hold their wheels- they all spent their matches too early. The one who won was the most conservative throughout the race, and it was fascinating watching them beat each other over the head early on, realizing in my head that they could not sustain it to the finish.

It is the habit of cycling fans to want the winner andthe most aggressive rider be the same, but so many forget that it is a physical test. That angle, for me, is what made it so compelling.

Most will disagree with me, whoch is fine. But, one positive for everyone was that this race was not decided by mechanicals or crashes (except GVA), which is always nice.

This, pretty much. There were attacks by all the big favs, but no super performance and tactics played a major part up to the final km's.
Can't see what's not to like in that, but each to our own

 

[Parrulo]

Pretty poor by PR standards, which still makes a welll above average race compared to most other races.

The only big move of the day (Boonen's) didn't feel like the winning move for a single second and the end was a total anti climax.

I think Boonen played this one pretty badly to be honest as Terpstra and Stybar should have been the ones up front from 60k to go and not Boonen. Looking at the way Canc and Sep raced at the end i think he might have been the strongest rider in the race. Which makes it pretty funny to see DT constantly mention how Terpstra "dragged Boonen's *** up the front group" as if Boonen had been holding Terpstra back the entire race.

Still props to Terpstra for the win.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Maybe OPQS's plan was to save Terpstra in case Boonen's move failed. That's certainly how it played out, and Boonen did a fair bit of chasing to get back after the split--it wasn't just Terpstra doing all the work. (Plus GT put in a fair set of turns, iirc.)

RE MonkeyFace: You could be on to something. Using Boonen that way is almost a guaranteed way to take the heat off of someone like Terpstra who, despite being obviously strong, isn't really rated a "real contender" (whatever the hell that means). Had Boonen's move worked w/out Cancellara bridging up, he'd likely have won. It didn't, but it gave Terpstra a relatively free ride, so he DID win cuz he had the gas to leg it at the end.

This really was masterful by OPQS.

 

[Jspear]

I gave it a 7. I wanted to see Spartacus take it but, it is what it is. There where some nice attacks throughout the race by Boonen, Sagan, others. It wasn't that bad, but like someone else said - the end was a little disappointing. I understand they might not have had anything left in their tanks, but It seemed like once Terpstra attacked, they didn't really try to pin him back. Obviously OPQS played their cards right. They had the most options. Wasn't bad....enjoyed Flanders more.

 

[roundabout]

Eh, QS were the strongest team, but it kinda fell in their lap

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/terpstras-paris-roubaix-win-is-a-dream-come-true

The Boonen attack wasn't well executed, but they were lucky that he had the strength to help the chase to bring Terpstra back

From a viewer perspective credit to Boonen though for sticking with it even if it wasn't going to plan as soon as he attacked.

 

[karlboss]

I thought it was a great race, it was great to see so many teams use who they had to secure a great result. This one really was chess on wheels and watching attack, mark, counter attack, who drives the peloton, who works in the break wash rinse and repeat was fantastic. I know some people want to be in awe of the amazing attack(me too), but it just wasn't that race. The race wasn't hard enough for Cancellara and Vanmarcke, but Cancellara didn't have the team to change that and Belkin used their team, with 20/20 hindsight, poorly. BMC did fantastically well as a team, and then were unlucky.

An easy 9 for me, but I always love Roubaix.

Lessons for teams, OPQS...do that again. Giant...do that again. Sky...do that again. BMC...don't fall over. Cannondale/Trek...buy one if not 2 cobbles specialists. Belkin...when you have the strongest rider make sure the race favours the strong not the smart.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I thought it was a decent race, at one point it had the makings of an absolute classic but the end was perhaps anti-climatic. A good move from Boonen helped animate the race and he was helped by a strong Thomas to stay away longer than I thought.

When the group of 11 got together with 10k's to go it would have been great to see attack and counter attack but OPQS were too strong and would not have let anyone get away, indeed only Wiggins tried.

A solid 7.

 

[DenisMenchov]

A nice 7 from me.

 

[Pippo_San]

Between 6 and 7.
The pave classics quite disappointed me this year. It's not like they weren't good. It's more like they were missing some sort of an epic feeling they gave me in past years.

 

[hoolaparara]

I gave it a 4 and am surprised at the high rating. I thought when a huge group came through the arenberg it was pretty clear it would be an ordinary race. Then a group was left hanging off the front and it was still a huge pack late in the race. And we had the usual defensive riding in which one rider rides off because nobody is willing to actually do anything. Not exactly something that makes a good race.

 

[rainman]

Not a great edition this year with a block headwind not helping, especially in the final. Still a brutal race though as always.

 

[Lexman]

A 6. The finale was so underwhelming, and there wasn't much of a selection until late in the race.

Indeed, as alway they waited (except for Boonen) and waited.

Then when Terpstra noone reacted...

Lame final...

 

[SKSemtex]

I liked the race a lot. Rated 9. For me much more interesting then looking on Cance going solo or with one or two "wheelsuckers" last 40 km. Sorry Sap I know you are not wheelsucker.
It is funny we rated almost 10 last year PR, just because we found somebody able to folow Cance on Carreafour.
The world has changed in one year. The compettition get grown huge this spring. Cance dominance is over. Get used to it. He is still the king. But this is one day race not ITT. We have superstrong OPQS with Boonen Terspstra, Stybar, even Kwiatko for next year . We have Vanmarcke, GVA, Sagan and others. I think we will see similar P-R even next year unless the rain.
Congratulation to Terpstra. He was the third in my "dream list" . Well deserved winner. And to OPQS of course. They made pressure on Vanmarce and Cance at right time and place. It was only up to them to chase Terpstra and if they close the gap the Styby would folow I hope.

 

[barmaher]

A 7 for me. I liked the race immensely, but it was way too easy for NT to get a gap. And too easy for NT to stay away as they were all dog tired. I am ranking it relative to other Monuments, of course.

I am thrilled for the winner.

 

[Leonardus]

Action was pretty good in the first half of the final with an bold and way too aggressive move from Boonen, but very enjoyable to watch. Lot of guys went up the road and especially Belkin looked like they were planning some massive attack to blow things apart at some point.
The turning point was after Vanmarcke attacked the second time, Cancellara followed but didn't take over and nobody was willing to contribute and so it all faded. Last 10k were a total anticlimax.
Terpstra really deserved a victory like this but he wasn't the strongest of the day.
Overall a good Paris-Roubaix but not outstanding in any way, a 7 for me.

 

[Kwibus]

A great race, but for it's tactical diversity, rather than all out action.
In a word: different.

This really. Different race, but tactically very interesting.
The headwind made it very tactical like all the other headwind editions.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

I gave it a clean '10'. This is IMHO what cycling is all about.

Think I haven't missed a single P-R since 1986 and this fine 2014-version is by far the most unpredictable, most tactical version I've witnessed and, hence, most exiting race. Cadeau to Tommeke for opening the race by a far distance. Tribute to Sagan, Vanmarcke, Cancellara and others for trying hard making a difference in the final. And thanks to everyone else in the leadpack playing the tactical game.

This is how I like cycling.

 

[Escarabajo]

Voted a 7

Was almost a ten with 5km to go.

+1.

That's it.

..........

 

[Escarabajo]

How would you have preferred the last 5km to go?

Any other way. It looked like they all accepted defeat. It just does not make sense.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Nobody wanted to bring Degenkolb to the finish.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Any other way. It looked like they all accepted defeat. It just does not make sense.

It makes sense, indeed.

Everybody was well above their limits. No more live rounds in the gun. Combined with Terpstras smart move, leaving everyone else trying to jump off Degenkolp.

Thats what makes it a Monument. Separating the wheat from the chaff. Just look at the top 10. No free seats.

 

[mr. tibbs]

It makes sense, indeed.

Everybody was well above their limits. No more live rounds in the gun. Combined with Terpstras smart move, leaving everyone else trying to jump off Degenkolp.

Thats what makes it a Monument. Separating the wheat from the chaff. Just look at the top 10. No free seats.

Agreed. Agree with your earlier comment, too. I don't understand this "boring" race mentality. This edition was so fluid, with the favorites constantly moving around through the groups, that of course no one had anything left!

It seems that if an effort isn't made explosively off the front at the end of a race for the win (a la a typical GT mountain/queen stage), then a lot of fans don't know how to process it. Hence boring.

EDIT: And the explosive effort has to be made by one of the annointed, apparently. If it's a guy like Terpstra, then also "boring."