Sun 11th April: Paris - Roubaix, 259km

[auscyclefan94]

They have an ok track record in the cobbles classics, but there is a certain inborn bias in comparing an old riders palmares to that of a young rider. Personally I doubt that either Rabo or BMC are going to win at Roubaix. Smart money says Saxo Bank or Quick Step.

Ok is a bit of an understatement but I was just making that statemtn because some posters were complaining that I put BMC up there and should of put rabo. it is an obvious choice I would bmc up there over rabo. Do agree though other teams may be able to take advantage of the in fighting. Would be better if BMC also had their guns firing to make it a 3 way battle.

 

[Cerberus]

Ok is a bit of an understatement but I was just making that statemtn because some posters were complaining that I put BMC up there and should of put rabo. it is an obvious choice I would bmc up there over rabo.

Not so obvious as that. Hincapies last win in a cobbled classic was 5 years ago. He did manage 4th in Gent, but Boom for example got 5th and Sebastian Langeveld 6th in E3 against much tougher competition. Ballan won the Ronde 3 years ago, but he's been nowhere so far this year. Whether you think BMC's palmares are "ok" or "more than ok" doesn't change the fact that what counts is now, and right now "ok" is more of an over- than an understatement. I'd put BMC and Rabobank at about equal. BMC have the palmares, but Rabobank has better recent results.

Do agree though other teams may be able to take advantage of the in fighting. Would be better if BMC also had their guns firing to make it a 3 way battle.

If you're looking for a 3-way battle you'd be better of pinning you hopes on Katusha (if Pippo gets better), sky, Lotto.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If you're looking for a 3-way battle you'd be better of pinning you hopes on Katusha (if Pippo gets better), sky, Lotto or even Rabobank..

Those riders going well are better than the top 3 riders of any of those teams going well.

If those 3 were all firing then it would be an exciting 3 way battle between Saxo, QSI and BMC.

Hincapie said he is in good shape, ballan and kroon have said they are coming in with some good form (which is hard to believe from De panne). burghardt i am not sure about but hasn't shown much form coming in though he is saying he is going well. will be interesting to see how they will go with the 2nd cobbled classics and monuement of the year. I think they really need at least a top 5 and even a top 3. A win would be excellent but the riders don't have the form. The squad would really want to win something on the cobbles as that should be their forte.

 

[Cerberus]

Those riders going well are better than the top 3 riders of any of those teams going well.

If those 3 were all firing then it would be an exciting 3 way battle between Saxo, QSI and BMC.

Personally I don't think BMC would be my primary concern if I was Saxo and Quick Step, even forgetting the other. Still I doubt I'll convince you, so we'll just have to see what we're going to see.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If evans rode on rabo i bet they would have made the list.. heck if euskatel had evans (i know impossible) they probably would have made this particular list

BMC have no form. They are certainly not the 3rd biggest team after QS and Saxo, get real. Hincapie is too old. Kroon won't compete in this field. Ballan is capable, but his form is terrible, and I don't think is at the same level of spartacus, boonen in top form. And burghardt as much as he loves the cobbbles, will never win this. BMC are very far from having any favorites.

Their palmares in the cobbles are better then rabo... even tho none of those impressive results happend whilst at the team. However I think rabo have much better results on a whole, but that is irrelevant to this thread.

 

[BeachBum]

What's the course going to be like tomorrow? Muddy? Dry and dusty? Haven't seen any reports.

Doesn't matter to me who wins as long as it is the strongest rider. I don't want to see any negative racing. Last week's Spartacus/Boonen/Flecha battle was perfect.

 

[Archibald]

long shot - Breschel

 

[Anonymous]

We didn't get live coverage of the race back then. Aside from highlights, I could only go off English language race reports. From what I remember is that Discovery had isolated Quick Step. Also BTW, Hoste was racing for Discovery that year, and finished "2nd" and Gusev came "4th" and PvP "3rd". I though it was harsh to DNQ those three since they wouldn't have caught Cancellara anyway.

That is correct, and Hincapie was stronger than Hoste and Gusev. You do the math.

 

[ak-zaaf]

That is correct, and Hincapie was stronger than Hoste and Gusev. You do the math.

45km to go in Paris-Roubaix. Infinite variables.

 

[saxofan]

Gonna say fabian for flanders and breschel for paris - roubaix! that would be a decent spring for the saxo boys

 

[Winterfold]

I went for BMC/Hincapie just for the romance of it

 

[rick bensco]

Hincapie for the win

I like the romance of a Hincapie win also. I expect his team to go into the bowls of darkness and pain for him. Watching him die in past futile efforts really makes for a romantic win. I think it would put cycling in national news here in the states and break the monopoly Lance has here in national media. It would be good for the sport and good for sportsmanship the world over.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If evans rode on rabo i bet they would have made the list.. heck if euskatel had evans (i know impossible) they probably would have made this particular list

BMC have no form. They are certainly not the 3rd biggest team after QS and Saxo, get real. Hincapie is too old. Kroon won't compete in this field. Ballan is capable, but his form is terrible, and I don't think is at the same level of spartacus, boonen in top form. And burghardt as much as he loves the cobbbles, will never win this. BMC are very far from having any favorites.

Their palmares in the cobbles are better then rabo... even tho none of those impressive results happend whilst at the team. However I think rabo have much better results on a whole, but that is irrelevant to this thread.

No, did you read my comparison post. You are not very smart sometimes. You are no different to me but you are in denial about it. Saying they are very far from having any favourites is wrong. Even on an average day I would still put them in there because Ballan and Hincapie are class acts. rabo are no way near bmc's statue on the cobbles. Your a joke Timmy, Stuff it! your on ignore!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Fortunately I joined the forum for opinions and insight, not to befriend you. Unfortunately you lack any insight in cycling. So yeh that doesn't phase me

BeachBum: I think the weather is gonna be a bit wet, should make for an even more interesting race.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Unfrotunately i can't get the ignore working and for some reason it goes back to the main forum page. i came on here to share opinions as well, but I didn't come on here to have those opinions shot down or mocked. If you think I lack insight in cycling, well that's opinion and if you think I am biased well I think you need to start taking a look in the mirror, buddy.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Going to tip Pozzato, he will get over his illness and rip it up.

 

[this_is_edie]

Philippe Gilbert

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Unfortunately i can't get the ignore working and for some reason it goes back to the main forum page.

maybe you just cannot live without me

^ Gilbert would be ultimate, but for some reason I don't see him winning P-R under normal circumstances.

 

[this_is_edie]

Philippe Gilbert

oops misread the title, thought it was RVV... never mind, nothing to see here.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Spartacus was crazy strong today (RVV). It's crazy to see the power he delivers, and with such fluidity and smoothness, compared to Booney Boy who always looks well over the edge when forced to chase his nemesis.

However, I don't think Canc can hold his power/peak for another week. It will be much closer in PR and Booney will do everything he can to take the win -- he is desperate and is probably ****ed off at yet another second place.

I pick Boonen for the win.

 

[saxofan]

Now I would love to see cancellara be a great team player and help breschel to victory i paris - roubaix.. He deserves some luck cause he has worked really hard in the last 3 races, must be a pitty knowing that you are in the best shape and being held back by mechanical problems! Now saxo and cancellara has to give this to breschel, if he can? Hopefully!!

 

[karlboss]

Now I would love to see cancellara be a great team player and help breschel to victory i paris - roubaix.. He deserves some luck cause he has worked really hard in the last 3 races, must be a pitty knowing that you are in the best shape and being held back by mechanical problems! Now saxo and cancellara has to give this to breschel, if he can? Hopefully!!

good call, can I put dibs on breschel, boonen, cancellara for the podium comp? Boonen over cancellara as cancellara will mark him and not race for 2nd.

 

[Cerberus]

good call, can I put dibs on breschel, boonen, cancellara for the podium comp? Boonen over cancellara as cancellara will mark him and not race for 2nd.

No dipps I'm afraid. Anyways I have this feeling that Breschel is more of a Vlaanderen guy than a Roubaix guy, being I think smaller than most of the other Roubaix contenders. Am I wrong? He did finish 10th last year, where he wasn't nearly as strong as this years so he can't be all bad and I'd certainly like him to win or at least podium.

 

[Inner Peace]

If he stays upright, Boonen.

Cancellara won't have any significant climb to power away on, and unless he jumps Boonen before the velodrome, I can't see him winning.

Tom deserves this after 2 monumental second places and after all Roubaix really is his race now.

 

[laziali]

If he stays upright, Boonen.

Cancellara won't have any significant climb to power away on, and unless he jumps Boonen before the velodrome, I can't see him winning.

Tom deserves this after 2 monumental second places and after all Roubaix really is his race now.

Bold bit. Plenty of examples of riders powering away for the win on one of the latter, slightly uphill sectors. I recall seeing Marc Madiot, Gilbert Duclos-Laselle and Stuart O'Grady all doing that, to name but a few. So, it's not about a lack of sufficiently selective parcours. Having said that, I think that Boonen will be putting the hurt on Cance this time around, with both of them making it to the velodrome together. No prizes for guessing who's going to win that sprint (Tom won't be caught napping a second time).