Sun 11th April: Paris - Roubaix, 259km

[Big GMaC]

The REAL winner was me and my record standing for another year, and not matched by a pretty boy fake Belgian champ who doesn't even live in the country.

You are just jealous of his party man ablilities. Although I don't think Tommeke looked in the mood for and Marching Powder this year...

 

[usedtobefast]

MC Ewen got 73rd.

 

[easytiger]

Looking at the footage again, Boonen drifted back while he was having some pommes frits and a duvel, thinking I am the strongest one in the group, also probably thinking of equalling RDV's record, but also lamenting I am knackered from doing so much work. Cancellara accelerates to cover a Roelandts? squirt off the front, Boonen gets baulked by the 2 HTC guys, Flecha et al watch Cancellara stroll past. Cancellara looks back once, twice, and I'm off! Just another opportunistic jump off the front to test the other guys legs.

Cancellara little burst off the front was good for a 20-30sec break (you will have to look on the Clinic thread for the reason for the other 2 minutes). But then everybody pulled the pin, except Boonen who always looked like he wanted to win he just did too much work leading up to Cancellara taking off - and afterwards. That is just the old story of bike racing - if you want it do the work, and then we will benefit when you are cactus - ala Hushovd and Flecha.

Enhanced most probably, but still a phenomenal ride, given the immediate opposition.

 

[Nearly]

How do you figure Flecha deserved second?

...because he waited until those who actually wanted to try to chase Cancellara down were too gassed to respond? How's that different than what Hushovd did? Sorry mate. Flecha got beat at his own game.

.....

+1 Yep, that was the same race I was watching. Flecha was clearly in as good if not better condition than the other "chasers" (Boonen excepted at least earlier in the piece) but would not work (until he thought he could drop them all) - great tactics if you are racing for 2nd with no chance of victory [and you don't expect other riders (and fans) to like you for it]. Perhaps I was too riled by that behaviour to also see anything other than sarcasm in that slow hand clapping gesture.

 

[peteaccb]

Smaller wheels!

Did you heard Fabian has used smaller wheels during the race?
It's shorter than usual. A little bit like a front time trial wheel.
I thought the reglementation doesn't allow this kind of thing?

Gogogo Fabian!

 

[hektoren]

Actually I'm disgusted of Hushov's lack of workload sharing AKA wheel sucking when they rode away from the chasing group & spoiled a well deserved 2nd place by Flecha in the final sprint.

Hushovd couldn't train properly in january. At E3 Harelbeke he had stomach flu, at Het Ronde 8 days ago, not quite restituted from the illness, went totally empty, and today got second by using his smarts as well as his legs. He was cramping through the last km's, so for those who believe he should've put in MORE work, even trying to catch Spartacus, I s****** in your general direction. It would've been a futile effort ensuring he'd end up outside the podium. Hats off to Hushovd playing to his strengths!

 

[Animal]

Every one there should have had their eyes glued on Cance.

Isn't it blindingly obvious that once he has 20 feet, that's it? You never see him again.

OK, everyone was knackered, look at the way he just cracked Leukemans. But Boonen watched Cance put another rider between them as he moved to the front. You know what Cance is going to do.

Anyway, awesome ride (enhanced probably, but so are they all).

Could he win LBL? I wouldn't put it past him.

 

[Von Mises]

The difference was this, Boonen cannot TT like Cancellara either but he kept trying regardless if he risked missing the podium because he wanted to win. Flecha wheelsucked to try and get a 2nd place which he didnt deserve. Boonen could have done the same and guranteed 2nd place but thats now he rolls, its called a winners mentality. I think its normal that fans and riders alike dont like riders who dont race to win and just sit on and then start racing at the end.

No, the Flecha point of view was, "I can't beat Cancellara, so I will do nothing, suck wheel, and attack when the couple of people in this group with testicles burn themselves out. Hopefully, I will be rested enough to solo in....here goes, crap, took Thor with me...can't beat him.....he says he is cramping, maybe I will finally do some pulls.......crap, he was better than he said, guess I will take 3rd and make a display of it.....gee, if I continue to race like this throughout the rest of my career, there is no end to the top 10's I can get..."

So you are saying that Flecha should have pulled and pulled so that in the end Boonen could jump from behind like E3 2010 or Roubaix 2005.
The point is, Flecha dont have this special weapon or strenght like Boonen or Cancellara have. It limits his options. Boonen would have been the biggest beneficiary from Flecha´s work, not Flecha.

 

[High Cotton]

So you are saying that Flecha should have pulled and pulled so that in the end Boonen could jump from behind like E3 2010 or Roubaix 2005.
The point is, Flecha dont have this special weapon or strenght like Boonen or Cancellara have. It limits his options. Boonen would have been the biggest beneficiary from Flecha´s work, not Flecha.

No; I'm saying that Flecha shouldn't have moaned when Hushovd came around him in the end, because he didn't do anything that Flecha hadn't already done...

 

[Crazy Horse]

No; I'm saying that Flecha shouldn't have moaned when Hushovd came around him in the end, because he didn't do anything that Flecha hadn't already done...

But Flecha did not moan when Husbovd came around him. He gave a sporting clap. Cycling News reports he was the most delighted person on the podium.

Flecha is well liked, he is one of the nice guys of the peloton. He is someone our children can look up to.

This is cycling, not American football.

 

[Anonymous]

then why arent you complaining about hushvod, he sat at the back of the group for 3 and 4 km at a time, granted he had hammond but if he was racing for the win as is your complain then why not come through stronger and more regularly ........he sat on the group and then sat on flecha in the finale

There is your answer, and if you watch, Hammond did add to the chase. Flecha...not so much. Then Hushvod beat Flecha at his own game. I don't think either deserved their podiums, but to me Flecha was the worst offender. Apparently, so does Boonen...and he was there.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe that the disgust is with Flecha's hypocrasy, regarding the gesture at the end of the race..

That is what prompted my initial post on the subject.

 

[High Cotton]

But Flecha did not moan when Husbovd came around him. He gave a sporting clap. Cycling News reports he was the most delighted person on the podium.

Flecha is well liked, he is one of the nice guys of the peloton. He is someone our children can look up to.

This is cycling, not American football.

Haha. Believe what you will.

 

[Anonymous]

disgust really?
what hypocrisy are you referring to ?
was it the clapping as he crossed the line?
wow, arent we being a bit judgmental .........
he clapped simply for having finished, he clapped for arriving in roubaix in a podium position, he clapped for himeself, he clapped for his team, you should check out his post race interview.............not to mention his throwing himself into fabians arms for a long ,strong hug , between two strong competitors who have been friends for years........
personally im wondering why more people arent offended about boonen crying after the race and complaining to the media, he was not going to win and that became evident at 49 km to go

Hmmm...I wonder if that had anything to do with him not chasing? Either way, he got 3rd, which is more than he deserved. He and sky should reserved their applause for the actual WINNING of races regardless of their motivation.

 

[Anonymous]

Whatever, we all know that Cancellara wasn't the real winner today.

The REAL winner was the ghost of Edvald Boasson Hagen's potential.

Okay, that is freaking HILARIOUS!

 

[Anonymous]

So you are saying that Flecha should have pulled and pulled so that in the end Boonen could jump from behind like E3 2010 or Roubaix 2005.
The point is, Flecha dont have this special weapon or strenght like Boonen or Cancellara have. It limits his options. Boonen would have been the biggest beneficiary from Flecha´s work, not Flecha.

He sure seemed strong enough to attack a couple of times when the real men were tired. Fact is that he seemed to have a lot of energy, and could have used some to help catch spartacus...but he didn't. And he got 3rd....bravo I guess?

 

[Crazy Horse]

personally im wondering why more people arent offended about boonen crying after the race and complaining to the media, he was not going to win and that became evident at 49 km to go

Yes I agree. It's sour grapes by Boonen. It was crazy for him to attack. His only chance of beating Cancellara was in the sprint. He should have saved his energy for trying to stay with Cancellara.

Cycling is often like a game of chess - you have to make the right moves at the right time. It's not about who is the most Gung ho for the win and ends up out the back. Flecha made the right calls and fully deserved his podium spot.

 

[Von Mises]

No; I'm saying that Flecha shouldn't have moaned when Hushovd came around him in the end, because he didn't do anything that Flecha hadn't already done...

So it is okey to criticise Flecha for (alleged) moaning, but when Boonen whines why did not Flecha work for him, it shows great courage and sportsmanship?

 

[badboyberty]

If we're going to point fingers at which teams riders didn't do enough turns at the front in the last 50kms of Paris-Roubaix let's get it right.

Quickstep had the race favourite. And if you're the leader of team Quickstep and your main raison d'etre is to win the cobbled classics you don't blame Jaun AntonioFlecha for not pulling you to the Roubaix Velodrome, you ask Sylian Chavanel and Stijn Devolder "where the B***** heck were you?"

 

[Anonymous]

So it is okey to criticise Flecha for (alleged) moaning, but when Boonen whines why did not Flecha work for him, it shows great courage and sportsmanship?

No, riding like you have a set shows courage and sportsmanship. Sitting in and waiting for others to burn themselves out, and then attacking for second doesn't.

 

[Crazy Horse]

So it is okey to criticise Flecha for (alleged) moaning, but when Boonen whines why did not Flecha work for him, it shows great courage and sportsmanship?

We need to stop repeating that Flecha moaned. It's not true. You don't get to be one of the most liked guys in the peloton by going around sarcastically clapping your opponents. Flecha was delighted after the race and showed no signs of bitterness. He simply joined in with the cheering crowds in the velodrome and showed he was not upset about being beaten. It was very sporting.

It seems some people don't like any cyclists. They don't like the mouthy riders like Cavendish who ***** and moan, but they also hate good examples like Flecha who aren't going to do a suicide mission chasing someone on a different cycling planet to them.

 

[Jamsque]

No, riding like you have a set shows courage and sportsmanship. Sitting in and waiting for others to burn themselves out, and then attacking for second doesn't.

Seriously? So what should Flecha have done in your opinion? I guess he could have put in some monster pulls in that chase group, worn himself out, STILL not caught Spartacus, and ended up with 5th or 6th? Less prize money, less exposure for the sponsor, but hey, you show that you have balls so it is all worth it? Come on. Tactics in cycling is about more than just machismo. Flecha knew there were a lot of guys who could out-sprint him in that group so he worked with them a bit, got away with Hushovd, and then basically towed him all the way to the line and gifted him second.

 

[L'arriviste]

Seriously? So what should Flecha have done in your opinion? I guess he could have put in some monster pulls in that chase group, worn himself out, STILL not caught Spartacus, and ended up with 5th or 6th? Less prize money, less exposure for the sponsor, but hey, you show that you have balls so it is all worth it? Come on. Tactics in cycling is about more than just machismo. Flecha knew there were a lot of guys who could out-sprint him in that group so he worked with them a bit, got away with Hushovd, and then basically towed him all the way to the line and gifted him second.

+1. Flecha's podium place was the result of hard work and timed effort. The rest of that group couldn't work together and to stay with it would have been pointless. If some here want to think ill of Flecha's 'late opportunism', it was only 'late' because Cancellara went so early.

 

[stefrees]

i cant see why anyone can be moaning about flecha? he didnt whinge once, rode tactically astute and has beend fairly strong all season with the exception of flanders. boonen didnt race very well tactically, and was out of order to moan about flecha. hushovd while wheel sucked deserved a podium too as you cant fluke a podium place in paris roubaix

 

[hektoren]

There is your answer, and if you watch, Hammond did add to the chase. Flecha...not so much. Then Hushvod beat Flecha at his own game. I don't think either deserved their podiums, but to me Flecha was the worst offender. Apparently, so does Boonen...and he was there.

Deserved??? Didn't know there was an ethics commission involved who decides who is or isn't deserving of a medal, basing their choices on fanboys' ill-conceived notions of machismo, judging the size of the riders gonads by their ability to ride themselves into the ground for no apparent reason.

Last time I checked, cycling involved cyclists, a stop-watch, a predefined stretch of road and comparable equipment. The object of the race is to get to the finish first. Crossing the line as no. 47, satisfied that noone rode more butch won't land you a medal.