Sun 11th April: Paris - Roubaix, 259km

[Dekker_Tifosi]

My problem with Flecha, Hushovd, et al is that, whenever Boonen went, they covered immediately; but, when Cancellara went, nothing. They just sat and watched him go, despite the fact that he was the clear favorite coming in to the race and he did the exact same thing in Flanders. Of course, as soon as Boonen got back up front, they were more than happy to grab HIS wheel.

And as for Boonen wasting energy with all of his attacks: that's how he rides Roubaix. He did the exact same thing several times last year. He would put in a big effort, thin the group, and then drift back and take stock. The difference is that last year, Spartacus wasn't in top form.

Well played by Cancellara. He waited for the right moment to attack and went for it. I think it's pretty indicative of the mindest the other guys were in that the right moment to attack was when Boonen--and no one else--was at the back, which is what is generating the negativity directed at Flecha and Cervelo. Canc and his team car knew that only one guy would cover his attack, and the sand-bagging from the others definitely helped his already considerable chances.

Hats off, Spartacus. Dude made the race today, just like at Flanders. He's a true champion.

And nuts to racing for second.

You know, reading the first 2 paragraphs, you can easily replace Boonen by Boogerd, and Cancellara by random ardennes classics guy (Schleck, Vinokourov, Di Luca, Bettini) from 2000 to 2007.
When Boogerd went, they all followed, when someone else went, even though big favorite, they let him go.

Such a Deja-vu

 

[Jamsque]

I was out on Sunday, and by the time I got home and turned the race on with about ~40km to go it was all over bar the shouting, so yeah I would agree that it was a bit boring this year. An amazing achievement, no doubt, but watching Spartacus do a 50km time trial is not exactly thrilling.

 

[High Cotton]

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?

Why are you asking me? Flecha did what was smart for him, as did Thor, which is why Flecha's mock applause of Hushovd seems a bit silly to me.

Boonen lost the race by not marking the only person strong enough to beat him. He can moan all day about how the others weren't working, but if he had been where he should have been, he would have been able to go with Spartacus.

We need to stop repeating that Flecha moaned. It's not true.

Sure it is; did you read his post-race comments about Hushovd's efforts? He was definitely bothered about having done the lion share of work in the finale, while Hushovd said he had cramps, only to be beaten in the sprint by the man who sat on his wheel.

--

As a spectator, I found the race disappointing. I know why the chasers didn't chase, and for three of them, their result was better than it would have been if they had chased. I just don't appreciate Flecha's attitude at the finish. He was certainly stronger than Thor on the day, but when you ride for second, you shouldn't be upset if you get third.

 

[kurtinsc]

My problem with Flecha, Hushovd, et al is that, whenever Boonen went, they covered immediately; but, when Cancellara went, nothing. They just sat and watched him go, despite the fact that he was the clear favorite coming in to the race and he did the exact same thing in Flanders. Of course, as soon as Boonen got back up front, they were more than happy to grab HIS wheel.

And as for Boonen wasting energy with all of his attacks: that's how he rides Roubaix. He did the exact same thing several times last year. He would put in a big effort, thin the group, and then drift back and take stock. The difference is that last year, Spartacus wasn't in top form.

Well played by Cancellara. He waited for the right moment to attack and went for it. I think it's pretty indicative of the mindest the other guys were in that the right moment to attack was when Boonen--and no one else--was at the back, which is what is generating the negativity directed at Flecha and Cervelo. Canc and his team car knew that only one guy would cover his attack, and the sand-bagging from the others definitely helped his already considerable chances.

Hats off, Spartacus. Dude made the race today, just like at Flanders. He's a true champion.

And nuts to racing for second.

I didn't see the others closing down Boonen's attacks... I saw Cancellera doing that... with the others on his heels. When Spartacus did his first little dig... Boonen followed and Flecha was on his wheel.


When he went for good... Boonen didn't follow. I feel certain that if he did, the others would have attempted to go with him just like before.


I think the only hope the others had was that Spartacus and Boonen kept going back and forth, chasing each other down... tiring each other out. They weren't going to help either one though... because doing so would be just as much ensuring a loss as letting one go ahead.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

That smarmy wheel sucking wussy should have no complaints. Sometimes, when you ride like a coward and race for 2nd, you get 3rd...and he didn't deserve that.

Adjectives aside, there is a good point in there. Flecha didn't bother racing for first place, which really isn't racing at all. He hung in the group after Cancellara made his move and didn't try to bring him back. He attacked only when Boonen was thrashed. So if Hushovd hung on for the last few km and took him at the line, well that's just playing the same game. No need for the applause, which I thought was a sarcastic gesture, when you're beaten at your own game. Sky are happy with the podium spot, but it is far better IMO to give everything and come in 5th than to look like a dork and get 3rd. Still think he's a great rider, just didn't like the way he played the last 50 km.

The guy barely sniffed the wind until his first attack...which Boonen brought back. Then he barely sniffed the wind until his final attack. He hid in the group and pulled off within seconds when he did get to the front. He rode a cowards race and all watching it again will do is confirm my pervious observations.

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.

As far as I'm concerned, both Flecha and Hushovd got more than they deserved, but that's racing.

agree with all of this. flecha rode like a b!tch. His gesture at the end was freakin annoying. Hypocrite.

Boonen's 5th place was a gutsy ride. Props to him.

 

[Anonymous]

i realised the TFF guy is an idiot a while back. i just see the funny side now and dont take it too seriously because its not worth it.

Who are you? I am pretty sure you don't matter, but I just wanted to make sure. Anyway, I don't think I have had an altercation with you in the past, so no reason to start now. I guess I am an idiot in your eyes. I will tell my ego, I am sure he will be devastated.

 

[lagartija]

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

this is exactly right and to the point........like i said earlier boonen made the same mistake a week earlier.......and then cries about guys in other teams, i like boonen but he should realize the other competitors have a different name on the signature line on there patchecks........

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

If you saw E3 and Flanders, and doubtless you did, you probably felt yesterday as soon as Cancellara got clear that it was all over. It was just a mental fait accompli. Thus felt the rest of the lead group, apparently. 😀

That statement nailed it.

Boonen was riding the way he always has in Roubaix, but when Cancellara picked it up (as we all knew he would after E3 and Flanders), the remaining kms were treated as a a formality. There was no real racing after that. For as much talk as we do about the "hard men of the classics," the only one who actually lived up to that reputation was Spartacus, which surprises me considering who was in that group.

 

[lagartija]

They could have caught Spartacus if they had tired, and at least the others in the group pulled SOME. Flecha pulled NONE. He rolled off the front like the wind was burning him. Then he attacks? Then he attacks AGAIN? Then he wants to complain that Thor rode HIS wheel. Like I said, neither deserved their placings, but at least Thor had a teammate pulling. All Flecha did was sit in and attack when everyone else burned themselves out. Real courage and sportsmanship...

man you really need to watch that race again.......SOME, well flecha did pull SOME, which is more than i can say for thor, who pulled way less than SOME,he sat on the back for long periods.......i dont dislike thor anyless, but just be accurate.........
deserved placing? man its roubaix, it just does not happen by accident, ever.
i dont understand where you get that he complained, he gave a short fairly innocuous assessment to the press even praising his and everyones finish......

unlike boonen who actually did some trash talking, i realize he was unhappy, if i were he i would be also, but it actually demonstrates who actually is the greater sportsman, and gentleman.....he could have just said yeah thats bike racing and call it good.....

and as i said , watch it again , flecha was on thors wheel when he pushed hard, creating a gap, flecha came around and had enough to hold the pace and widen the gap........you know what thats called.......bike racing

 

[Kellys Big Sprocket]

Hello forum people from sunny Ireland. Its was a fine race on Sunday and the hardest and the most motivated bloke won it with great style. It was good for the race in general. I tell you what, the final result would have been all so different if the front men had collided with that big brusier of a dog crossing the road. It was all a very close call. Why was that doggy crossing the road anyway ?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Flecha is a glass cranker, par excellence.
He comes through and pulls straight off, if he comes through at all.
Tried the same trick, with the big 2, in the E3.
Didn't work there, either.
Clapping Hushovd? Perhaps, as the usual biter, he didn't like getting bit.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Why was that doggy crossing the road anyway ?

Maybe he thought Marcus Burghardt was in that group....😛

 

[Zerak-Tul]

http://sporten.tv2.dk/article.php/id-29843761:skadet-m-breschel-kan-ikke-gå.html?forside

google-translate http://translate.google.com/transla...hel-kan-ikke-g%C3%A5.html?forside&sl=da&tl=en

Breschel seems to be in very bad shape, can't even walk on his knee now, poor fella.

 

[Echoes]

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.😀

I just love what "you" (sic) have said about Boonen yesterday and a few days ago. 😀

http://www.7sur7.be/7s7/fr/1512/Cyc...-n-ai-pas-compris-la-tactique-de-Boonen.dhtml

http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/2010/de-vlaeminck-tient-a-son-record/

Translation:

1st article: I didn't understand Boonen's tactic. Why did he sit so far at the back of the group? Why did he let Cancellara leave? Everybody knows you couldn't leave him 10 seconds. [...] Cancellara is too strong for the young Belgians who don't train enough. You don't prepare for classics of 260km with 200km trainings.

In my time, Merckx was also stronger than me but I didn't leave him 20m. Cancellara couldn't have beaten me[😀]. He was tired at the end while I never was.

2nd article (a few days earlier):
The Gipsy compared himself to his young possible successor: "He's a good person and certainly a better rider than Museeuw was but he can't hold a candle to me. In Harelbeke he said it was because of a bend. He always has a good excuse.

Merckx's former arch-rival says that the concurrence was fiercer in his days and that they didn't stick to one or two isolated races, showing his much more consistent palmares. "There's no rider left. The ones we can see are riding to prepare for the next race. That's what they say but in the end they don't win any. Boonen and Cancellara made Harelbeke but gave up Ghent Wevelgem. We used to ride Frankfurt and Zurich in one weekend. One year Maertens won both.

Roger De Vlaeminck gave Van Petegem advice when Museeuw threatened his record. We don't think he'll have to give Cancellara his experience. Anyway he will still have his mark in history, even if Boonen equals the record: "he'll need a 5th to become Mr Paris-Roubaix."

 

[Echoes]

I watched it on RTBF here in BE and the commentators were suffering from a rather ill-concealed schadenfreude as Cancellara tore up the cobbles that would in other years have made a final selection. All those marvellous and dangerous and glorious cobbles were, well, redundant.

I watched it on RTBF, as well, for once. There's something on which I agree with Rodrigo is that the Carrefour de l'Arbre has become really sad with these measure concerning alcohol and garbage.

Carrefour de l'Arbre used to be a great popular feast and I would always thrill when it arrived. The most legendary section of all.

But I realise that the protection of the environment round there is more important than the feast. But it's sad that the majority of people should be annoyed by a minority.

As far as the race was concerned the lack of suspense has never disturbed me. I know that the best achievement in cycling were long soloes.

Maybe it was more boring than the preceding years but it's Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix is NEVER boring !! 😉

 

[Echoes]

Well whoopteedoo. He gained a lot of experience. The experience of sucking at races longer than 200 km.

On the article about Rabobank it is said that Boom did not finish the race.

CQ Ranking says he finished outside the time limits.

Who's right?

 

[Anonymous]

man you really need to watch that race again.......SOME, well flecha did pull SOME, which is more than i can say for thor, who pulled way less than SOME,he sat on the back for long periods.......i dont dislike thor anyless, but just be accurate.........
deserved placing? man its roubaix, it just does not happen by accident, ever.
i dont understand where you get that he complained, he gave a short fairly innocuous assessment to the press even praising his and everyones finish......

unlike boonen who actually did some trash talking, i realize he was unhappy, if i were he i would be also, but it actually demonstrates who actually is the greater sportsman, and gentleman.....he could have just said yeah thats bike racing and call it good.....

and as i said , watch it again , flecha was on thors wheel when he pushed hard, creating a gap, flecha came around and had enough to hold the pace and widen the gap........you know what thats called.......bike racing

We will just agree to disagree. No biggie. I understand what you are saying, and I don't agree with it. Two people can view any situation and see it completely differently. The world will keep spinning. Cheers!

 

[theyoungest]

On the article about Rabobank it is said that Boom did not finish the race.

CQ Ranking says he finished outside the time limits.

Who's right?

The CN article about Rabo is badly informed... Again, they wrongly assume that the leaders for Paris-Roubaix were Boom and Posthuma, when in fact they were Boom and Langeveld. They both finished the race (another CN mistake), albeit too late, in Boom's case.

 

[pmcg76]

All this back and forth about Flecha,

Boonen had nobody to blame except himself for missing the break but after Cancellara went, he still wanted to try and win the race. It seemed at the same time that everybody else and especially Flecha had settled for second place and this is why Boonen was angry at the others, especially as Flecha looked realatively strong.

Leukemans, Hinault and Pozzatto were all screwed and I dont think Hushovd/Hammond were in great shape either. Maybe Flecha and Boonen could have left the rest if Flecha had rode, yes he might only have got 3rd against Boonen but he rode negatively and still only got 3rd.

To be settling for 2nd place 50km from the end of a race, especially a monument when there is one man up the road and you are in a group of 7/8 other favourites is kinda sad. Regardless of how strong Cancellara was, to give up with 50km left to race😱

Maybe it was the best tactic for Flecha and SKY but it is negative racing whatever way you look at it, Flecha has enough hard luck stories and near misses to his name so in my opinion should have been prepared to make the sacrifice in an effort to still win the race. As Stephen Roche once said "you have to be prepared to lose to win"

Ultimately Flecha got 3rd which is where he would have probably finished if he had rode with Boonen. Everyone slags Evans/Leipheimer for wheelsucking but Flecha done the exact same yesterday. I dont have anything against Flecha or SKY but I am not a fan of negative tactics. From Cat 5 to Top level pros, nobody likes the guys who wheelsucks the whole race but then attack or sprints at the end. Period.

 

[High Cotton]

For my part, I don't have a problem with the way Flecha raced. He did what he had to do to try to get on the podium, the same with Hushovd. The only problem I have with Flecha was the bitter/sarcastic applause of Hushovd at the velodrome in Roubaix. It just seems hypocritical and petty.

...if it hadn't been for that, I wouldn't have even posted but to say I found the race boring, and as you said, that I was disappointed that such a strong group of riders couldn't/wouldn't close down one (1) person when they have 50km to go.

 

[Jamsque]

I ask again: what should Flecha have done? One Cancellara was up the road, how else could Flecha have realistically ridden in order to get a better placing than he did? Half that group was already knackered, even if he and Boonen had worked their asses off together they would still not have brought the gap back, and both of them would have finished off the podium because they would have been totally spent by Roubaix.

And how can you call a guy a wheel-sucker when he was effectively chasing solo for the last 15 km of the race?

 

[High Cotton]

what should Flecha have done?

Kept his hands on his bars until he reached the infield...

 

[Jamsque]

Kept his hands on his bars until he reached the infield...

Touché

blah

 

[Hugh Januss]

I finally saw the sprint for second and I gotta say I don't know what all the fuss is about. What Flecha did could be interpreted as many different ways as there are people with an axe to grind ready to interpret it. At least he wasn't pantomiming shooting an arrow this time! He could have been just as easily expressing his joy at making the podium as sarcastically addressing Thor. It is one thing to debate who should have done what during the race, that is fine, but the amount of argument devoted to the interpretation of a gesture made on the finish line (in the heat of battle, as it were) seems a little silly to me.

 

[biokemguy]

dissapointed

Just saw this story:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/riis-reveals-the-secret-of-cancellaras-roubaix-attack

That's cheapens the victory for me more than the thread over in the clinic.
Here I thought Canc was brave and taking a BIG risk by attacking when he did.
Nope just following the boss' orders. 🙁 I'm sure he knows race tactics, but it saddens me how much the radio effected the finale of this race.

He probably would have still won using his own brain (I hope), but maybe the final 50km would have been a bit more exciting. 🙄