The Double (vlaanderen and roubaix), too easy? Why?

[El Pistolero]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not sure how much value this argument has. Because in my opinion the reason is, that Roubaix is the most selective of those races, so fewer guys ever have a chance to get to the end in a good position.

How many guys are realistically capable of winning the Tour de France in any given year? Three or four the most, unless something extraordinary happens? And yet it's the most important race in the calendar.

Sure, but Roubaix really has a much weaker field than the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
If GVA can get fourth, maybe some other Ardennes type riders should try. LBL probably is the classic with the toughest competition. The Emperor of the classics.

 

[Netserk]

There's also riders like Hushovd who can't do **** in neither E3 nor Ronde, but who excels in Roubaix.

 

[the asian]

There's far less people who can win Roubaix, indeed. It's something for the happy few.

Although there's a lot of young guys coming op who have the ability for PR.
There's Vanmarcke, Gaudin, Phinney, Turgot, Boom, Vandenbergh,... All guys who seem to be a bit more suited for PR than RVV

Agreed, Hopefully Phinney doesn't develop in to too much of a beast and the wins are shared by a lot of guys than one rider dominating.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

What's the story on phinney today, btw?

 

[raddone]

In 8 years it happened 4 times by 2 guys. In '03 it also happened but that's from another generation and i would like to focus on this one.

Boonen in '05 and '12. And canc in '10 and '13.

And with some more luck it could even happen more often. Canc in '11 for example.

What does this mean?

From this perspective, you might have said in 2005 that Le Tour was too easy, with 1 guy winning 7 times in the last 7 years.

 

[wiggos sideburn]

What's the story on phinney today, btw?

Not much he headed the field as they went through the Arenberg, then when Cancellara did his first acceleration he disappeared

 

[benpounder]

That they're similar races that appeal to the same type of riders and take place 7 days apart?

Top riders typically prepare themselves for the races they target. Why should similar classics be any different than GC winners of GTs winning mountain top finishes or time trials a week or so apart?

If it is not obvious, I'm using you as a foil for an ill-thought question.

 

[rghysens]

Roubaix and Vlaanderen are much more alike than for example the hilly classics.

Roubaix is dead flat, the last 75km the tour of Flanders is almost as hilly as the AGR. Tour of Flanders is closer to AGR than it is to P-R (and AGR is closer to RVV than it is to LBL). I also don't understand why people are calling these races "cobbled races". There's only one cobbled race: Roubaix. The cobbles in Flanders (if they don't go 15% uphill) are way easier than those in Roubaix.

The main reason is that the field in RVV and PR is just to weak, compared to AGR or LBL. If Roubaix and flanders would switch places on the calendar, the participation in Flanders would be way more varied than it is now.

 

[Roderick]

Sure, but Roubaix really has a much weaker field than the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
If GVA can get fourth, maybe some other Ardennes type riders should try. LBL probably is the classic with the toughest competition. The Emperor of the classics.

But Greg is a beast. By far the most allround rider of them all. He doesn't win that much cause he comes always just a little short but you can put him in any race you want and you will see him in the front. By far the most valuable rider at BMC


To answer the question. Tommeke and Cance are just from another dimension when there in shape, especially Cance.

+ they have both a great weapon. Tommeke is one of the fastest men of the peloton so he can even win when he's not the strongest man in the race (last year's Ronde for example). And Cance is so good of a TT that if you give him ten metres, you don't see him back before the finish

 

[Bavarianrider]

The reality is quiet simply.
The number of riders who seriously contest for this kind of special races is simply very small.

 

[Roderick]

The reality is quiet simply.
The number of riders who seriously contest for this kind of special races is simply very small.

I'm pretty sure there are more riders that have Ronde+ Roubaix as their main objective than riders with AGR and L-B-L as their main objective

 

[the asian]

Actually I thought the double would be much more difficult with the new Ronde route but it has had the opposite effect for the first two years.

 

[Froome19]

Because they are heads and shoulders above the rest.

Though admittedly Cancellara did not look heads and shoulders above the rest today.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I'm pretty sure there are more riders that have Ronde+ Roubaix as their main objective than riders with AGR and L-B-L as their main objective

That's because AGR is NOT a classic.

Each year there are maybe 5-10 people at max who have a real shot (without needing too much luck) at winning both Ronde and Roubaix.
IT's just natural that occasionaly someone does the double.

 

[Roderick]

That's because AGR is NOT a classic.

Each year there are maybe 5-10 people at max who have a real shot (without needing too much luck) at winning both Ronde and Roubaix.
IT's just natural that occasionaly someone does the double.

But there are at least 30-40 guys that take the shot at winning Ronde or Roubaix, even when they pretty much have no chance at winning.

 

[TheGame]

Superior preparation.

 

[Magnus]

That's because AGR is NOT a classic.

Shh. Don't tell the rest of the world. Keep your secret to yourself.

 

[hfer07]

I chose the option ONE, since both Cancellara & Bonnen have been defeated in the past by others, so I do believe the competition against them aren't up to the task yet: Hushov is a no go,Ballan fvcked up by all means, Flecha is too old, Pozzatto is just empty words, & the rest of the field is floating to be honest..... and wait until Sagan takes over

 

[Pippo_San]

That's because AGR is NOT a classic.

This is just bull****.
Having a look at the winners, and at the riders each year, would make you say otherwise.

I almost dare to say it's a monument, just because of the importance it acquired during the years, even if it's almost only a race up the Cauberg, it's still a magnificent race, what with those narrow and twisty roads!

 

[l.Harm]

Shouldn't be even World Tour.

 

[dabar85]

This two races are above any hilly clasics. Why? Except history and stuff like that this two races (except last two flanders because of route but like this is better than hilly clasics) have action for kilometers and kilometers and no team strength can help you significantly. On AGR you have 100-150 people at the bottom of cauberg, that is nonsense after 31 climbs. Only LBL have action from Redoute and specially with roche aux faucons and that is why it has monument status. We saw in flanders that group of 20 people cannot catch sagan and roelands (not counting cancellara) because they were excausted. That will never happen in AGR and FW. This two races (RvV nd PR) together with LBL are above everything else by a country mile. Put Flanders and AGR in same sentebce is a disgrace

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

On AGR you have 100-150 people at the bottom of cauberg, that is nonsense after 31 climbs

Never... Most of the years it's been a group of 5-10 guys, sometimes even solos (Vino, F.Schleck) and 2-men groups (Boogerd/Rebellin).
Only the last 2/3 years has it been 30 men groups (MAX).

So stop shouting bs

 

[dabar85]

Never... Most of the years it's been a group of 5-10 guys, sometimes even solos (Vino, F.Schleck) and 2-men groups (Boogerd/Rebellin).
Only the last 2/3 years has it been 30 men groups (MAX).

So stop shouting bs

even 30 is too much

 

[the asian]

This two races are above any hilly clasics. Why? Except history and stuff like that this two races (except last two flanders because of route but like this is better than hilly clasics) have action for kilometers and kilometers and no team strength can help you significantly. On AGR you have 100-150 people at the bottom of cauberg, that is nonsense after 31 climbs. Only LBL have action from Redoute and specially with roche aux faucons and that is why it has monument status. We saw in flanders that group of 20 people cannot catch sagan and roelands (not counting cancellara) because they were excausted. That will never happen in AGR and FW. This two races (RvV nd PR) together with LBL are above everything else by a country mile. Put Flanders and AGR in same sentebce is a disgrace

Either you have mixed up AGR and FW or you have watched a different AGR over the last few years.

 

[Roderick]

In M-S r you have sometimes a peloton of 80 riders at the bottom of the Poggio. So M-S R isn't a classic either?