Was Paris-Roubaix the best of the Spring Classics in 2013? Milan-Sanremo was amazingly photogenic, Ronde van Vlaanderen was inevitable but Roubaix was just about perfect. We all prefer the wet and gray “This weather is good for us” Roubaix yet this race’s drama transcended the fine spring day in the North of France. There is no better way to understand why they are pros and we are not as when one watches the leaders burn secteur after secteur in the 53 x 17. Humbling is not a strong enough word.
With fifty kilometers left to race it was obvious Cancellara was not in his usual soul crushing form. He was riding a few groups back and not even dominating his own little pack. It was not going to be the Double. He was just another mortal, with no teammates and a lot of young bucks looking to leave him in the dust…and yet.
After a massive match burning rage he was in the lead group of four along with Stybar, Vanmarke, Vandenbergh. Two of the four were Quick-Step teammates. They hammered away toward the end of the Carrefour secteur. Vanmarke and Vandenbergh both looked strong as hell. Had Fabian not bridged up with Stybar spinning for his life right behind, those two big lads were riding away.
When they exited Carrefour it was just Cancellara and Vanmarke.
The evil lady luck was there, not to be ignored. First tempting Vandenbergh to the right gutter, inches from the spectators. He wobbled and his front wheel clipped a civilian. He was on the stones. Zdenek Stybar, moments later spooked to the left gutter and spectators, maybe clipped out of his left pedal for a second. He stayed up but the elastic had snapped. Zednek needed a good draft to stay with those men and he had lost it.
I have many beautiful memories of this race. I know how to adapt to this race, and I like the challenges it poses from a technical point of view but you need the luck. Sometimes it’s like an individual time trial though and along with luck you need to be smart. -F. Cancellara
Evil lady luck was in the gutters on Sunday. Always ride the crown.
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The crown is the place to be, but after 4 or 5 hours on the pavé, that gutter starts looking awfully tasty. Especially at the speed those knuckleheads roll at!
I am amazed at how fast they ride the carrefour; those are the worst stones of them all as far as I'm concerned.
@unversio
Museeuw asked if I was on a compact and I said no way, but that I was on a Belgian Compact. His buddy who was with us said, "Oh, you mean a 39?"
Most Pros ride a 46 or 44 on Roubaix and a 41 (!) on Flanders.
@scaler911
And tofu po'boys. Seriously, just an observation.
@mcsqueak
Yes. Pizza IS good.
can one of you that's had your pave flower popped explain or shed light on why the pros prefer the tops/flats to the hooks/drops/hoods? my poor rationale behind it is in case of an off, you dont smash up your hands and also to unload weight off the front...
@Nate
Yep. A point of difference to attract attention. And it works.
However, I can see how their design could allow some forward/aft flex for comfort, while still being strong in sideways rotation when putting the power down (an I-beam). But it still seems strange to remove material from the junction that all manufacturers seem to agree benfits the most from over-engineering.
Maybe all the cool looking solutions in the top half of the frame have already been done?
Anyway, it's all done in an effort to force carbon fibre to act in the way that steel does naturally...
@roger
Yes, that is half of it and keeping a loose yet supple grip on the bars as the whole front end bucks and bounces in an almost uncontrolled manner. A lot of people like the drops. I liked the tops for both reasons. Also, there is not much reason to brake on the Roubaix course. Just easing up on the pedals brings you to a stand still fairly fast. Hanging on to the brake levers seems too sketchy.
You have to do this sometime Rodger, just so you know.
A useful side effect of attending the Keepers Tour is that I can now spell Museeuw...
Excellent lead photo & nice write-up, Gianni! Even though it has only been a mere few days I think I forgot about some parts of the race. Maybe it was just so incredible my mind wasn't able to hold it all in?
I'm pretty pumped about these "comfort" race bikes being ridden by the HardMen more and more. Makes me feel better to have a LOOK 566, which I picked up because a) it was the only high(er) end LOOK in my Budgetatus range and I've always lusted after them b) I was having severe neck pain & thought the longer HT might help.
Turns out it was staring at a computer monitor all day that wasn't high enough. And I've alway lusted after them because my boyhood LBS had 1980s LOOKs decorating the walls and rafters.
Now that Sagan & Cancellara are on 'em I feel totally cool & less like a major pussy on a "comfort" carbon race bike. Thanks, guys!
Hang 'em up, lads. The Golden Tickets are pronounced dead.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/04/bikes-and-tech/the-torqued-wrench-ambrosio-nemesis-wheels-expire-in-the-pro-peloton_281545
(sorry if that was already posted on pg. 1, I've just gotten to this one)
@frank
Ha, I'll never hear the end of that fucking po'boy!