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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Well put Gianni, and as a veteran of the pavé myself (now) I concur. And as if by magic, so does Fumy Beppu of OGE.
Many moons ago, I had a chance to talk to Steve Bauer's first coach. We talked about Paris-Roubaix and he said Steve always rode up the middle. He would use a bigger than normal gear over the pave and avoided the smoother, beguiling gutters which were prone to delivering flats (Evil lady luck, to be sure). Given his classic 1990 finish, I could see why.
Stijn Devolder must be in a 53 × 14 or 13 or 12 -- there.
Or 52 × 14 or 13 or 12 "” maybe.
@strathlubnaig
Nothing like some first hand experience riding the Roubaix cobbles. Holy Shiet! That is some hard riding.
@gottago
Yep, if one has the power, like Bauer did, staying in the middle is smart but tough. But the temptation is always pulling one to the edge. And I bet on wet days even more important and harder. Lord knows what would be lurking in a puddle in the gutter.
@unversio
Late in the TV coverage the moto camera looked at Vanmarke's chain bouncing around. It looked like he was in the middle of his cassette. Since there are no real climbs maybe they go 11-20 so maybe a 15? It's damn hard to hammer the huge gear there. Ya gots to keep the power on and spin it a bit more.
For my starter pistols last year, I was in the 50 x 21 or some pussy gear like that, but it worked for me. I was crushing my big ring...
he sets trap and waits patiently for harsh "belgian compact" comments to fire up.
Looks like some killer roads. Did some rougher riding on monday to try an live out my own cobble stone classic. Of course compared to the Paris-Roubaix my route looked and felt like the smoothest ride on Earth but it was nice to shake my bones and teeth around a little. The Keepers Tour ya'll do looks great and I would love to get over there an actually hit these roads...maybe some day. cheers
Here's Frank doing it 'zactly like I told him to.
@strathlubnaig
I realize @frank is Dutch but why is he wearing clogs on the Arenberg?