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.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Mike_P
Click on @MENTIONS and @REPLIES for name checks on yourself and replies to your comments...
@Deakus no granny or egg worries at all. Cheers!
@Chris thanks!
@the Engine Thanks. Rescued from my own ineptitude!
Back to the title of this article, the crown was indeed the only place to ride P-R. I did the 170km Paris-Roubaix Challenge on Saturday. Rode down to the gutters twice for some relief from the pounding, and flatted both times. That's where the shards from the cobbles collect.
@Fast4fortysix Strong work, 130km had me in bits but it's strangely addictive. When I got off the bike last year I was glad I'd done it but thought I'd never do it again. Within a week I'd started to think that I could have done it better so I had to go back. Having done it again, I'm pleased that I improved on last time but there's an annoying voice in the back of my mind (no not @Chris) telling me that I really ought to go and do the full 260km or whatever the pros race.
No matter how much it hurts at the time, it's a fucking beautiful race.
@the Engine The @mentions functions does seem to struggle differentiating between me, @chrisO and my hippy alter ego/stalker.
@Gianni and @Chris, P-R was beautiful this year and great read (including mildly spicy commentary). I was feeling bad for Stybar after his gutter encounter, but you're right: "...the elastic had snapped. Zednek needed a good draft to stay with those men and he had lost it."
I'll confess to owning a pair of toe covers. In my defense, they aren't the stupid wee things illustrated here but ones that loop around the heel. That being said, I never wear them by themselves, beligan booties go over the top. I find the combo works well on the cool days when full overshoes are too much.
Of course, this whole issue of shoe condoms raises the question: will we see Spartacus wearing shoes with no covers this year? His covers say Gaerne, but what kind of shoes is he actually using?