The 2011 V Moment of the Year: Paris Roubaix


The V Moment of the Year isn’t an award so much as acknowledgment of the moment during the season when the sport demonstrated the most pure example of spirit of The V. This is more than pushing hard en route to glory; the V Moment is the one point in time at which, despite a rider’s body and mind screaming to sit up in acquiescence, they instead fight on in the face of almost certain defeat.

In the first season in recent memory during which, despite some solid efforts, the story of The Needle and Blood Bank took a backseat to the story of Good Bike Racing, I am glad to report that fists were slammed on the Velominati boardroom table in defence of the many moments deserving this honor. The season saw both the domestique and the star take highest honors in the big races: a Dutchman returned to his machine after being torn to shreds on a barbed-wire fence; an Australian took the first Tour de France for the Antipodes; a Walloon took an astonishing quantity of quality races using the same tactic time and again from the season’s start to end; two riders stood out as the only big names willing to gamble on (and lose) a Merckxian long-distance charge rather than on a last-minute dash. In a season such as this, a unanimous vote was impossible and even as some V-Pints clinked in agreement, ale spilled from others at they were shaken in dissention. Bretto was last seen staggering off to the loo muttering, “Cadel [indecipherable] Galibier [censored]…” That was two weeks ago. I do hope he’s alright.

It’s a classic racing tactic; send a teammate up the road and force the other teams to work to bring back the break while you sit on, sip tea, and nibble on biscuits. In Professional Cycling, nine times out of ten, the break is brought back at the decisive moment of the race and the favorites are let off the leash to play out the finale while the lambs who have sacrificed their day toiling for another’s glory are left to limp to the finish largely forgotten.

Johan Van Summeren is one such rider, usually racing in the service of his team captains. Off to the front with you, Johan – time to bring the break back. Johan, the break has two minutes – you’d better bridge up there solo and get the other teams to chase. Hey, Johan – you don’t climb anywhere near well enough for your weight, why don’t you make sure the break that gets away before the mountains doesn’t get too much time – then beat the time limit over the cols.

Despite his role as loyal domestique, he showed promise on the brutal Pavé du Nord; in the service of Leif Hoste, he finished 10th in 2008 and in 2009 he placed 5th even after stopping and waiting for his fallen captain. And so it was to be again in 2011, though this time for a new captain – World Champion, Thor Hushovd.

The Sector of Pavé known as the Carrefour de L’Arbre is perhaps the most decisive of the race. Though it starts flat, it ends on a slight uphill stretch which makes the particularly brutal stones feel even more antagonizing. As they approached, Van Summeren was told by his team leadership that should the break not yet be caught when they enter the sector, he would be given free reign to ride for himself. They came within 11 seconds of being brought back before they began to pull away again. Sensing his chance, Van Summeren hit the Carrefour sector on the front of his group, put it in the big ring, and rode away from his companions.

His gap never seemed big enough, but he continued to fight even as he felt the favorites’ breath on his back as they overtook the remnants of his group. The story might end there, speaking of a domestique leaving the favorites at the Trouée d’Arenberg to stay away until the finish, and a good story it would be. The underdog had taken his chance and  looked to have gotten away with it when the unthinkable happened. My bike feels slower than it did a minute ago – is my brake rubbing? Aren’t the last sectors of cobbles easier than the previous ones? Then why are they so rough? Indeed, the air was popping out of his back tire for a rest; yet he still managed to hold off a late-race charge from pre-race favorite and reigning World Time Trial Champion, Fabian Cancellara. Into the finish and over the line, he sought not the reporters of the press, but his girlfriend to whom he promptly proposed. (“Most people give a ring, I give a rock.”)

For taking a chance almost 100 kilometers from the line in the hardest race on the calendar, and for holding off the fastest rider in the world while rattling over the roughest road in Europe on a flat tire, Johan van Summeren gave us the V Moment of the Year at Paris-Roubaix. Goed gedaan, meneer.

The final kilometers:

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

View Comments

  • @Buck Rogers

    @Cyclops

    Did any of you guys see this?"A Gift From Jens"

    Yeah, I think someone posted the link here a few weeks ago.
    Such an awesome story and makes me respect him even more, which is kind of like turning the turntable up to 11.

    Haha. That made me think of that scene from Spinal Tap.

  • I've been wracking my brains to disagree with Frank's choice, but can't Great ride by JvS. If it was for best season, I'd nominate Phillipe Gilbert, but for a one-day race, you can't beat the lanky Belgian. Another nice note was what I perceived to be the genuine warmth and sincerity of Faboo's congratulations at the end. Classy, despite what had to be massive frustration and disappointment on his end.

  • @wiscot

    I've been wracking my brains to disagree with Frank's choice, but can't Great ride by JvS. If it was for best season, I'd nominate Phillipe Gilbert, but for a one-day race, you can't beat the lanky Belgian. Another nice note was what I perceived to be the genuine warmth and sincerity of Faboo's congratulations at the end. Classy, despite what had to be massive frustration and disappointment on his end.

    Faboo seems a good guy, though he really struggled with the pressure and negative tactics of being the overwhealming favorite. One of the best things about this last season is that it means all the tables are turned on their heads for 2012. Who knows what will happen!

    @936adl

    JVS is a worthy winner to my mind.
    I was lucky enough to make it out to the race last year, and after watching the race through the 5 star Aulnoy-lez-Valencienne a Famars section we retreated to a bar to watch the finish.
    We all watched in awe as the JVS held off the late surge of Sparticus. All the more impressive given his puncture!
    We then got involved with some Belgian guys in the bar and all did our best to celebrate the win.
    Even crashing into a bush on the way back to our Hotel didn't spoil a special day!
    Roll on Easter Sunday.......

    AWESOME STORY.

    @RedRanger

    Spinal Tap 11

    Best cult movie EVER. And best scene.

  • @frank
    Yup, it'll be interesting to see how Faboo deals with it this year. He'll be expecting it and team tactics may be deployed accordingly. Unless Thor wants to become the new Pozzato (in the wheel sucker sense) he'd better show his face at the front a bit more.

  • Spinal Tap 11


    Best cult movie EVER. And best scene.

    There are too many awesome scenes from that movie. When he tells the guy that the beautiful song he is playing on the piano is called "Lick my Love Pump" it kills me everytime. And the line about cancelling the Boston stop of their tour but it's not a big deal as it is "not much of a college town anyways." So many more. Just love that film. Thinking about it, I am way overdue for a rescreening of that one.

  • @frank

    @marcus


    @MinionOn behalf of your country, please explain this.I always thought Kiwis weren't very fast at shearing sheep because they never want to share a sheep with anyone?

    Wow. Just...Wow.

    Lets get back on topic please Frank, back to cycling. The Mods will get you for off topic chit chat.

  • @JC Belgium

    @frank
    why not 'Merckxiaans' like in Dutch? After all, he is still a Belgian (and bilingual Dutch-French) (I'm sorry, but I don't know the French word for sure, I think it's Merckxian). actually, Belgians refuse to use the word, because no rider will ever achieve what Eddy Merckx did... they doubted to use it for some incredible performances of Sven Nys or Philippe Gilbert. however, mostly journalists say (and now I translate): 'we could call it Merckxiaans, this is almost Merckiaans, à la Merckx'. I think we should respect this and call Johan's performance 'almost Merckxiaans'...

    I love it! Settled, then.

    @Buck Rogers

    It's written in Dm, which I find to be the saddest of all keys. It has people weeping, instantly.

    Its very pretty.

    Its just simple lines, intertwining.

    What's it called?

    This piece is called, "Lick My Lovepump."

  • @wiscot

    @frank
    Yup, it'll be interesting to see how Faboo deals with it this year. He'll be expecting it and team tactics may be deployed accordingly. Unless Thor wants to become the new Pozzato (in the wheel sucker sense) he'd better show his face at the front a bit more.

    And Hushovd, moving to a new team, will have the service of Hincapie. Here's hoping Hincapie pulls a Van Summeren.

    Note: I am seeing conflicting information on Johan's name, it being written both as Van Summeren and Vansummeren. Seems to me that Van Summeren is the more "correct" way, but as a guy who's name is Frank but pronounced Frank, I'm not going to make a call like that. Anyway, if someone knows something firm on that, I'd love to hear it. The Flemish don't always do things the Dutch way when it comes to language. Or anything else, for that matter.

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