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:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_XHQpVavWU[/youtube]
Totally agree.
@frahnk, just seen the pix of your Ambrosio shod R3 and I likes your precious. Even tho you’re not that much taller than me (5cm) and roughly the same build, either you’ve got arms like a gibbon or the flexibility of a gymnast, how do you ride with so much seatpost?
Im not sure Thor would agree with this moment. A good ride none-the-less. Its good to see a rider that carries a little weight push so hard.
@Steve Wilson
Stay tuned, Thor’s in for a bigger surprise…we haven’t given out the Anit-V award yet!
@zalamanda
Right on all counts. I am flexible and a gymnast gibbon. And I’ve got ridiculously long legs. If I was a woman I’d be hot, but instead I look like a cartoon.
It pains me to differ, Frank, but I have to go with young Taylor Phinney at the Tour of Romandie. Kid crashes in the TT the day before and then controls the race for two hours on the final stage before being dropped. His three companions got off at the feedzone, but Phinney carried on. According to his Twitter:
This a race his father had won in 1988. No disrespect to JVS””and I heartily agree with all the sentiments in the article””but Phinney at Romandie is my V-moment of the year. And strong hope that the kids are alright.
@zalamanda
Ahhh, how many of us have dreamed to come home from a stellar ride and have these words uttered by our VMH …..
I loved Jens Voigt falling off several times in the TdF, telling the camera crew to fuck off, then destroying everyone up the next mountain for the Petit Grimpeur – Vawesome
That said, I had tears in my eyes for JVS, especially when he flatted – something special to outrun Faboo when he smells your blood – Agreed
Indeed a worthy winner, but for me the VMOY was each and every time Little Tommy Voeckler turned himself inside out in trying to hold onto yellow for just one more day, and in doing so, turned me from an ardent Voeckler-hater into a fan.
@frank
Fuck yeah! I know I’m in the minority but I cant stand the guy.
On this side, I couldn’t agree more with your choice of JVS.
I’m totally on board with JVS. He had such good results on P-R before, he must have been the danger man of the break. It was the most thrilling classic of 2011 to see a Belgian rider, not the team leader, take advantage of his hard riding in the break and solo to victory. Who could ask for more? I put his name in on numerous VSPs only to come up empty but I knew he had it in him. Well told Frank and the video is fantastic quality, no need for translation.
It amuses me he still is not married.
@VeloVita
That’s why it’s the V M OY, not the V MDIMJ (Multiple Days in Maillot Jaune) Award. Don’t get me wrong, I was lovin’ Tommy V, and I personally was rooting for Hoogerland’s Bloody Ride, but JVS P-R is more than apropos, especially for holding off the chase with a flat. Epic!
@VeloVita
Yea, Voeckler was deep in the running for the V award as his TdF riding was a beautiful thing, as was Cadels. But Voeckler really boxed above his weight for longer than anyone thought possible. And yes, I used to dislike him too but his riding earlier in the year made me a fan and this only sealed the deal.
This is a great choice, but for me it would have been Hoogerland (with a big nod to Flecha) for getting up and carrying on when his legs and ass were fubar. More than that though, for the strength of character he showed in the interviews afterwards. Refusing to blame anyone or to complain even a little despite his tour being ruined and what must have been a huge amount of pain…
Legend.
Can you imagine if it had been Cav? The driver would still be in hiding. or dead.
In addition to the sheer V of his ride, the pure joy and elation he exuded (not to mention class) afterward was really fun to watch. I would have expected one of the favorites to be happy but probably give one of the standard athlete interviews post ride. But JvS, not even including his proposal to his lovely girlfriend, was so fun to watch. He knew it was the ride of his life and unlike a favorite probably didn’t have the expectation (and subsequent let down) of winning. Just pure joy. His reaction to winning is probably not that far off from what any of us would have had if we had won. That’s why I liked it. I hope we get to meet him in April.
And of course his girlfriend deserved a few chapeaux too, for the big tonguie french kiss she gave him at the finish, considering he had also just won the year’s prize for most Belgian Toothpaste (incorporating dust) On One Set of Gnashers 2011
fortunately for our love of this sport, there could be multiple winners of the V award, since we all, and our giants of the PRO sport all wear the V. They wear it even when other sports would call it quits.
So, yes, no doubt the young lad deserves the P-R nod and the V-nod
and so would Hoogerland, as spearfish mentions, i agree, he came up after that in polka dots afterall.
and so could it not be said of our beloved Gilbert, time and time again, he dug in and dished it out…VVVVVVV!!!!
Chapeau to all
@Dr C
Ha, I was just about to say the same thing, mega V award for his VMH for not minding the Belgian toothpaste one bit. What a gal and what a lad, I guess true love overcomes all as they say, yeah?
A number of worthy moments this year. Can’t imagine what the debate was like.
Solid choice, tho Johnny H would have just nudged JVS IMHO. Thank Merckx you didn’t go with Clenbutador’s Giro performance (solid as it was), I might have had to do a “Occupy VM Keepers”. You don’t need that kind of trouble………
@VeloVita
Yes! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If ever a race needed a rider the TDF needed Voekler.
@scaler911
I see that Giro performance as proof of cheating. Or cheating better than anyone else.
Personal opinion only, no proof whatsoever, and sorry to anti V the waters, but I’m with Scaler on that one.
@ Frank
Very nice article Frank!
I don’t know though.I’m still torn between JVS and Johnny Prikkeldraad.I really don’t know!
Despite tough competition, the right result.
As Ronnie John’s would say: fucken’ spot on.
And don’t be too tough on old Thor…. a big man like him, winning solo over the Aubisque on Stage 13 into Lourdes… the only one in the picture across the finish line in the rainbow jersey… class… and that descent was inspiring and just awesome to watch.
But yes, his classics campaign sucked like an English public school girl in Thailand on her gap year after losing her puppy fat in India (this last quote may not travel very well beyond the upper middle classes of the UK, so apologies). Him and Vaughters deserve to be sjambokked mercilessly for generating enough Anti-V to cover all of Flanders to a depth of two feet.
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…….
Man, you can see his rear tire bobbing up and down on the velodrome. Imagine all that could have happened in the final meters. Gotta say I love hearing the Euro announcers say JvS’s name. Almost as much as I like hearing them say “Leukemans.” It’s just…euro. And therefore Pro.
Frank: you *really* need to get a V-cog DH painted onto the road pointing into the velodrome. *That* will be the 2012 V Moment.
@frank
First off, totally great choice in my opinion with JVS pulling off P-R. Dude dug really deep and to know that Sparticus was hunting you personally down, man, that is some f’king “V” right there.
As for Thor, let me be the first to defend his ride at P-R. Dude could have ridden, and then his team mate would not have won and probablyor would not of either. But, if needed, we will discuss this on a future thread!
@Buck Rogers
I tend to agree. If Thor gets the Anti-V award, I’ll be very disappointed. I think there are plenty of better picks given his TDF.
It gave my skin goose bumps when I watched it & Frank your write-up brought them back. Great article! That lead photo induces a serious smile to spread across my face. It must feel incredible to win such a historic race, especially for such a long-shot rider.
Certainly not anything close to what JVS encountered, but I was on a group ride the other week and just could not keep up early on. “What the hell? I know I ate too much over the holidays, but I can’t be this damn slow!” I thought my brakes were rubbing. No. Had to stop and get off – crappy wheelset on my travel bike had moved and the tire was jammed against a chainstay. Phew, much easier to pedal without that going on & a serious relief to know my gluttonous holidays had not totally ruined me.
Van Summeran was spectacular – the award is just. On a very minor point concerning the long distance charge referred to in para two, isn’t “Merckxonian” the correct phrase, visa vis “Merckxian”? A “Priestly” distance would also be appropriate I suppose…
@frank
quite unsurprisingly, i agree with Bretto. Van Summeren’s victory was a great win for the common man, but c’mon, can you really compare it to Cadel’s entire Tour, with the higlight being his ride up the Galibier?
Can’t help but think you went with JVS because of his Dutch-sounding name.
@Steampunk
Oh wow, I didn’t know about this story & HardMan ride from Phinnay at all. Thanks for pointing it out! That is incredible fortitude to carry on, despite being numberless. Until you’ve communed with butterflies on your own & done some long, hard rides, one will never, ever know how tough the wee lads in Lycra truly are. I know I didn’t.
Played lots of teams sports growing up & loved the competition and physical battles. Now I’ve really grown to love the fact that I can head out on a ride & push myself to my limit, whether it’s a short, hard effort or a long ride, one where you wonder at certain points if you’ll be able to make it back home. I return home each time with a renewed spirit. While we can’t be PROS, it is certainly one awesome aspect of cycling that we each can test our mettle on every ride, if we desire. And each time you willingly enter into a challenging day in the saddle, you find a bit more about yourself.
Each of us can have our own personal ride of the year & nobody might even hear about it, aside from the dog as they try to lick the embrocation off our legs as we take off our shoes or the VMH who wonders why they hell we were gone so long.
@King Clydesdale
A week in yellow at the tour plus 2 stage wins.
@Minion
On 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?
Just watched the included video & while I know who won, I couldn’t help but be nervous on some of the final corners. Don’t go wide!
I also find it amusing that I’m completely okay watching tons of cycling videos & not knowing anything that is said aside from the names and…”Ay ya ya,” from the Belgian announcer.
Loved how Johan’s numbers had barely stayed on. And, his celebration was super slick – classy, yet celebratory, joyful, yet modest. Maybe 6 hours of cobble riding played a part.
And Tjallingii is one of those riders who just looks good on a bike. Serious guns, perfectly fit kit, nice stroke, awesome.
On another note, I got to wondering about Ballan & Flecha. Very strong riders, one with a checkered past, always there in the Classics, but hmm, they don’t win too much. Are they the type who just aren’t top tier? Or, is there more to come from them? (I guess anything can happen in a one-day cobble-fest.)
@Ron
Ballan won RVV and the Worlds Road Race and Flecha podiumed multiple P-R’s and also RVV. Dudes have pretty impressive palmaires, although I think that Ballan is guilty of doping until quite recently. But they are the “real deal” in top classic riding in my not so informed or impressive opinion! :)
@marcus
We prefer to think of it as hairdressing – you wouldn’t send your better half to a barber would you?
Fuck me there’s nothing I can say. Our politicians, and especially the fwit in charge of Sparc, are turkeys.
The whole Hoogerland thing made me physically sick when I saw it.
@Spearfish
This really got under my skin. How do you not come out all guns blazing and angry after something like this? I won’t ever forget it.
I didn’t really grasp the magnitude of JVS’s ride at the time, I thought it was just a great win for the ‘little’ guy. You put it in perspective quite well though Frank.
I really liked the video, especially the footage after the win. Good to see Rabo happy with 3rd place, I often wonder if pro’s get beaten once they get into the bus for coming second or third. Third place in the P-R is still a fine achievement.
@Steampunk
Very noble for sure, but I’d say that’s just laying the groundwork for winning the V Moment award in later years! I am watching that guy’s development with great interest…
@VeloVita
There were a lot of those types of moments this year – great season…but for some reason, it just bugged me that he kept hanging on day after day…I can’t explain it, it just did.
@Spearfish
And certainly spat on. This was also a major, MAJOR candidate for the #1 spot, and who could have argued it? Too many to pick from, but sometimes you just have to make a call.
@Marko
Spot on – that’s a great point and one I wish I would have thought to make! The sheer joy, it felt like we were all celebrating together. And he’s as tall and possibly even lankier than me. What’s not to love?
@Dr C
! Great! His girlfriend was adorable…The Flemish newscasters were talking about her and the cameras following her around in the velodrome…she was wandering around like a chicken with its head cut off…just awesome.
@scaler911
Occupy VM Keepers…Gold!
@minion
I forget where I read it, but someone official had a similar comment…”all the big names will ride the Tour and we’ll depend on Europcar and others to make the race watcable…”
@TommyTubolare
JOHNNY PRIKKELDRAAD!! Fantastic! Into the Lexicon with that one we go…
@roadslave
We’ll discuss this more in a bit, methinks…
@King Clydesdale
Don’t forget, its the moment – not the rider. What he did at the Tour was fantastic. What he did at the classics was not. I’m the first to tell you I love the shit out of Thor.
…and I think some of you are jumping to conclusions based on my deliberately misleading statement earlier…
@eightzero
Oh. That’s a though.
@Ron
Spot on. And I love the fact that there is no-one tougher to compete against than yourself.
@James
Merckxonian…where are the pedants when you need them? Which is it? I think they both sound great!
@Ron
You’re not the first one to have that happen! G’rilla and I have been doing hill repeats on a local climb and every time the false flat at the top has us checking our brakes and wondering about flats. Brutal!
@marcus
It was an absolutely spectacular moment and the highlight of the Tour, at least where the favorites were concerned. For me, though, the moment is muddied by the fact that his ride up the Galibier was very last-minute…I think my theme for 2012 is to be Anti-Last-MInute-Effort. Brilliant tactic, of course, and it won him the Tour – but not a very bold move. On the other hand, compare it to the Grimplette’s 60 k hail-mary. Sure, he lost the Tour, but that was an inspired move and the only one from a favorite that wasn’t just the same-old, same-old. Also Merckxian. We could do this all day.
@marcus
Wow. Just…Wow.
@Ron
Meh. Hard to say. I’m with @Buck Rogers in that they’ve got decent results behind them…but Flecha to me is a tier below and so is Ballan. His win in RVV was great, though – as he kept a guy I can’t stand in the least (not even Roast Beast) from winning.
I think they’re below the others but good enough to win if it all works out in their favor…
@rhys
I was torn on this, too. He was a class act for sure, but at the same time, he do wonder how he could keep himself together like that. Maybe he knew the car driver just made him famous and his career was made!
Seriously! What of it? You got THIRD? YOU FUCKING GIT.
@frank
The Grimplette’s Hail Mary was no less last minute than Cadel’s chase, there would be no more Tour winning opportunities after it. Some might even argue that he’d already left it too late by that point.
@frank
Oh, I thought The Merckxonian would be an institution founded for the increase and diffusion of cycling knowledge