Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2012

VELOMINATI HItS THE COBBLES OF CAPPELLE EN PÉVÉLLE. PHOTO: JESSE WILLEMS

We rode the Pavé of Roubaix in the dry, and any comforting feelings we might have been carrying about with us that suggested we had somehow prepared for them were summarily vaporized as we hit the first secteur. Riding together in a group, unable to reach for the brakes or the shifters, we all were hit with the same realization: these aren’t like the stones we have at home. Not if you live anywhere other than along the cobbled roads of Northern France. Not if you live in England. Not if you live in the Netherlands. Not even if you live in Belgium. And we won’t even talk about the rest of the world.

The Trouée of Arenberg is a sacred place. Arriving there, you feel the need to pray out of respect. Riding there, you feel the need to pray out of a sense of self preservation. There is no smooth path through these particularly rough cobbles. That was in the dry; if the race is wet as predicted by the weathermen (whom I assume are as bad at being right as they are in the States), then there isn’t a bag big enough to hold all the prayers the riders are going to need to get through these. And the Trouée is not the hardest or roughest secteur, by a considerable margin; that honor goes to Mons-en-Pévéle or Carrfoure de l’Arbre.

Keep an eye on the weather report as the race comes nearer, as wet roads will turn this race into one of attrition. Cancellara has broken his collarbone; Boonen, Pozzato, and Ballan are on form. But this is a long race, and details such as those matter little when a race contains over fifty kilometers of cobbles. Is it another year for the breakaway, or will the favorites close it down as they approach the finale? I don’t know, but watch the countdown timer and get your picks in by Sunday morning at 5am Pacific. Winner of this VSP event will earn the right to comment all year with the pavé commenting badge. We will also forgo the usual Symbol Pack prize awarded to a Monument and award the winner a copy of the local newspaper the day after the race.

Bon chance.

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.

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View Comments

brett says:

Apr 4 2012 at 11:33 pm

VSP PICKS:

1. Thor
2. Boonen
3. Degenkolb
4. Ballan
5. Au Revoir Guesdon
Dr C says:

Apr 4 2012 at 11:36 pm

Day for the young and the reckless me thinks - trembling with fear more than excitement, knowing what they are about to endure - Jesus help them!

VSP PICKS:

1. Galloping Man
2. Satan
3. Ballesandro
4. Tomeke
5. Potato Tomato
taon24 says:

Apr 5 2012 at 12:22 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Chavanel, Sylvain
4. Pozzato
5. Ballan
mouse says:

Apr 5 2012 at 12:43 am

Go Freckle!

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Stewie
4. Ballan
5. Chavanel
GProsser says:

Apr 5 2012 at 12:51 am

Someone at BMC has to do something sooner or later...come on Alessandro.

VSP PICKS:

1. Ballan
2. Boonen
3. Oss
4. Eddy the Boss
5. POPOVYCH
simonsaunders says:

Apr 5 2012 at 1:29 am

I think the weather will be the deciding factor and crashes on the course will affect predicted results- Boonen to miss out on this one.

VSP PICKS:

1. Haussler
2. Hushovd
3. Breschel
4. Flecha
5. Griepel
TomC says:

Apr 5 2012 at 2:15 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Breschel
4. Dengelkob
5. Hincapie
Fausto says:

Apr 5 2012 at 2:51 am

Unadventurous, but you can't argue with the form of these guys, and I think Tomeke wants this one badly.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Ballan
4. Pozzato
5. Van Avermaet
King Clydesdale says:

Apr 5 2012 at 3:21 am

Despite the forecasts calling for rain, it doesn't look like a downpour on Sunday as of right now. More drizzle and shower like then straight up rain. Some wind around but not horrific. Pretty cloudy though. In fact the way it looks, there will be just enough rain to cut down the dust, without turning the course to shit. Worst possible weather you could want for an unpredictable Roubaix. Look for tactics and excessive marking of favorites to create a surprise winner, not the weather, at least as of right now.

VSP PICKS:

1. Pozzato
2. Boonen
3. Degenkolb
4. Ballan
5. Chavanel
Ankush says:

Apr 5 2012 at 3:33 am

sure Boonen can't do the double or could he?

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Ballan
3. Pozzato
4. Sagan
5. Chavanel