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.

Next Guest Article: The Most Beautiful Race in the World »

Previous « Lezyne: Official Keepers Tour Air and Tool supplier

View Comments

Marko says:

Apr 5 2012 at 11:27 pm

Saw all these guys riding the Carefor d'Labre yesterday. No matter how much you think you look pro, you don't. And they float over the pavÃ©. Cheers all.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Ballan
3. Vanmarcke
4. Pazzato
5. Hushovd
Papageno says:

Apr 5 2012 at 11:34 pm

Boonen will do a "Cancellara" he falls out before the finish. I hate to predict it and I wish him all the best.

VSP PICKS:

1. Hushovd
2. Degenkolb
3. Boom
4. Ballan
5. Sagan
Marko says:

Apr 5 2012 at 11:45 pm

Swapped Vanmarcke for Flecha.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Ballan
3. Flecha
4. Pazzato
5. Hushovd
Simon says:

Apr 5 2012 at 11:48 pm

@Netraam

I'm working on the basis that it's going to be horrible enough for it not to matter. Except for Hincapie, of course. I predict he'll get plowed into by the team car, just before the start.

I look forward to being gloriously wrong...
Rigid says:

Apr 6 2012 at 12:01 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Flecha
3. Gert Steegmans
4. J Van Summeren
5. H Roulston
Roadslave525 says:

Apr 6 2012 at 12:04 am

Boonen sends out Steegemans in a breakaway, and then gets smothered by Ballan, Flecha, Hushovd... Leaving path clear for Gert

VSP PICKS:

1. Steegemans
2. Ballan
3. Flecha
4. Boonen
5. Hushovd
Marcus says:

Apr 6 2012 at 1:04 am

Praying for rain

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Chavanel
3. Pozzatto
4. Flecha
5. Ballan
Oli says:

Apr 6 2012 at 1:22 am

@frank
There have been so many versions of the story of that bike it's great to hear it directly from the source!
JC Belgium says:

Apr 6 2012 at 1:23 am

I bet @Netraam has seen this too..

http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1246951

beautiful roadmovie by Wilfried de Jong (Dutch theater and TV star, also writer and actor)
historical and recent footage, interviews with locals, 'pavÃ©-roadworkers', and Servais Knaven, Fabian Cancellara, Kurt 'No Sadle' Arvesen, Roger De Vlaeminck...
R00tdown says:

Apr 6 2012 at 1:24 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Hushvod
3. Pozzatto
4. Chavanel
5. Hincapie