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

Sam says:

Apr 7 2012 at 8:05 am

Can't look past Boonen at all really, i'm hoping that Gallopin can pull something off now freed from the honour of being shackled to poor old spartacus.

Also all those who have picked P Sagan, i'm 90% certain he isn't starting. There is a Sagan on Liquigas's start list but he is J Sagan, could be talking out of my backside of course

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Gallopin
4. Chavanel
5. Paolini
Netraam says:

Apr 7 2012 at 8:11 am

@paolo
It's changing: it looked great this morning, then it started to drizzle and it's still doing that. My parents have mentioned brief hail downtown, but only for a couple of seconds. Looks like Roubaix will be one big mystery.

@Sam
You're right, Juraj Sagan is riding.
Oldschooly says:

Apr 7 2012 at 8:14 am

I'm not going out on any limbs here.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Hushovd
4. Van Summeren
5. Flecha
Vin'cenza says:

Apr 7 2012 at 9:15 am

VSP PICKS:

1. BENNATI Daniele (ITA1980)
2. WESTRA
3. PAOLINI
4. BOASSON HAGEN
5. EISEL
Ron says:

Apr 7 2012 at 9:39 am

I'd like a report out the Velominati who will be watching the race tomorrow. I'm abuzz just watching old videos and counting down the hours until 6:00 tomorrow morning. And I'll be watching on a small computer monitor. I think I'd blow a gasket if I was going to be at the roadside.

I will make it sometime soon. I must be in Europe sometime for these 3-4 weeks of racing.

I guess they've done is a lot, but it would be awesome to get a peek into the mind & soul of the racers. Nervous? Excited? Eager? Antsy? Out riding & staying relaxed?

One thing I really like about cycling is that you can mark it on the calendar & then just count down the days to the races. You know it's coming, you can't stop it, you had better be ready. Or else. Hell is coming, it's imminent.

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Thor
4. Flecha
5. Ballan
snoov says:

Apr 7 2012 at 9:46 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Chavanel
4. Eisel
5. Ballan
Trobs says:

Apr 7 2012 at 9:49 am

VSP PICKS:

1. pozzato
2. boonan
3. ballan
4. boss hog
5. flecha
Ccher says:

Apr 7 2012 at 11:10 am

VSP PICKS:

1. Chavanel
2. Thor
3. Sagan
4. Degenkolb
5. Boonen
nico says:

Apr 7 2012 at 11:29 am

VSP PICKS:

1. 186 IGLINSKIY Maxim
2. 1 VAN SUMMEREN Johan
3. 15 TERPSTRA Niki
4. 33 HINCAPIE George
5. 53 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
The Oracle says:

Apr 7 2012 at 11:41 am

VSP PICKS:

1. She's Legal in Amsterdam
2. Sagan
3. Van Summeren
4. Boss Hog
5. Chavenel