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.
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I've got no idea. Boonen's heart's been broken here before, I can only think that the teams will want to make more of an impact than individual riders. A team's gonna win this one, in the absence of Cancellara slugging it out with Boonen. It might be quickstep, but I think Radioshack and Green Edge will provide a lot of activity, BMC can't get their shit together properly and if Garmin's riding for Haussler they're fucked. Astana, 1T4 whatever, a french team and a monkey in a barrel also might win.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Thor
3. Boss Hog
4. Pozzatto
5. Ballan
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Thor
3. Boss Hog
4. Johan Van Summeran
5. Flèche
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Thor
3. Boss Hog
4. Johan Van Summeran
5. Flecha
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Ballan
4. Vanmarcke
5. Flecha
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Hushovd
3. Vanmarcke
4. Sagan
5. Van Avermaet
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Potato
3. Thor
4. Sagen
5. Degenkolb
Me thinks Tom will have bad luck, BMC's "super team" will suck all year except for Le Tour. Sagan's pissed and will put a hurt on everybody.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagen
2. Pozzato
3. Chavanel
4. Boss Hogg
5. Hushovd
I say chaps, I can't find confirmation of it on the interwebs but I think Peter Sagan may not be in the line up for PR.
Regardless, Thor Hushovd wins this years Paris Roubaix in a sprint finish.
VSP PICKS:
1. God of Thunder!!
2. Pozzato
3. Ballan
4. Boonen
5. Brechel
Man, I was thinking there were only 3 levels to hell. Not so when it's the l'enfer du Nord.
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11531/Twenty-seven-levels-of-Hell-await-in-Sundays-Paris-Roubaix.aspx