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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@IcemanYVR
Try all the streams at http://www.steephill.tv. You might have to watch it in Flemish (sporza) but that just adds to the mystery of it all.
Hope you can join us all watching.
@snoov
I almost wish the Belgian commentators would work for Eurosport - you don't need to know what they are saying to understand what they are saying, if you know what I mean - I particularly loved the way they started whispering as the Ballan/Boonen/Pozzato drama unfolded last Sunday (you could hear a pin drop in the beer tent at Kwaremont), like they were watching some documentary video of some rare just discovered animals playing in the Jungle - with the odd yayayayaya, and naynaynaynaynay thrown in to caress the already tingling hair follicles on yer arms - masters of the art
I'm amazed that Peter Sagan is not riding - maybe he has to be in New Zealand for a routine drugs test?
What a week - as a Brit (this week) I have been entranced by the track stuff, and hats off too, to the Aussies, who have been both gracious in defeat, and magnanimous in victory - today is the cream on a weeklong apple pie
Enjoy the day all, and no injuries please, it's only a bike race, and jumping up and down on a sofa can be a dangerous thing to do....
Swaps.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Ballan
4. Flecha
5. Rast
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Hushovd
3. Pozzato
4. Heinrich Haussler
5. Chavanel
@Dr C
I hear you on the Belgian commentators, you can hear that they are completely enthralled, it's quite entertaining in it's own right. I'm off round to my pal's to watch the race, consume only French produce, then two or three hours on the bikes.
Sticking my neck out, does it make sense to have two members of the same team in one's VSP picks? For Example if I were to pick Cav for a win it's a sure thing the rest of Sky worked their asses off to get him there so if he wins then the next four won't be on Sky and are also likely to be sprinters. Today if Boonen wins it'd be likely that Chavanel worked to make it happen so he'll be spent by the end. I'm guessing that Gilbert isn't back to his best (yet) but he's getting there so he'll work for Thor and not make the final group/sprint.
There are probably years and years of statistics showing more than one team member in top 5 results. There's also the VSP tactic of covering as many bases as possible I suppose.
Today though anything can happen, that was just general thinking regarding VSP choices. Thor might have an off day and Gilbert might be feeling great, dare I say there may be punctures, there may be rain, there may be surprises.
I just can't sit still, why do they have to start so damn late?
VSP PICKS:
1. Sebas
2. Boner
3. Pippo
4. Vansummerummerummerrun
5. Bland
@paolo
love the feeling of that type of bearable pain you describe.
I needed a lot of rule 5 yesterday! and rule 9 (windy, rain, chilly, dirty roads) and three 'normal' mates and a pro cyclist - Niko Eeckhout. he is twice my age, doesn't tolerate anyone near him in the lead, if you even can. We three were totally soft in the end, he started a discussion about housing in Flanders, taxes, the labour market. look at my face, still 35k ahead...
(copy from bekijkjouwfoto, don't mind the guy on the left)
@snoov
Michel Wuyts is the one with the theatrical manner of commenting. hmm, Belgian commentators are not always neutral, and not in a nationalistic way. e.g.: last year, they were speaking about Gilbert like it was a god, now, sarcasm all the way cause it's not working out for him. Boonen's last season was not that good and every race was the same song: they couldn't hide their disappointment. when Terpstra won Dwars door Vlaanderen, it was because of the splendid work of Chavanel and the tactics of OPQ, not because of Terpstra's qualities. also, they don't fear doping allegations, especially towards Spanish and Eastern European riders.
I've really gotta get some points this time!
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Hushovd
4. Boasson Hagen
5. S. Chavanel
Everybody up and watching P-R? (I don't want to be the only one tipping back a fine Belgian ale this early on Easter morning)