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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View Comments
@RedRanger
Pozzato's rear wheel went out on a dusty corner and he went down and couldn't get back. He was with Boonen at one point but Boonen simply rode away from him...and everyone else.
@VeloVita
thanks for that update. bad luck for him. Boonen is a man possessed at the moment!
@RedRanger
Unfortunate for Pozzato, but if we're being honest - from the way he looked, there is no way he would have figured in the finale anyway. Chavanel is the real unfortunate, as he was looking strong, but has had horrible luck - something like three punctures.
Merry Paris-Roubaix to all!
EBH is done. damn! my PR VSP is done.
Its a shame Cancellara went out in the Ronde, but with the way Boonen has ridden this season, dare I say I don't think it would have made too much of a difference. Boonen looks simply unbeatable.
If Gilbert can find his form for the Ardennes, OPQ is going to completely own the first have of the season. What a team, when everyone was raving about Radioshack-o-pard Trek and BMC as the superteams.
1:08 for Bonnen! Lord watch over him for the next 20K!!!
@Buck Rogers
Now up to 1'21"!!!! Superhuman!
@VeloVita
That's probably one of the reasons he had the guts to try it. Winning out of a sprint would not have quieted the Sparty doubters ("He wouldn't have won if Sparty had been there" group) like this unbelievable break away. Winning alone is winning with style. GO TOMMEKE!!!