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

el gato says:

Apr 8 2012 at 9:09 am

So I get on a plane this morning dreading the fact that I will miss the queen monument. But as fortune would have it the one time I really wanted tv on a plane, I find NBC sports and boonen stamping the V on the race. Not only that but when boom makes a last effort I see the V colors flying high in the background. All darkness was lifted. Good showing lads!
ramenvelo says:

Apr 8 2012 at 9:42 am

Are you sure we can't split that cobblestone three ways?
seemunkee says:

Apr 8 2012 at 9:45 am

@el gato
Great luck. Merckx was with you.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Apr 8 2012 at 9:49 am

I am pumped! Totally unexpected. I want to thank Ballan for just missing 2nd by the width of a carbon fiber. Not too sure what's going on with Hushovd this year. Something's not right.

To add awesomeness to victory, today is my 45th birthday. I will head out shortly to ride (at least) more than 72.5kms (45 miles). It is now and forever will be a steadfast tradition that I ride at least as many miles as I am old on my birthday. That way, when I'm 90, I will be a badass.

Although I watched P-R live, I also recorded it to make sure I can see the V-flag flying high. I was pretty sure I saw it. I want to go back in slow motion and watch it fligh over and over and over.

What a great KT this has been. Although I wasn't there, I have had such an awesome time following along. Today's race caps it.

You are all my Brothers and Sisters of the Cog.

VLVV!!!
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Apr 8 2012 at 9:54 am

That's fly, not fligh. So excited, I forget how to spell.
Skinnyphat says:

Apr 8 2012 at 10:00 am

Noooooooooooooooooo!
Sauterelle says:

Apr 8 2012 at 10:10 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Happy birthday, Jeff! Have a great ride. I'm only doing a 35 miler today.
Flying Crowbar says:

Apr 8 2012 at 10:17 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Happy Birthday JiPM, from a fellow PetroMetro'er!
Flying Crowbar says:

Apr 8 2012 at 10:18 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Oh, and congrats on the new badge.
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 8 2012 at 10:30 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Jeff you awesome Dude! Congrats on the cobblestone and on sharing a birthday with my beautiful VMH!!! Love your tradition! Might have to try to invoke it, although with moving to upstate NY this fall and my birthday being 9 JAN, it might be hard!