Velominati Super Prestige

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.

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507 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2012”

  2. Day for the young and the reckless me thinks – trembling with fear more than excitement, knowing what they are about to endure – Jesus help them!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Galloping Man
    2. Satan
    3. Ballesandro
    4. Tomeke
    5. Potato Tomato

  4. Go Freckle!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Pozzato
    3. Stewie
    4. Ballan
    5. Chavanel

  5. Someone at BMC has to do something sooner or later…come on Alessandro.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Ballan
    2. Boonen
    3. Oss
    4. Eddy the Boss
    5. POPOVYCH

  6. I think the weather will be the deciding factor and crashes on the course will affect predicted results- Boonen to miss out on this one.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Haussler
    2. Hushovd
    3. Breschel
    4. Flecha
    5. Griepel

  8. Unadventurous, but you can’t argue with the form of these guys, and I think Tomeke wants this one badly.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Sagan
    3. Ballan
    4. Pozzato
    5. Van Avermaet

  9. Despite the forecasts calling for rain, it doesn’t look like a downpour on Sunday as of right now. More drizzle and shower like then straight up rain. Some wind around but not horrific. Pretty cloudy though. In fact the way it looks, there will be just enough rain to cut down the dust, without turning the course to shit. Worst possible weather you could want for an unpredictable Roubaix. Look for tactics and excessive marking of favorites to create a surprise winner, not the weather, at least as of right now.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Pozzato
    2. Boonen
    3. Degenkolb
    4. Ballan
    5. Chavanel

  10. sure Boonen can’t do the double or could he?

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Ballan
    3. Pozzato
    4. Sagan
    5. Chavanel

  11. Anna Meares.

    Strong.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Sagan
    3. Pozzato
    4. Hushovd
    5. Oss

  12. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Vanmarcke
    3. P. Sagan
    4. Phinney
    5. Ballan

  13. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. Filippo Pozzato
    3. Peter Sagan
    4. Edvald Boasson Hagen
    5. Alessandro Ballan

  15. I’ll probably kick myself later for not picking Boonen, but I’m just not feelin’ it right now.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Juan Antonio Flecha
    2. Alessandro Ballan
    3. Maarten Tjallingii
    4. Sylvain Chavanel
    5. John Degenkolb

  17. The early break goes the distance in a nail biter of slick stones. Boonen slips free of wheel suckers but the sun finally shines for Sylvain.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Chavanel
    2. Van Avermaet
    3. Boonen
    4. Pozzato
    5. Rast

  19. It’s incredible that you lads have been able to ride all these historic routes. Someday I’ll do it too, though I’m kicking myself for having been in Prague last spring & letting the VMH convince me that Belgium isn’t that impressive. Ugh, a Belgian friend I have just told me the other week, “Yeah, it actually isn’t. My wife has been once and doesn’t really care to go back. But, if you like great beer…and cycling, it’s incredible!”

    Enjoy it, boys!

    Another race?! These few weeks are so amazing that it’s hard to keep up. Hmm, can the same three ride so strongly again?

  20. Haven’t had it right so far, so nothing to lose

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Ballan
    2. Van Avermaet
    3. Boonen
    4. Vanmarcke
    5. Pozzato

  21. 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.

  26. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Hushovd
    3. Vanmarcke
    4. Sagan
    5. Van Avermaet

  28. 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

  29. 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

  31. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Pozzato
    3. Hushovd
    4. Van Avermat
    5. Vanmarke

  33. @paolo

    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.

    I only see Juraj Sagan in the lineup, not Peter.

  34. I am very curious to see if Hushovd has been hiding or purpose, or if he has nothing to show this spring. He’s seemingly been absent.

    Hmm, interesting though that many think it will be a team race without the Boonen-Cancellara slugfest. Chavanel is there to help Boonen though. He’s looked strong this spring.

  35. Think I’ll stick Popo in there, looked strong last sunday for a while, and I think RadioSchleck might spring a suprise

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Galloping Man
    2. Satan
    3. Ballesandro
    4. Popovych
    5. Potato Tomato

  36. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Chavanel
    3. Pozzato
    4. Van Avemaet
    5. Vanmarcke

  37. @paolo

    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

    According to his own website Sagan is not lining up for PR. Hey Frank if Juri Sagan is riding and people pick Sagan will that automatically mean J Sagan or what if they both ride? We have to specify, no? Sorry to bother you whan your having so much fun

  38. Just enter both names for Sagan to be safe. With everyone out riding, who knows if it can be sorted in time. Everyone has plenty of warning with it only being Thursday.

  39. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Chavanel
    3. Pozzato
    4. Ballan
    5. Boasson Hagen

  40. VSP PICKS:

    1. Pozzato
    2. Ballan
    3. Boonen
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. Vanmarcke

  41. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Sagan
    3. Hushovd
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. Van Summeren

  42. If Sagan isn’t starting, then I need to fix my picks.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Hushovd
    3. Ballan
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. Van Summeren

  44. …which means Boonen will win. Bummed to miss out on the Vlaanderen fun, but Delgado stole the laptop out of my room in Madison during the Wisconsin mini-Cogal. Better computer than bike, mind…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Hushovd
    2. Boonen
    3. Breschel
    4. Leukemans
    5. Pozzatto

  46. @Ron
    Thor looked pretty knackered at RVV on the third climb of the Kwaremont, puffing and blowing – didn’t even beat Gilbackwards if I remember rightly, and he looked in a world of pain too

  47. Prize list for HoN

    The following prizes are awarded:

    PLACES PRIZES
    1st €30, 000
    2nd €22, 000
    3rd €15, 000
    4th €7, 500
    5th €3, 200
    6th €1, 700
    7th €1, 500
    8th €1, 300
    9th €1, 200
    10th €1, 100
    11th €1, 000
    12th €900
    13th €800
    14th €700
    15th €600
    16th €500
    17th €500
    18th €500
    19th €500
    20th €500
    TOTAL €91,000

    Now that is how to work hard for your paypacket! (bloody tennis players / golfers / footballers should be ashamed of themselves!!)

  50. @Dr C

    @Ron
    Thor looked pretty knackered at RVV on the third climb of the Kwaremont, puffing and blowing – didn’t even beat Gilbackwards if I remember rightly, and he looked in a world of pain too

    I call this an amazing tip from a Velominatus who was there looking Thor in the eye. You don’t get that kind of tip anywhere else.

    Thanks Doc!

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