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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@sthilzy
Yep, that's where I thought I saw it.
Now we look out at Carrefour de l'Arbre, about 15km to go?
My wife surprised me with a Paris vacation in 2009... she even let me leave the family behind and venture into the countryside on a certain Sunday while we were there. Needless to say, the rental car agency had some pointed questions for the American wearing a cycling t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers when he arrived to pick up his car early the morning of the race.
I'm digging through photos and plan to share a few here while the race is on. This is a test.
This should be the God of Thunder facing the media after crashing and taking third.
As if on cue, Hushovd goes down
Off goes Boonen!
@Benj
Deja vu
I'm usually not one for neon, but the Farnese Vini kit is badass
@VeloVita
Not tipping one but brewing a Belgian Witte
2009, I took the day trip of a lifetime while my family enjoyed Paris... here are some shots. As I post this Boonen and Terpstra are tearing it up. Awesome.
Boonen lays down the V on the way to victory in 2009.
The Velominati who are there are having the time of their lives. I know I did.
Pippo, the last time he showed any form before Flanders... taking the final turn onto the entrance to the velodrome.
May the Prophet be with you... all the winners get a cobble on the final sector.
@VeloVita
I know. So much tabbing between windows going on on my computer.