Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2012
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.
Hopefully continuously picking Goss and Sagan is going to pay off for me tonight!
VSP PICKS:
1. Tommeke
2. Sagan
3. Pozzato
4. Goss
5. Thooooor
About to come on here in OZ. Late night watching for me!
I’m hearing, but I’m tipping up a fine upstate NY ale – Genesee Cream Ale, from the Genesee River.
Easter. What’s that? The only important thing happening today is Paris-Roubaix!
(Hmm, picks still seem to be open & the race is on. Mistake? On purpose? Might be good form to not be changing picks now that the race is live & on air.)
Loving the cycling here on Melbourne TV!
SBS TWO – World Track Championships all week live! Madison on now. (130 laps to go)
SBS ONE – PR on at the same time. Phil & Paul commentating.
Late one tonight! Thank goodness Monday is a holiday!
Looking out for the Keepers!
@sthilzy
Just caught the finish of the mens Keirin – I admit I’m no expert on track cycling, but Merckx, what a move by Sir Hoy to take the win in that one!
@Benj
already streaming on the sbs site, means you can have the track worlds on tv & P-R on at the same time
@Ron
Ron, are you upstate NY?
I will be tipping some Belgian ale but gotta get my coffee in first!
@VeloVita
Yup, that was fucking spectacular!
@Ron
I hear you – sadly my family doesn’t agree. Easter is by far my least favourite holiday – all the family commitments of Christmas, but no day off to recover. Plus the food isn’t as good. And every few years I seem to have to miss the finale of P-R.
@sthilzy
Stuck at work tomorrow unfortunately. Bugger it, public holiday there’s not that much to do!
VSP PICKS:
1. Tommeke
2. Sagan
3. Pozzato
4. Ogrady
5. Thooooor
Boonen – Hardman – No Gloves!
@sthilzy
As Alex Dowsett was saying on Cycling.tv when they showed Boonen riding next to Boom – its all about feel and the ability to float over the cobbles. Boonen looked so smooth and Boom was bouncing around like a baby on its daddy’s knee (and he is on a CX bike at that). Still, road feedback or not, I’m pretty sure I could still feel all I needed to feel with gloves on.
Oh wow – ouch! That’s Arenberg for you.
Nasty fall!
Just saw the flag
Did anyone see the V-Flag? I think I did, but I can’t be sure.
Hincapie flats… Will he get back in?
@Rob
Looks like your answer is ‘Yes’
@VeloVita
@il ciclista medio
Just a few 100 meters inside the start of Arenberg.
@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.
Uh-oh – Boonen’s on his own – this is too far out for a winning move.
If Boonen pulls this off as a TT with 50k to go, he will match Cancellara for breakaway chutzpa. Outstanding.
@Erik
I think David Harmon is reading your mind
Pozzato is done.
@VeloVita
Not only that, he’ll eclipse his mentor Museeuw’s 50k solo win and be a legend forever.
I can’t believe he’s still upping his gap, what with multiple Sky riders chasing. Chapeau!
@Buck Rogers
That’s right. I knew he would match the 4,but the 50k solo win didn’t occur to me. That said, it is amazing he’s holding off an organized chase group. Merckx, don’t let him bonk.
These slow-mo shots of Boonen on his own are awesome!
@VeloVita
just waking up here. what happened to Pippo?
BUMMER, Stannard’s blown! I was hoping for a top ten for him today.
@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!!!