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.
@VeloVita
Gilbert is riding for BMC last time I checked. Not that it would matter if Tommeke can keep his form going.
@Benj
What the fuck am I thinking? Too many Leffe’s this morning.
@VeloVita
Hahaha! That’s as good an excuse as any!
Come on Boonen!
Just saw the Velominati flag on Tv..awesome
“Ž”even if he has a mechanical he”s got time to build another bike Phil” – Paul Sherwinn
14 K, come on TOMMEKE!!! Crank those cranks!!!
A V-flag sighting! :-D
Saw the V flag, right as Boom approached the Cafe
No, No! Ballan, you need to take 3rd and Flecha 5th!
Boonen is a freaking monster!
saw the V flag as well@carrefour de l’arbre
@Benj
AWESOME! Got to love those guys! I’ve suffered sooooo many K’s with them on my rollers and trainer over the years!
Saw the V flag as BOOM passed by Awesome!
@sthilzy
Fuck yeah!
Boonen still building on the lead.
David Harmon on Eurosport just said regarding Boonen, “This is proper Merckx.” Nice!
1cm! I am gutted everytime somebody says that, even after 22 years…
@velovita
No no no. Ballan must take second. I need a rebound in my VSP.
@VeloVita
yup, thats for sure. love watching the EuroSport feeds.
Hahaha, someone with a Boonen cut out on the side of the road, screaming into a megaphone. Belgians sure take it seriously.
@Belgian Cobblestones
Nice work!
5 K to cycling immortality for TOMMEKE!!!
Respect
@RedRanger
Concur!
Here we go!
Soooo…
What were you guys who didn’t pick Boonen for the win thinking?
TOM BOONEN PURE ROCK’N’ROLL OP NE KOERSEVELO
Co-Mr. Paris-Roubaix!
FRONK!!!
Fucking Turgot!
@paolo
FROONKKKK you M@#$%%ter F646876Ker!!! SOOOO AWESOME!
Nevermind, I take that back – way to go Turgot! (provided the provisional results stand and you pushed Ballan into 3rd)
Did you see the photo finish for second place. I think Turgot got it but I want Ballan for my VSP. Millimeters.
@Blah
We weren’t thinking, obviously! :-D
Ballan took third, Boonen first. Turgot second. I don’t know about the rest.
Awesome solo by Boonen. Just, no words for it. Not even Cancellara could take it from that far.
@VeloVita
Only guy to win three RVV and four P-R. Only guy to do the RVV/P-R double twice. Dude could never turn another pedal and would have a firm seat in the Valhalla of cycling! I can die a contented cycling fan now.
@Buck Rogers
Hahahah I fucking love that facial expression!
Fantastic win by Boonen, but it is tainted by a Rule #41 violation. His rear QR was not bisecting the rear triangle.
This win should have an asterisk.
@Buck Rogers
+1
@Flying Crowbar
Fuck that – it should be stricken from the record book. He had plenty of time to stop and sort it out.
@Netraam
Well, that’s what next year’s race is for. Let’s see!
@paolo
Great screen shot, but really, a green North Face jacket? You are not in Seattle frank!
@Blah
If that’s what the judges decide, then I can live with that.
@Buck Rogers
!!!!!!!!!!!!!Fuck Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
here’s some screenshots from tonights stream, including an overhead from the heli above Arenberg
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/Mikael/2012.04.08.14.21.19/”/]
Here’s the overhead…
@VeloVita
I had Ballan second…fucking Turgot!!!