It looks so easy on the television. Well, no, actually it looks pretty bloody hard. We think we have some understanding of how they suffer, how their bodies can take the continual beating. But we don’t really know. Not even by riding these abominations they call roads twice in the space of a few days can we understand the scale of the thing. Not even by witnessing firsthand a master of the cobbles effortlessly turning the cranks, cruising past us as if on a cushion of air by comparison to our bed of nails can we fully comprehend what it takes to ride these secteurs with any panache, style or speed.
While we witnessed a Roubaix masterclass from The Lion himself today, a new name could be added alongside his on the long list of legends on Sunday. Or it could be a former vainquer adding to an already impressive palmares. But as we’ve seen in the past, and even the past hours, luck plays as big a part as skill, talent and fitness in this most beautifully horrible race. And it plays an even bigger part in picking the top five in the VSP.
All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the spectacle. We’ll be doing the hard yards at the side of the roads of Troisvilles, the Troueé, and the Carrefour. Study the form guide, then throw it out. It’s no good to you here.
In the meantime here’s a look at a bunch of nobodies and a guru riding a secteur on today’s recon. The lesson comes at around 0.15.
[vsp_results id=”22968″/]
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Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
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VSP PICKS:
1. Stannard
2. Turgot
3. Degenkolb
4. Chavanel
5. Cancellara
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Turgot
3. Chavanel
4. Degenkolb
5. Phinney
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian
2. Phinney
3. Thor
4. Stannard
5. Thomas
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Sebastien Turgot
4. Heinrich Haussler
5. Jurgen Roelandts
@Dan_R
ruusspect!
@Al__S
Did I - should have, but haven't - this is how you keep yourself well down the overall VSP
1. Stanhard
2. G
3. Hwanantonioflecha
4. Chav in Hell
5. Finny
Going out on a thin limb here. Looking for the double and need to make up a lot of ground after being spit out the back. Phinney & the Frenchman will get away early and duke it out in the velodrome, Fabio will drag a group with him to the finish but lose a podium spot in the sprint. After Sunday, he will never be referred to as Mini Phinney again.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phinney
2. Chavanel
3. Degonkolb
4. Fabian
5. Kristoff
@Islandbike
"Thin Limb"? You've got five of the top 7 favorites in your picks. Hell mate, you're still solidly on the trunk with those picks.
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
sorry for miscue...its cold here. whittled the list down to 4 groups of 5. and there are way too many things that can go right or wrong tomorrow. rollin the bones...throwin luck to my 5!
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo!
2. Roelandts
3. ChavEnal
4. Turgot
5. BigLittle Phinney
I think Boonen will be finishing in the car today. No fifth rock for him.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boasson Hagen
3. Roelandts
4. Phinney
5. Thomas