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″/]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
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…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@freddy
Quirky sayings or not, he speaks Flemish which to a cyclist is like Latin to a catholic. He always has me at "Dag Dames en Heren"
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Heinrich Haussler
4. Sylvain Chavanel
5. Jurgen Roelandts
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VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Sylvain Chavanel
4. Heinrich Haussler
5. Jurgen Roelandts
VSP Picks...
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Sylvain Chavanel
4. E B Hagen
5. Jurgen Roelandts
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Sylvain Chavanel
3. Stannard
4. Phinney
5. Matthieu Ladagnous
I will be wrong again, but at least I will be consistent
VSP PICKS:
1. Thomas
2. Sylvain
3. One Trick Pony (Canc'elloutus)
4. Tur-go(t)
5. Vansummeren
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Chavanel
4. Hushovd
5. EBH
After shooting my mouth off so much, I better go with Fabs. I'm liking Roelandts too after Britt endorsement. Nothing like seeing these guys in person to know who is ready to kick the ass. Thor, potato, boom, I don't think so.
VSP PICKS:
1. cancellara
2. roelandts
3. phinney
4. terpstra
5. langeveld
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Kristoff
4. Chavanel
5. Turgot
VSP PICKS:
1. Frank
2. G'rilla
3. The Engine
4. Brett
5. Strathlubnag