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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@Rob
@Gianni
My God!
Maybe there is a whole new cycling Lexicon just to be created from Mad Max quotes?
Could any race-ending crash now be referred to as the rider copping a saucepan in the throat?
And in an interesting (or not) piece of trivia, I have done a fair amount of bike racing around Little River (outside of Melbourne) where most of Mad Max was filmed... As you would expect, it is a shithole.
@Gianni - Well I am somewhat stunned to get the Cobblestone, and I hope to do it justice. Thanks to the Keepers and all who make this site what it is - also for the welcome into the fold. Really jealous of you guys being over there! Spotted the V-flag on the Carrefours @ 14.9km to go - felt the V-surge.
What a great race and fantastic finish - my boys were somewhat perplexed as to why I was screaming into the box at 10.30 on a Sunday night - probably these didn't help.
@Gianni YES! 4 points, that's 25% better overall than I thought.....
@asyax
While you've got the cobble Scott can you make the link to the Cogal report work? It's farked at my end.
@Daccordi Rider no, cant get through to cogal article either!
Thank you for putting so much effort into this.
7 pts and 45th....AMAZING.
As to the idiots around the course... They should be treated to a weekend in Mudgee, with my mother-in-law. Oh..the horror! Mudgee is bad...the end of the Earth.."beyond this point dragons dwell," and they call the principal one "Hazel."
it's no coincidence that my wife's mother has the same name. Bealzebub!
It worked! I have been using the principle that Van Avermaert has placed or been close on almost all the classics so far.....I just needed to get his position right for once (and spell his name correctly)! 10pts and my faith in Faboo undented. I am going to have to stop backing Sky though, I should have known it was a train off the rails when I found out that rather than training on cobbles in the dead of winter they were going to Tennerife to smooth tarmac and balmy days in shorts! G looks too tender and although Stannard looks strong I don't think he is pepared well enough...
Only problem is that I have heard Brad is targetting Liege so dare I not stick him in my VSP for that!?
@Asyax
I couldn't get it to work either. I does come through in a feed reader though. I use Feedly and it was there loud and clear.
Is anybody here attending the Amstel Gold Race? At 1:08 they're about 2 km from my house, so I'm planing go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m7CchzqRWA