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
Looks like Sagan was a good boy today and gave the Flanders podium girl a big bouquet of flowers as a token of apology for "pinchgate." Aww, the nice.
@wiscot Yeah - a nice gesture, for sure. Maybe he has learned his lesson. His talent is unbelievable and I want o like him, then he goes and does something stupid. Maybe he will be a bit more respectable in the future.
As much as my man-crush on Faboo is, I must say I was severely disappointing in learning that he has never taken a shower in the Roubaix showers. He has his own freaking stall!!! WTF?
@wiscot
Did you see the pic that Oli posted over on facebook?
Got to love that!
@Buck Rogers
Well Damn, that didn't work!
It's a pic of a podium from a womens race with the third place woman grabbing the guy's ass who is presenting the awards. Pretty funny.
Amazing finish.... Sagan pipped Gilbert at the line after leading the group over the last climb - impressive. Nearly a photo finish...no time for wheelies!
Amazing finish is right. Damn, outkicking the World Champ at the line? Impressive! And, Gilbert had Van Avermaet to attack and soften Sagan. Plus Quick Step had a few dudes in the lead group, including Chavanel. Even when isolated, and even when having to fight off attacks and make split-second choices of what to chase down, Sagan still made it look pretty darn easy. He's go not only legs, but good racing instincts. Amazing for sure.
@Ron
Yeah, and he pulled like hell for a full 2 k before that sprint. Dude is a force to be reckoned with this next week.
@Buck Rogers
Looked like Gilbert assumed Sagan was spent so went early assuming he would get a gap. Definitely impressive riding from Sagan.
This from Daniel Friebe on the Twitter:
@Buck Rogers Yup, the girls looked like they were having fun with it!