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
Meanwhile at the Bleeding Carrots training camp
DS - Who wants to do Paris Roubaix this year?
Riders - Don't be fucking stupid.
DS - Ok same as last year then, names in the hat?
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanel
2. Flecha
3. Phinney
4. Cancellara
5. Pippo
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Thor
3. Degenkolb
4. Phinney
5. Stannard
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Kristoff
4. Chavanel
5. Boom
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara, Faboo
2. Van Summeren, Johan
3. Thomas, Geraint
4. Chavanel, Sylvain
5. Roelandts, Jurgen
Spartacus will be a marked man much the same as in 2011 it will be him vs the rest of the peleton. Haussler will come into the veledrome in a breakaway of 3 and take the bunch sprint. Spartacus will come in soon after on his own followed closely by Roelandts.
Pfft what do I know - but I have missed a few VSP entries so far this year - taking a speculator is the only way to get me up the ladder!
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Thurgot
3. Boom
4. Spartacus
5. Roelandts
Epic footy and a great song, can't wait to see more from the Keepers tour.
Oh, and regarding that other cobbled ride, I still gotta go with Fab. Haven't heard enough to make me think he's not still the strongest of the bunch. Wrestling with putting Boom in there somewhere as well... but he's always disappointed when I've played him in the past. Here's hoping some of the youngsters can step up!
VSP PICKS:
1. He is The Motor
2. Phinney
3. Al Kristoff
4. Stannard
5. Chavanel
WTF do I know?
VSP PICKS:
1. Spartacus
2. Chanel #5
3. Roelandts
4. Van Summers night
5. Vanmarcke
VSP PICKS:
1. Heine Haussler
2. Spartacus Faboo
3. Swift Phinney
4. Chanel #5
5. Row, Lance
Yeah. There.