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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VSP PICKS:
1. Sylvain Chavanel
2. Cancellara
3. Pozzato
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen
5. Jack Bauer
Paying my money and taking my chances.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanel
2. Boassen Hagen
3. Cancellara
4. Hushovd
5. Roelandts
Crap shoot - but at least I did not Delgado this time.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabacus
2. Rollin Rollin Roelandts
3. Chavs
4. MinPhin
5. Boom Boom
@Ron
I think that crash looked rough for Cancellara. He seemed really shaken to me....
-Dinan
@Ron
what Buck said, it was just a joke and I like them, too. And I'm also exited as fuck about about the race!
inside knowledge, these are all in the bag.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabby Doo
2. Van 'av 'er mate
3. Jugs Roelandts
4. BOOM
5. Vanderbergh
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Chavanel
4. Van Avermaet
5. Boasson Hagen
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Chavanel
3. Phinney
4. Haussler
5. Boassen Hagen
Two lumps in my throat from today's ride so I reckon I'm an expert on this shit now
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Roelandts (on a Ridley)
3. van Avaermart (this time)
4. Chavanel
5. Stannard
Sorry to break the news, but Faboo isn't going to finish
VSP PICKS:
1. Stanhard
2. G
3. Hwanantonioflecha
4. Chav in Hell
5. Finny