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.
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Even I got really excited watching the race today. Was even up on my feet shouting at guys at the end, very exciting. Kept watching for The Present Mr #The Engine, fortunately didnt see him but did see the flag. Those two idiots in the crowd should be arrested for endangering life and taken away and shot!! I've got a horrible feeling the family and myself are going to be reliving this weekend cobble by cobble for the foreseeable future. Also, replay by replay on Sky + for ever and ever. Did you know he has a really bad cold, by the way. No? He'll be sure to tell you that he managed all this with a stinker of a cold. Rule 5 dont you know!!
Bugger, just blown my cover!
@Buck Rogers I just took another look at it and that could of been really bad!!! The fans should of taken him out in the field and planted his ass like he was part of the crops .
The crowds on the Carrefour were definitely more careless than last year... we were yelling at fuckers to step back from the gutter because that's where the riders are riding. It's the fastest, smoothest line, and they were flying. There was a twat with a big camera on a pole just near us with it stuck out on the cobbles as the riders were approaching, and he had to be told to get it the fuck off there. I think the warm weather brought out some punters who don't understand the logistics of spectating.
Four strong riders entered the Carrefour with a shot at the win, but only two exited it with the same chance. And fucking Aussies seemed to be to blame.
The majority of the crowd watching on the big screen at the Carrefour seemed disappointed that Vanmarcke didn't get the win. He was too stupid though, poor guy will be regretting getting off Fab's wheel before five metres from the line.
@brett Stupid? Yes.
Respectable? I think so too.
It takes balls of steel to help in a Faboo-driven break, especially after the elbow-flick-attack. That man proved he is by far a badass.
Wow, who would have thought it would have come down to that! Well done Sep Vanmarke - defo a winner in the future - fukoffs to the prats on the carrefour, I don't understand why people go to all the trouble to get there, and instead of watching and remembering, they spend the time trying to get a crap photo just to say they were there - ah well
Well done Fabs, never happier to get no points in a VSP
Quote from Sep V on the chat with F on the way into the High Street - "He asked me a couple of times how I felt. The only thing you can say then is that I was fucked, and I was pretty sure he was, too. I knew I could not drop him," Vanmarcke said.
@mrs engine
Thanks Jenny, I've been wishing I was there on the Keepers Tour but now that I know that your other half has a stinker of a cold I'm glad I'm not. I bet that all of the Velominati will be leaving the gitte infected with Scottish man flu germs.
Well done Fab, never in doubt,(once you'd crossed the line!) Superb race with Vanmarke and Steebs making it so.
That really sucks for Stybar He was looking great, and most likely won't have that chance next year.
Great quote from him Vanmarcke in cyclingnews:
"Four kilometres from the finish, I started to believe. He attacked. It was close, but I managed to stay with him. Mentally that gave me wings. Before that moment, my only concern was not getting dropped," said Vanmarcke.
"He asked me a couple of times how I felt. The only thing you can say then is that I was fucked, and I was pretty sure he was, too. I knew I could not drop him," Vanmarcke said.