The V rides with the Pros
No one can be happy about Sunday’s weather forecast (except for 95% of the riders and support staff). I am not. Now every Norwegian non-cobble riding specialists has a chance of winning this. I was hoping for day that would separate the Rule #9 riders from everybody else. Bah!
We can take some comfort in knowing our Keepers Tour brothers will be at three different cobbled secteurs, hydrating and yelling with the the locals. Keep an eye out for the V-flag.
There is not much to say about Paris-Roubaix that has not been said. It is the race of the season.
Consult your god. Go with your heart or your head on this. Enter your choices, prepare your frites deep-fryer, the beer selection, assure your family that drinking and swearing on a Sunday morning is part of your religion.
The VSP page has the details and in case anyone forgot, the end of the season could get you here:
[vsp_results id=”32609″/]
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And now, railway boomgates...
Wiggo's on the move. Come on!
Result:
1. Degenkolb
2. Van Avermaet
3. Stybar
4. Boom
5. Elmiger
Chapeau Degenkolb. Great ride.
Motion to brand De Vlaeminck a Judas. Changed my Dege, V'bergh, Stybar top three on his advice.
Hmm they're now saying Stybar 2nd, GVA 3rd.
Anyway great ride by Degenkolb, made it for himself bridging across when no-one else wanted to do it, then he was always favourite to win it in the velodrome. MSR and P-R double, chapeau to you sir.
Degenkolb and Stybar bridging to VA then sprinting it out. Giant rode really well - had Degenkolb in the right place throughout and even had some help to launch him to the winning move. I had envisioned VA having one last attack in him and Stybar going with him and pipping him at the post but in the end I ha.d top three none in position. Degenkolb showing Sagan how it's done - ask 'em to work and when they don't just take them to the line then out sprint them.
This valuable, and painful lesson has taught me that Rule #6 also applies to the VSP. Never change your initial picks, even if one of the prophets compels you to.
Here's a question - how did a guy who made it publicly known he was aiming to win the race (Wiggins) end up getting well beaten by his own domestique (Luke Rowe)?
Rowe actually used to ride for my own club, so as pleased for him as I am gutted for Geraint Thomas. But Wiggins? Must try harder.
Last guy to do MSR/PR double? Sean Kelly in 1986. Awesome race, great result.