Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2017

4x Roubaix. Can the record be beaten?

I was called a Boonen sycophant today by one of my editors, which didn’t feel as good as it sounds. But the fact is, I am. And the fact is also that I’m not ashamed of being such. It certainly feels cleaner than my Dirty Schlecky love from a few years ago.

Last year’s Boonen heartbreak (I’m talking about mine, not his) was bittersweet because Matty Hayman put in such a great ride to win, not to mention that Boonen was such a great sportsman. But with that near miss in the rear view mirror – the bad luck that many favorites had last week at Flanders, I’m probably more nervous about crashes and mechanicals than the racers are themselves. I’m a bit of a wreck, to be honest.

Last week took its pound of flesh from Vanmarke, who is out, and Sagan, who is battle-damaged. No Cancellara and a lackluster season from Degencobble puts a lot of pressure on my in-form boy Tomeke to make a run at his fifth and record-breaking Roubaix cobble. He rode today’s Scheldeprijs on the front and showing great strength, and then disappeared down the bunch to coast into the finish of his last race in Belgium as a Pro. Merckx, I’ll miss having him to watch.

But as cool as he is, he’ll never be RdV-fixing-his-fucked-up-leggings-on-the-bike Cool. Contemplate the startlist and get your picks in by the time the countdown timer turns into a pumpkin and good luck!

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frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

mihaibu says:

Apr 8 2017 at 5:35 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Tom Boonen
2. Niki Terpstra
3. Alexander Kristoff
4. Oliver Naesen
5. Peter Sagan
Phillip Hasty says:

Apr 8 2017 at 5:50 am
Ink Sep

VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Sagan
2. Greg Van Avermaet
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen
4. Tom Boonen
5. Ian Stannard
foggypeake says:

Apr 8 2017 at 7:07 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Niki Terpstra
2. Zdenek Stybar
3. Ian Stannard
4. Tom Boonen
5. Luke Durbridge
ojhart says:

Apr 8 2017 at 7:31 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Avermaet
4. Kristoff
5. Terpstra
mulebeatsdrums says:

Apr 8 2017 at 8:37 am
Working weekend almost ALMOST made me forget to get my picks in. That would've been embarrassing.

It's very difficult to see Tommeke taking this one with his form and that squad behind him, but is it me or are the 2nd-5th spots that a straight-up gamble? We shall see, I'm sure!

VSP PICKS:
1. BOONEN Tom
2. STUYVEN Jasper
3. TERPSTRA Niki
4. STANNARD Ian
5. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
Wojtek says:

Apr 8 2017 at 8:52 am
Tommeke in the first place, but more out of courtesy than my actual expectation. What I know for sure is that it's gonna be a hell of a race with so many first-class, victory-craving contenders!

VSP PICKS:
1. BOONEN Tom
2. VAN AVERMAET Greg
3. KRISTOFF Alexander
4. TERPSTRA Niki
5. STANNARD Ian
Wojtek says:

Apr 8 2017 at 8:53 am

Tommeke in the first place, but more out of courtesy than my actual expectation. What I know for sure is that it's gonna be a hell of a race with so many first-class, victory-craving contenders!
Haldy says:

Apr 8 2017 at 9:52 am
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Van Avermaet
3. Sagan
4. Terstra
5. Boasson Hagen
dinosaurJR says:

Apr 8 2017 at 11:21 am
Ok, I completely Delgadoed the start of the season.

Well, either that or I boycotted your bitch ass, @Frank, because of my lack of Olympic rings. I won those fair and square.

Either way, it didnt work, my season is fucked and Im only in this for the shits and giggles now.

PS; I liked the explanation for the reason why the glasses go over the helmet straps you wrote in

Cyclist magazine; my explanation would have included a lot more swearing. Well played.

VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Kristoff
4. Not Pepper Spray
5. Terpstra
Pali65 says:

Apr 8 2017 at 11:23 am
@Minnesota Expat
VSP PICKS:
1. Peter Fagan
Funny enough - "fagan" means "naughty boy" in Slovak with a derogatory connotation. You would call a fagan someone who would e.g. pinch ass of a girl etc.