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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Sentimentality takes over
VSP PICKS:
Regardless of the outcome, Matt Hayman is the clear winner at prerace P-R, sporting Indurainesque casquette luft. Kristoff, donning a soviet era baseball cap (do they have baseball in Russia?), can only hope for a better 2018.
Was it Sean Kelly quoting Sagan few moments ago?
Fucking Twerpstra! I had him in my Top 5!
Despite marking this day on the family calendar to leave Dad alone for the "more important day in cycling 2017" we are somehow hosting a brunch. Do the rules grant me permission to be rude and ignore guests?
Well SHITTTTTTTTT! Not the result I predicted or wanted but there you go!
Result:
1 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing 5:41:07
2 Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step Floors
3 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac
4 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
5 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky
That was a great performance by the winner - having to chase back on after a broken bike, particularly coming up to Arenberg, where the pace is normally hectic.
Two other great performances: the long solo attack from Oss (which meant that GvA could soft pedal when in the chasing group), and also the defending champ Hayman, who came in 11th - I was convinced that we would see him getting tailed off when the big boys stared to put the hammer down.
@Teocalli
The way my season is going I wil be happy with one ring, anything, really...
Oh, and my pick "Not Pepper Spray" didnt map. FYI it was Greg Van Avermaet.
Why? Because back in the day when they were both at BMC I was convinced they were the same damn person (on the bike and in the same kit they are more or less identical to me). Anyway, last season Gilbert was caught up in the pepper spray thing, and it finally gave me a way to differentiate between the two.
Therefore;
Gilbert = Pepper Spray
GVA = Not Pepper Spray.
Great race, only saw the last 18k so I'll have to go back. Most here had GVA in second to fifth. By my count 8 of us put him in #1 and oddly I don't think many (not me) got any of the other top 4...
@foggypeake
Yes! you got Stybar.