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

KogaLover says:

Apr 10 2017 at 5:29 am

Classic: Flemish tan lines Pictures!
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 10 2017 at 9:18 am

@KogaLover

Classic: Flemish tan lines Pictures!

Great stuff!!! Esp Antoine Duchesne!
Randy C says:

Apr 11 2017 at 4:41 am

I only got to start watching the race last night. And I have to say that watching GvA power back up to the peloton from 30+ seconds back early in the race was a fine display of awesome. He came up on a group of riders of the back and all over the cobbles and in a matter of seconds had powered thru em about like they were standing still. Talk about a man possessed. We are watching right now, Messrs Sagan and Van Avermaet, and a whole host of others, provide some awfully damn inspiring racing. I love it. Cheers all.
wiscot says:

Apr 11 2017 at 12:29 pm

So what's the deal with EQS these days? No cap for Gilbert on the Flanders podium and Terpstra took his off. Now no cap for Stybar at Paris Roubaix. It really is quite discombobulating as we are so used to seeing the riders wear some kind of head gear and EQS have been setting the standard by issuing riders with proper cycling caps and not those awful baseball things most teams wear.
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 11 2017 at 11:10 pm

@wiscot

So what’s the deal with EQS these days? No cap for Gilbert on the Flanders podium and Terpstra took his off. Now no cap for Stybar at Paris Roubaix. It really is quite discombobulating as we are so used to seeing the riders wear some kind of head gear and EQS have been setting the standard by issuing riders with proper cycling caps and not those awful baseball things most teams wear.

@wiscot

EQS have won the "Rusty Chain Award" for the spring campaign in my opinion. Now one has to respect, as Sean Kelly called it, "One of the greatest rides in the RVV ever" by PhilGil but besides that all they have done is whinged, followed wheels, missed the key moves, fucked up the sprints, and either worn no chapeau or a fucking baseball cap.

Maybe now that Tommeke is retired they can get their shit together and try to straighten things out.