Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2017
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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Ink Sep
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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@Minnesota Expat
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.
If people are going to pick Sep Vanmarcke and Philip Gilbert then they might as well pick Cavendish, Renshaw and Fabian Cancellara too because none of those people will be at Paris Roubaix either…..
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@dinosaurJR
You’d probably have to settle for a few Bay Leaves anyway as the Olympic Organisation are somewhat protective of those rings.
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@Rob
Kwiatkowski decided to skip all the cobbles this year in favour of concentring on the Ardennes. He reckons trying to do both last year ruined the rest of his season.
Demare replaces Naesen.
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No careful calculations or analysis, no thoughtful comparisons
. Just names…
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You know what, I just can’t leave boonan out – I can’t fathom the fairytale actually happening, which is why it would be so brilliant, but I think it’ll be a group of 5-6 and he’ll be one of them. Also dropping Stannard – was tossing up between Degenkolb and Kristoff.
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@LeoTea
Many thanks, I wish he was riding Roubaix he is such a tough guy.
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Breaking all the betting rules and going with the sentimental pick. Boonen’s wins at Roubaix are part of the reason I fell in love with cycling.
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Going with heart over head a bit with Tommeke, but it’s hard to bet against him when he’s motivated and in form.
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Hoping for an entertaining race!
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Look out for the saltire somewhere on the Carrfour
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Almost left on my ride without picking!
See you in front of the TV
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Last minute picks
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Sentimentality takes over
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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.