Paris-Roubaix *spoilers & hopefully some mud & rain
Comments
-
Cancellara suffered from cramps according to Scott Sunderland.Winner: PTP Vuelta 2007
0 -
Boonen should not have pushed Cancellera into second place in the lead into the velodrome...definitely influenced the order or things..perhaps a pat but looked like cancellera was trying to drop into 3rd position for the entry to the velodrome...however Boonen looked much stronger anyway in the sprint0
-
The others were spent - you could see it in their legs, whereas Boonen was often soft-pedalling - he knew he only needed to make it to the stadium. If anyone thinks Boonen bought that race, suggest you get over there in June for the Sportive and then sprint when you get to the velodrome! Classic race!Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
-
Monty Dog wrote:The others were spent - you could see it in their legs, whereas Boonen was often soft-pedalling - he knew he only needed to make it to the stadium. If anyone thinks Boonen bought that race, suggest you get over there in June for the Sportive and then sprint when you get to the velodrome! Classic race!
cancellera seemed more than happy to let Boonen hide in 3rd place, see my previous post...were they working together?
0 -
-
all credit to Baldato...has anyone at 41 years old placed top 10 at Paris Roubaix?0
-
Dave_1 wrote:all credit to Baldato...has anyone at 41 years old placed top 10 at Paris Roubaix?
Good spot - how many pro journalists will mention that?0 -
Great race. You could see Cancellera was finished, it was written all over his face. He looked in agony about 3km out.
Fabulous trio arriving at the Velodrome. Dream podium reallyFckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
ricadus wrote:Dave_1 wrote:all credit to Baldato...has anyone at 41 years old placed top 10 at Paris Roubaix?
Good spot - how many pro journalists will mention that?
Yeah, some guy...just shows the vets you can still ride at the very highest level. Duclos did ride 94 Paris Roubaix at 39, born August 1954... but not placed. Baldato born June 19680 -
Great to see a podium of that quality and to see Tom on top of his game again. He needed the win the most of the three of him, for his own morale if nothing else.0
-
Good race, but a shame Ballan or Cancellara didn't try something... anything to ditch Boonen. I know that's easier said than done at the end of 260km, but the last 15km were a bit of an anticlimax.
Hincapie unlucky AGAIN.0 -
afx237vi wrote:Good race, but a shame Ballan or Cancellara didn't try something... anything to ditch Boonen.
Cancellara did try to ride away several times but as others have said he had leg cramps. It seemed that the three were quite closely matched but Tomke had something left in his legs and knew it was safest to leave it to a sprint in the Velodrome where he was virtually guaranteed the win.0 -
Apparently French TV showed a clip of Boonen giving Cancellara a helpful push about 2km to go - quite clearly he realised that he was stuffed. When you've ridden that far, so fast nobody's got much left in your legs.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
-
Fabio Baldato was actually 2nd in Paris-Roubaix in 1994 when me and Mrs Claud went to see the race (won by Tchmill).0
-
Monty Dog wrote:Apparently French TV showed a clip of Boonen giving Cancellara a helpful push about 2km to go - quite clearly he realised that he was stuffed. When you've ridden that far, so fast nobody's got much left in your legs.
i saw that - bless him.... :PWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
"Watched" it on Cyclingnews.com. which was actually quite exciting ! My pick was Pozzato but had crash. Boo!
Hincapie didn't win tho'. Great! There is some justice... .Faith is believing in something when commonsense tells you not to'Google can bring back a hundred thousand answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.'
Neil Gaiman0 -
No one yet seems to have mentioned Maaskant and how well he has raced. In both Roubaix and Flanders he performed well beyond what would be expected for a 24 year old riding for what many would consider a 'minor' team. Especially well considering he would have started riding for Backstedt. Makes Rabobank's decision to let him go look a little daft really, definitely one to look out for in future years.0
-
Speaking of Backstedt, did he crash or something? He is listed as DNF.Winner: PTP Vuelta 20070
-
Ms Tree wrote:"Watched" it on Cyclingnews.com. which was actually quite exciting ! My pick was Pozzato but had crash. Boo!Hincapie didn't win tho'. Great! There is some justice... .Faith is believing in something when commonsense tells you not to
I don't understand what do you mean. A generally very well liked rider doesn't win.
What justice?It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
How many attempts has he had? 12? You don't see Roger Hammond bigging himself up in the way Hincapie does yet he has finished on the podium too. If Hincapie was northern European he'd never get a mention in the English speaking cycling press.Dave_1 wrote:He was 2nd one year...not an unreasonable assumption to make is it?0 -
andyp wrote:
How many attempts has he had? 12? You don't see Roger Hammond bigging himself up in the way Hincapie does yet he has finished on the podium too. If Hincapie was northern European he'd never get a mention in the English speaking cycling press.Dave_1 wrote:He was 2nd one year...not an unreasonable assumption to make is it?
Of course he would. Would you mention Flecha in the list of favourites? Is his record any better? (less attempts sure)
Things like the Comic overhype Roger's chance every year.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
If he didn't speak English, then he'd only get a fraction of the column inches - and I think it's a backlash against the USPS/Disco PR machine that used to hype him up every spring for him to deliver zilch - DePanne and G-W in 12 years is hardly the palmares of a 'great'. There's only one thing consistent about the guy and that's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - e.g. Deutschland Tour 2 years ago when he crashed in the final sprint and Schumacher won the bonus to take overall! If he was such a favourite yesterday, with 4 other High Road riders in the breakaway, how come no-one dropped back when he punctured?Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
-
Monty Dog wrote:e.g. Deutschland Tour 2 years ago when he crashed in the final sprint and Schumacher won the bonus to take overall! If he was such a favourite yesterday, with 4 other High Road riders in the breakaway, how come no-one dropped back when he punctured?
You mean Eneco.
Why did no one drop back? Because High Road are stupid.
George is good on the cobbles. He's usually up there and that's no mean feat. If he'd ridden for Quick.Step he would've won by now.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
agreed..Hincapie has had a good careeriainf72 wrote:Monty Dog wrote:e.g. Deutschland Tour 2 years ago when he crashed in the final sprint and Schumacher won the bonus to take overall! If he was such a favourite yesterday, with 4 other High Road riders in the breakaway, how come no-one dropped back when he punctured?
You mean Eneco.
Why did no one drop back? Because High Road are stupid.
George is good on the cobbles. He's usually up there and that's no mean feat. If he'd ridden for Quick.Step he would've won by now.0 -
Monty Dog wrote:If he didn't speak English, then he'd only get a fraction of the column inches - and I think it's a backlash against the USPS/Disco PR machine that used to hype him up every spring for him to deliver zilch - DePanne and G-W in 12 years is hardly the palmares of a 'great'. There's only one thing consistent about the guy and that's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - e.g. Deutschland Tour 2 years ago when he crashed in the final sprint and Schumacher won the bonus to take overall! If he was such a favourite yesterday, with 4 other High Road riders in the breakaway, how come no-one dropped back when he punctured?
Nobody ever called him a classics legend, but he's always a contender for Roubaix.
Also he's very modest and comes across as a thoroughly nice guy (he gave the missus his autograph last year along with countless others). He never moans and when its his job to play domestique he works his ass off.
He's disliked cos he's American and he rode with Disco/USPS.
If George was English you would be creaming yourself over his classics prowess.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0 -
The near-misses and not-so-near-misses are probably stoking an obsession with the race, whether he's a contender any more or not.0
