The Hell of the North
Comments
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"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
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I'm gonna stick my neck out (a little) and say Ballan will win this.
Boonen has been carrying very good form since Feb which seems a little too long to me. Think we started to see him slipping on Sunday while Ballan and Pozatto are coming into form at just the right time. P-R will come a bit too soon for Flecha I reckon but he'll be in the mix.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:No-one thinks Boonen will win?
So much comes down to luck and not form, in my view. A split second loss of concentration is all it takes to lose. I love this race like no other, it's a complete lottery.
Such amazing history though as well. I've watched 'Road to Roubaix' a few times recently and it gives me goosepimples every time. An amazing race.0 -
if you liked 'Road to Roubaix' watch 'l'enfer du Nord' if you can get hold of it - i am sure its on you tube."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom0
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The "coffee-table" Paris Roubaix - A Journey through Hell book is well worth a look - some fantastic photos and stories and only slightly marred by the fact that someone thought that Bob Roll should write the introduction. (though unlike LA's appearance in "the Road to Roubaix", at least Bobke rode the race)'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0
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A Sunday in Hell for more viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4IDCkcn ... re=related
As to who could win... I ain't got a decking clue. Boonen is the favourite with no Canc, but I've got a feeling it's going to be someone relatively unexpected.
Actually, looking at the BMC team, it's pretty solid with Phinney, Ballan, Van Avermaet, Hincapie and Hushovd... just questions over form. Still, them and OPQS to be strongest in the race, with Sky and Garmin in the next rank down. Still can't see a clear favourite other than Tommeke though.point your handlebars towards the heavens and sweat like you're in hell0 -
Canc being injured could make P-R a more complicated race for Boonen. He'd feel more relaxed about second tier riders going up the road if Canc was there with him so he might end up bridging and chasing more than he otherwise would. Important for OPQS to get someone in the break.0
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Abdoujaparov wrote:Important for OPQS to get someone in the break.
It'll be a miracle if that happens.0 -
It's about time we had a wet one. There have been too many dry editions recently.
Personally I can't see past Tommeke, probably breaking away with Pozatto on his wheel and then failing to out sprint him.0 -
LangerDan wrote:For anyone out there who doesn't remember how bad P-R used to be (before the advent of crowd barriers, climate change and jet-washed Arenbergs....)
+1 Just get on with the bloody race. rain or no rain. Do you think the conditions bothered riders like Kelly,Vanderaden,Van Der Poel,Moser etc etc.0 -
patchy wrote:
The narrator really makes that film - love the old-school, dead pan delivery!
"Merckx tries to break them with his tremendous power..."
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Rick Chasey wrote:Abdoujaparov wrote:Important for OPQS to get someone in the break.
It'll be a miracle if that happens.
Yep, you're probably right - can't see many teams wanting that to happen. They could maybe send someone up the road a bit later in the race though.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:No-one thinks Boonen will win?
I'm really torn. On the one hand, he rode a perfect race last Sunday, he never forced the issue, but he didn't need to, he looked like he was struggling on the climbs, but he had gear issues. Whilst some claim that Ballan and Pozato looked stronger, Boonen was able to close all of Ballan's attacks, and win the sprint from Pozato, who hadn't done any of the work closing the attacks or launched on himself.
If Boonen wins the double, does this make him the best cobbled classic rider in history?You live and learn. At any rate, you live0 -
Jez mon wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:No-one thinks Boonen will win?
I'm really torn. On the one hand, he rode a perfect race last Sunday, he never forced the issue, but he didn't need to, he looked like he was struggling on the climbs, but he had gear issues. Whilst some claim that Ballan and Pozato looked stronger, Boonen was able to close all of Ballan's attacks, and win the sprint from Pozato, who hadn't done any of the work closing the attacks or launched on himself.
If Boonen wins the double, does this make him the best cobbled classic rider in history?
Pozatto seemed to do one thing only on Sunday (surprise
) - the bridge to Ballan. Was v impressive though - put 20 seconds into the group he was with in no time at all. 0 -
Abdoujaparov wrote:Jez mon wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:No-one thinks Boonen will win?
I'm really torn. On the one hand, he rode a perfect race last Sunday, he never forced the issue, but he didn't need to, he looked like he was struggling on the climbs, but he had gear issues. Whilst some claim that Ballan and Pozato looked stronger, Boonen was able to close all of Ballan's attacks, and win the sprint from Pozato, who hadn't done any of the work closing the attacks or launched on himself.
If Boonen wins the double, does this make him the best cobbled classic rider in history?
Pozatto seemed to do one thing only on Sunday (surprise) - the bridge to Ballan. Was v impressive though - put 20 seconds into the group he was with in no time at all.
He said he was totally on the limit with that effort.
His cool calm position belies the effort he puts in.
Boonen's back gives you a good indication on how hard he's stamping.0 -
I think at some point we will see a group consisting of Boonen, Pozzato, Ballan, Flecha, Hushovd and another one/two of the OPQS boys (Terpstra or Chavanel or both). Flecha and Hushovd always seem to come good for Roubaix even if they're poor at De Ronde.
Whoever ends up getting away out of that group will be the result of luck or a mistake IMO. Or similarly it'll be whittled down as people fall or puncture. Small group sprint. Hushovd v Boonen would be fascinating. They've both got huge motivations for the win. I can't see Ballan or Pozzato riding away from both Boonen and Hushovd. At least one of them will be able to follow.0 -
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Le Commentateur wrote:Hopefully a bit more interesting than last Sunday anyway.
God, I hope you're not serious..... :roll:We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Pozzato for the winThe UCI are Clowns and Fools0
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Bad luck aside, I can't see past Boonen.
Team too strong to let a breakaway go.
He reckons he had mechanicals on Sunday, so couldn't get into a low gear and so was gapped on the final climb. Ballan couldn't get away and an easy sprint win.
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Just re-watched Road to Roubaix, gonna watch a Sunday in hell tomorrow - oh i cant wait for Sunday now!
Still doing the rain dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WNLLNxURt4"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
Current forecast is for it to be dry and cloudy with no more than a 15% chance of rain. Max of around 10C and a moderate wind.
Not exactly a hellish forecast - at this time.0 -
Will Pozzato's collarbone hold up to this race?0
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Barring bad luck - of which he's had plenty in the past - it's gotta be Boonen.kop van de wedstrijd0
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blim wrote:Barring bad luck - of which he's had plenty in the past - it's gotta be Boonen.
Absolutely.
I think QS have enough in the tank that they will try to engineer a Boonen victory, rather than just a QS victory.
So plan a will be Boonen winning, and plan b will be QS winning, rather than the other way around.0 -
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Rick Chasey wrote:
I don't - not until the evening anyway. Anyone still on the course at 20:00 - 02:00 deserves to get rained upon (Yeah Pip, I'm talking to you)'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0
