Paris Roubaix 2018

greasedscotsman

Just looking at the route for this year's race, looks like there are a few changes from last year.



Viesly to Quiévy & Briastre to Solesmes have been taken out, Saint Python & Quiévy to Saint-Python are run in the opposite direction and there are a couple of new sections near Saint Hilaire lez Cambrai & Saulzoir.

Probably won't make too much difference to the race as it's early into the cobbled sections, but maybe worth flagging up if anyone is planning on going to watch. Requires a bit of a rethink for me.

Vino'sGhost

How many sections do you expect to get to?

greasedscotsman

Probably 3 this year. It's not too hard to do 4 or 5, but I tend to pick bits of the race I'd like to see or that I haven't been to before. And I usually end up at the Carrefour de L'Arbre as well.

peteco

greasedscotsman wrote:

Probably 3 this year. It's not too hard to do 4 or 5, but I tend to pick bits of the race I'd like to see or that I haven't been to before. And I usually end up at the Carrefour de L'Arbre as well.

I'm going to be there for the first time this year. Could you describe how you manage to see that many sections please.

Thanks,

Pete

Vino'sGhost

greasedscotsman wrote:

Probably 3 this year. It's not too hard to do 4 or 5, but I tend to pick bits of the race I'd like to see or that I haven't been to before. And I usually end up at the Carrefour de L'Arbre as well.

sounds good, saves the falling asleep in front of the telly.

greasedscotsman

peteco wrote:

I'm going to be there for the first time this year. Could you describe how you manage to see that many sections please.

Thanks,

Pete

There isn't too much information available at the moment, just the map I linked to earlier. But you can use previous year's information until it comes out. The later part of the race, from Section 23 onwards hasn't changed.

https://www.velowire.com/article/1013/e ... north.html

Using that, I just use Google maps. Work out how long it will take to drive from one section to the next and compare to the time schedule (using the fastest time). I'd also add some time on for parking the car and walking to the route. Maybe 10-15 minutes for each time you arrive and a similar time to get away. Maybe more for busier parts, like Arenberg.

Also, as I'm not just going for the weekend, I'll do a dry run on either the Thursday or the Friday, to try and pick up things like roadworks and familiarise myself with where I'm going. The teams are out on both days, doing their recce, so I should get to see them as well.

Other than that, it just depends on how ambitious you are, or what you'd like to see. I think most people like to go to Arenberg, maybe Mons en Pevele or the Carrefour de L'Arbre. All easy enough to do, although I'm not sure how you'd get to all of those. I'm sure it's possible, any ideas anyone?

greasedscotsman

Vino'sGhost wrote:

greasedscotsman wrote:

Probably 3 this year. It's not too hard to do 4 or 5, but I tend to pick bits of the race I'd like to see or that I haven't been to before. And I usually end up at the Carrefour de L'Arbre as well.

sounds good, saves the falling asleep in front of the telly.

What? I can understand falling asleep watching Liege, but not Roubaix!

Gooner69

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

ocdupalais

Gooner69 wrote:

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

It’s not bang on accurate and might need re-sequencing;

Clip in,
Lined out
Lined out
Lined out
Dropped
Re-group
Lined out
Lined out
[Cobbles]
Grovel
Grovel
Near miss
Grovel
Puncture
Lined out
[Cobbles]
Near miss
Grovel
Grovel...
160km more of this sort of thing.
How long is your stem?

greasedscotsman

Don't you need to add in a few "Why am I doing this".

greasedscotsman

Gooner69 wrote:

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

From the Challenge website...

SP2 WILLEMS A HEM
SP3 GRUSON
SP4 CARREFOUR DE L ARBRE
SP5 CAMPHIN EN PEVELE
SP6 BOURGHELLES A WANNEHAIN
SP7 CYSOING A BOURGHELLES
SP8 TEMPLEUVE MOULIN DE VERTAIN
SP9 PONT THIBAUT A ENNEVELIN
SP10 MERIGNIES A AVELIN
SP11 MONS EN PEVELE
SP12 AUCHY LEZ ORCHIES A BERSEE
SP13 ORCHIES
SP14 BEUVRY LA FORET A ORCHIES
SP15 TILLOY A SARS ET ROSIERES
SP16 WARLAING A BRILLON
SP17 HORNAING A WANDIGNIES
SP18 WALLERS A HELESMES
SP19 TROUEE D'ARENBERG
SP20 HAVELUY A WALLERS
SP21 MAING A MONCHAUX SUR ECAILLON
SP22 QUERENAING A MAING
SP23 VERCHAIN MAUGRE A QUERENAING
SP24 SAUZOIR A VERCHAIN MAUGRE
SP25 SAINT HILAIRE A SAINT VAAST
SP26 FONTAINE AU TERTRE A QUIEVY
SP27 SAINT PYTHON
SP28 VIESLY A BRIASTRE
SP29 TROISVILLES

I'm guessing that's for the full 172km ride, not sure why they haven't listed SP1, that's probably the one outside the velodrome. Would be good to add the length of each one and maybe highlight the 5 star sections, you could get that from the velowire website.

Richmond Racer 2

peteco wrote:

greasedscotsman wrote:

Probably 3 this year. It's not too hard to do 4 or 5, but I tend to pick bits of the race I'd like to see or that I haven't been to before. And I usually end up at the Carrefour de L'Arbre as well.

I'm going to be there for the first time this year. Could you describe how you manage to see that many sections please.

Thanks,

Pete

Very do-able is something like:

Troisville
Sars et Rosieres
Roubaix

poweredbyidris

greasedscotsman wrote:

Gooner69 wrote:

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

From the Challenge website...

SP2 WILLEMS A HEM
SP3 GRUSON
SP4 CARREFOUR DE L ARBRE
SP5 CAMPHIN EN PEVELE
SP6 BOURGHELLES A WANNEHAIN
SP7 CYSOING A BOURGHELLES
SP8 TEMPLEUVE MOULIN DE VERTAIN
SP9 PONT THIBAUT A ENNEVELIN
SP10 MERIGNIES A AVELIN
SP11 MONS EN PEVELE
SP12 AUCHY LEZ ORCHIES A BERSEE
SP13 ORCHIES
SP14 BEUVRY LA FORET A ORCHIES
SP15 TILLOY A SARS ET ROSIERES
SP16 WARLAING A BRILLON
SP17 HORNAING A WANDIGNIES
SP18 WALLERS A HELESMES
SP19 TROUEE D'ARENBERG
SP20 HAVELUY A WALLERS
SP21 MAING A MONCHAUX SUR ECAILLON
SP22 QUERENAING A MAING
SP23 VERCHAIN MAUGRE A QUERENAING
SP24 SAUZOIR A VERCHAIN MAUGRE
SP25 SAINT HILAIRE A SAINT VAAST
SP26 FONTAINE AU TERTRE A QUIEVY
SP27 SAINT PYTHON
SP28 VIESLY A BRIASTRE
SP29 TROISVILLES

I'm guessing that's for the full 172km ride, not sure why they haven't listed SP1, that's probably the one outside the velodrome. Would be good to add the length of each one and maybe highlight the 5 star sections, you could get that from the velowire website.

Can't remember for sure, but I think we were given a top-tube sticker at sign-in when I did it 2 years ago.

Yeah, they don't do SP1 on the sportive as it's a pedestrianised area, and it would also require the riders to swing across the road to get onto it, and swing back across at the end to enter the velodrome

bigmat

Gooner69 wrote:

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

They'll give you a sticker with all the sectors on. It won't fit on your stem though, unless your rocking a ridiculously long stem (my 130mm one wasn't nearly long enough). My sticker ended up on my top tube, but try looking at that when you're on the cobbles - you could just cut it in half and you might fit the sectors from Arenberg onwards onto your stem. That includes all the most famous bits.

bigmat

PoweredByIdris wrote:

greasedscotsman wrote:

Gooner69 wrote:

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

From the Challenge website...

SP2 WILLEMS A HEM
SP3 GRUSON
SP4 CARREFOUR DE L ARBRE
SP5 CAMPHIN EN PEVELE
SP6 BOURGHELLES A WANNEHAIN
SP7 CYSOING A BOURGHELLES
SP8 TEMPLEUVE MOULIN DE VERTAIN
SP9 PONT THIBAUT A ENNEVELIN
SP10 MERIGNIES A AVELIN
SP11 MONS EN PEVELE
SP12 AUCHY LEZ ORCHIES A BERSEE
SP13 ORCHIES
SP14 BEUVRY LA FORET A ORCHIES
SP15 TILLOY A SARS ET ROSIERES
SP16 WARLAING A BRILLON
SP17 HORNAING A WANDIGNIES
SP18 WALLERS A HELESMES
SP19 TROUEE D'ARENBERG
SP20 HAVELUY A WALLERS
SP21 MAING A MONCHAUX SUR ECAILLON
SP22 QUERENAING A MAING
SP23 VERCHAIN MAUGRE A QUERENAING
SP24 SAUZOIR A VERCHAIN MAUGRE
SP25 SAINT HILAIRE A SAINT VAAST
SP26 FONTAINE AU TERTRE A QUIEVY
SP27 SAINT PYTHON
SP28 VIESLY A BRIASTRE
SP29 TROISVILLES

I'm guessing that's for the full 172km ride, not sure why they haven't listed SP1, that's probably the one outside the velodrome. Would be good to add the length of each one and maybe highlight the 5 star sections, you could get that from the velowire website.

Can't remember for sure, but I think we were given a top-tube sticker at sign-in when I did it 2 years ago.

Yeah, they don't do SP1 on the sportive as it's a pedestrianised area, and it would also require the riders to swing across the road to get onto it, and swing back across at the end to enter the velodrome

You can kind of do SP1, but you have to weave between barriers, dodge parked cars etc. Not really worth the effort, and likely the last thing you want to do at the end of that ride. The run in to the stadium through the traffic isn't that much fun to be honest, but arriving on the velodrome makes it all worthwhile. Just make sure you have enough in the tank to cut down from the top of the banking and power past your mates at the finish!

Gooner69

Thanks guys, i have done it before but it was in a haze of Duvall and Grimbergen.
Will make sure to remember it this time.

cygnet

SP2 WILLEMS A HEM 1.4km 2*
SP3 GRUSON 1.1km 2*
SP4 CARREFOUR DE L ARBRE 2.1km 5*
SP5 CAMPHIN EN PEVELE 1.8km 4*
SP6 BOURGHELLES A WANNEHAIN 1.1km 3*
SP7 CYSOING A BOURGHELLES 1.3km 4*
SP8 TEMPLEUVE MOULIN DE VERTAIN 0.5km 2*
SP9 PONT THIBAUT A ENNEVELIN 1.4km 3*
SP10 MERIGNIES A AVELIN 0.7km 2*
SP11 MONS EN PEVELE 3.0km 5*
SP12 AUCHY LEZ ORCHIES A BERSEE 2.6km 4*
SP13 ORCHIES 1.7km 3*
SP14 BEUVRY LA FORET A ORCHIES 1.4km 3*
SP15 TILLOY A SARS ET ROSIERES 2.4km 3*
SP16 WARLAING A BRILLON 2.4km
SP17 HORNAING A WANDIGNIES 3.7km
SP18 WALLERS A HELESMES 1.6km
SP19 TROUEE D'ARENBERG 2.4km 5*
SP20 HAVELUY A WALLERS 2.5km
SP21 MAING A MONCHAUX SUR ECAILLON 1.6km 3*
SP22 QUERENAING A MAING 2.5km 3*
SP23 VERCHAIN MAUGRE A QUERENAING 1.8km
SP24 SAUZOIR A VERCHAIN MAUGRE
SP25 SAINT HILAIRE A SAINT VAAST
SP26 FONTAINE AU TERTRE A QUIEVY
SP27 SAINT PYTHON 1.5km 2*
SP28 VIESLY A BRIASTRE 1.8km 3*
SP29 TROISVILLES 2.2km 3*

Here's a start. I have found knowing the distance between the sectors to be as if not more useful.
e.g. 4.2km of pave/5.8km of road between SP7 and SP4; ~500m between SP5 and SP4; ~5m between SP4 and SP3

milton50

Just heard from the latest GCN video that last year's race was the fastest ever at an average speed of 28.1 mph. That is insane.

cal_stewart

PoweredByIdris wrote:

greasedscotsman wrote:

Gooner69 wrote:

Hiya, im entered into the sportive and watching the Pro`s on Sunday obviously. Can anybody point me where i can find an in order list of the cobbled sections for the sportive. i want to make a momento list for the stem like the pro`s do.
Thanks:)

From the Challenge website...

SP2 WILLEMS A HEM
SP3 GRUSON
SP4 CARREFOUR DE L ARBRE
SP5 CAMPHIN EN PEVELE
SP6 BOURGHELLES A WANNEHAIN
SP7 CYSOING A BOURGHELLES
SP8 TEMPLEUVE MOULIN DE VERTAIN
SP9 PONT THIBAUT A ENNEVELIN
SP10 MERIGNIES A AVELIN
SP11 MONS EN PEVELE
SP12 AUCHY LEZ ORCHIES A BERSEE
SP13 ORCHIES
SP14 BEUVRY LA FORET A ORCHIES
SP15 TILLOY A SARS ET ROSIERES
SP16 WARLAING A BRILLON
SP17 HORNAING A WANDIGNIES
SP18 WALLERS A HELESMES
SP19 TROUEE D'ARENBERG
SP20 HAVELUY A WALLERS
SP21 MAING A MONCHAUX SUR ECAILLON
SP22 QUERENAING A MAING
SP23 VERCHAIN MAUGRE A QUERENAING
SP24 SAUZOIR A VERCHAIN MAUGRE
SP25 SAINT HILAIRE A SAINT VAAST
SP26 FONTAINE AU TERTRE A QUIEVY
SP27 SAINT PYTHON
SP28 VIESLY A BRIASTRE
SP29 TROISVILLES

I'm guessing that's for the full 172km ride, not sure why they haven't listed SP1, that's probably the one outside the velodrome. Would be good to add the length of each one and maybe highlight the 5 star sections, you could get that from the velowire website.

Can't remember for sure, but I think we were given a top-tube sticker at sign-in when I did it 2 years ago.

Yeah, they don't do SP1 on the sportive as it's a pedestrianised area, and it would also require the riders to swing across the road to get onto it, and swing back across at the end to enter the velodrome

Plus it’s about the only place to park

cal_stewart

Do they still make you do the arenberg from a standing start

bigmat

Cal_Stewart wrote:

Do they still make you do the arenberg from a standing start

No, but the whole "hit it full on and try to maintain momentum" thing doesn't work so well when you are surrounded by choppers walking / falling. Plus an ambulance taking up half the road last time I did it.

smithy21

BigMat wrote:

Cal_Stewart wrote:

Do they still make you do the arenberg from a standing start

No, but the whole "hit it full on and try to maintain momentum" thing doesn't work so well when you are surrounded by choppers walking / falling. Plus an ambulance taking up half the road last time I did it.

Will you choppers get out of the way please. Big Mat is trying to do Paris Roubaix.

bigmat

smithy21 wrote:

BigMat wrote:

Cal_Stewart wrote:

Do they still make you do the arenberg from a standing start

No, but the whole "hit it full on and try to maintain momentum" thing doesn't work so well when you are surrounded by choppers walking / falling. Plus an ambulance taking up half the road last time I did it.

Will you choppers get out of the way please. Big Mat is trying to do Paris Roubaix.

Obviously I was one of the choppers! :oops:

shirley_basso

from WW

Some extra motivation for Wout van Aert for Paris - Roubaix. New cobble painted personalized bike, with a Merckx inspired selfie on the HT.

rick_chasey

Having to drive between 3:30 and 5:30 on Sunday afternoon.

Absolutely gutted.

greasedscotsman

Nevermind van Aert's ride, check out Degenkolb's!

Monty Dog

One of my cycling highlights was riding the sadly-discontinued full-length P-Rx cyclo a few times - me and my mate got on the front of a bunch of about 40 riders and wound it up with about 5km to go and hitting Arenberg at full-blast looking back as we hit the bottom of the trench to find it was just me and my mate. I did lose one of my bottles, the temperature was in the 30s and everyone really suffered in the heat and dust. People were collapsing from dehydration at the controls. Easily my hardest day on a bike.

bobmcstuff

William Hill has:

Sagan 10/3

GVA, Gilbert 7/1

Terpstra 10/1

Vanmarcke, Stybar 12/1

van Aert 13/1

Degenkolb 14/1

Actually seems fairly open, Sagan the clear favourite but he always is... I'm not sure GVA really looked like he has it this year, Gilbert looks very strong. While van Aert seems to have a good chance of being there at the end I think his chance of actually winning is pretty remote, although does anyone know what his sprint is like??

rick_chasey

UK bookie odds are weird.

Surely Stybar EW at 12/1 is a no brainer? Unless someone tells me otherwise.

shirley_basso

He may burn himself off for Gilbert I guess

ShutupJens

Shirley Basso wrote:

He may burn himself off for Gilbert I guess

Yep, looks like he's actually in third place on the QS roster when it comes to leadership duties