We rode the Pavé of Roubaix in the dry, and any comforting feelings we might have been carrying about with us that suggested we had somehow prepared for them were summarily vaporized as we hit the first secteur. Riding together in a group, unable to reach for the brakes or the shifters, we all were hit with the same realization: these aren’t like the stones we have at home. Not if you live anywhere other than along the cobbled roads of Northern France. Not if you live in England. Not if you live in the Netherlands. Not even if you live in Belgium. And we won’t even talk about the rest of the world.
The Trouée of Arenberg is a sacred place. Arriving there, you feel the need to pray out of respect. Riding there, you feel the need to pray out of a sense of self preservation. There is no smooth path through these particularly rough cobbles. That was in the dry; if the race is wet as predicted by the weathermen (whom I assume are as bad at being right as they are in the States), then there isn’t a bag big enough to hold all the prayers the riders are going to need to get through these. And the Trouée is not the hardest or roughest secteur, by a considerable margin; that honor goes to Mons-en-Pévéle or Carrfoure de l’Arbre.
Keep an eye on the weather report as the race comes nearer, as wet roads will turn this race into one of attrition. Cancellara has broken his collarbone; Boonen, Pozzato, and Ballan are on form. But this is a long race, and details such as those matter little when a race contains over fifty kilometers of cobbles. Is it another year for the breakaway, or will the favorites close it down as they approach the finale? I don’t know, but watch the countdown timer and get your picks in by Sunday morning at 5am Pacific. Winner of this VSP event will earn the right to comment all year with the pavé commenting badge. We will also forgo the usual Symbol Pack prize awarded to a Monument and award the winner a copy of the local newspaper the day after the race.
Bon chance.
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VSP PICKS:
1. Thor
2. Boonen
3. Degenkolb
4. Ballan
5. Au Revoir Guesdon
Day for the young and the reckless me thinks - trembling with fear more than excitement, knowing what they are about to endure - Jesus help them!
VSP PICKS:
1. Galloping Man
2. Satan
3. Ballesandro
4. Tomeke
5. Potato Tomato
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Chavanel, Sylvain
4. Pozzato
5. Ballan
Go Freckle!
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Stewie
4. Ballan
5. Chavanel
Someone at BMC has to do something sooner or later...come on Alessandro.
VSP PICKS:
1. Ballan
2. Boonen
3. Oss
4. Eddy the Boss
5. POPOVYCH
I think the weather will be the deciding factor and crashes on the course will affect predicted results- Boonen to miss out on this one.
VSP PICKS:
1. Haussler
2. Hushovd
3. Breschel
4. Flecha
5. Griepel
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Pozzato
3. Breschel
4. Dengelkob
5. Hincapie
Unadventurous, but you can't argue with the form of these guys, and I think Tomeke wants this one badly.
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Sagan
3. Ballan
4. Pozzato
5. Van Avermaet
Despite the forecasts calling for rain, it doesn't look like a downpour on Sunday as of right now. More drizzle and shower like then straight up rain. Some wind around but not horrific. Pretty cloudy though. In fact the way it looks, there will be just enough rain to cut down the dust, without turning the course to shit. Worst possible weather you could want for an unpredictable Roubaix. Look for tactics and excessive marking of favorites to create a surprise winner, not the weather, at least as of right now.
VSP PICKS:
1. Pozzato
2. Boonen
3. Degenkolb
4. Ballan
5. Chavanel
sure Boonen can't do the double or could he?
VSP PICKS:
1. Boonen
2. Ballan
3. Pozzato
4. Sagan
5. Chavanel