Velominati Super Prestige

Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2012

VELOMINATI HItS THE COBBLES OF CAPPELLE EN PÉVÉLLE. PHOTO: JESSE WILLEMS

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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507 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2012”

  1. There are 6 people in Europe who don’t like cycling??? wtf!

    I believe it’s called the UK and the non-cyclists are still in denial that we’re part of Europe.

  2. Damn, wish I’d stayed for the week…

    [dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/fleeting moment/2012.04.07.20.34.14/”/]

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen T.
    2. Flecha J. A.
    3. Pozzato F.
    4. Ballan A.
    5. Chavanel S.

  4. Boonen is awesome, he has a good team and he’s Belgian. boom. Terpstra was a tip from a AGR2 pro we chatted up. That’s all I got.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. boonen
    2. potato
    3. terpstra
    4. paolini
    5. guedson

  5. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Pozzato
    3. Ballan
    4. Hushovd
    5. Boasson Hagen

  7. @Netraam
    Good point. So Sagan is out and things are moved around a bit.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Thor
    3. VanSummeren
    4. Pozzato
    5. Ballan

  10. @motor city

    can’t really think of anyone beating boonen in his current form.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. boonen
    2. vanmarke
    3. ballan
    4. tommeke
    5. pozzato

    His form is so good you’ve picked him first and fourth?

  11. @JC Belgium

    @paolo

    @Netraam

    @JC BelgiumI haven’t seen it yet. I wanted to, but we only have one television and 6 other people who don’t like cycling. I’m glad I can still watch the Sundays.

    There are 6 people in Europe who don’t like cycling??? wtf!

    There are over 6 people in Europe who don’t like cycling; douchebags who honk their horn if you are riding on the car lane in stead of Belgium’s crappy bike paths, and rather serve you as roadkill to Hannibal Lecter… but hey, 6 in one house?? time to move!

    Pozzato is a beast, Ballan gets his tail wind (probably), Hushovd is always ready for P-R, Flecha just wants to have fun, Vansummeren’s tactics are easy: ‘I will ride as fast as possible’…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Pozzato Pippo
    2. Ballan Alessandro
    3. Hushovd Thor
    4. Flecha Juan Antonio
    5. Vansummeren Johan

    I used Van Summerens tactics today. I rode solo for 116K and I don’t know if it’s inspiration ( a number of times I did think tomyself..you don’t need to change down a gear just push harder on the pedals, why would you want to go slower ) but by my paltry standards I was a beast today. I am not allowed to say I big ringed it ( per Fronk ) as I run a compact so I’ll say I 50 toothed it. Awesome day..just wanted to share that. I wonder why that happens..I’m not in shape I am two months from peaking and too fat to climb and for no reason today I was on fire. It’s an oddly beautiful feeling eh?

  15. Can’t wait!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Pozzatto
    3. Ballan
    4. Vanmarke
    5. Chavanel

  17. Slight tweaking to the lower positions…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Tommeke
    2. Thor
    3. Potato
    4. Heinz Sauceler
    5. Terpstra

  19. @Mikael Liddy

    Indeed. I didn’t want it to end. I was pissed it was a solo ride too! I know my faster buddies won’t believe it but I do have garmin….

    I was tempted to stay out for anothe 40k but I have other commitments.

  21. Not really fussed who wins as long as it’s a great race, and they aren’t from Garmin-Barracuda after last year. Sorry Haussler. I would like to see one of the ‘big names’ get up over a breakaway stayaway.
    If it rains, Flecha in a solo entry to the velodrome. I’d cry for him if he did that, he deserves some time in the sun.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Flecha
    2. Pozzato
    3. Van Avermaet
    4. Thor
    5. Boonen

  22. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tornado Tom
    2. Thor
    3. Pozatto
    4. Sagan
    5. Chavanel

  23. Haven’t seen much of Thor this season, but he definitely wants this.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. God of Thunder
    2. Boonen
    3. Chavanel
    4. Flecha
    5. Pozzato

  24. how could i leave out thor? sorry tyler…

    VSP PICKS:

    1. boonen
    2. ballan
    3. pozzato
    4. hushovd
    5. chavanel sylv

  25. VSP PICKS:

    1. boonen
    2. ballan
    3. pfaffs about with sunnies
    4. sagan
    5. chavanel

  26. The last one is for you @gaswepass.

    I mean, the guy has to get a top 5 finish sometime right? His race last weekend at the RdV was fucked, but I don’t have any better ideas for picks.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Thor
    3. Pozzatto
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. Tyler F’n Farrar

  28. VSP PICKS:

    1. boonen
    2. ballan
    3. pfaffs about with sunnies
    4. chavanel
    5. van summeren

  29. Wish I was able to watch the race live… not airing in Canada sucks

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Ballan
    3. Pozzato
    4. Hushovd
    5. Chavanel

  34. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tomekke! Tomekke! Tomekke!
    2. Flecha
    3. Pozatto
    4. Vanmarcke
    5. Thor

  35. VSP PICKS:

    1. Tom Boonen
    2. pozzato
    3. Sagan
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. Thor Hushovd

  38. @all
    We’ll be flying the V-Banner over on the Troivilles secteur, then running to the Forest of Arenberg/Trouée Arenberg and the finally at the Carrfour de l’Arbre. Look for us there!

  39. @Hassan
    @Sam

    Also all those who have picked P Sagan, i’m 90% certain he isn’t starting. There is a Sagan on Liquigas’s start list but he is J Sagan, could be talking out of my backside of course

    Bringing this to your attention. Most of us have swapped out Sagan.

  40. I didn’t get the post right in terms of HTML.

    Directed @Hassan.

    Quote from Sam is the first bit of text.

    Then the last bit of text was me speaking.

    Good luck everyone, including all the Pros. Sure, I hope there’s plenty of drama but no-one needs to get hurt for this race to be exciting, there’s only five hours till the start and it’s already been exciting for a week!

  42. @snoov
    I almost wish the Belgian commentators would work for Eurosport – you don’t need to know what they are saying to understand what they are saying, if you know what I mean – I particularly loved the way they started whispering as the Ballan/Boonen/Pozzato drama unfolded last Sunday (you could hear a pin drop in the beer tent at Kwaremont), like they were watching some documentary video of some rare just discovered animals playing in the Jungle – with the odd yayayayaya, and naynaynaynaynay thrown in to caress the already tingling hair follicles on yer arms – masters of the art

    I’m amazed that Peter Sagan is not riding – maybe he has to be in New Zealand for a routine drugs test?

    What a week – as a Brit (this week) I have been entranced by the track stuff, and hats off too, to the Aussies, who have been both gracious in defeat, and magnanimous in victory – today is the cream on a weeklong apple pie

    Enjoy the day all, and no injuries please, it’s only a bike race, and jumping up and down on a sofa can be a dangerous thing to do….

  43. Swaps.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Pozzato
    3. Ballan
    4. Flecha
    5. Rast

  44. VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Hushovd
    3. Pozzato
    4. Heinrich Haussler
    5. Chavanel

  45. @Dr C
    I hear you on the Belgian commentators, you can hear that they are completely enthralled, it’s quite entertaining in it’s own right. I’m off round to my pal’s to watch the race, consume only French produce, then two or three hours on the bikes.

  46. Sticking my neck out, does it make sense to have two members of the same team in one’s VSP picks? For Example if I were to pick Cav for a win it’s a sure thing the rest of Sky worked their asses off to get him there so if he wins then the next four won’t be on Sky and are also likely to be sprinters. Today if Boonen wins it’d be likely that Chavanel worked to make it happen so he’ll be spent by the end. I’m guessing that Gilbert isn’t back to his best (yet) but he’s getting there so he’ll work for Thor and not make the final group/sprint.

    There are probably years and years of statistics showing more than one team member in top 5 results. There’s also the VSP tactic of covering as many bases as possible I suppose.

    Today though anything can happen, that was just general thinking regarding VSP choices. Thor might have an off day and Gilbert might be feeling great, dare I say there may be punctures, there may be rain, there may be surprises.

    I just can’t sit still, why do they have to start so damn late?

  47. VSP PICKS:

    1. Sebas
    2. Boner
    3. Pippo
    4. Vansummerummerummerrun
    5. Bland

  48. @paolo
    love the feeling of that type of bearable pain you describe.
    I needed a lot of Rule #5 yesterday! and Rule #9 (windy, rain, chilly, dirty roads) and three ‘normal’ mates and a pro cyclist – Niko Eeckhout. he is twice my age, doesn’t tolerate anyone near him in the lead, if you even can. We three were totally soft in the end, he started a discussion about housing in Flanders, taxes, the labour market. look at my face, still 35k ahead…


    (copy from bekijkjouwfoto, don’t mind the guy on the left)

    @snoov
    Michel Wuyts is the one with the theatrical manner of commenting. hmm, Belgian commentators are not always neutral, and not in a nationalistic way. e.g.: last year, they were speaking about Gilbert like it was a god, now, sarcasm all the way cause it’s not working out for him. Boonen’s last season was not that good and every race was the same song: they couldn’t hide their disappointment. when Terpstra won Dwars door Vlaanderen, it was because of the splendid work of Chavanel and the tactics of OPQ, not because of Terpstra’s qualities. also, they don’t fear doping allegations, especially towards Spanish and Eastern European riders.

  49. I’ve really gotta get some points this time!

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Boonen
    2. Pozzato
    3. Hushovd
    4. Boasson Hagen
    5. S. Chavanel

  50. Everybody up and watching P-R? (I don’t want to be the only one tipping back a fine Belgian ale this early on Easter morning)

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