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. @VeloVita

    If Gilbert can find his form for the Ardennes, OPQ is going to completely own the first have of the season. What a team, when everyone was raving about Radioshack-o-pard Trek and BMC as the superteams.

    Gilbert is riding for BMC last time I checked. Not that it would matter if Tommeke can keep his form going.

  2. “Ž”even if he has a mechanical he”s got time to build another bike Phil” – Paul Sherwinn

  3. @Benj

    “Ž”even if he has a mechanical he”s got time to build another bike Phil” – Paul Sherwinn

    AWESOME! Got to love those guys! I’ve suffered sooooo many K’s with them on my rollers and trainer over the years!

  4. David Harmon on Eurosport just said regarding Boonen, “This is proper Merckx.” Nice!

  5. Hahaha, someone with a Boonen cut out on the side of the road, screaming into a megaphone. Belgians sure take it seriously.

  6. Soooo…

    What were you guys who didn’t pick Boonen for the win thinking?

  7. Nevermind, I take that back – way to go Turgot! (provided the provisional results stand and you pushed Ballan into 3rd)

  8. Did you see the photo finish for second place. I think Turgot got it but I want Ballan for my VSP. Millimeters.

  9. @Blah

    Soooo…

    What were you guys who didn’t pick Boonen for the win thinking?

    We weren’t thinking, obviously! :-D

  10. Ballan took third, Boonen first. Turgot second. I don’t know about the rest.

    Awesome solo by Boonen. Just, no words for it. Not even Cancellara could take it from that far.

  11. @VeloVita

    Co-Mr. Paris-Roubaix!

    Only guy to win three RVV and four P-R. Only guy to do the RVV/P-R double twice. Dude could never turn another pedal and would have a firm seat in the Valhalla of cycling! I can die a contented cycling fan now.

  12. Fantastic win by Boonen, but it is tainted by a Rule #41 violation. His rear QR was not bisecting the rear triangle.

    This win should have an asterisk.

  13. @Flying Crowbar

    Fantastic win by Boonen, but it is tainted by a Rule #41 violation. His rear QR was not bisecting the rear triangle.

    This win should have an asterisk.

    Fuck that – it should be stricken from the record book. He had plenty of time to stop and sort it out.

  14. @Netraam

    Ballan took third, Boonen first. Turgot second. I don’t know about the rest.

    Awesome solo by Boonen. Just, no words for it. Not even Cancellara could take it from that far.

    Well, that’s what next year’s race is for. Let’s see!

  15. @paolo

    FRONK!!!

    Great screen shot, but really, a green North Face jacket? You are not in Seattle frank!

  16. here’s some screenshots from tonights stream, including an overhead from the heli above Arenberg

    [dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/Mikael/2012.04.08.14.21.19/”/]

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