Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2013
It looks so easy on the television. Well, no, actually it looks pretty bloody hard. We think we have some understanding of how they suffer, how their bodies can take the continual beating. But we don’t really know. Not even by riding these abominations they call roads twice in the space of a few days can we understand the scale of the thing. Not even by witnessing firsthand a master of the cobbles effortlessly turning the cranks, cruising past us as if on a cushion of air by comparison to our bed of nails can we fully comprehend what it takes to ride these secteurs with any panache, style or speed.
While we witnessed a Roubaix masterclass from The Lion himself today, a new name could be added alongside his on the long list of legends on Sunday. Or it could be a former vainquer adding to an already impressive palmares. But as we’ve seen in the past, and even the past hours, luck plays as big a part as skill, talent and fitness in this most beautifully horrible race. And it plays an even bigger part in picking the top five in the VSP.
All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the spectacle. We’ll be doing the hard yards at the side of the roads of Troisvilles, the Troueé, and the Carrefour. Study the form guide, then throw it out. It’s no good to you here.
In the meantime here’s a look at a bunch of nobodies and a guru riding a secteur on today’s recon. The lesson comes at around 0.15.
[vsp_results id=”22968″/]
VSP PICKS:
1. Stannard
2. Turgot
3. Degenkolb
4. Chavanel
5. Cancellara
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Turgot
3. Chavanel
4. Degenkolb
5. Phinney
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian
2. Phinney
3. Thor
4. Stannard
5. Thomas
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Sebastien Turgot
4. Heinrich Haussler
5. Jurgen Roelandts
@Dan_R
ruusspect!
@Al__S
Did I – should have, but haven’t – this is how you keep yourself well down the overall VSP
1. Stanhard
2. G
3. Hwanantonioflecha
4. Chav in Hell
5. Finny
Going out on a thin limb here. Looking for the double and need to make up a lot of ground after being spit out the back. Phinney & the Frenchman will get away early and duke it out in the velodrome, Fabio will drag a group with him to the finish but lose a podium spot in the sprint. After Sunday, he will never be referred to as Mini Phinney again.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phinney
2. Chavanel
3. Degonkolb
4. Fabian
5. Kristoff
@Islandbike
“Thin Limb”? You’ve got five of the top 7 favorites in your picks. Hell mate, you’re still solidly on the trunk with those picks.
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
sorry for miscue…its cold here. whittled the list down to 4 groups of 5. and there are way too many things that can go right or wrong tomorrow. rollin the bones…throwin luck to my 5!
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo!
2. Roelandts
3. ChavEnal
4. Turgot
5. BigLittle Phinney
I think Boonen will be finishing in the car today. No fifth rock for him.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boasson Hagen
3. Roelandts
4. Phinney
5. Thomas
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Phinney
3. God of Thunder
4. Stannard
5. Boom selektah
Any chance for new winner? Big motors like Tjalingi, Devolder, and Stannard could be up there if the team leaders end up nursing a broken collar bone. Phinney still looks a little fragile but has pedigree on his side.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Sebastien Turgot
3. John Degenkolb
4. Sylvan Chavanal
5. Taylor Phinney
@Donnie Bugno
As he won’t even start, that’s a save guess;-)
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Roelandts
3. Sylvain Chavanel
4. Stannard
5. Phinney
Off topic, but has anybody seen the 5. stage of the Tour of Basque Country yesterday? Is it normal that a Sky domestique like Kyrienka can spend two (!) hours in the wind, chasing down a leading group? I want to believe it, but I find it harder and harder.
This is the LAST time I’m switching!
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Devolder
4. Chavanel
5. Stybar
Did anyone else read the story where Lefevre said none of his Quick Step riders had any balls, then told them they should be riding for that smaller Belgian team? I thought that was pretty scummy to mock a small team with far, far less money. Kind of poor form. I also saw an archived story from a few years back about, I think, Frank Vandenbroucke, his whereabouts, and his doping. Lefevre gave some very fishy replies to questioning, stuff that would really piss people off today. Old song n dance stuff, but from a few years back.
I’m beginning to think less of him all the time.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Chavanel
3. Haussler
4. Turgot
5. Stannard
VSP PICKS:
1. Devolder
2. Cancellara
3. Hagen
4. Stannard
5. Flecha
@Ron
A gravelly whisper maybe. Don’t know his cycling background. He uses quirky sayings and can get excited…esp about Boonen.
http://youtu.be/p5byJ-ibZgc
@freddy
Quirky sayings or not, he speaks Flemish which to a cyclist is like Latin to a catholic. He always has me at “Dag Dames en Heren”
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Heinrich Haussler
4. Sylvain Chavanel
5. Jurgen Roelandts
.
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Sylvain Chavanel
4. Heinrich Haussler
5. Jurgen Roelandts
VSP Picks…
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Taylor Phinney
3. Sylvain Chavanel
4. E B Hagen
5. Jurgen Roelandts
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Sylvain Chavanel
3. Stannard
4. Phinney
5. Matthieu Ladagnous
I will be wrong again, but at least I will be consistent
VSP PICKS:
1. Thomas
2. Sylvain
3. One Trick Pony (Canc’elloutus)
4. Tur-go(t)
5. Vansummeren
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Chavanel
4. Hushovd
5. EBH
After shooting my mouth off so much, I better go with Fabs. I’m liking Roelandts too after Britt endorsement. Nothing like seeing these guys in person to know who is ready to kick the ass. Thor, potato, boom, I don’t think so.
VSP PICKS:
1. cancellara
2. roelandts
3. phinney
4. terpstra
5. langeveld
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Kristoff
4. Chavanel
5. Turgot
VSP PICKS:
1. Frank
2. G’rilla
3. The Engine
4. Brett
5. Strathlubnag
VSP PICKS:
1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Jurgen Roelandts
3. Alexander Kristoff
4. Sylvain Chavenel
5. Sebastian Turgot
rollin isn’t riding apparently so i’ll take hugo houle. going to be an early morning tomorrow,good luck to everyone,cheers.
VSP PICKS:
1. chavanel
2. edvald boassen hagen
3. flecha
4. fab
5. houle
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Stannard
3. Chavanel
4. Flecha
5. Thomas
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Chavanel
3. Turgot
4. Roelandts
5. Ladagnous
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Flecha
3. Phinney
4. Van Summeren
5. Turgot
@Ron
I’ll tell you thanks now for the treasure hunt you lead me down. Okay so you peeked my interset. He’s a real team builder of a manager , his articulation or lack there of in this case was a bad choice. Then i read on and find out he is talking with sky with regards to teaming up so they may have a better chance over all. I would think that sort of tactic you would want out of the publics eye but what do i know. Ya i’m sure his guys are going to want to work real hard for him. Justsayen
Oh not that i’m changing my VSP, Fab has crashed twice this week and the last one was on a recon ride for the race. Banged his elbow up.
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Roelandts
3. Phinney
4. Van Summeren
5. Thor
Sparticus goes 3 in a row.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boasson Hagen
3. Phinney
4. Van Avermaet
5. Chavanel
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Stannard
4. Thomas
5. Cavanel
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Chavanel, Sylvain
3. Stannard
4. Phinney
5. Roelandts
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Phinney
3. Chavenel
4. Van Summeren
5. Rolandts
VSP PICKS:
1. faboo
2. sagan
3. thor
4. Turgot
5. Phinney
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Hausller
3. Ladagnous
4. Kristoff
5. Vandedbergh
IF Cancellara has a bad day hopefully at least one of these other guys will be there.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Roelandts
3. Van Avermaet
4. Paolini
5. Turgot
Phinney solos to the win, followed shortly by the remnants of the late break. Greipel survives the cobbles and easily takes the sprint for 2nd.
VSP PICKS:
1. Phinney
2. Greipel
3. Cancellara
4. Pozzato
5. Flecha
VSP PICKS:
1. Hassles
2. Gripes
3. Cancellara
4. Chavenel
5. Stannard
@Dr C either I am a genius or a complete retard. Of the complete pack fill, I think Stybar will roll across first, fuelled by the disdain for his douchey boss.
Harmon:
Well, there’s crash and flat; crash mechanical and flat; crash and Cancellara; crash flat and Cancellara; crash flat mechanical and Cancellara; Cancellara flat mechanical and Cancellara; Cancellara crash Cancellara Cancellara flat and Cancellara; Cancellara mechanical Cancellara Cancellara flat Cancellara Stannard and Cancellara;
Kelly:
Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara…
Harmon:
…Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara crash and Cancellara; Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara Chavanel Cancellara Cancellara Cancellara…
VSP PICKS:
1. Cancellara
2. Boom
3. Stannard
4. Chavanel
5. Bodnar