Got tired from loading the page 33, so i changed the avatar, you know, i like that guy.
I dont, but he raced hard and i lost the avatar bet, so i can wear it proudly, thanks for the competition Kirchen!
Awesome race it was, still see some moments in front of my eyes, like Sagan avoiding the crash or Cancellara megafail crash at velodrome, but Hayman holding off Boonen in the sprint was a biggest thing. I think Boonen made a little mistake there, but that is hard after race like that.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 11-04-2016 07:56
Å tybar says that the race was complete hell for him. He is on antibiotics since Tuesday and his body just said no,according to his words. He has not felt good since Tirreno and yestarday thought about abandoning for whole second part of the race, after he was held up by two big crashes and the ilness, but all the team cars were at the front, so nobody could pick him up.
"The pain was even bigger than when i have finished second last year".
Now he says he has to heal, as in this state he cant think about taking part in any of the Ardennes classics.
I didn't want to comment yesterday, because I would have said some bad things about Hayman, which he doesn't deserve of course. He had a great ride and that one super day like Vansummeren, O'Grady, Backsted and Guesdon in the past. Very well done!
But I never was this frustrated after a race, shouting and smashing. Tom Boonen had been criticised so much lately and this was the perfect way to take revenge. He already had all the records in 2012, and after all the terrible stuff in 2013-2014-2015 he still bothered to come back after his crash last autumn, that gave him permanent damage. He didn't have to prove anything to anyone anymore, and still he worked so hard to get back on the top level. For me, he seemed the strongest in the race, and then it goes wrong on the Velodrome.
Oh Sep, I love you so much, and you were definitely the strongest on the cobbles yesterday, but you took away Boonen's 5th cobblestone. I'll need a while to get over this.
Stannard and Boasson Hagen really strong as well of course, any of those 5 would've deserved that win. Sagan was good as well, but he really needs a team. I didn't think he could win Paris-Roubaix before yesterday, but he seemed good enough to do it one day. And it's sad to see Cancellara go.
Oldfart: Despite being happy for Hayman I agree with what you said about the race, I agree all 5 deserved it and I would have been happy for any of them (even Stannard, from a different situation not up against those four) particularly for Tommeke or Hayman. Tom showed his undying spirit class yesterday and he damn sure deserved that 5th win, even if either of the others would have deserved their 1st. Maybe he can keep his legs together for one more year, would love to see him keep going.
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Definitely any of the 5 would have deserved the win, they all did their part although I'm still very sad about Boonen.
This race was filled with special moments and incredible racing companied with at times strange behavior and tactics. SKY coming down, Rabofail's riding at times, Martin drilling it, Sagan's insane stunt, Cance double-fails, Stannard and Vanmarcke's call to action... Boonen working on sheer willpower alone... But it was not just the obvious racing on the screen, more than it: It was the story behind it. Boonen's ride to 5th possible victory, Cancellara's last ride and he having to work with Sagan as the dominant figures working for the peloton, cooperating. Hayman as the winner is a fitting conclusion to this race, too. No one expected such a phenomenal race to be delivered, might as well be won by someone surprising, too.
there is just so, so much to take away from this race. I went for a walk afterwards with my GF and all I could talk about was that race. I literally could not shut up about Roubaix. Easily the best edition of Paris-Roubaix I have ever seen, probably the best race too, next to Gent-Wevelgem last year. If there was ever a race to show someone the joy of cycling, this is the definite edition. It's as good as it gets.
I think Boonen said he sees no reason why he should leave just yet. Frankly, why would he after this race. I argue that he did not lose any by coming second, sure the win woul dhave been perfect but the Velodrome is just the end. The way he rode till there is for the annals, worthy of a champion like him. Winning is just a deed, the way you ride makes you a legend. It's very good to hear that he is to stay likely, yesterday he has proven that although he may lack the strength at times, he still has the will and the experience to deliver spectacular racing. In fact, with Cancellara leaving, the peloton needs Boonen for at least one, two years.
Shame to hear about Stybar though. Now i wish he had said that at some point before the flanders campaign, than I would not have wasted my VG slot on him sigh.
Edited by Shonak on 11-04-2016 10:32
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
baseballlover312 wrote:
I have to admit I was rooting for Boonen in the finale there. He just got too boxed in and didn't have the acceleration to get around that fast. That being said, he went to the front a few too many times I think. Hayman was crazy good today but he also barely took a pull. And while I don't like wheelsucking, there were times when the pace could be slowed later in the race where nobody would catch them anyway, but Boonen was too willing to pull hard anyway.
And you cant blame Hayman for that. Being 4 times winner and a favorite it was Bonnen's responsibility to chase down attacks. Not Hayman. Especially when there are guys like Stannard, Vanmarke involved. Also it was not Hayman's responsibility to pull and get gap to Sagan/Cancellara group either.
Hayman did what was right and got a deserving win for that.
Since when was Boonen a favorite? Most people had counted him out even after the classics season began, and especially before today. Daily had him at 22:1 odds. Mind you, that's farther off odds than Vanmarcke, Stannard, and EBH according to Daily. How was he the favorite?
As for someone else's suggestion of Hayman pulling as much as him, maybe we were watching two different races. I didn't see him pull more than more than ten times total in that final break the last few dozen km. On the other hand, Boonen was taking pulls even when there were 4 Sky riders int he group, which I think is too much.
Hayman did plenty of work and he did get dropped and came back to that group so was clearly on the limit so not surprising he didn't work as hard as Boonen, I would like to see this wheelsucking you mentioned higher up thread, can't remember seeing anyone in that group of 5 doing any wheelsucking whatsoever but if you could point out where it happened I'm happy to stand corrected. Boonen didn't lose because he got boxed in, he lost because he was cooked just like the others and it was a slow drag race so the guy in front hung on and won
I mean he looked the freshest at the end when he attacked so he couldn't have been on his limit too much. But again, I'm not knocking him too much. That's good strategy. That's why i think Boonen pulled a bit too much. You also never answered my response. How was Boonen a favorite in that group when everybody besides Hayman had lower odds than him?
Maybe you watched a different race, and that's fine, but in mine, Stannard and Vanmarcke tried to go on the outside and until they lost momentum around the final turn, Boonen had no gap to safely sprint, as Hayman held the inside. Maybe he would have lost anyway, but by the time Boonen had space there was only about 40 meters left, so who knows. He gained a wheel in that time.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
It's probably tiring to hear but: I'm also happy that the overall flanders campaign - from Omloop to Roubaix - has been such an incredible narrative. Sagan's rise, Cance's farewell, what is going on with Etixx.. will Boonen reach good level for Roubaix.. GVA drama, Alak's Benoot crisis. Also some smaller details as the sky search for a leader or some small rising stars coming up here and there., concluding in an oldie winning Roubaix.
It is backed up by some of the best racing tho, reaching its peak at Roubaix. I can't remember when every single northern classic was tremendous to watch; go from Omloop with GVA finally cashing in, to Stuyven's unexpected solo. Then Gent and E3 with some great initiatves by Sagan, Cance, Kwiatek. Heck, even Scheldeprijs was interesting to watch in replay.. Tour of Flanders with an haunting finale, breathtaking action about 40-50k out. Just to all see it come together in Roubaix. How does the saying go: All killers no fillers. So, basically every classic a great display of professional cycling, put it all together I can't think of a greater northern classic season.
The downside is tho: Expectations for next season are sky high.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
I can't let this go without a summary because this race was so fucking amazing it deserves it.
Well this season definitely made my love for de Ronde and Roubaix even stronger even though my favourite riders didn't win in any of them they are just beautiful races with amazing racing and fights. The history behind them. Simply so much class. True essence of cycling.
I rarely shout at my TV set while watching sports but yesterday Roubaix was one of these moments.
A bit sad the season for me has "finished". Of course I will follow the ardennes classics, the Giro, Dauphine, Suisse etc. but with all due respect to these races they dont even come close. Now I'm waiting for Tour and hoping it will be spectacular as well with Quintana and Bertie looking set to give Froome.exe a tough time and a whole lot of riders fighting for stage wins.
Easily the best edition of Paris-Roubaix I have ever seen, probably the best race too, next to Gent-Wevelgem last year. If there was ever a race to show someone the joy of cycling, this is the definite edition. It's as good as it gets.
