Okay, race finished... here comes the preview. Race coverage scheduled for Friday Evening.
The hell of the North
“It's bollocks, this race! You're working like an animal,
you don't have time to piss, you wet your pants.
You're riding in mud like this, you're slipping ...
it’s a pile of shit.”
- Theo de Rooij
It’s up. It’s arguably the single most prestigious and most-famous one-day race in the world of cycling. The Queen of Classics is as much of a press-event as a showcase for young talent but most of all, it`s a true battlefield for the world best northern classic specialists. It derived its nickname “Hell of the North” from the battlefield of World War 1: This race is not for the faint of heart.
Have no delusions: Whilst many rider have chances to snatch a breakaway win at E3 Prijs or Gent – Wevelgem, the heavy-weights will make sure that they can fight for the win among themselves. Any breakaway riders crumble here sooner or later, and regarding them as an obstacle isn’t even valid. Still, there have been lucky escapes in the past, such as in 1988, and there’s always room for one more.
"Paris–Roubaix is bullshit"
- Bernhard Hinault
Paris – Roubaix was first introduced in 1896 and has been ever since one of the oldest and toughest cycling races in history. The finish has remained in Roubaix, but since 1968 it starts in Compiègne. Because of its long existence, Paris – Roubaix can look back on a rich culture. The cobbles have become mystic treasures of the region and the Vélodrome appears as a long-searched safe haven for all these tired souls. Riders have complained about the difficulty of the course and organizations such as the “Les Amis de Paris – Roubaix” try to maintain the cobble sections difficulty, while also making it friendlier towards the riders. Certainly, the long cobbles are the most hostile factor in this otherwise rather flat race. Different to Ronde van Vlaanderen with its painful hills, a rider has to feature foremost two traits: A flawless ability to crush the flat and indecency & courage on the dirt roads and dangerous rocks. Oh, and he should have luck to avoid any punctures, crashes or other unfortunante incidents that can ruin his dream of winning Paris – Roubaix.
Especially under bad weather conditions, this race can truly become a hell of its own kind. Paris – Roubaix remains as a race for only the toughest of northern race specialists. Many riders avoided this race in the past, such as in 2004 where apparently no Top 20 UCI rider was even featured in the race. This race can be an enormous victory for one – and it can also ruin your entire career… In 1998, for example, Johan Museeuw crashed so badly he would have nearly lost his left leg. He later went on to win Paris – Roubaix two more times.
Riders obtain a mounted cobble stone of the race, “easily the most prized piece of rock in cycling“, if they win Paris – Roubaix. Record winners are Roger de Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen, each one winning the race 4 times. Tom Boonen came in second at Ronde van Vlaanderen this season but his form is definitely up for Paris – Roubaix. His eternal rival Fabian Cancellara (RTL) meanwhile only got a 5th place at Ronde and thus was disappointed after the race (just like his team manager), but that only means that this year’s winner of Mailand – San Remo will be only more eager to impress. The race won’t be decided between those two riders but looking at their abilities, one could imagine that any other riders will be primarily racing against these two. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) has proven at Ronde that he is capable of winning a big classic but it’s unlikely he will be so strong another time around. Youngsters like McDermott (TST) and Khamphan (EUC) will want to set the record straight after their disgraced Ronde appearance, while riders like Pal (FDJ), Sithembile (SKY) or Oget (MOV) care to impress once more. Belkin, Cannondale, Vacansoleil and Europecar host further favourites for the win.
“Sure, it's the most beautiful race in the world!”
emre99's stages Thread of the Week : Tour of California 2014 -Official PCM World Cup 2016, 10th best keirin player in the world PCM.daily Awards : 2 Nominee 0 Award
Daily Song Contest WINNER! With Foals - Mountain at my Gates with Greece! 1 like 1 girlfriend ''I call you the stage god. You are the stage god.'' -baseballover312, 15.07.2016
You heard the talk. You heard the noise. Now it's time to deliver and to enjoy. People gather together, at the sidelines and in front of their televisions, for one of the most prestigious EPIC races.
Startlist
Spoiler
From here on out in Compiegne, the day looks a bit foggy but we maybe the riders get lucky and there won’t be any rain today?
Two huge breakaway attempts are successful while Omega Pharma and SKY are taking their lead duties easy yet.
Austrian fighter Löwenherz continues to show his value by once more being in the breakaway. With him are a huge pile of other riders. No other youngsters though unfortunately. Notable northern specialists include Kroon (TST), Ghyselinck (COF), Debusschere (LT), Bagdonas (ALM), De Backer (ARG) and Koren (CAN). The most recognizable name might be the one of David Millar (GRS) though. Other riders are Boucher (FDJ), Tuft (OGE), Vanlandenshoot (AJW), Erviti (MOV), Engoulevent (SOJ), Bazayev (AST) and Van Emden (BEL). The total of 15 riders get quickly a gap of over 4 minutes on the peloton.
Spoiler
Nope, the riders ain’t spared by rain as it starts to come from above. So far its little but it’s set to get worse. Van Emden and Debusschere look still quite comfortable though. Except for Tuft, Boucher and Vanlandschoot all riders are involved in the relay work. Eventually the rain settles down and the riders are nearing the first cobble stone section. Later on, Van Emden is ordered by Belkin to stop doing relay work as the gap is nearing 9 minutes and Belkin start to work behind with Wyants alongside Europcar, Radioshack and Omega Pharma.
Di Silvestro at the head of the peloton.
Troisvilles a Inchy is up and Badgonas leads the breakaway into the section ahead of Boucher and Löwenherz. The race slowly takes up its shape.
The peloton at Troisvilles is stretching but that’s normal. Except for Khamphan, most youngsters are a bit behind in the peloton and they should be better watch out to not lose contact by accident.
As the slight rain appears again, Leukemans makes his trademark-move of the race at Viesly. He performed similar action at Ronde van Vlaanderen and was the last rider to be caught eventually. Will he be even more successful this time around? The teams of the favourites have a drastic pace though and we’ll see if Leukemans can even manage to catch up to the breakaway.
Spoiler
A shot of the end of the peloton. Several riders have dropped by now (about 30), while those are clinging just on. No promising youngsters have lost any ground yet as the race as the race is nearing its half-point.
Custom Rider Overview
Spoiler
Verboven
McDermott
Oget
Pal
Lixandru
Denisov
Andrews
Khamphan
Sithembile
Sagdijev
Ronde van Vlaandere winner Greg Van Avermaet in the middle of the pack. We also see Kristoff, McDermott and Vansummeren. Any chance for a vital attack of them today?
Spoiler
Amazing by Leukemans: He really managed to catch up to the breakaway.
Apparently Europcar and Radioshack really want today’s win as both teams keep a hard pace for the peloton as they hit the numerous cobbles.
Spoiler
Thanks to Leukemans (VCD), the breakaway can maintain better its lead of 5 minutes. Many of the riders are already a bit wasted, while the huge group of 16 riders is still complete and none riders had dropped so far. Two-thirds of the race are done, the final and toughest one is up.
Respect to Europcar who will do major part of the work. This ultimately must show that Khamphan must feel better than at Ronde and may perform some outstanding. We will see how it goes, but one thing’s for sure: Thurau, Pichot, Jerome and especially Di Silvestro work their buds off for their captain. At least Khamphan looks wide awake this time around.
The heavy rain must favor Leukemans who continues to do the largest part of relay work.
Wow, seems like Europcar doesn’t have much confidence in Khamphan’s abilities today as he is sent to work too. This will leave Gaudin as a leader presumably, who snatched a Top 10 result at Ronde van Vlaanderen already.
Verboven struggles back there in the peloton to hold on to the race. He barely manages and there’s no other Euskaltel rider to be seen except for him, as the peloton splits itself in two parts. Youngster Denisov (KAT) is the last rider to have made the jump. The race is really picking up its pace now. Denisov is close to losing contact though.
Verboven is lucky to just have made the jump. In the slipstream of Sabatini he holds on. Densiov is dropped. Di Silvestro ahead of him is finished from all the great work he did. In case you are wonderin who’s responsible: That was all Khamphan’s doing. Karten Kroon (TST) meanwhile dropped out of the breakaway.
Spoiler
Despite the harsh weather conditions and the remorseless pacing by Europcar (up to 60 km/h right now), the peloton still holds 80 riders. But the stretched out line marks that won’t be the case for too long. Riders in the back include Sagan, Paolini, Verboven, Flecha, Lixandru, Kristoff, Greipel and Sithembile.
Spoiler
After some hard-pacing for Europcar, they get some assistance by Omega Pharma again. Stybar, Vandenbergh and Terpstra assist their captain Boonen. Cancellara meanwhiles moves recognizable up front.
Chavanel and Terpstra are seemingly ordered to “their thing”, meaning: Pacing until everything falls apart. 35 km/h at Merigines a Avelin.
Well, this was to be expected. Gaudin (EUC) attacks and on his wheel is Cancellara (RTL)! Immediately, Terpstra, Stybar and Chavanel are left to do nothing but pacing and pacing and pacing.
With the moves back there, there’s also some stuff happening up front: Erviti (MOV) attacks and Van Emden follows him. As a reminder: Van Emden is without a doubt the most rested rider in the breakaway as he was ordered by Belkin to not do any relay work up front.
Cancellara and Gaudin passing the red car as they catch up to the breakaway. Erviti and Van Emden were caught as well. Only about a minute lead to the peloton.
Spoiler
Riders that were caught on the wrong foot by the attack of Gaudin and Cancellara and the following increase by Omega Pharma were Verboven (EUS) and Sky riders Stannard, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Eisel.
Koren has tried his luck as well. Behind him Boucher, Ghyselinek and Debusschere are trying to catch up to him. Gaudin and Cancellara have a true rat’s tail up them and thus the peloton is dangerously close to actually getting them back.
The tail may have been the reason why the group was eventually caught. Gaudin and Cancellara back in the peloton but the Frenchman is not willing to give up: He attacks immediately again! And Cancellara is right behind him –again. Meanwhile Omega Pharma and Belkin are pushing the former breakaway riders to the side as they continue pacing hard.
At least Cancellara is taking control of the race this time around. We remember that he merely was a stand-by viewer at Ronde, always at the chasing end of sides. His teammates Gallopin, Devolder and Hondo are dropped alongside youngsters Oget (MOV) and Lixandru (COF).
Cancellara and Gaudin catch up to the front of the race. Thus the last pieces of the breakaway are now caught with still 30 kilometers to go. The pace by Omega Pharma has drastically decreased the group.
Does Boonen fear that a relatively early attack will once again take away his chance for Glory? Whatever the reason is, he doesn’t seem to trust his comrades abilities as he does the chasing now himself. Boom (BEL) in his wheel meanwhile shows the smart thing and has the best wheel in the world right now. Boonen’s effort really pays off. In the matter of seconds it seems he closes the gap to Cancellara, Gaudin and Ghyselink for good. Back to square zero… well, square zero after 200 kilometers of hardships, pain and suffering.
As soon as the break was caught, Vanmarcke (BEL) attacks. Cancellara, Pal, Gaudin and Boonen are the ones to counter the attack! This might be the decisive move for the Top 5 rankings. Breschel is left to do the chasing in the peloton for McDermott…
But no it wasn’t the move we expected at all. Neither Cancellara nor Boonen or the other two want to do the major work to close the gap to Vanmarcke… this means that Breschel (TST) brings back the four rivals, while Vanmarcke gets his lead.
Spoiler
Surely not important for the race outcome but it happens anyway: Löwenherz (KAT) suffers a puncture. This means he can no longer help his captain Kristoff, whom he was protecting since the breakaway was caught. Subsequently, another 14 riders are apparently getting dropped, among them are Kristoff, Turgot, Leukemans and Sagan.
Spoiler
The last chance to refill your spirits? 25 kilometers left. The race is intense right now. Khamphan gets bottles next to Paolini, who’s doing good today after missing his chance at Ronde last week because he was ordered back to help Kristoff. Stybar and Breschel are the only ones doing any work right now, the lead of Vanmarcke is merely between 30 and 40 seconds.
Spoiler
We have not seen much of Van Avermaet as well as Ballan and Phinney. What can we except of them in the finale?
20 kilometers left to go and Vanmarcke is really pushing, while Terpstra, Boonen, Andrews and Pal are chasing hard. Ballan gets involved too now. The riders are really just rushing over the cobbles. No control, no mercy. 50 km/h against the wind, against the rain. They hardly organize themselves, they just fight for position and race as hard as they can.
This is an utter race of elimination now. Whoever can keep himself upfront here has the upper hand. Andrews can’t stand it anymore and he crumbles. Van Avermaet comes up from the right side behind Langeveld. Ahead of OGE-rider are McDermott and Pal who both show a brilliant performance so far. Especially McDermott doesn’t seem to have wasted a single drop of energy so far. Ballan and Terpstra follow in the wake of Boonen. Where are Cancellara and Gaudin?!
They two of them lose ground… will they be able to recover? Stybar and Degenkolb are already dropped for good.
Incredible fighting performance by Vanmarcke. The crowd cheers for him and every single rider following him. 15 seconds left on the clock. 16 kilometers left to go. How much left in Vanmarcke?
Carrefour de L'Arbre, Gruson and Willems a Hem are really taking its toll. Cancellara, Gaudin and Khamphan struggle. Ladagnous, Roelants, Vansummeren, Andrews and Boom are ahead of them. Terpstra and Chavanel are finished for now it seems after doing so much work for Boonen. Up front Boonen rides behind Pal currently, followed by Langeveld, Ballan, Van Avermaet and McDermott. No official time gaps yet but this seems to be the split people were expecting!
No, it wasn`t! No one seemed willing to help Boonen on the normal road (what’s the matter BMC, too scared after winning Ronde?!). This means that Gaudin and Cancellara come back on the normal pave and Spartacus immediately takes charge. He really wants to win and for Belkin this situation means that Vanmarcke gets in a matter of seconds an increase of lead of up to 30 seconds… - again. Vanmarcke’s lead is really bouncing around like a yoyo.
Crash by Ballan! This leaves once more Van Avermaet to get a possible good result.
12 kilometers left, the crowds cheer for Vanmarcke. The dutch rider has up to 50 seconds by now. How much energy has he got left and will it be enough?!
The 15 riders behind him are relying incredible much on Cancellara and Omega Pharma to get back Vanmarcke…
Going into the almost final 10 kilometers, Boonen puts down his hammer and attacks. This lucky kid just gets to see Tornado Tom in action. Lucky him.
Langeveld was the first to react, while Cancellara and Gaudin look to hang on, but they couldn’t set themselves apart yet from the rest of the group. When Van Avermaet and Roelandts click into the action as well, it seems like a quick gap between them and the other riders emerges. Even Boom (BEL) wants to make the jump, maybe to hinder possible relay work through that? Pal and McDermott show no reaction yet.
Langeveld and Boonen are really destroying the cobbles here at Willems a Hem. The others though clearly suffer. Cancellara, Van Avermaet, Roelandts and Gaudin are likely to get some company by the other riders again as Ladagnous and Terpstra try their luck as well.
6 kilometers and roughly 25 seconds to Vanmarcke…. They can see him through the rain and the fog up ahead…
An attack by McDermott! He comes straight from the far back of the group as Ladagnous gets caught again and he just spears through the crowd, around the corner.
Vanmarcke heads into the Velodrome! 30 seconds on Boonen and Langeveld, this should be enough!
After Boonen and Langeveld, McDermott is the next. He holds up good against Van Avermaet who got away from Group Cancellara/Gaudin as well alongside Roelants (LTB).
This isn’t over by a long-shot yet! Langeveld plays the tactical game, while Boonen clearly doesn’t care about another possible 2nd place and just wants the win. 20 seconds on Vanmarcke.
Roelandts and Van Avermaet catch up to McDermott. All 3 riders have a lead of about 50 seconds on the other riders, while they are 30 seconds behind Boonen. A bit further back Peter Pal (FDJ) is trying his luck too with a late-attack.
The laps, the laps in the Velodrome can be so damn long… Vanmarcke is feeling it right now as he fights for meter and meter… But one thing is sure: One kilometer remains one kilometer, either on the road or in the Velodrome, and he has one more left!
Langeveld gets a bit behind Boonen but then comes forward like an arrow… Vanmarcke… what he is doing upfront?!
McDermott meanwhile can’t hold up with Van Avermaet and Roelandts on the finish meters…
What??!?!??!?! No celebration by Vanmarcke. He is just finished for good. And he was too afraid that someone would snatch away his dear victory. A victory he has been training and working for all his life. Well, now he has it and it won’t go away. He will have a life-time of cherishing this win, no need to risk anything on the line. His face is muddy, he is exhausted. Bliss takes over for now.
Finish photos
Spoiler
Langeveld beats Boonen on the line…
Van Avermaet comes in ahead of Roelantds and McDermott.
Peter Pal takes 7th.
Boom ahead of Vansummeren and Gaudin completes the Top 10. Cancellara is the last one of this group to cross the line behind Ladagnous and Chavanel. Disappointing for Spartacus!
At least we get a shot of him celebrating his win in the end eventually. An incredible performance by him for sure and Team Belkin are seen just jumping around, crazy and fanatic. Journalists are fighting over each other to get the best picture, to catch his words.
But is this victory really legit: Apparently Belkin wanted to test out a new prototype to make Vanmarcke even better at cobblestones. Well, will there might be another scandal on the horizon like Cancellara and his infamous “motor”? Oh my... that'd be something. But don't worry, we can assure you his greatest victory is legit and won fair. And it was one in a sheer impeccable, fantastic manner that can be the stepping stone of a truly legendary career.
Secondly, amazing report again, dunno how you could've improved after that awesome Ronde report, but somehow you did. Vanmarcke is Belgian though, you called him Dutch
And why didn't I set Roubaix as hard goal Edited by Ollfardh on 21-02-2014 16:33
