A really surprising race indeed. Cancellara must have felt really frustrated at the velodrome, seeing that he came as close to the front group as half a minute at one point. He really has to learn how to take his chances and when to ride his oponents away. It's a shame to see such a talented rider waste his abilities arguing with the team cars.
Anyway it's always fun to see an underdog winning these kind of races. After all that's what makes cycling such a fascinating sport.
Congrats to Vansummeren he truly deserved that victory with all that will and power. An heroic triumph to rescue Garmin's poor classics season.
Gustavovskiy wrote:
He really has to learn how to take his chances and when to ride his oponents away. It's a shame to see such a talented rider waste his abilities arguing with the team cars.
It was not his fault but his team. I guess they thought Cancellara could win without any support from his team or they counted on Boonens team, but that is just stupid and therefore it is good that he was not able to win any of the races.
I really do not understand why he changed the team if they did not promised him any support for his season goals. There really must have been something wrong in the old team.
I don't quite agree with that "team's fault" argument. I mean, it sure would be better if Cancellara had someone else with him to relay in the group, or someone up front to be able to play a different strategy but in the end I really think it comes down to him.
I haven't watched P-R for a long time, this should have been my 3rd-4th time, but from my knowledge of this race it's almost always the most resilient and powerful man who takes it. The team leaders generally only have a couple of men to count on in the final 100km, so for me it makes little sense to say the composition of the team is vital. Of course in a case like this, where you're the only one relaying in the chasing group you're pretty much screwed.
But on the other hand against a team like Garmin where almost every man can be a contender you don't have much tactics you can play, do you?
I couldn't find it posted here although it seems it would have been but the guardian reports that vansummeren proposed to his girlfriend just after crossing the line. I must have missed it
wackojackohighcliffe wrote:
I couldn't find it posted here although it seems it would have been but the guardian reports that vansummeren proposed to his girlfriend just after crossing the line. I must have missed it
Actually already posted on #380. But I didn't know he gave her his cobble stone =P
reminded me of the best pcm race i've ever been in (until the end of course).
Paris-Roubaix 2014, vansummeren broke away with bole, boonen and weylandt with 140km to go.
got out to 6 minutes with 30km to go with the peleton not going at an incredible pace.
with 10km to go i had 1:55 on the favorites group with just vansummeren and boonen left. van summeren attacked and got a gap and looked certain of victory... until cancellara powers past in the last 100 metres
