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Paris - Roubaix discussion thread
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| ember |
Posted on 10-12-2011 20:40
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Paris - Roubaix
This is it, the cobbled season is coming to an end, but this major classic is up first. Tom Boonen has won 3 of this year's 4 cobbled classics, he failed in Omloop Het Volk, but he's been unbeatable after that. His successes in East Midlands Cicle Classic, Gent - Wevelgem and Ronde van Vlaanderen definitely makes him the man to beat.
Fabian Cancellara and Marcus Burghardt will probably be his closest rivals in tomorrow's race. Cancellara has done good so far, with a 4th in East Midlands Cicle Classic, followed by 3rd places in both Gent - Wevelgem and Ronde van Vlaanderen. Can he get the better of Boonen in the biggest classic of them all? Burghardt hasn't been on his best level so far on the cobbles. But considering his capacity, that could change any moment, maybe tomorrow. His best place so far, is 5th in East Midlands Cicle Classic.
Alessandro Ballan had a great season last year, winning Ronde van Vlaanderen and Milan - Sanremo. Things have been going slower so far this season, but the experienced Italian can't be forgotten, something his 2nd place in Ronde van Vlaanderen showed.
Sam Bewley is also a great cobbler, despite his young age. The Kiwi is of many experts said to be the next Tom Boonen, will he prove why in this year's Paris - Roubaix? Just like Boonen, he has a great finish, meaning everyone, probably except Boonen himself, will need to get rid of him before they have the Velodrome in their eyesight.
Pearl Adidas has to hope that Enrico Franzoi can continue their great start to the season, he should definitely be inspired, after Bakelandts' great racing on the steep hills in Italy and the Basque Country. Geert Steurs will need to perform here, if his manager's, SotD, dream of winning the Pro Tour 2012 is going to be true. Vladimir Gusev has done well on cobbles in earlier seasons, but he has been terrible so far this season. He needs to be strong here, if he's going to earn himself a contract with Spyker Cars for the next season. CrueTrue can only hope Gusev is aware of the serious situation he is in, meaning he will put in a good performance here, improving Spyker Cars overall placing in the Pro Tour. Danny Summerhill and Jérôme Baugnies is the last riders that deserves attention in our preview. Summerhill is having a decent sprint, meaning most riders wants to get rid of him before the final sprint. Baugnies is a solid rider, who might surprise everyone with a long distance attack, at least I can't see him winning in any other way.
That's most likely our biggest favourites, wild card team Jayco - Red Bull doesn't look like they have the quality to challenge the Pro Tour teams in this classic, but they will at least get familiar to French roads, as they certainly hope to make a name of themselves in this year's Tour de France, later this season.
Startlist
Spoiler | Carmeuse | | 1. F. Cancellara | | 2. A. Aulas | | 3. B. Curfs | | 4. P. Jacobs | | 5. M. Kneisky | | 6. C. Lhotellerie | | 7. K. Peeters | | 8. S. Vandousselaere | | Nestlé | | 11. T. Boonen | | 12. H. Aguilar | | 13. S. Caldeira | | 14. D. Kupfernagel | | 15. S. Lay | | 16. M. Machado | | 17. N. Portal | | 18. M. Sibilla | | Bacardi | | 21. M. Burghardt | | 22. I. Abakoumov | | 23. G. Bagdonas | | 24. M. Heijboer | | 25. J. Kocjan | | 26. S. Kondrotas | | 27. A. Kruopis | | 28. G. Steegmans | | Sony | | 31. A. Ballan | | 32. K. Fouquet | | 33. F. Johansson | | 34. M. Mortensen | | 35. D. Muravjev | | 36. M. Reihs | | 37. V. Renäng | | 38. M. Öste-Macdonald | | Milka | | 41. S. Bewley | | 42. L. Bret | | 43. Y. Hutarovich | | 44. L. König | | 45. A. Malori | | 46. A. Nepomnyachsniy | | 47. Z. Stybar | | 48. E. Verbist | | Spyker | | 51. V. Gusev | | 52. L. Bak | | 53. S. Devolder | | 54. B. Kadri | | 55. N. Scheunemann | | 56. A. Vichot | | 57. E. Weiss | | 58. A. Zeits | | Webeffect | | 61. J. Baugnies | | 62. D. Appollonio | | 63. K. Boeckmans | | 64. R. Bourdouxhe | | 65. L. Mas | | 66. S. Nooytens | | 67. C. Schmieg | | 68. R. Zingle | | Wikipedia | | 71. D. Summerhill | | 72. B. Bookwalter | | 73. J. Casper | | 74. J. Decouttere | | 75. K. Eeckhout | | 76. T. Farrar | | 77. A. Semple | | 78. T. Vangheel | | Pearl | | 81. E. Franzoi | | 82. K. De Haes | | 83. W. De Vocht | | 84. S. Joseph | | 85. T. Leezer | | 86. L. Mondory | | 87. Y. Offredo | | 88. E. Popov | | Festina | | 91. G. Steurs | | 92. D. Drapac | | 93. K. Goddaert | | 94. A. Lavoine | | 95. D. Rijntjes | | 96. R. Sentjens | | 97. P. Voss | | 98. N. Østergaard | | Pendleton's | | 101. G. Thomas | | 102. S. Cummings | | 103. R. Downing | | 104. S. Duret | | 105. M. Ladagnous | | 106. J. McEvoy | | 107. P. Mertens | | 108. F. Mourey | | Wiggle | | 111. A. Fenn | | 112. S. Burke | | 113. R. Hampton | | 114. A. Kuschynski | | 115. P. Locatelli | | 116. D. Ratto | | 117. R. Tanguy | | 118. T. Zaini | | B&O | | 121. S. Kruijswijk | | 122. J. Drucker | | 123. R. Guldhammer | | 124. K. Nielsen | | 125. T. Riber-Sellebjerg | | 126. J. Sagan | | 127. K. Sobota | | 128. T. Vinter | | Warner Bros | | 131. J. Flecha | | 132. K. De Ketele | | 133. G. De Winde | | 134. D. Gallego | | 135. K. Hulsmans | | 136. J. Sergent | | 137. P. Sibila Romero | | 138. M. Van der Pluijm | | Jack Wolfskin | | 141. M. Sieberg | | 142. K. De Kort | | 143. X. Florencio | | 144. B. Giling | | 145. W. Jallays | | 146. S. Rosseler | | 147. K. Sys | | 148. L. Ten Dam | | Colombia | | 151. L. Duque | | 152. S. Bennett | | 153. H. Gallardo | | 154. S. Joly | | 155. D. Montoya | | 156. E. Orozco | | 157. W. RodrÃguez Parra | | 158. C. Sarmiento | | Red Bull | | 161. J. Giaux | | 162. S. Calzati | | 163. J. Gadret | | 164. D. Impey | | 165. C. Manarelli | | 166. A. Moinard | | 167. B. Sonnery | | 168. S. Vanthourenhout | | Santander | | 171. F. Echarri | | 172. D. Allonca | | 173. A. Durán | | 174. A. Galdos | | 175. J. Gallego Martin | | 176. P. Merino Criado | | 177. J. Rienda Segura | | 178. R. Serrano | | UBS | | 181. K. Lalouette | | 182. S. Barrio | | 183. R. Bertogliati | | 184. A. Kristoff | | 185. D. Lelay | | 186. G. Signorini | | 187. C. Simelobov | | 188. D. Varantsov | | Vesuvio | | 191. J. Wallays | | 192. C. Betancourt | | 193. D. Claerebout | | 194. S. Einsle | | 195. B. Gastauer | | 196. D. Medvedev | | 197. A. Moschella | | 198. A. Stauff |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 10-12-2011 20:44
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Tom Boonen has run away with it on the cobbles so far and is comfortably the top ranking points scorer so far this season on the terrain. Cancellara, Bewley and Ballan are the next succesful - before surprise Het Vol kwinner Stijn Joseph. Burghardt may be a top favourite, but he has yet to really shine this season.
| 1 | Tom | Boonen | BEL | Nestlé Cycling Team | 813 | | 2 | Fabian | Cancellara | SWI | Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom | 442 | | 3 | Sam | Bewley | NZL | Milka - Vittel | 381 | | 4 | Alessandro | Ballan | ITA | Sony Ericsson | 377 | | 5 | Stijn | Joseph | BEL | Pearl Adidas | 356 | | 6 | Marcus | Burghardt | GER | Bacardi - Ignis | 322 | | 7 | Jérôme | Baugnies | BEL | Webeffect | 281 | | 8 | Enrico | Franzoi | ITA | Pearl Adidas | 232 | | 9 | Jempy | Drucker | LUX | Team B&O | 229 | | 10 | Gert | Steegmans | BEL | Bacardi - Ignis | 214 | | 11 | Pieter | Mertens | BEL | Pendleton's Twicer | 198 | | 12 | Evert | Verbist | BEL | Milka - Vittel | 188 | | 13 | Pieter | Vanspeybrouck | BEL | Team Bpost | 185 | | 14 | Danny | Summerhill | USA | Wikipedia | 182 | | 15 | Geert | Steurs | BEL | Festina - Conec | 181 | | 16 | Clément | Lhotellerie | FRA | Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom | 168 | | 17 | Kevin | Fouquet | BEL | Sony Ericsson | 167 | | 18 | Stijn | Devolder | BEL | Spyker Cars | 119 | | 19 | Vladimir | Gusev | RUS | Spyker Cars | 111 | | 20 | Filippo | Pozzato | ITA | Festina - Conec | 105 | | 21 | Pieter | Jacobs | BEL | Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom | 100 | | 22 | Andrew | Fenn | GBR | Wiggle - San Pellegrino | 84 | | 23 | Michel | Sibilla | FRA | Nestlé Cycling Team | 72 | | 24 | Dmitri | Muravjev | KAZ | Sony Ericsson | 64 | | 25 | Nikolas | Maes | BEL | Team Bpost | 58 | | 26 | Geraint | Thomas | GBR | Pendleton's Twicer | 58 | | 27 | Marcel | Sieberg | GER | Jack Wolfskin | 56 | | 28 | Sébastien | Joly | FRA | Café de Colombia | 55 | | 29 | Sébastien | Rosseler | BEL | Jack Wolfskin | 49 | | 30 | Wim | De Vocht | BEL | Pearl Adidas | 46 |
Edited by SportingNonsense on 10-12-2011 20:44
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| roturn |
Posted on 10-12-2011 20:45
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Nice preview and good luck with your first report.
Looking forward to this one. |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 10-12-2011 21:10
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Grand Tour Champion
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Nice preview ember. I'm sure the report will be too.
And it'll be interesting to see who'll be second behind Boonen this time.  But seriously, I can't see anyone beating him.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 10-12-2011 22:05
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Top 15 would be smashing.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 10-12-2011 22:12
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just thrilled to be here at a monument. John Gadret has flown in from Asia special and is hoping to finish. jerome Giaux meanwhile would be happy with a top 30, hoping for another couple of finishers we shall see.
Surely either Cancellara or Burghardt can have a good form day for once, I felt in the ronde Ballan and Boonan had the best form. Boonan winning would be an incredible triple.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 07:52
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| CountArach |
Posted on 10-12-2011 22:15
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My money is on Cancellara.
EDIT: Also 3 of the Carmeuse riders are on loan from me. I swear that this doesn't impact on my decision.
Edited by CountArach on 10-12-2011 22:22
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| Kami |
Posted on 10-12-2011 22:16
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If i don't podium here, i can really talk of a very bad cobbled season from Burghardt, compared to other years. If he podiums, it would be a bit better, but in general, he's underperformed a lot.
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 10-12-2011 22:17
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Top 50 is the dream, expect Echarri to tear things up.
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| SotD |
Posted on 11-12-2011 10:59
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Could Steurs get a top 10 here he performed just like I expected him to do, which is good. Afterall he was a cheap cobbler. ATM he is the 15th best cobbled scorer, which is slightly below par. Can he climb to 12-13 I would be pleased.
Dreams of winning the Pro Tour this season has been gone for 5-6 races. I still hope to climb into the top 5, but seeing how my hilly captains perform when the hills go rough I have to reajust my expectations. From the past years I know that Contador isn't among the top top GC contenders either, and I have no knowledge on Fothen. It will be a matter of him performing to his capabilities, and also hitting some races other managers have decided, to lowplay - Which isn't very likely looking at the races I have chosen for him.
So overall this is a season where I need to have my fingers crossed for a decent result, and then use the experience from bad decisions to make a better outcome next year.
Great preview, and hopefully we will get a great race without too many favorites crashing out.
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 11-12-2011 15:37
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Just got to hope all my riders finish and somehow Duque or Joly pick up a few extra points.
Would love to see Danny Summerhill win here, but really after what Boonen did at Flanders the others would appear to be racing for 2nd place. |
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| Heine |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:12
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Wooow, what a race  Imo the best cobble-race this season (the best race?)
Boonen has been extreme this season, and tops it with winning Parix-Roubaix aswell.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:12
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Exactly what I asked for 
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:14
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Great report!
So much aggression, and yet an 11 man sprint. Too bad Blythe wasnt here, he could have really challenged for it (might be available next year PT teams  ) - but at least Geraint Thomas performed better with 15th, and Fenn managed to ensure a Brit in the Top 10.
Well done to the 5 of my team who finished aswell. Top job by Medvedev and Gastauer to just beat the time limit.
Oh yeh, and well done Boonen. A steal of a free agent signing at 650,000
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:16
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SportingNonsense wrote:(might be available next year PT teams )
Oooh hello.
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| roturn |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:18
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Great report. Stunning until the very end.
I thought Cancellara & Burghardt would decide the race but Bewley was super strong and showed that he can become the next Boonen.
Boonen had Sibilla, this makes him being the fittest in the sprint. |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:18
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Two finishers....aahh well, nevermind.
Class report too and you can't beat a P-R with a shoot-out in the velodrome. |
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| SotD |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:29
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Oh my! This is an extraordinary effort from Steurs! First fighting for 8th in the Ronde, and now 6th in the Hell of North! He definately made up for the sale of Nolf. That was the first definite answer of my pre-season questions.
YES - Geert Steurs is good enough! What a race.
And what a great report to read. Luckily no crashes. The fight for the front, the attacks, the captains, the reeling back. It was everthing we could've hoped for.
Now I will be waiting for the next question to be answered. Can Contador rise to the task this season?
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| Smowz |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:31
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Ember, superb work.
Enjoyed that one immensely - my own team had three finishers I think. It may have been nice to know the full list of non finishers either in here or in the race thread - just for humiliation factor.
I think this was the day to beat Boonan, but I suppose everyone else wanted the win just as bad. Another year passes for Cancellara and once again an also ran on the cobbled stuff. He and Burghardt gave it a go as seemingly did virtually everyone thrilling stuff.
Bewley is surely one for the future, but we have to look at Summerhill, Baugnies, Fenn and I was most impressed with Sibella here also.
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 11-12-2011 17:31
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That makes the continual progression over several seasons of Fenn well worth the patience. A top 10 in Paris-Roubaix! More than Wiggle - San Pellegrino could have ever expected. Really good reporting as usual, kept me on the edge of my seat for a while!
[url=cleavercycling.co.uk]  [/url] |
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