P-R picks (and spoilers)

[thwart]

Going against the grain here.

1) Wiggins
2) Kristoff
3) Sagan

[azrider]

Kristoff
Boom
Stybar

[Michael Maddox]

I'm rooting for Kristoff. How often do you get to see that kind of dominance in the Spring Classics?

[ceolwulf]

Vanmarcke
Van Avermaet
Vandenbergh

#getinthevan

[jwad]

Hard to pick against Kristoff right now, but i'm gonna go with Stybar

[BSUdude]

degenkolb
van avermaet
stybar


..kristoff will get marked out of the race...

[weaponsgrade]

Kristoff
Wiggy
Terpstra

[teleguy57]

Since I don't have to choose between Faboo and Tommeke:

Wiggins (sentimental pick)
Stybar
Vanmarke

Of course, there are always dark horses:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UHDHoy8MlhA/VSb_Sj_-LgI/AAAAAAAAFWE/3DeL28Y5SH0/w640-h425-no/unnamed.jpg

[wallymann]

1. kristoff
2. stybar
3. wiggins

[wallymann]

I'm rooting for Kristoff. How often do you get to see that kind of dominance in the Spring Classics?

based on boonen and cancellara and petegem over the past 10 years, when someone is on scorching form it's tough to bet against them. we'll see if kristoff is cut from the same cloth.

[nate2351]

It's hard to bet against Kristoff.

If its muddy I'd say Stybar.

[1centaur]

Showers are done at noon on Saturday. Sunday is dry. Did not rain today. Should not be too muddy.

Stannard
Van Avermaet
Sagan

[MattTuck]

Vanmarcke
Van Avermaet
Vandenbergh

#getinthevan

well played, sir.


I'm terrible at these picks, so I'm not even sure why I try.

Vanmarcke (solo)

Paolini (two up sprint for second. Paolini at 80/1 is a good bet, imo)
Stybar

[Miller76]

Wiggo, Stannard, Stybar

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Vandenbergh

[enr1co]

OK what the heck, my swag call:

1-Wiggins
2-Sagan
3-Thomas

[Red Tornado]

1) Degenkolb
2) Vanmarcke
3) Stybar

[carlineng]

Van Avermaet
Stybar
Vanmarcke

[weisan]

http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/04/paris_roubaix2013_tired_fabian1.jpg

[gavingould]

Stybar, Terpstra, Wiggins, Boom.
Vanmarcke and Sagan haven't been looking as fresh. Though I'm kind of thinking it'll be an outsider, dark horse; ie none of these guys.

[bcroslin]

Stybar and Boom. CX represent!

[Bstone]

Its like picking the winning number for the lotto.

[acorn_user]

I see no one has gone for a Lotto rider, so I'm going to pick Joergen Roelandts. Looks like he's in good shape for a long flyer, which is what someone who's neither Kristoff nor Degenkolb is probably going to have to do. Lars Boom is another good contender.

[alessandro]

I don' see this as hard.
1) Kristoff
2) GVA
3) Terpstra

[Uncle Jam's Army]

OK, I'm already amped up for this. Any news on expected weather conditions?

[enr1co]

Neat pre race photo gallery on Velonews:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/gallery-mechanics-prepare-for-paris-roubaix_366261

[Lionel]

OK, I'm already amped up for this. Any news on expected weather conditions?

dry and sunny

[bcroslin]

FYI - I'm having good luck with this PR stream (http://www.yopika.tv/20150411/v-haha_sport_9_name-1046853-5529727ad78837.78937125.html)

[moose8]

FYI - I'm having good luck with this PR stream (http://www.yopika.tv/20150411/v-haha_sport_9_name-1046853-5529727ad78837.78937125.html)

Are you getting audio with the stream? I can't seem to get the audio to work on any of them.

[oldpotatoe]

FYI - I'm having good luck with this PR stream (http://www.yopika.tv/20150411/v-haha_sport_9_name-1046853-5529727ad78837.78937125.html)

Huzza!!!! 39k to go.

Sean Kelly commentating..can almost understand him..

[alessandro]

Huzza!!!! 39k to go.

Sean Kelly commentating..can almost understand him..

Sean just pointed out that Stein VDB had only clawed out a 20-second advantage over his group, for all the effort he'd put in. At turty-tree point seven kilometers to go. :)

[ultraman6970]

IMO no sagan or wiggo today.

[oldpotatoe]

IMO no sagan or wiggo today.

14k to go....Sagan smacking his RH lever...trons stop tronning?

[alessandro]

14k to go....Sagan smacking his RH lever...trons stop tronning?

Left side lever.

[oldpotatoe]

Left side lever.

stuck in the small ring? Bike toss with 5k.

[alessandro]

Just a put, no twirl or rotation.

[alessandro]

Stybar!

[oldpotatoe]

Just a put, no twirl or rotation.

:)

Great finish!!!

[weisan]

degenkolb
van avermaet
stybar


..kristoff will get marked out of the race...

:banana:well played.

[alessandro]

1) Degenkolb
2) Vanmarcke
3) Stybar

We have a winner. Red Tornado, I mean. :beer::beer:
#1 and 2 out of 3 is pretty dang good.

[LJohnny]

What a great finish indeed!!


Sent from my brain

[alessandro]

Posted on 04-10-2015
degenkolb
van avermaet
stybar


Posted on 04-11-2015
1) Degenkolb
2) Vanmarcke
3) Stybar

Oops. It seems I can't even pick the winner of the winner-picking contest.:o

[Uncle Jam's Army]

BSUDude, I want you with me on my next trip to Vegas.

[bobswire]

The weather was a huge factor today.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

BSUDude, I want you with me on my next trip to Vegas.

Plus one.

Great finish.

Sagan will be on a different team, different bike and different groupo next year. Let the blame game begin.

[rnhood]

degenkolb
van avermaet
stybar




Would you mind buying me a Powerball lottery ticket?

[Red Tornado]

Posted on 04-10-2015


Posted on 04-11-2015


Oops. It seems I can't even pick the winner of the winner-picking contest.:o

That's OK. I'd settle for 2nd at P-R anytime! ;)
Just had a feeling all week about Degenkolb.

[oldpotatoe]

Plus one.

Great finish.

Sagan will be on a different team, different bike and different groupo next year. Let the blame game begin.

Guess it'll be a team with Campagnolo then, he's already been biffed by scam, now Di2 but I don't think he would have 'been there' regardless.

[ptourkin]

It's not a pure Shimano group. They've cobbled something together with FSA stuff until the FSA electronic stuff is ready. Cavendish had problems with it too.

[acorn_user]

Sean Kelly commentating..can almost understand him..

I have to have Sean Kelly commentating. It's just not the same without him. My five year old son said "He's hard to understand. Maybe he is speaking two languages" :)

[ptourkin]

I have to have Sean Kelly commentating. It's just not the same without him. My five year old son said "He's hard to understand. Maybe he is speaking two languages" :)

It actually sounded like he was awake for a couple minutes. I'm never sure. Eurosport through a VPN was a good watch.

[sandyrs]

I have to have Sean Kelly commentating. It's just not the same without him. My five year old son said "He's hard to understand. Maybe he is speaking two languages" :)

TORTY TREE KILOMETERS TO GO

I love Sean Kelly.

[BSUdude]

degenkolb
van avermaet
stybar


..kristoff will get marked out of the race...

Damn I should've put some money down on that! I was anxiously awaiting the results of the final bike throw to see if I'd gotten all 3....but then I would be afraid the world would end.

[MattTuck]

The race is being broadcast tonight. That akin to broadcasting the superbowl in Europe the day after it airs and expecting people to watch it.

Nice job on the picks, those of you that did well.

It was one of the more nuanced Paris-Roubaix editions that I've watched. Lots of very tactical riding. Seemed almost reserved compared to the usual big solo efforts of late. Wiggins made a go of it, but didn't have what it takes.

What this highlights is how truly dominant the wins from Cancellara and Boonen are. It is one thing to win this race once, from a group. It is another to come into the race as a favorite, and be marked by every rider. To win, when you are the favorite... Kristoff and Wiggins showed how hard that is.

[carlineng]

Apparently Sagan was having some stomach issues:

https://instagram.com/p/1ZNkYKoG_s/

[ultraman6970]

Hahaha... exactly what i heard too :D Can you imagine he was with a heavier irish accent :D

TORTY TREE KILOMETERS TO GO

I love Sean Kelly.

[jpw]

Did Thomas try to bunny hop that curb?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDBKsNCw7o

[ultraman6970]

He got caught at the edge of that border... and if you arent looking you will slip big time. he did not even tried to bunny hop it IMO.

[jpw]

He got caught at the edge of that border... and if you arent looking you will slip big time. he did not even tried to bunny hop it IMO.

Thx. His bike handling skills are not the best. I feel that Sagan would have saved himself in that circumstance.