Paris-Roubaix 2018 (Now with live discussion and spoilers)

[MattTuck]

Betting odds below.

Very provisional startlist (https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/paris-roubaix/2018/startlist)

VeloNews Guide to the Cobbled Sectors (http://www.velonews.com/2018/04/news/paris-roubaix-2018-a-guide-to-the-29-cobblestone-sectors_462163)

I have no idea how a quickstep rider is not the favorite, and I'm even more perplexed how Sagan, whose best finish at Roubaix was 6th in 2014, is the most favored rider.

Hopefully, the other teams come up with a strategy that neutralizes Quickstep. I don't want to spend the last 50 km yelling at the chasing group to "Work together!" as Yves Lampaert, 2 minutes up the road, rides tempo pace to victory.

[JimmyTango]

I know PR is more of a crap-shoot than Flanders, but if Quickstep has 3 guys left in the lead group like they did in Flanders they are absolutely unbeatable. There was literally nothing to do at Flanders to beat them once they were down to a group of leaders with Terpstra, Stybar, and Gilbert all in the mix.

I'm figuring it'll be Quickstep and I'm hoping it'll be Stybar if so.

If something happens that somehow knocks Quickstep down to just one or two contenders I'm pulling for Sep, although Benoot looks good and Demare could be a contender if everything goes right for his team.

I think PR favors teams with multiple options for the win. So many thing can happen... it helps to have two or more cards to play for the win so that you can roll with the punches and adapt tactically as the race unfolds. To me Trek (Stuyven, Pedersen, and Degenkolb), Bora (Sagan and Oss), EF (VanMarcke and Langeveld) and of course Quickstep are the real contenders. Sure, other teams have equally deep teams, but these are the teams I would expect to let any of the above listed names win instead of going all-in for their leader like BMC will be for GvA, and that will give them a slight advantage.

[MattTuck]

If something happens that somehow knocks Quickstep down to just one or two contenders ....

Like a repeat of 2013, when Cancellara, Vanmarcke, entered a sector of cobbles with 2 quickstep riders in the front group, only to have a spectator take out Vandenbergh and a camera dislodge Stybar, all before the end of the sector...

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.

[fignon's barber]

my pick: Shhhhhhtybar.
my longshot: Marcus Burghardt at 251/1

[Seamus]

Agreed with JimmyTango above, Trek-Segafreddo seem one of the few to have multiple contenders aside from Quick-Step. Pedersen is on-form, but Stuyven always seems to make the selection. Degenkolb hasn't had any significant results of note lately, but has experience and is suited to Paris-Roubaix.

As for Quick-Step, seems fairly obvious Gilbert has been keen to help his teammates in all the other Spring races in the hopes of pushing hard for his "strive for five"-monument hunt and receiving a little teammate payback for his work.

[FlashUNC]

Either Gilbert from the break or a dark horse sprint candidate like Demare or Degenkolb.

[nooneline]

I think this will be a really interesting Roubaix. Last year, it seemed like all GVA had to do was finish it off.

This year he's looking a step below; Sagan has always struggled at Roubaix. That definitely opens the door for QS's rotating cast of threats, but it seems to get into "surprise winners" really quickly: I don't think Gilbert can finish it off; Terpstra is obviously strong; Stybar would put me over the moon but it's unlikely. And then who? Vanmarcke finally not being a nearly-man? A bunch of guys who are knocking on the door but haven't opened it yet, like Van Baarle, Naessen, Stuyven?

Basically anybody who wins on Sunday will surprise me.

[BdaGhisallo]

Either Gilbert from the break or a dark horse sprint candidate like Demare or Degenkolb.

It shows the troubles that Degenkolb has endured in the two plus years since his training accident when he is mentioned as a dark horse, considering that he won the race in 2015. Imagine losing two plus years in the prime of your career. It's gotta hurt.

[FlashUNC]

It shows the troubles that Degenkolb has endured in the two plus years since his training accident when he is mentioned as a dark horse, considering that he won the race in 2015. Imagine losing two plus years in the prime of your career. It's gotta hurt.

It may be my own characterization of his chances after a quiet Spring so far. The line has him at 9/1 and he's been open about Roubaix being his goal for the year. He's dialed back other racing to make sure he's peaking for Roubaix, and its clear he wants another cobble.

But yes, that crash last Spring and the injuries really did do a number on some prime years for him.

[GregL]

I think that Terpstra will be highly motivated to capture the Flanders-Roubaix double. He's big, strong, TT's like a motorbike, and would like to prove the oddsmakers wrong with their ranking of the favorites.

Greg

[holliscx]

Wout will be on Styby's wheel for crossers rise to the occasion. Despite results, he's had good form since SB although he lacks the experience to win I think he'll be comfortable in the lead group.

[54ny77]

i'd love to see it without race radios.

in fact, i'd love to watch racing again without race radios. then it's interesting, a real-time drama unfolding instead of the scripted events of today where it seems like they just phone it in.

can't recall in past several years where i've watched a full stage or race. oftentimes it's less than that, such as a 5 minute youtube highlight reel.

[JStonebarger]

Dang, Mads @ 25/1? That's great. I wonder what odds they'd give me on Wout van Aert?

[FlashUNC]

i'd love to see it without race radios.

in fact, i'd love to watch racing again without race radios. then it's interesting, a real-time drama unfolding instead of the scripted events of today where it seems like they just phone it in.

can't recall in past several years where i've watched a full stage or race. oftentimes it's less than that, such as a 5 minute youtube highlight reel.

So you're saying you didn't watch Flanders last week. Got it.

[MattTuck]

It may be my own characterization of his chances after a quiet Spring so far. The line has him at 9/1 and he's been open about Roubaix being his goal for the year. He's dialed back other racing to make sure he's peaking for Roubaix, and its clear he wants another cobble.

But yes, that crash last Spring and the injuries really did do a number on some prime years for him.

speaking of riders who were derailed by injury... Taylor Phinney has never been the same. Outside chance for sure, but if there is a race he WAS built for, this is it.

[FlashUNC]

More than physical, I think the injury changed Taylor's outlook on things. He's pretty clearly in a different headspace post-injury.

Still would be nice to have him as the first American winning Roubaix.

[54ny77]

I watched youtube for about 10 min total, about 30-40k or so to go. Didn't catch the sprint finish. Forum member posted a great link here, livecycling i think was the website/youtube channel. Terrific clarity & sound. Got it?


So you're saying you didn't watch Flanders last week. Got it.

[glepore]

Peter’s missing this one. His schedule this spring hasn’t been random.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fa63]

More than physical, I think the injury changed Taylor's outlook on things. He's pretty clearly in a different headspace post-injury.

Agreed. I was talking to my buddy about him the other day, and he suggested it might be best for him to give up his spot on the team. I can't say I disagree.

If I was a betting man, I would put some money on Gilbert. Quick-Step is on fire, and I think he might be able to pull it off with a long distance attack, similar to how he won Flanders last year.

[FlashUNC]

I watched youtube for about 10 min total, about 30-40k or so to go. Didn't catch the sprint finish. Forum member posted a great link here, livecycling i think was the website/youtube channel. Terrific clarity & sound. Got it?

Uh, not really cuz there wasn't a Sprint finish at Flanders this year. What race did you watch?

[nooneline]

Agreed. I was talking to my buddy about him the other day, and he suggested it might be best for him to give up his spot on the team. I can't say I disagree.

he's probably a huge asset to the team - just not in the way that gets results.

[livingminimal]

Philippe Gilbert has a date with destiny.

[MattTuck]

Uh, not really cuz there wasn't a Sprint finish at Flanders this year. What race did you watch?

If anyone needs a recap: http://cyclocosm.com/2018/04/how-the-race-was-won-tour-of-flanders-2018/

[fa63]

he's probably a huge asset to the team - just not in the way that gets results.


I watched Tour of Flanders from the beginning to end (well, beginning of the Eurosport broadcast). Vanmarcke was there of course, and Langeveld. Even heard Sacha Modolo and Tom Scully’s name a couple times. But Taylor Phinney? Nowhere to be seen. Sort of odd for someone whose stated objective for the year is Paris-Roubaix.

[ceolwulf]

Hoping for Eddy Boss but betting on Gilbert.

[livingminimal]

I Sort of odd for someone whose stated objective for the year is Paris-Roubaix.


Im asking in all sincerity - is there a quote from him from the last 3-4 seasons where he actually says this?

Time flies.

[gavingould]

phil gil or Stybar.
i'll poop my pants if Wout gets another top-10.

[livingminimal]

phil gil or Stybar.
i'll poop my pants if Wout gets another top-10.

Oddly Gavin, if I think there was a race where he can make Top5, this is it.

[fa63]

Im asking in all sincerity - is there a quote from him from the last 3-4 seasons where he actually says this?



Time flies.


Dated March 3, 2018:

http://www.velonews.com/2018/03/news/phinney-makes-2018-debut-eyes-roubaix_458516

[livingminimal]

Dated March 3, 2018:

http://www.velonews.com/2018/03/news/phinney-makes-2018-debut-eyes-roubaix_458516

Thank you.

Also, this is maddening. I mean, good for him, but a top20 would have to be considered a success at this point.

[fa63]

Well, he is dating Katarzyna Niewiadoma, so he is winning at something :)

[54ny77]

good grief man, in the words of that song from frozen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

let it go!

obviously, it shows how much i care about the details of xyz race wherever it's being held.

geez.....

:rolleyes: :p



Uh, not really cuz there wasn't a Sprint finish at Flanders this year. What race did you watch?

[FlashUNC]

good grief man, in the words of that song from frozen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

let it go!

obviously, it shows how much i care about the details of xyz race wherever it's being held.

geez.....

:rolleyes: :p

I'm trying to understand where a poorly considered opinion like "race radios ruined racing" comes from in the context of the one day classics and Monuments where the racing today is every bit the same as its always been. I was assuming you had some examples.

You're caring enough to tell us all how much you don't care on a thread about prognostications about Roubaix 2018.

But back on topic: What's the forecast for Sunday? We got another dry Roubaix?

[fignon's barber]

Thank you.

Also, this is maddening. I mean, good for him, but a top20 would have to be considered a success at this point.


My guess is that this is Taylor's last Pro Tour contract. He strikes me as a guy trudging through a 9-5 job as a pro rider, while really wanting to be operating his own yoga/art studio. That's fine,of course, but doesn't lend itself to significant results in the cut throat world of pro cycling.

[GregL]

But back on topic: What's the forecast for Sunday? We got another dry Roubaix?
Looks darn near perfect. A few overnight showers to dampen the dust, but dry for race day.

[bheight1]

Never been a fan of him, but this guy is having a career Spring (La Samyn, E3-H, RVV)—super strong, tactical team, and no one is floating over the cobbles as well as he is to date. Niki Terpstra will break things up on 5 star rated sector 11 Mons-en-Pévèle, where he has owned the Strava KOM for years and go long, while everyone is watching Gilbert making his return to P-R in #StriveForFive—similar to how he won in ‘14 when Boonen was marked. Forecast calls for wet cobbles potentially and WVA will again make the top 10, but wins Tro-Bro Leon following week!

[nooneline]

Phinney saying that his eyes are on Roubaix doesn't mean that he's racing for a result or that the team is built around him. It means that he likes the race. Like, literally, that's what he said.

It's worth keeping in mind that for a lot of these races, there are hours of racing, sometimes 4 or more, before we tune in and things get exciting. And there are a ton of ways that teammates contribute to their captains. It's entirely possible that he's earning his keep in the first four hours of a race - not in the last two. Even if he's not a contender, he's still a rider with a big engine. Do you have any idea how hard it is to drop back to the team cars, fill up on bottles, and bring them to your teammates?!

I don't know if he's a legendary superdomestique, but i wouldn't be surprised if he's valuable to the team. So my point, same as my original point, is that one ought not confuse a lack of results with a lack of worth to one's team.

[spookyload]

Also don’t forget that mini-Phinney won this event at least once as a U23 against many of the same riders.

[nooneline]

Also don’t forget that mini-Phinney won this event at least once as a U23 against many of the same riders.

yeah, but the list of other winners of the espoirs race isn't exactly a list of future classics contenders.

[MattTuck]

Here's the winning (well, not losing) strategy. Flip the script on QuickStep.

Stuyven, Vanmarcke and Ian Stannard should mark Terpstra.

Sagan, Degenkolb and Martin should mark Stybar

Greg Van Avermaet and Kristoff and maybe Dylan VanBaarle should mark Gilbert.

Have Mads Pederson and Oliver Naesen mark Yves Lampaert for good measure.

I sincerely hope someone is able to either outride or out think Quickstep.

[GregL]

I sincerely hope someone is able to either outride or out think Quickstep.
Add "out power" to the list of tactics needed against Quick-Step. Last week no one (including Nibali) had the power to go with Terpstra when he soloed to victory. Tactics are worthless if you can't back them up with strength.

Greg

[azrider]

My guess is that this is Taylor's last Pro Tour contract. He strikes me as a guy trudging through a 9-5 job as a pro rider, while really wanting to be operating his own yoga/art studio. That's fine,of course, but doesn't lend itself to significant results in the cut throat world of pro cycling.

Agreed.

Don't get me wrong, I love the fact he brought himself back from such a gruesome injury and got back to the level he's at. In fact he was bit of an inspiration for me after I too broke tib/fib just few years back.

But his mindset is completely different and he's just not in it to win it, and if that's case then his spot on team should be given to someone else.

This is not the kind of quote I'd expect to hear from a bike racer:“I feel like goals are kind of boring now because they’re just bike races,” he explains. “You ask an athlete what his goals are, and it’s always ‘this race, this race, this race,’ but I’m not quite as excited about pinpointing just one bike race"

[Pearsom]

Terpstra. He's on great form this spring, can hammer in the TT and wins by solo'ing. Given that 5 of the last 9 editions of PR have been won solo, he's my favorite. :bike:

[fignon's barber]

This is not the kind of quote I'd expect to hear from a bike racer:“I feel like goals are kind of boring now because they’re just bike races,” he explains. “You ask an athlete what his goals are, and it’s always ‘this race, this race, this race,’ but I’m not quite as excited about pinpointing just one bike race"

Yep. That's the kind of stuff that bugs me. It's really selfish in a team sport as well. It effects the focus of others, not just himself. I had to turn the channel during his cool Boulder duded mocking-toned daily reports at last year's Tour.

[FlashUNC]

From 2015:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/taylor-phinney-the-long-road-back/

‘The injury gave me the opportunity to take a step back and look at the world and realise that being a professional athlete isn't real life," he says.

"So I asked myself what could I do and who do I want to spend time with? That was stressful at times but also really a lot of fun. I gained curiosity for some of things that I'd taken for granted."

"I'm open to a life without cycling. I painted, I started to learn how to fly but getting into art was primarily a way of having a creative vehicle. I used the bike as my creative vehicle without even knowing. The cool thing about painting is that you have something to show for it at the end, whereas on the bike you're really burning a lot of that energy up so that it doesn't burden you."

"I have been able to prioritise and figure out how I should be best athlete I can be but also best person. You have to make a lot of sacrifices in the person department if you want to be the best athlete possible, because sport tells you to be selfish, but I'm comfortable not living up to other people's expectations but still trying to be the best rider I can be. As long as I'm happy, and so are the people I really care about, that's all that matters."


Taylor sounds like the rare guy in the pro peloton with his head screwed on straight. He never crashes at nationals, we might have the first American winner of Roubaix, but I dunno if that guy would have the perspective of Taylor today.

Just coming back from that is a more than a Roubaix win anyways, in my book. I hope he rides as long as he wants in the pro ranks.

[Red Tornado]

A little OT, but I would like to see a ladies PR. Could run it the same way they do the RvV. Bet the classics "specialists" in the women's peloton, if you could call them that, would love to race it.

[MattTuck]

Little teaser video.

https://vimeo.com/263169811

[MattTuck]

also, the recon ride podcast is up. (http://www.velonews.com/2018/04/podcast/vn-podcast-recon-ride-previews-paris-roubaix-2018_462498)

[GregL]

Looks like Specialized has rolled out an "improved" S-Works Roubaix specifically for its namesake race. It uses the new and improved rim braking method. Wish they would make this model available to us consumers...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/gilbert-and-stybar-to-race-paris-roubaix-on-unreleased-specialized-gallery/

Greg

[joosttx]

Tony Martin for the win

[FlashUNC]

Shimano is rolling out an Ultegra clutch RD on Degenkolb and Trek's bikes for the race.

That gravel segment is hot yo.

[ptourkin]

You're welcome

https://i.imgur.com/dhJcbYxl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MNVSjtpl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ORazmoPl.jpg

[godfrey1112000]

Very nice article

Worth buying Friday WSJ
The journal links are not user friendly

If you want me to send you the article I will scan it
Pm

[MattTuck]

Very nice article

Worth buying Friday WSJ
The journal links are not user friendly

If you want me to send you the article I will scan it
Pm

hehe

That’s just the half of fun. What makes Paris-Roubaix such a wild race—a one-day classic, or a “monument,” as its known in the trade—is the terrain. This isn’t a slick course designed to accommodate a large-scale modern bike race. It is designed to take a cow to a fair, 200 years ago.

[rnhood]

The WSJ is worth buying for many articles and subjects. In fact it's the best media outlet on the market. Well written and researched articles, with facts often missing from other pubs. You get the whole story, not just sound bites.

[JimmyTango]

The WSJ is worth buying for many articles and subjects. In fact it's the best media outlet on the market. Well written and researched articles, with facts often missing from other pubs. You get the whole story, not just sound bites.

Thanks dad.

[rnhood]

You're welcome son.

[cadence90]

Thanks dad.

You're welcome son.

Family discount!
.

[JimmyTango]

:beer::beer:You're welcome son.

[enr1co]

http://www.velonews.com/2018/04/news/roubaix-favorites-steer-clear-of-disc-brakes_462570

[trener1]

More Phinny....

You can squarely out me in the not a fan of Phony camp

Sure he is free to pursue his other interests, his art or his hipster look, but his job is to be a bike racer, and at the moment it seems like he is more in love with "idea" and cool factor of being a pro racer then actually being a pro racer.
And spare me the talk about him doing all of the work in the first few hours before the TV coverage begins.
We don't see huge headlines about how Alex Edmonson or Baptiste Planckart (the 2 guys that finished right in front and behind him at Flanders inn99th and 101st place respectively) are "targeting" Roubaix, if ever there was a case of hot air this is it.
Sure he was really good before his crash, and I feel bad for him.
But when I follow pro cycling I want to see guys that race hard and give a damn, not some guy that is too cool for school and thinks that he too good or cool to care.

[MattTuck]

More Phinny....

You can squarely out me in the not a fan of Phony camp

Sure he is free to pursue his other interests, his art or his hipster look, but his job is to be a bike racer, and at the moment it seems like he is more in love with "idea" and cool factor of being a pro racer then actually being a pro racer.
And spare me the talk about him doing all of the work in the first few hours before the TV coverage begins.
We don't see huge headlines about how Alex Edmonson or Baptiste Planckart (the 2 guys that finished right in front and behind him at Flanders inn99th and 101st place respectively) are "targeting" Roubaix, if ever there was a case of hot air this is it.
Sure he was really good before his crash, and I feel bad for him.
But when I follow pro cycling I want to see guys that race hard and give a damn, not some guy that is too cool for school and thinks that he too good or cool to care.

I understand where you're coming from, but their job is also to promote the products of sponsors of the team. If a team manager thinks he is getting value for his sponsors because a rider has a following/brand that resonates, that is another reason to have someone on the team.

Not saying you can throw away a team spot to someone who makes no contribution on the road, but it is a balancing act. And with so few Americans in the pro ranks these days, and the US still being a pretty big market, it might be a consideration.

[charliedid]

What time do I have to get up to watch live?

[ptourkin]

What time do I have to get up to watch live?

520 Eastern time if you have access to the full race.

[joosttx]

What time do I have to get up to watch live?

4am est.

[AngryScientist]

i'll be in the air and driving most of the day tomorrow.

does anyone typically record the race and have it available on the web to watch in my hotel room tomorrow night while i put my S&S bike together over a scotch or three?

[joosttx]

i'll be in the air and driving most of the day tomorrow.

does anyone typically record the race and have it available on the web to watch in my hotel room tomorrow night while i put my S&S bike together over a scotch or three?

NBC Sports app has the replay typically.

[MattTuck]

eurosport player will have a recording. youtube usually has a video that someone uploads by the afternoon.

the one thing about it is that you run the risk of getting the result spoiled, so be very careful :)

[joosttx]

Looks darn near perfect. A few overnight showers to dampen the dust, but dry for race day.

What this doesnt show is the wind. When the rain front moves out in the early morning there is going to be wind. Cannot wait to see Tony Martin win

[MattTuck]

What this doesnt show is the wind. When the rain front moves out in the early morning there is going to be wind. Cannot wait to see Tony Martin win

ok, my final prediction is:

Sep Vanmarcke winds up in a group with Terpstra, Degenkolb, and Stybar. He marks moves like a good boy, but the group comes into the velodrome together, and he finishes a distant 4th, With Degenkolb picking up a surprise 2nd roubaix cobble to put in his trophy case.

All that is to say that Sep needs to ride smart, and I'm pulling for him :)

[trener1]

As much as it would be a feel good story to have Degkekolb win, I just don't see it, he hasn't shown any real form in a single race yet this year.
So it's hard to imagine.
(not counting Majorca).

[charliedid]

4am est.

Merci

[charliedid]

520 Eastern time if you have access to the full race.

Merci

[rwsaunders]

What this doesnt show is the wind. When the rain front moves out in the early morning there is going to be wind. Cannot wait to see Tony Martin win

Please Lord have the Panzerwagen win PR for Houston. I even went to buy the cap but it's sold out.

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/3786/paris-roubaix-the-target-for-tony-martin-in-2018

http://www.wiggle.com/vermarc-omega-pharma-tony-martin-tdf-cotton-cap/

[FlashUNC]

I could see Tony pulling a Tchmil and winning from a long ways out.

Roubaix is such a crapshoot though.

[oldpotatoe]

I could see Tony pulling a Tchmil and winning from a long ways out.

Roubaix is such a crapshoot though.

YUP..pelOton 30mph on pave sector 22:eek:

[MattTuck]

making gilbert burn a match. so far, so good for the non-quickstep teams :)

[MattTuck]

gilbert, then stybar .... Terpstra must be the protected rider that they're softening the group for.

seems early to me to be using big name riders off the front.

[KarlC]

How are you guys watching this right now ?

[nalax]

cyclingfans - the Italian link is working for me

[MattTuck]

How are you guys watching this right now ?

off of some russian social media site :)

haha. there's a thread a few below this one that has some links.

[morrisericd]

http://www.sdw-net.me/channels/British-Eurosport2.html

Watching it on Chrome. Works perfectly!

[morrisericd]

Of course - "broadcast suspended"!

[MattTuck]

too much freewheeling and looking in the main group for my liking.

Did Pederson get back in the group? I didn't catch it after I saw him trailing.

[bthornt]

Just heard that one cyclist crashed and had cardiac arrest: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cycling/cyclist-michael-goolaerts-given-life-12326225

[MattTuck]

and now Stybar is back, after 5-10k out front...

[MattTuck]

GVA leads out a Sagan move.

[oldpotatoe]

GVA leads out a Sagan move.

holy moly...sagan...:eek:

[MattTuck]

Getting very interesting. sagan with the front group now. stuyven and van aert chasing ahead of the group.

[MattTuck]

isn't that where thor crashed? at that corner?

damn, crash in the group. martin down.

[MaraudingWalrus]

Phinney made a move. looks like it didn't sneak away. Would love a result from him.

[MattTuck]

EF is on quickstep like stink on a monkey.

[MattTuck]

oh jeez, I look away for a second and now stuyven is replaced by a quickstep rider. Terpstra?

[MaraudingWalrus]

Terpstra does seem to be a crash magnet.

[harlond]

GvA and Phinney getting gapped.

But they're back. Incredibly bold move from Sagan.

[Mzilliox]

GvA and Phinney getting gapped.

But they're back. Incredibly bold move from Sagan.

this, yes, fun times ahead, hope Peto has enough in the tank

[MaraudingWalrus]

Will be interested to hear LA's episode of stages later today or tomorrow. Those have really been fantastic.

[harlond]

Sagan's move might even be Boonen-esque.

[KarlC]

GvA and Phinney getting gapped.

But they're back. Incredibly bold move from Sagan.

Sagan's move might even be Boonen-esque.


Is Sagan really pulling most of the time or is that just when the camera is showing his group ?

[MattTuck]

Is Sagan really pulling most of the time or is that just when the camera is showing his group ?

He's fresher (relatively) and stronger than the other two, and a race favorite. So, would not surprise me.

[MattTuck]

What the crap... adjusting your stem while moving!?!

[Masher]

Lol sagan leading the race and doing his own wrench work.. No sticky bottles or help from his car except to give him the tools.

Damn I love watching him ride.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[charliedid]

What the crap... adjusting your stem while moving!?!

He just engaged the motor :-)

[Kirk007]

Sagan's on the move tightening of his stem while moving back to the front - that was cool.

[enr1co]

)&$@ just shut down the you tube stream :(

[fignon's barber]

Will be interested to hear LA's episode of stages later today or tomorrow. Those have really been fantastic.

Agree.

[marciero]

Stupid shock stem from big s

[MaraudingWalrus]

adjusting the stem is madness

[MaraudingWalrus]

Oakley is pushing hard with the advertising roadside. Any protour teams riding their helmets?

[BdaGhisallo]

Phinney made a move. looks like it didn't sneak away. Would love a result from him.

I must say that I am pleasantly surprised to see Phinney up at the pointy end so late in the race.

[FlashUNC]

Good to see Quick Step of years prior making a hash of things making a re-appearance.

[fignon's barber]

Oakley is pushing hard with the advertising roadside. Any protour teams riding their helmets?

katusha and dim data.

[BdaGhisallo]

Oakley is pushing hard with the advertising roadside. Any protour teams riding their helmets?

Dimension Data and Katusha are.

[fignon's barber]

I must say that I am pleasantly surprised to see Phinney up at the pointy end so late in the race.

Shocking.:banana:

[harlond]

Sagan waited for Dilier, interesting.

[BdaGhisallo]

Sagan has a minute with 25km to go. The chase group had better get moving. P-Rbx is a race where solo riders can maintain their gaps.

[spinarelli]

just noticed that WVA is using cross levers. Smart.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZ4otQ2XkAAt9Qa.jpg

[fignon's barber]

Sagan waited for Dilier, interesting.



I'm feeling race over with 20km to go. Sagan said work and I'll give you second.

[MattTuck]

I hope his stem handles the next sector of cobbles.

Damn, chase group needs to figure it out fast if they want to have any hope.

[Masher]

Very disappointed with GVA so far... Sucked wheels all day... That's it.

At least quickstep done their 1.2.3 attacks.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[harlond]

Terpstra group closing in, Sagan looking maybe a little more strained.

[enr1co]

I'm feeling race over with 20km to go. Sagan said work and I'll give you second.

barring any plastic bag getting stuck in the RD ;) could be seeing the worlds colors take PR since Hinault back in the day.

[MattTuck]

tip of the hat to the bookmakers.... sagan was their pick, and it is looking pretty good.

[enr1co]

the second to last secteur is short but very choppy...

If the two clear it, just very slight up grade going into town before going pancake flat on to a ceremonial easy peasy secteur, then the velodrome...

[mudhead]

I’m liking this chase groups chances of catching Sagan and Dillier...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fignon's barber]

Dillier looks painful in the saddle the way he's moving around. After this race, he won't be able to sit for a week.

[jlwdm]

I’m liking this chase groups chances of catching Sagan and Dillier...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What?

Jeff

[ultraman6970]

They arent going to catch, the issue is the swiss... sagan is having cramps...

[harlond]

If Sagan could drop Dilier, he should have done it, but what a ride by Dilier.

[enr1co]

.still surprised that no one covered Sagan's move 53k out:confused:

[denapista]

Flashunc!!!!!!!

[Cicli]

Sagan is the man.

Hello, flash

[simplemind]

Woohoo! :banana::banana::banana:

[Mzilliox]

thats Panache folks

[Masher]

Bravo sagan... Bravo

That's an awesome ride from the world champion.

One for the ages


Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[MaraudingWalrus]

That was incredible. WOW

[Mzilliox]

.still surprised that no one covered Sagan's move 53k out:confused:

there was some work there to prevent that from happening. Sagan got his deal somewhere

[enr1co]

wow, great ride by Sagan and Dillier!

[bobswire]

The worlds best (most entertaining, humble, charismatic) all-around bike racer won today and left no doubt. What say you Flash?

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Flashunc!!!!!!!

:banana:

[dbnm]

How many gold S-Works just sold?

[ultraman6970]

Theres a couple of tubes with an off PR boradcasting, from the start,,, the part1 is there, u have to wait for the 2nd part.


Great Win... !!! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvATQcyE6fQ



.still surprised that no one covered Sagan's move 53k out:confused:

[harlond]

Top ten from Phinney is a nice finish.

Dilier made that close, impressive.

[rnhood]

Big props to Sagan. He deserved this and rode for it.

[soulspinner]

The worlds best all-around bike racer won today and left no doubt.

Yup. He looked so smooth after 6 hours....awesome ride!

[MattTuck]

If Sagan could drop Dilier, he should have done it, but what a ride by Dilier.

2nd place this week, and 2nd place last week.... impressive rides!

What a ride from Sagan. Perfect timing of the attack, just like Cancellara and Boonen. Go just at the right time, and the group doesn't chase, and you get enough of a gap.. then it is just how tough you are.

Huge that Dillier was there and was able to help so much. Not sure he could have done it alone.

[MattTuck]

Phinney finishes ahead of Stybar. Maybe he'll get some respect now.

[enr1co]

there was some work there to prevent that from happening. Sagan got his deal somewhere

More like rivals fell asleep at the wheel or waiting for each other as what happens in racing. I dunno about any deal conspiracy...

[ultraman6970]

Here is the attack...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COooTkEAFdY

[MattTuck]

Here is the attack...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COooTkEAFdY

uh oh. you can see him turn on his motor.

https://youtu.be/COooTkEAFdY?t=96

XD

[colker]

Yeah!!!!!

I love Sagan.. always the entertainer.

[Veloo]

Goggles Paesano

[Clean39T]

How many gold S-Works just sold?

Dunno, but I just ordered a pair of these: https://www.specialized.com/ae/en/s-works-turbo-hell-of-the-north-tubular/p/131061

[fignon's barber]

For some reason, I have the urge to go out and get one of those Oakley helmets.

[echappist]

uh oh. you can see him turn on his motor.

https://youtu.be/COooTkEAFdY?t=96

XD

no one was marking him, and no one bothered to chase... sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Not saying the win was lucky, but to be let off the leash without having to put in a big dig is.

[eBAUMANN]

and i want some fluoro ski goggles! ;)

so happy to see him finally win it and what a ride by dillier!

i think they both owe each other a dinner, great cooperation that landed them both on the podium.

:hello:

no one was marking him, and no one bothered to chase... sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Not saying the win was lucky, but to be let off the leash without having to put in a big dig is.

they let him off the leash with what, 53k to go? yea i can understand why nobody immediately wanted to chase, still a lot of race left!
imagine if dillier hadnt been capable of what he was able to contribute...sagan would have been left hanging out there by himself for that entire distance, and may very well have been reeled back in by what was a VERY strong chase group.

bike racing (particularly in the classics) is as much about risk as it is strategy, or strength, (or luck).
today sagan had all 4 working for him.

[nooneline]

Phinney finishes ahead of Stybar. Maybe he'll get some respect now.

yeah i was just thinking of the "RETIRE" naysaying from earlier in this thread during his ride.

[CSKeller]

Incredible ride by Dillier and Sagan!!!

Dillier hung tough when Sagan joined. You could see he was hurting and had a couple of squirrelly moments on some of the cobbles.

Sagan showed class by immediately thanking and congratulating Dillier!!

Awesome race! There were a few crashes but not as many years.

[MattTuck]

no one was marking him, and no one bothered to chase... sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Not saying the win was lucky, but to be let off the leash without having to put in a big dig is.

Oh for sure. Cancellara's attack in 2010 was pretty similar. They had just brought back a little attack, and when he went... no one chased immediately. You can see GVA looking to see if anyone is going to go. And there were no QS riders up front at that point.

Surely, the win was the combination of luck, power and a well timed attack. Without those, he may have had to settle for a sprint finish, that he'd probably have won. ;)

Still, watching the race favorite, and the world champion, zoom away solo up the road while the rest of the group free wheels is a bit of an unforgivable error. It is not like he was red lining it on a cobbled sector and just popping people off is wheel.

Also, you can see him turn on his motor... so there is that ;)

[malbecman]

Nice to see the 8th place finish by Taylor.......:)

[ultraman6970]

I think they thought sagan was way too far away and that at the end he was going to run out of fuel around 15 km to go. IMO he was but was already too late when the serious chase started.

no one was marking him, and no one bothered to chase... sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Not saying the win was lucky, but to be let off the leash without having to put in a big dig is.

[ultraman6970]

Always had faith in TF... the issue is that he was always in teams where roles were always well defined... and he was one of the guys that was going to be put in a bad spot all the time, "pay your dues" if you want to call it that way with the promess that his time would come, plus the accident messed him up big time too... looks like in the team which is a team that is always improvising is a better thing for finney... hope we see more things from him.

Even in amateur cycling you see this stuff, really good riders that nobody ever knew because were dying as domestiques in their teams. Which is the bad side of cycling... some riders are never given the chance. Like the second place today, the dude looks really tough but nobody knew him, and he got his chance just because the good one in the roster got an accident, same with the guy from trek that got second last week.


Nice to see the 8th place finish by Taylor.......:)

[Jaybee]

Oh for sure. Cancellara's attack in 2010 was pretty similar. They had just brought back a little attack, and when he went... no one chased immediately. You can see GVA looking to see if anyone is going to go. And there were no QS riders up front at that point.

Surely, the win was the combination of luck, power and a well timed attack. Without those, he may have had to settle for a sprint finish, that he'd probably have won. ;)

Still, watching the race favorite, and the world champion, zoom away solo up the road while the rest of the group free wheels is a bit of an unforgivable error. It is not like he was red lining it on a cobbled sector and just popping people off is wheel.

Also, you can see him turn on his motor... so there is that ;)


I think this is the key. If you're not a QS rider, you have to figure
1) Sagan isn't going to go 53k solo
2) if someone like GVA or Vanmarcke chases, then QS organizes and brings us all back.

Cheers to Sagan for a beautifully timed attack, Dillier for a beautiful ride.

[marciero]

A classy win for sure. Long-range solo move, great two-up riding, quick dispatching of his breakaway companion. Dillier has to be happy with his ride here also.

[fiamme red]

Posted in another thread last month:

I've never made any bones about the fact fandom has little basis in rational thinking, and that my barometer for success in bike racing -- Monument wins, specifically Roubaix -- is angled entirely around my specific view of what interests me in the sport: one day races, crazy courses and conditions, tough races with aggressive racing. And Sagan falls flat on all accounts.:bike:

[choke]

That was fun to watch.

[echappist]

Always had faith in TF... the issue is that he was always in teams where roles were always well defined... and he was one of the guys that was going to be put in a bad spot all the time, "pay your dues" if you want to call it that way with the promess that his time would come, plus the accident messed him up big time too... looks like in the team which is a team that is always improvising is a better thing for finney... hope we see more things from him.

Even in amateur cycling you see this stuff, really good riders that nobody ever knew because were dying as domestiques in their teams. Which is the bad side of cycling... some riders are never given the chance. Like the second place today, the dude looks really tough but nobody knew him, and he got his chance just because the good one in the roster got an accident, same with the guy from trek that got second last week.

I think most attentive fans know who he is. Stage win in Giro last year, integral member of BMC's TTT World victories. Shame they let him, Oss, and Burghardt go...

Oh for sure. Cancellara's attack in 2010 was pretty similar. They had just brought back a little attack, and when he went... no one chased immediately. You can see GVA looking to see if anyone is going to go. And there were no QS riders up front at that point.

Surely, the win was the combination of luck, power and a well timed attack. Without those, he may have had to settle for a sprint finish, that he'd probably have won. ;)

Still, watching the race favorite, and the world champion, zoom away solo up the road while the rest of the group free wheels is a bit of an unforgivable error. It is not like he was red lining it on a cobbled sector and just popping people off is wheel.

Also, you can see him turn on his motor... so there is that ;)

It's such a textbook error, but it still happens. I don't complain, as my only two wins in bike racing came from people letting me slip away. Didn't even need to dial it to 400W, just a few continued pedal strokes when people didn't want to pull through, and poof, see ya at the finish.

You'd think when they are pros, someone will be watching like a hawk...

That's the beauty of cycling, really, the tension and the suspense.

[rain dogs]

That was a beautiful ride by Sagan and Dillier, a strong showing by Terpstra too. I wish we could see how he managed to get away from the others.

I know that this isn't going to be popular, but I don't think there should be much congratulations to Phinney. Drapac botched that race badly. They were the only team with two riders in G2 and Sep and Phinney above all just sat on wheels at the back while Sagan up the road pulled away doing 75% of the work in front of his group.

Behind that front group, most everyone pulled through for a half-arsed pull and left Terpstra to do the majority while Drapac did the least. Two strong guys and very little work. And if you finish with two in the top ten at the line, they weren't running on fumes, so there is no excuse. Had Phinney and Sep taken charge (with numbers) and worked with Terpstra that race result may have been different in the end. Sep did little to contribute and Phinney didn't go deep for his leader and that's a shame.

[trener1]

No one has mentioned it yet, but the timing of his attack was really the key here.
Greg VA, had just put in a huge attack, and he was just brought back, so he was in no position to chase and the others were a bit tired since they had brought him back, so it was the perfect counter punch.
People always criticize Sagans race smarts, but that was text book perfection on timing.

[mcteague]

Sagan actually adjusted his stem while in the break away. Amazing!
https://youtu.be/VfqbQdsN9-A

Tim

[weisan]

The swiss champ won my heart.

[Waldo]

Are we sure he’s not turning on the motor? ;-)

Sagan actually adjusted his stem while in the break away. Amazing!
https://youtu.be/VfqbQdsN9-A

Tim

[Lionel]

Awesome ride. Sagan respect ! Dillier must be happy with 2nd here.

[cadence90]

I pray that Michael Goolaerts will be OK, but apparently he is still in critical condition after losing consciousness several times while being transported to the hospital via helicopter.

I hope that the EMTs got to him in time out on the course; with a cardiac arrest every second counts. That was/is awful.

Still no updates as of one hour ago.

Hope.
.

[oldpotatoe]

Dunno, but I just ordered a pair of these: https://www.specialized.com/ae/en/s-works-turbo-hell-of-the-north-tubular/p/131061

Copy to Burette

[Burnette]

Copy to Burette

One set of tires? Ha!

[colker]

I pray that Michael Goolaerts will be OK, but apparently he is still in critical condition after losing consciousness several times while being transported to the hospital via helicopter.

I hope that the EMTs got to him in time out on the course; with a cardiac arrest every second counts. That was/is awful.

Still no updates as of one hour ago.

Hope.
.

23 yrs old!

[cadence90]

23 yrs old!

Yes. One minute, riding fine with the peloton in P-R and the next minute, completely down in the road, holding on to life. I hope he will be OK.
.

[enr1co]

Yes. One minute, riding fine with the peloton in P-R and the next minute, completely down in the road, holding on to life. I hope he will be OK.
.

Hoping he is OK.

Any word on T Martin and Kristoff? Footage of Kristoff on the deck appeared as he was in the all to familiar collarbone injury position. Hope all involved in that crash are OK.

[mcteague]

Are we sure he’s not turning on the motor? ;-)

:no:

Tim

[LJohnny]

Sagan tightening the stem was interesting, however what took the price was one rider that took off his jersey, bib tops and then proceeded to take off the base layer. He actually got help from a fellow rider to turn over his arm off the BL since it was a close fit and was stuck. Mind you, all this while going 30+Kph.

Sending good wishes to Gooslaerts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[MattTuck]

That was a beautiful ride by Sagan and Dillier, a strong showing by Terpstra too. I wish we could see how he managed to get away from the others.

I know that this isn't going to be popular, but I don't think there should be much congratulations to Phinney. Drapac botched that race badly. They were the only team with two riders in G2 and Sep and Phinney above all just sat on wheels at the back while Sagan up the road pulled away doing 75% of the work in front of his group.

Behind that front group, most everyone pulled through for a half-arsed pull and left Terpstra to do the majority while Drapac did the least. Two strong guys and very little work. And if you finish with two in the top ten at the line, they weren't running on fumes, so there is no excuse. Had Phinney and Sep taken charge (with numbers) and worked with Terpstra that race result may have been different in the end. Sep did little to contribute and Phinney didn't go deep for his leader and that's a shame.

Popular or not, I think that Sep should have been willing to sacrifice more to create a selection that would work harder. And I like Sep!

It is possible, given that Terpstra eventually burned them all, that they truly just did not have it to give.

This is from Phinney after the race.
"The plan was to try to go into the breakaway if there was a big one but it wasn’t quite big enough. I tried to help Sep out with positioning. The first couple sectors were crazy. There was a nasty crash. It was kind of muddy."
"I was feeling good. I felt really good on the cobbles. I felt worse on the asphalt than I did on the cobbles. We have Andreas Klier to think for that, the amount of work + dedication he puts into the equipment side of the things."
"Our tire and tire pressure, the @vittoriatyres were perfect today. on the cobbles I felt really comfortable. The speed slows down when everyone gets tired. That’s when I tried to make my move. I went on the front Mons-en-Pévèle."
"That’s a make or break point of the race historically. Those other guys came up to me + I tried to do everything I could do hang on, help out. I could barely pull through. I tried to hang on and got onto that second group’s wheel."
"It was a strange sprint, coming around another group. We wanted to win today. It’s too bad we didn’t, but Sep rode as well as he could given the conditions. I think I rode better than I expected, but I did make it a goal to be top ten here though."

For a while, that chasing group had at least 2 quickstep riders (I saw two blue jerseys, but Stybar could have been in there too, sometimes he's hard to pick out) and the two EF riders (Phinney and Vanmarcke). Not sure what happened to drop the other QS guy.

I think the challenge was that EF didn't think they could win with Terpstra and GVA still in the group. So they didn't want to work too hard, so that someone else could win. Of course we all want to see heroics pay off. But I think we'd be equally critical of them if they drilled on the front for 3K and got the gap down to 30 seconds, and then were unable to follow as Terpstra bridged up to Sagan and won.

Terpstra and GVA have both won before. I think at some level, they have to decide whether those single wins were outlier performances or they are true champions. And I don't mind that EF tried to make them work a bit harder.

I'd probably feel different if Sep had created a gap from the group and finished in 3rd. Then, I'd really agree it was a lost opportunity.

[fignon's barber]

I pray that Michael Goolaerts will be OK, but apparently he is still in critical condition after losing consciousness several times while being transported to the hospital via helicopter.

I hope that the EMTs got to him in time out on the course; with a cardiac arrest every second counts. That was/is awful.

Still no updates as of one hour ago.

Hope.
.

Tremendously sad. This is really my only thought of this Paris-Roubaix now. Certainly puts the petty squabbling over disc brakes on the other PR thread in perspective.

[cadence90]

Tremendously sad. This is really my only thought of this Paris-Roubaix now. Certainly puts the petty squabbling over disc brakes on the other PR thread in perspective.

No kidding, same here. The photos of him lying there on his back before the EMTs arrived are horrible. It worries me that after all these hours there are still no positive updates.
.

[rain dogs]

For a while, that chasing group had at least 2 quickstep riders (I saw two blue jerseys, but Stybar could have been in there too, sometimes he's hard to pick out) and the two EF riders (Phinney and Vanmarcke). Not sure what happened to drop the other QS guy.


That second Quickstep was Gilbert who had attacked earlier in the day. He worked as long as he could to help that G2 group get away and then he blew and finished 15th I believe. Everyone knows he wants Roubaix as much as anyone but he raced hard when he had to.

I've never seen a strong group in a race with two teammates involved and it's the two that do the least work. Normally it's the oppposite... the others will say :You're the ones with two."

Terpstra himself said the cooperation was pretty good, so what do I know? I have a hard time believing that group couldn't have at least held Sagan to the same gap vs bleeding time when you have two former national TT champs - Terpstra and Phinney in a group with big engines like VanAvermaet, Styuven, VanMarke - provided they were working well together. To me, it didn't look like they were committed and Drapac had the extra guy to burn.

[Burnette]

No kidding, same here. The photos of him lying there on his back before the EMTs arrived are horrible. It worries me that after all these hours there are still no positive updates.
.

I didn't watch the race but saw video footage of Michael Goolearts' crash. He hit that embankment so hard.

I too saw videos of motorcycle camera guys passing hi as he lay there. In my mind I suppose they couldn't render aid and would probably just be in the way and block real help but it was hard watching them pass Michael.

So young, I wish him well going forward.

[Clean39T]

One set of tires? Ha!


MZilliox said they’re the best tubs he’s ridden...and he and I ride pretty similar terrain.

[Clean39T]

Sagan actually adjusted his stem while in the break away. Amazing!

https://youtu.be/VfqbQdsN9-A



Tim



Repairing his stem, or locking out the suspension for the final sprint?

[Burnette]

MZilliox said they’re the best tubs he’s ridden...and he and I ride pretty similar terrain.

Oh, I know, I was just ribbing Tator.

I didn't watch Paris Roubaix but am happy for Sagan, he is an interesting character as well as a fast and smart rider and that's what cycling needs more of.

P.S.

I have enjoyed your bike buying journey! Good luck with the tires.

[Clean39T]

Sagan showed class by immediately thanking and congratulating Dillier!!





So true..

[mcteague]

Repairing his stem, or locking out the suspension for the final sprint?

Don’t think you need a hex wrench to lock out the suspension.

Tim

[fa63]

RIP :(

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180408/b3a0b45a5334df78ec30fa953e06eca0.jpg

[Seamus]

ugh. That's awful. Darkens the day quite a bit.

[Cicli]

Wow.
What a bummer.

[Matthew]

So incredibly sad. Thoughts to his family and friends. RIP

[swaterfall]

Oh no!

[Burnette]

Terrible, sad to hear.

[Clean39T]

Wow. That’s horrible.

Thoughts to his family..

[cadence90]

RIP :(

Terrible news. Really, really, horribly sad.

https://snipercycling.be/assets/27016927_10210651697505396_1182061035_o-450x674.jpg

https://cdn.newsble.com/regular/659221.jpg
.

[CSKeller]

Very sad news about Michael Goolaerts. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends!

He was way too young. I can only think that he left this world doing what he loved.

[dbnm]

so awful.

[enr1co]

Man, this is so sad to learn of this. Just way too young :(

[SuperColnago]

That was fun to watch.
That was fun to watch:banana:

[nooneline]

That second Quickstep was Gilbert who had attacked earlier in the day. He worked as long as he could to help that G2 group get away and then he blew and finished 15th I believe. Everyone knows he wants Roubaix as much as anyone but he raced hard when he had to.

I've never seen a strong group in a race with two teammates involved and it's the two that do the least work. Normally it's the oppposite... the others will say :You're the ones with two."

Terpstra himself said the cooperation was pretty good, so what do I know? I have a hard time believing that group couldn't have at least held Sagan to the same gap vs bleeding time when you have two former national TT champs - Terpstra and Phinney in a group with big engines like VanAvermaet, Styuven, VanMarke - provided they were working well together. To me, it didn't look like they were committed and Drapac had the extra guy to burn.

sometimes, after 200km, bike racing is really hard.

[Cicli]

Mods,
Can we split the condolences to another thread?
Maybe a new thread?

Supernag took care of it. Sorry.

[nooneline]

sometimes before 200km too.

who knew?

[SuperColnago]

That was fun to watch:banana:
Sorry about bad timing for my comment, devastated to hear the horrible news...catching up now...so sad

[cadence90]

Mods,
Can we split the condolences to another thread?
Maybe a new thread?

I'm curious...why?

Goolaerts's terrible death is as much a part of the 2018 P-R as is Sagan's victory as well as anything else that happened out on the course.

I'm not really sure what moving references to this tragedy out of the main thread and into some other one would accomplish.

Sorry about bad timing for my comment, devastated to hear the horrible news...catching up now...so sad
Completely understandable imo, but very thoughtful of you to post your second comment.
.

[Cicli]

I'm curious...why?

Goolaerts's terrible death is as much a part of the 2018 P-R as is Sagan's victory as well as anything else that happened out on the course.

I'm not really sure what moving references to this tragedy out of the main thread and into some other one would accomplish.


Completely understandable imo, but very thoughtful of you to post your second comment.
.

You sort of took care of it. Misplaced posts sory of struck a nerve is all. Sorry.

[MattTuck]

Damn, sorry to hear the news of Goolaerts' passing.

Life rarely makes sense.

[erolorhun]

Horrible news. Borderline stunned here. Thoughts with his family

[velotrack]

RIP. Total bummer. Really makes this P-R not that fun for me anymore.

[Bruce K]

Either I’ve missed it or nobody mentioned that Taylor Phinney grabbed a pretty nifty 8th Place finish.

This day a a bit of everything

BK

[azrider]

Good grief that's terrible news. So sad. RIP and condolences to family.

[cadence90]

Listening to -7 and Hincapie discuss today's P-R on Stages.

I didn't realize that this year's TdF will have 12Km of cobbles (today had ~50km). That is going to wreak havoc on some of those riders.
.

[KarlC]

No one has mentioned it yet, but the timing of his attack was really the key here.
Greg VA, had just put in a huge attack, and he was just brought back, so he was in no position to chase and the others were a bit tired since they had brought him back, so it was the perfect counter punch.
People always criticize Sagans race smarts, but that was text book perfection on timing.

Sagan has always had great timing its just usually talked about with his sprints.

[Cicli]

Satan has always had great timing its just usually talked about with his sprints.

Satan?

[Burnette]

This has been a crazy day.

[KarlC]

Satan?


Sorry I fixed it but yes he has good timing also and that's bad for all of us.

[MattTuck]

hmmm.

"With Peter, I would say he's like an angel and a devil in the same person," Dillier said.

[dbnm]

This popped up on Youtube. It's a hard to watch. Very sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJrne3B4dQY&feature=youtu.be

[FlashUNC]

I'll save my usual Sagan hate. Goolaerts death is too sad to argue about a bike race.

Sounds like they did all they could. But when its your time...

Godspeed.

[Fivethumbs]

I wonder, did he crash and then have a heart attack or did he have a heart attack that made him crash? Anyone who has followed college basketball over the last 30 years may remember Hank Gathers of Loyola Marymount and how he collapsed on the floor during a game and passed away. Hank had an underlying heart defect.

[cadence90]

I suppose an autopsy will be performed, but I don't know if that would indicate any specific sequence of events. It would show evidence of the cause. Perhaps other video will surface as well, who knows.

It seemed to me, by how Goolaerts suddenly continued straight, and so veered off the track as it turned, that he had the attack first, at that moment, which then led to his crash. But that is complete supposition on my part.

Yes, Gathers came to mind. That was really horrible too. He was also 23...far too young.
.

[FlashUNC]

Zeke Upshaw in the NBA G League just died not long ago after a cardiac arrest on the court during a game. Tough stuff:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/03/28/autopsy-nba-g-league-player-had-sudden-cardiac-death/33353579/

[weisan]

http://www.steephill.tv/2018/paris-roubaix/photos/page-03/420-DaRY2VoW4AEvMFW.jpg

Twice a top-10 Paris-Roubaix Junior finisher, Tanguy TURGIS (FRA/VITAL CONCEPT CYCLING) is the youngest rider and first teenager (19-years old) to finish the Paris-Robuaix Elite race (42nd) in 50 years. (photo credit: VITAL CONCEPT CYCLING)

[weisan]

http://alicehui.com/bike/sagan/sagan_snow.jpg

[weisan]

http://www.steephill.tv/2018/paris-roubaix/photos/page-02/20180407PRX8015.jpg

[oldpotatoe]

Ouch, very sad for anybody, particularly one so young,

RIP young man..

[marciero]

Goolaerts death is beyond sad. That he was "doing what he loved" is little or no consolation for someone so young. Condolences to family, friends, teammates.

[mcteague]

I wonder, did he crash and then have a heart attack or did he have a heart attack that made him crash? Anyone who has followed college basketball over the last 30 years may remember Hank Gathers of Loyola Marymount and how he collapsed on the floor during a game and passed away. Hank had an underlying heart defect.

From Cycling Tips:
It is not yet clear whether Goolaerts went into cardiac arrest as a result of a crash, or whether he crashed as a result of the cardiac arrest. Goolaerts’ death comes just over two years after fellow Belgian Daan Myngheer died after a similar incident at the 2016 Criterium International.
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/04/michael-goolaerts-dies-after-paris-roubaix-heart-attack/

Tim

[sparky33]

Whoa. What a performance by Sagan! He picked the right moment to jump for 55k of hammering the competition. Absolutely insane in holding on when it looked like the chasers might close the gap. Kudos to Dillier for hanging on for that sleigh ride. Incredible performance under pressure.

Goolaerts' death is chilling.

[redir]

That is beyond tragic. What a terrible thing to happen.

As far as the race goes, what was Dillier thinking?? He should have never come around Sagan when he flicked him. Piss him off if you have too who cares but make him do the work.

[katematt]

As far as the race goes, what was Dillier thinking?? He should have never come around Sagan when he flicked him. Piss him off if you have too who cares but make him do the work.

I thought since the sprint victor was a foregone conclusion, Sagan was simply letting him lead into the Velodrome, giving him some recognition for his heroic effort.

[texbike]

From Cycling Tips:
It is not yet clear whether Goolaerts went into cardiac arrest as a result of a crash, or whether he crashed as a result of the cardiac arrest. Goolaerts’ death comes just over two years after fellow Belgian Daan Myngheer died after a similar incident at the 2016 Criterium International.
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/04/michael-goolaerts-dies-after-paris-roubaix-heart-attack/

Tim

I'm inclined to think that it was the latter. Regardless, that's a sad ending to an otherwise incredible edition of P-R. :(

Texbike

[MattTuck]

That is beyond tragic. What a terrible thing to happen.

As far as the race goes, what was Dillier thinking?? He should have never come around Sagan when he flicked him. Piss him off if you have too who cares but make him do the work.

Tough one to work out. Ostensibly, Sagan could have unleashed enough of an effort to gap the Swiss. Possibly even up to and including the last 5K. He should be thanking Sagan for working together, as he'd have had no chance on his own.

Vanmarcke did the same thing in 2013. He put in solid turns with Cancellara. It is a special race, I think you have to respect the race and try to contribute whenever you can. More cynically, if you don't contribute (even a small share) when you're with a stronger opponent, you fear he might pop you off the back with a few strong pedal turns, and leave you to the charging horde behind, or he may tire too much and leave you both vulnerable.

You probably make deals with yourself that says, 2nd is better than 20th, so I will work with him. And maybe once you start making deals like that, you psychologically give up on winning it.

Once you get to the point where the group behind is no longer a factor, maybe you think about adjusting your strategy. or maybe you're already at the limit, and cogent thought is no longer possible. so you just ride and pray.

I have only seen the straight ahead sprint view, and Dillier actually doesn't look so slow. But the foreshortening from that angle is very difficult to interpret. I'd like to see just how far back he was, and how quickly the gap opened. The results gives him same time.

[rain dogs]

So after reading what Vanmarcke has said, I'll have to retract my earlier criticisms of Drapac and their strategy. He says they were both slayed, which in my defense I guess, it is surprising that Vanmarcke, who was tipped as a favorite, and that Phinney who's a big diesel engine were both dead at km ~200 give or take and could only hang on for the last 55km and not really contribute to the chase.

But hey, it's obviously a hard race, and those guys are smashing it. I assumed they were playing a card, gaming the others and saving bullets, but I guess they were cooked and had no real chance of doing anything but hanging on.

C'est la vie.

[livingminimal]

Awful, about Goolaerts. Just terrible.

Best to his family and friends. :(

[ptourkin]

There was nothing he could do on that shallow track to beat a guy who on occasion beats the dedicated sprinters. That's silliness. Anyone who has ridden track knows that if a guy has that big of a sprint, it doesn't matter if you try to make them lead you out or not, the gap is going to be what they want it to be. There are no "tricks" in a match sprint that can overcome those watts when both riders are alert.

If you watched the race, he had no choice other than to work with Sagan and secure second. There were times when the gap was under a minute. Had it kept coming down, Niki was there to cross the gap.

Dillier and Sagan did exactly what they needed to do.

[sparky33]

More cynically, if you don't contribute (even a small share) when you're with a stronger opponent, you fear he might pop you off the back with a few strong pedal turns, and leave you to the charging horde behind, or he may tire too much and leave you both vulnerable.

I'm guessing Sagan and Dillier keenly understood the dynamics of the situation and their relative strengths. It was smart of Sagan to reduce the group to 2. They cooperate while their interests are aligned, assuming they'll eventually try to out-fox the other for the win...because that's racing.
Neither got anything that they didn't earn. A great moment in sport, I'd say.

[GregL]

Tough one to work out. Ostensibly, Sagan could have unleashed enough of an effort to gap the Swiss. Possibly even up to and including the last 5K. He should be thanking Sagan for working together, as he'd have had no chance on his own.

Vanmarcke did the same thing in 2013. He put in solid turns with Cancellara. It is a special race, I think you have to respect the race and try to contribute whenever you can. More cynically, if you don't contribute (even a small share) when you're with a stronger opponent, you fear he might pop you off the back with a few strong pedal turns, and leave you to the charging horde behind, or he may tire too much and leave you both vulnerable.

You probably make deals with yourself that says, 2nd is better than 20th, so I will work with him. And maybe once you start making deals like that, you psychologically give up on winning it.

Once you get to the point where the group behind is no longer a factor, maybe you think about adjusting your strategy. or maybe you're already at the limit, and cogent thought is no longer possible. so you just ride and pray.

I have only seen the straight ahead sprint view, and Dillier actually doesn't look so slow. But the foreshortening from that angle is very difficult to interpret. I'd like to see just how far back he was, and how quickly the gap opened. The results gives him same time.

I agree with your assessment of Dillier at the finish. He turned himself inside out to stay on Sagan's wheel on the cobbled sections. Wisely or not, he deferred to the more experienced rider and took the front as they entered the velodrome. As to the sprint, there is an overhead, drone video that shows the sprint better than the fixed cameras. Dillier kept the power on nearly to the line, but Sagan pulled out nearly a bike's length at the finish. Great finish to a hard-fought battle, tempered with great sadness on the loss of Goolaerts. RIP, young man.

Greg

[livingminimal]

I took Dillier on literally EVERY Velogames team I ever put together.

The classics season I decided not to play? This one.

Dillier made the calculated risk to get on a Podium and that Sagan might underestimate him, IMO.

I think he made the right call.

[sparky33]

I took Dillier on literally EVERY Velogames team I ever put together.

The classics season I decided not to play? This one.

Dillier made the calculated risk to get on a Podium and that Sagan might underestimate him, IMO.

I think he made the right call.

It makes you wonder what could have happened if Dillier was with anyone but Sagan, someone without Sagan's sprint.

[choke]

FWIW Dillier has a track background with several Championships in the U23 category.

RIP Michael Goolaerts.

[denapista]

1st or 2nd sounds alot better than 1st or 5th..

If that group would have bridged, no telling what might have happened. Looks like Sagan and Dillier knew the cards they held and played them well. Getting a 2nd place at a race like Roubaix is far from a bad thing.
I woke up kind of late to Steephill and got caught up on the race reports... I was puzzled trying to figure out who the group was trying to bridge. I then saw it was Sagan with a .45 second lead with 6km to go... I was like "Sagan is about to win Roubaix!"
I'm glad he finally put a nail in the "He can't win the big one" coffin..

[ptourkin]

FWIW Dillier has a track background with several Championships in the U23 category.

That makes sense. He said he was confident in his sprint but was cramping. It's also clear that he knew how good Sagan's sprint is after 200+k. He gave himself a chance. The way Sagan let him open a wheel and drove through the draft also looked like a track tactic, although AFAIK he doesn't have any background. He's just a really good cyclist.

The outdoor velodrome is very shallow. They ride on it wet. There wasn't going to be some kind of surprise dive bomb to the lane, just an honest sprint.

Props to Dillier. A great result to build on.

[FlashUNC]

1st or 2nd sounds alot better than 1st or 5th..

If that group would have bridged, no telling what might have happened. Looks like Sagan and Dillier knew the cards they held and played them well. Getting a 2nd place at a race like Roubaix is far from a bad thing.
I woke up kind of late to Steephill and got caught up on the race reports... I was puzzled trying to figure out who the group was trying to bridge. I then saw it was Sagan with a .45 second lead with 6km to go... I was like "Sagan is about to win Roubaix!"
I'm glad he finally put a nail in the "He can't win the big one" coffin..

When several teams with multiple riders in a large group point fingers for 40k after you make what otherwise would be yet another stupid move in a career of stupid moves, its more the blind squirrel finding a nut than any newfound tactical savvy.

But Quick Step was sending Stybar off on a suicide mission 70k from the finish, so it ain't exactly like the other teams were full of mental giants that day either.

[ptourkin]

When several teams with multiple riders in a large group point fingers for 40k after you make what otherwise would be yet another stupid move in a career of stupid moves, its more the blind squirrel finding a nut than any newfound tactical savvy.

But Quick Step was sending Stybar off on a suicide mission 70k from the finish, so it ain't exactly like the other teams were full of mental giants that day either.

I think I speak for the group in sending our collective thanks for putting us out of our misery and finally weighing in.

We can now get back to determining whether or not 12s is ugly.

[GregL]

I think I speak for the group in sending our collective thanks for putting us out of our misery and finally weighing in.

We can now get back to determining whether or not 12s is ugly.
Virtual "Like" button pressed!

[FlashUNC]

I think I speak for the group in sending our collective thanks for putting us out of our misery and finally weighing in.

We can now get back to determining whether or not 12s is ugly.

As soon as he rode away and the Keystone cops routine started in the group, I knew the gig was up. No one wanted to work to bring him back. Everyone else thought it was the Wolfpack's job. The Wolfpack clearly thought they'd done enough especially with other teams that had multiple riders still in the group.

It was a boring Roubaix. There was no realistic chance of a catch like prior years. It wasn't Johan Van Summeren's frantic dash to the line on a softening tire. It wasn't Cancellara riding everyone off his wheel going full gas on Mons en Pevele. It wasn't even a solo move. He bridges to a chase who helps deliver him to the line for Pete's sake. The decisive move just kind of...happened.

But of course this will keep the fanboys happy. More wheelies for everyone.

I'm just glad the Rainbow Stripes thing is finally over after this year with the Innsbruck course.