Paris Roubaix picks

Eldrack

Cancellara's attacks where hardly balls to the wall efforts, more like little digs to test the other two's legs. They responded, he probably didn't have anything more in the legs to do anything harder otherwise one would assume he would have done it. Best attack in the race was, once again, Devolder. O'Grady's cover was awesome as well.

Good result by Maaskant, I'll be honest, never heard of him before.

TheDarkLord

Just to recap, the top 15 are:
1. Tom Boonen (QUICK STEP) 5:58:42"
2. Fabian Cancellara (TEAM CSC) at 00:01"
3. Alessandro Ballan (LAMPRE) at 00:01"
4. Martijn Maaskant (SLIPSTREAM CHIPOTLE) at 03:39"
5. Stuart O’Grady (TEAM CSC) at 03:57"
6. Leif Hoste (SILENCE - LOTTO) at 03:57"
7. Stijn Devolder (QUICK STEP) at 03:59"
8. Johan Van Summeren (SILENCE - LOTTO) at 04:35"
9. George Hincapie (HIGH ROAD) at 05:12"
10. Fabio Baldato (LAMPRE) at 05:12"
11. Frédéric Guesdon (FRANCAISE DES JEUX) at 05:12"
12. Antonio Flecha Juan (RABOBANK) at 05:12"
13. Manuel Quinziato (LIQUIGAS) at 05:12"
14. Wim De Vocht (SILENCE - LOTTO) at 05:12"
15. Staf Scheirlinckx (COFIDIS CREDIT PAR TELEPHONE) at 05:12"

Andrija

Why 15?

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TheDarkLord

I don't know ... just seemed to be a good number.

Andrija

Then, I would include Ljungqvist too. He has the same time as riders placed from ninth to fifteenth place.
It's fair.

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"Soldiers! Heroes!

The supreme command has erased our regiment from its records. Our regiment has been sacrificed for the honor of Belgrade and the Fatherland. Therefore, you no longer have to worry for your lives - they do not exist anymore.
So, forward to glory! For King and country! Long live the king! Long live Belgrade! "

hawkeye87

I agree. I've grown quite weary of all the promoting done around Hincapie. Enough already. I like how you put it, he is a good rider but not champion caliber. Trouble is, with American sports fans, they always have to promote someone as THE potential winner. Summer Olympics are more popular in the U.S. than the Winter ones because we tend to rake in more medals, in proportion. The generic U.S. sports fan wants to see someone get the GOLD medal, nothing less than that.

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strummer_fan

I know that Hincapie had a flat, and lots of people will say... "Well, if he didn't have a flat...he could have..."

And I say...

Wasn't Hincapie running Carbon Semi-Aero wheels with 25mm Tubulars?

Boonen and Ballan were both using traditional, high-spoke count alloy-box rims with 27mm paris roubaix special tubulars (FMB and Vittoria Pave respectively).

I just think that the race preparation is a huge part of winning here, and the rim and tire choice could have added to Hincapie's troubles.

thoughts?

Bro Deal

Spot on. His rear wheel failed. From Velonews:

The tall American said he was strong enough to have been with the winners until he ran into trouble. He was riding at the front on the Bersée section of cobblestones, 53km from the finish, and racing as well as he has ever ridden in the Hell of the North, when his rear wheel broke.

He never learns.

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Flathead

[QUOTE=Bro Deal]Spot on. His rear wheel failed. From Velonews:

The tall American said he was strong enough to have been with the winners until he ran into trouble. He was riding at the front on the Bersée section of cobblestones, 53km from the finish, and racing as well as he has ever ridden in the Hell of the North, when his rear wheel broke.

He never learns.[/QUOTE

The problem with George has always been poser first and racer second.

whiteboytrash

I'd say he's a poser first, wanker second, poof third, cockhead fourth and then a racer fifth.... unless Lance is in the room & then he's just gay.

Powerful Pete

Some people are riding the Roubaix with CF rims? Isn't that a bit... risky?

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Rolfrae

Apparently Magnus Backstead's deep carbon rims both broke in the Arrenberg and he didn't finish.

thoughtforfood

And you know a lot about being gay, so I will have to cede to your expertise in that matter.

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TheDarkLord

Ok WBT, you have spouted enough venom on Hincapie. We all get it that you hate him. Whatever you may say, it is clear that the peloton doesn't share your appraisal of him. Why else would the front group accelerate significantly when they knew that Hincapie was behind having technical problems?