cthenn

Anyone else not quite as excited for the race this year? Seems like Fabulous Fabu Fabian Spartacus Cancellara (what other nicknames does he have?) is a shoe-in to win, barring disaster. Sagan is not going to race it, Tornado Tom crashed (again!) and is out, Thor Hushovd has turned into Andy Schleck of late with his anonymous rides and abandonments...who's left? Chavanel? Does Phinney have a legit chance? Speaking of Schleck, I just read he's going to ride Paris Roubaix? Excuse me, but HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What's the over/under on an abandonment after poor Andy's bottom starts to hurt?

Also, anyone have the weather forecast? Are we finally going to get mud, or another dustbowl?

frpax

Fabian will be a marked man, for sure. But he's still the odds on favorite.

Zinger

The bookies like Cancellara but I'm pulling for Phinney who seems to be aiming for this one.....no bets, lol.

A track/TT guy who is used to the cobbles would have a shot at this along with the half dozen or so other guys in the running and still in on this flat one. If Hushovd is on form he'll probably be supporting him. If he isn't I imagine Phinney will be the guy on his team to go for it providing he's in a position to when anything decisive happens. I imagine he'll be up front for it and he has a good team for this one. I think he's going to be ahead of Gilbert for any BMC plan "B".

I just hope he's not too busy marketing clothes and watches to focus on this.

Chavanel is a danger to be marked as well. Schleck will work for Cancellara in this
while he can.

bruin11

I assumed the Andy Schleck thing was an April Fools joke.

canam73

It will be a better joke if he actually rides.

bruin11

And considering he is riding the Tour of the Basque Country

HMF

If Phinney won I would lose my sh*t in front of my computer. It'd be akin to this

I think he's a little young for Paris-Roubaix though. Still needs to forge the muscles and mind a few more years.

Cat4Lifer

There are no odds. Most people understood the Schleck/Roubaix story was an April Fool's joke. ha ha ha

cthenn

nm

cthenn

Oh, then fool right here. I just read the headline about "desperate for miles, AS to race Paris/Roubaix". LOL got me that's actually a good one.

cthenn

Well now Fabian has crashed out of a race this week, he's going into Roubaix with some level of injury. This could really be Taylor Phinney's year. Or it could be another Johan Van Summeren year haha.

Cat4Lifer

and JAF chances lookin better too

GrayJay

Gilbert is not on the start roster for BMC. The flat terrain really doesnt suit his usual style of winning and I seem to recall last year that he also skipped Roubaix saying it was too dangerous of a race, he was more concerned about staying rested and healthy for the subsequent Ardenes Classics.

Phinneys performance at Milan-SanRemo definitly proves he is ready for a major classics result.


I think that Garmin team will be highly motivated to get a solid P-R result. No one star that is a favorite but they have a strong team overall for this race and could use team tactics to pull off another win for any of several strong front group riders, similar to the Johan VanSummern win couple years ago.

Zinger

That's what I'll be doing if he even places on the podium


With some luck he can finish in the top 10 of this one day race right now, imo.
He finished 15th in his 1st and that was in support of Hushovd.
Lots of guys out this year.....I just saw the starting rosters today.

Zinger

S**t !....every year.

Cat4Lifer

Maybe Maaskant will pull off a ride as good or better than 2008...he's due[h=1][/h]

frpax

And my DVR decided to crap out on me... right before Paris-Roubaix!
C'MON DIRECTV WITH MY REPLACEMENT IN TIME!!!

mdphoto

Looks like a sunny day for the race. Don't recall what the weather was like the last few days but it seems that there will be a lot of dust kicked up on the cobbles.

Kind of Blued

I don't think Thor has the form to make a duo with Phinney work, and I really hope they don't make Phinney wait on him. If anybody can hold Cancellara's wheel on cobbles, it's probably Phinney, and he has a better sprint than Fabian too.

Roelandts, Pozzato, and Stannard might have a shot also.

Dubbayoo

Phinney won the Under-23 Paris Roubaix twice so him doing well shouldn't be a big stretch.

Caretaker

121k Offredo hits a road sign.

Ouch!

He's out, not surprised.

frpax

What a great race! I'm glad DirecTV came through and got me my DVR in time (yesterday)!

Bontrager

Wow the 1 time NBCSports on Comcast came through with televising bicycle race!

It was fun with George Hincapie live-tweeting but I'm sure he's missed in the peleton this year - even if he never stood a chance of winning against the younger folk.

DiabloScott

Ronde-Roubaix Dubbel is the quintessential ultimate prize.

dstrong 

Some of the crowd antics were unbelievable! They've got to give the riders room over on the side of the course.

What a great show by Vanmarcke...had the legs until that very last turn. He looked very disappointed.