The
PR cobbles are horrendous, Unlike a normal urban cobbled pavement many of the rural pave on the Hell of the North have an inch of space between individual stones.
Team-by-team breakdown:
Omega Pharma-Quick Step
Wheels: Zipp 303 Firecrest
Tire: FMB cotton casing
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 28.2mm
Pressure front: 59.5 psi Boonen, 58 psi Chavanel (58 psi or less in the rain)
Pressure rear: 62.4 psi Boonen, 59.5 psi Chavanel
Sealant: no
Movistar
Wheels: Campagnolo Hyperon
Tire: Continental Competition
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 27.8mm
Pressure front: 85 psi
Pressure rear: 87 psi
Sealant: yes
Liquigas-Cannondale
Wheels: Mavic M40
Tire: no markings, looked like Veloflex
Size: ?
Measured size: 25.1mm
Pressure front: secret
Pressure rear: secret
Sealant: no
FDJ-BigMat
Wheels: Shimano C35
Tire: Hutchinson labeled Dugast
Size: 27 and 30mm
Measured size: 28.9mm (for the 27mm)
Pressure front: 72.5 psi (Rollin)
Pressure rear: 80 psi (Rollin)
Sealant: yes
Europcar
Wheels: Campagnolo Bora
Tire: Hutchinson (FMB or Dugast)
Size: no marking
Measured size: 29.2mm
Pressure front: 72.5 psi
Pressure rear: 80 psi
Sealant: no, but they did last year
Lotto-Belisol
Wheels: Campagnolo Record hubs with Ambrosio Nemesis rims
Tire: Continental Competition
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 27.2mm
Pressure front: 67-72 psi
Pressure rear: 70-80 psi
Sealant: no
Saxo Bank
Wheels: Zipp 303 Firecrest
Tire: Specialized (FMB Paris Roubaix cotton casing)
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 28.1mm
Pressure front: secret
Pressure rear: secret
Sealant: yes
Radioshack-Nissan
Wheels: Bontrager
Tire: FMB Paris Roubaix
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 28.3mm
Pressure front: 80 psi
Pressure rear: 87 psi
Sealant: no
Garmin-Barracuda
Wheels: Mavic M40
Tire: “French handmade provided by Mavic” FMB
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 28.5
Pressure front: 62.5 psi
Pressure rear: 72 psi
Sealant: no
GreenEdge
Wheels: Shimano C35/DA hub w/ Ambrosio “PRO” rim
Tire: Continental Competition
Size: 25 and 28mm
Measured size: 24.8 and 28.5mm
Pressure front: 76.9 psi
Pressure rear: 82.7 psi
Sealant: no; “We were told by Continental that it doesn’t work. The sealant only hits the top of the tread, not the sides. It doesn’t stick to the sidewall of the tires and that’s where the tires pinch at Roubaix,” said mechanic Craig Geater.
Sky
Wheels: Shimano C35
Tire: FMB Paris Roubaix
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 27.9mm
Pressure front: 67.4 psi
Pressure rear: 74.0 psi
Sealant: yes; “If it helps the riders get to the end of a sector, maybe it doesn’t stop a puncture, but it does slow it down. If so, it’s worth a shot,” said Richard Lambert, one of Sky’s mechanics.
Katusha
Wheels: Mavic M40/Cosmic Carbone Ultimate/aluminum rim mix
Tire: Mavic SSC-labeled Challenge Parigi-Roubaix
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 27.9mm
Pressure front: less than 87 psi
Pressure rear: less than 87 psi
Sealant: yes, liquid latex
Cofidis
Wheels: American Classic Carbon 38
Tire: Vittoria Corsa CX
Size: 25mm
Measured size: 25.1mm
Pressure front: 72.5 psi
Pressure rear: 80 psi
Sealant: no
Saur-Sojasun
Wheels: “Corima” Dura-Ace or Ultegra hubs on Ambrosio Nemesis rims
Tire: Panaracer-labeled Veloflex
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 26.0mm
Pressure front: 72 psi
Pressure rear: 80 psi
Sealant: no
Lampre-ISD
Wheels: Campagnolo Record hubs with Ambrosio rims
Tire: Vittoria Pavé
Size: 27mm
Measured size: 26.0mm
Pressure front: 80 psi
Pressure rear: 87 psi
Sealant: yes, put in on race morning (Vittoria Pit Stop spotted in the team truck)
Ag2r La Mondiale
Wheels: Reynolds 32
Tire: Michelin tubulars (prototype rear)
Size: no markings
Measured size: 26.0mm front/24.7mm rear
Pressure front: 65 psi
Pressure rear: 71 psi
Sealant: yes
The rocks on the
PR are IMHO the ultimate case for soft tires.
I still can't see the 60 psi of your local black-top riding speedsters.