2022 Paris-Roubaix

[eth-dog]

Last race of the year. Been 2 and a half years since Gilbert won it. The make up of the teams will be interesting, bit it'll probably be similar to the world champs as far as a winner goes, WVA, MvDP, Alaphillipe, Colbrelli the favourites for the title.

 

[Over The Post]

Looking forward to this one.

 

[yaco55]

The European season finishes on the 24th October.

Saturday will be my most looked forward race of the year being the women's edition of PR - I know by nature that women are all-rounders in the sport BUT PR probably goes to a specialist rider who is suited by the parcours, so don't necessarily expect the big names to feature at the pointy end of the race.

 

[owen87]

My favourite race on the calendar.

Been a long time since a wet Roubaix, will make for a chaotic race I'd guess.

 

[Orange Agent]

I think it's a wide open race this year. DQS probably have 4 winning chances in their squad, ? over MVDP's fitness but they still have Merlier who should go pretty well here. WVA's lack of tactical nous is starting to become an issue and you can't win this race without a solid pre-race plan. If Quickstep play their numbers game somebody like a Taco Van der Horn could easily find himself in the winning group.

 

[Over The Post]

Womens race tomorrow night, 10:30pm on Viceland and OnDemand. Mens on Sunday, 8pm OnDemand and 9pm Viceland. 30 stages of cobbles!

Looking forward to this!

 

[Orange Agent]

Total carnage. And people were complaining the women's race should be longer and have the 5 star sectors.

So rain tomorrow and pretty windy. Time to get a platter sorted.

 

[Over The Post]

I cannot believe I completely forgot about this. 26km to go.

 

[Over The Post]

* that sideways action on the muddy cobbles, that peleton is going to do themselves a mischief

 

[Over The Post]

and BANG! oh dear

 

[Over The Post]

Those motos are WAY too close, quite dangerous if they go for a slide

 

[Over The Post]

My $ on Vos at this point, hope that doesn't put my usual curse on her.

 

[Orange Agent]

She's taking so much time back already.

 

[Over The Post]

Congratulations to Deignan, well deserved. Jumbo Visma are taking out a gag order on me picking winners.

 

[Over The Post]

Was unaware of this. Bloody disgusting. Incredible that the organisers can think this is acceptable today.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/paris-roubaix-femmes-winner-to-receive-a-20th-of-mens-prize-payout/

 

[Orange Agent]

Was unaware of this. Bloody disgusting. Incredible that the organisers can think this is acceptable today.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/paris-roubaix-femmes-winner-to-receive-a-20th-of-mens-prize-payout/

Yeah the disparity to the men's prize is too big but it's also France as a country hasn't embraced female cycling as a sport, it will be interesting to see what happens with the women's TDF. Prize pools rely on sponsors coming to the party and it was quite noticable the crowds were quite small yesterday, the TV rating figures will tell a better story. Dunno if having the races on separate dates is the way to go but it's the first edition and it has to start somewhere, it will only build from here. Similar to the start of AFLW, the bottom half group of the athletes are nowhere near the level of the top 20 and long range solo results like this happen regularly, the bunch doesn't have the firepower to bring them back. The highlight for me last night was to see Deignan ride cobbles in the style she did. She is lightly framed and typically not the type of rider to handle these conditions, but her high cadence and not panicking when traction started to go was something we don't see in the men's version.

 

[Over The Post]

You're right about the French minority sport thing, even so you'd think the organisation would be aware of the appeal of P-R on the global stage and the importance of the occasion and tweak the prizes accordingly. Pretty tone deaf.

Re having them on separate dates, I think they have to stick with that for coverage reasons.

Gutsy for those riding without gloves, too.

 

[Orange Agent]

I think the conditions are going to change the men's race completely. The guys from a CX background would be feeling a tad more confident.

 

[Vader]

I think the conditions are going to change the men's race completely. The guys from a CX background would be feeling a tad more confident.

I'm really looking forward to it. Haven't seen a wet P-R since I started watching it ~10 years ago.

 

[Over The Post]

Forecast is for rain at times during the morning, cloudy 15deg this afternoon. I don't think they'll be riding in a downpour.

Edit: Interpreting the area radar, there's an anticyclone west of the Channel Islands that is bringing light SE winds and rain over the region, but it is already breaking up into large clear patches SE of Paris with scattered showers.

 

[Vader]

Forecast is for rain at times during the morning, cloudy 15deg this afternoon. I don't think they'll be riding in a downpour.

Maybe not, but the pave will be muddy, wet & slippery - not dry & dusty. That's what matters.

 

[Over The Post]

Rotation of the weather system has slowed, so its still drizzle and light rain as they head north, with big clear breaks behind.

 

[Orange Agent]

This does not look fun for a rider, spectator on the other hand....

 

[Over The Post]

Onto the cobbles for the first time

 

[hairy biker]

Onto the cobbles for the first time

And they seemingly get through unscathed...............only 29 sections to go.

Poor buggers.