Paris-Roubaix *SPOILER*

[Flying_Monkey]

It's got to be up there in everyone's list of favourite races.

So will Cancellara ride to a win on the sheer anger from being beaten by Nuyens the other day, will Gilbert or Chavanel wear everyone down, or will it come down to Boonen or Hushovd in a sprint from the final selection? Worst of all, will Ballan win from under his current dark cloud of suspicion? Or will we get a nice surprise from Geraint Thomas or someone completely different?

 

[addictfreak]

Yes I love the Paris-Roubiax, will be hoping Cancellara can do it.

Got my day planned, take a few things to the tip in the morning, then a little bit of shopping and lunch out with Mrs AF. Pick up my new (ish) TT bike and back home to watch the race.

 

[Keith Oates]

I can't see past Cancellara for this one but the other riders will pressurise him so perhaps a surprise is in store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mangaman]

It's got to be up there in everyone's list of favourite races.

So will Cancellara ride to a win on the sheer anger from being beaten by Nuyens the other day, will Gilbert or Chavanel wear everyone down, or will it come down to Boonen or Hushovd in a sprint from the final selection? Worst of all, will Ballan win from under his current dark cloud of suspicion? Or will we get a nice surprise from Geraint Thomas or someone completely different?

It's my 2nd favourite race behind the Tour of Flanders.

Cancellara is Mr. Dodgy as far as I'm concerned. He lost in Flanders because of his poor tactics.

He still had plenty of fuel in the tank I felt - Purely due to hard work / training on Christmas Day/ whatever excuses people come out with.

To be so much stronger than anyone else over a long period, suggests he is an unbelievable superstar. I'm afraid it's the "unbelievable" bit that bothers me.

So I hope a clean, honest, lucky (I think this is essential in PR) rider wins - not Fabian.

I'd love to see someone like Voeckler win it.

 

[Dave_1]

I think Cancellera will be so heavily marked with no cooperation given that he will have a hard time repeating the win. Look at Chavenel's wheel sucking tactics at Flanders re Cance...nobody will work hard with Cance....and Cance made a tactical mistake attacking before the final climb last week at Flanders. One could argue he was strong enough to stay in the group and waste them all on the last climb, but he did a solo to the bottom of the climb using energy he didn't need to use and then put in a blunted but strong second attack on the climb and still almost smashed them ....poor tactics by him? He didn't seem to make good tactical choices under pressure of negative tactics by his peers. Same today?

 

[rich p]

Thomas to hang in there and out kick them with Flecha leading him out! Maybe!

 

[lukesdad]

Not sure he ll be strong enough yet Rich.

 

[fossyant]

Got a great feed via cycling fans site.

 

[rich p]

Not sure he ll be strong enough yet Rich.

me neither!

 

[rich p]

Thomas has just taken a tumble!


and Boonen's having a mare - mechanicals and falls

 

[fossyant]

That was good. Fab's chase at the end, Thor's bad luck, crashes, crashes.

 

[Dayvo]

Great race!

Thought I was watching the Grand National at first! Falls galore!

Hats off to Van Summeren - seemed to be an outsider!

 

[rich p]

That was good. Fab's chase at the end, Thor's bad luck, crashes, crashes.

Thor's bad luck! He refused to help Cancellara in the chase and then got blown away on the last incline.

FC did well but I'm glad van Summeren held on.

 

[Crackle]

Well done Van Summeren, didn't think he'd stay away and Cancellera got it wrong again.

 

[fossyant]

Thor did have a puncture and the field passed him before he got a change, then a fall. Cancellara and the others didn't work together enough, then started the chase... pretty close at the end, good to watch though. You could see the error.