(SPOILER) 111th Paris-Roubaix, 7 April 2013

[User169]

Nice little taster here from Tao Geoghegan Hart who rode the junior race last year...

http://www.rapha.cc/merci-roubaix

 

[Hont]

the eurosport commentary team were talking during the tour of the basque country that cancellara went down...plus he went down the day before..

Well he is a modern man and ladies do seem to like it.

 

[raindog]

Only just found out that Fausto Coppi had a younger brother, Serse, who won Paris-Roubaix in 1949. Apparently, Frenchman André Mahé was about to win the race but was sent the wrong way by a marshal just outside the stadium in Roubaix, which allowed Serse to win, followed by Mahé. The race officials declared them joint winners, which pissed Fausto off, who was also racing that day.

Serse and Fausto at the finish.

 

[thom]

Only just found out that Fausto Coppi had a younger brother, Serse, who won Paris-Roubaix in 1949. Apparently, Frenchman André Mahé was about to win the race but was sent the wrong way by a marshal just outside the stadium in Roubaix, which allowed Serse to win, followed by Mahé. The race officials declared them joint winners, which ****ed Fausto off, who was also racing that day.

Serse and Fausto at the finish.

I think the story was they declared the other guy the winner but Coppi protested and the organisers decided to declare them as joint winners so that Fausto would ride the race again, or some variation.
Serse died in a race in Italy, having a bad fall on a descent. He had been an important emotional support for Fausto. Apparently Fausto was so affected that he lost much of his passion and desire for bike riding afterwards.

 

[Noodley]

Only just found out that Fausto Coppi had a younger brother, Serse, who won Paris-Roubaix in 1949. Apparently, Frenchman André Mahé was about to win the race but was sent the wrong way by a marshal just outside the stadium in Roubaix, which allowed Serse to win, followed by Mahé. The race officials declared them joint winners, which ****ed Fausto off, who was also racing that day.

Coppi's biography "Fallen Angel - The Passion of Fausto Coppi" by William Fotheringham is a very good read.

 

[raindog]

yeah, I'm going to have to buy that

 

[Noodley]

Arnaud Demare posted on FB an hour or so ago. "First Paris-Roubaix, Number 85, now goodnight"

Go Arnaud, Go FDJ!!!

(oh, and Geoffrey Soupe also announced he's gonna be a dad)

 

[raindog]

I'd love to see Phinney or Chava get away in a group of non-favourite but strong riders and stay away to the end. I reckon that's the only way anyone will beat Fab today.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

13 riders 30 seconds ahead of the peloton:

Evaldas Siskevicius (Sojasun), Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale), Bjorn Thurau (Europcar), Bob Jungels (RadioShack Leopard), Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil), Gatis Smukulis (Katusha) Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma QuickStep), Jacob Rathe (Garmin-Sharp), Jens Debuschere (Lotto), Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank), Eloy Teruel (Movistar), Clement Kortesky (Bretagne Seche) and Benjamin Lemontagner (Bretagne Seche).

Mind you, they've only done 20 or so miles....

 

[Finn]

if you havent got it on the telly you could have a look here ..... top option is currently english commentary

 

[raindog]

I see Sky have sent Hayman up the road as usual

ouch! Offredo straight into a road sign - that must've bloody hurt!

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Watching it on Eurosport. I enjoy the coverage and commentary team but every 10 minutes there is a "commercial break". PITA.

 

[smutchin]

Thomas down! Again!

 

[Noodley]

ouch! Offredo straight into a road sign - that must've bloody hurt!

I missed that, what happened? And any reports on how he is?

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

He's fine, he went off road on the cobbles. Held him back for 10 seconds at most.