Paris Roubaix - Spoilers be here.

[Hont]

You need some luck to win P-R, whoever you are. A mechanical in the wrong place and it doesn't matter how strong you are. Wiggins can win it, but I wouldn't have him down as favourite. I suspect there are ulterior motives behind Boonen's prediction.

Current Paddy Power betting has Kristoff the favourite (understandably) with Wiggins joint 3rd...

 

[mjr]

...in glorious technicolor! Funny looking bunch.
View attachment 85220

Terrible photo. Wiggins looks "relieved" IYKWIM

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Terrible photo. Wiggins looks "relieved" IYKWIM

...while "Hans" Knees (and bumpsadaisy) looks constipated.

 

[Apollonius]

Right. Just watched my DVD of A Sunday in Hell. Charged the camera battery. Getting ready for the off first thing on Saturday morning. Looks like a dusty one.

 

[Tin Pot]

What's the TV coverage?

 

[mjr]

What's the TV coverage?

Over in the TV coverage topic but basically Eurosport from about noon, France 3 or a mix of Rai Sport 1 and Rai 3.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I am starting to feel really excited about this. In some ways, it's weird for a little climber like me to think of Paris-Roubaix as my favourite race. It's the kind of race that would be totally unsuited to my build (even if I ever 'could have been a contender' - which I couldn't). It's long, flat and windy and on farked up surfaces, and it's just the most thrilling bike race in existence. In the end, I don't care who wins, I just want to see the struggle, and I can't wait...

 

[MisterStan]

Nice article on the inrng about PR. And from that a link about a race that was run post first world war - the seven-stage Circuit Cycliste des Champs de Bataille (roughly translated as the Tour of the Battlefields) - worth a read - sounds like a real hard mans race - makes PR look like a Sunday club run!

 

[Doyleyburger]

I reckon it'll be down to Terpstra and Kristoff with Thomas thrown into the mix. Kristoff is in fine form so he's my tip to win

 

[MisterStan]

Kristoff is in fine form so he's my tip to win

He is indeed in fine form but as @Hont pointed out;

You need some luck to win P-R, whoever you are. A mechanical in the wrong place and it doesn't matter how strong you are.

I wouldn't mind seeing Kristoff win, I just wish he was racing for a different team.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

It's certainly not Thomas's, he's too lightweight. Terpstra too might not have the bulk.

Kristoff's does have it, but I just have a (completely subjective) feeling that it's not his race, at least not this year. Some year, Stybar has to win it, and maybe it's this year. Stannard could do it sometime too, but he's still coming back to form. Wiggins, I imagine, has a finely honed plan and I have no doubt he will put everything into. He's certainly capable of anything he puts his mind to and he's physically ready this year. It would be the fairytale ending to a road career, but how often do such plans pan out?

 

[Chris Norton]

Terpstra i my tip. Reckon he's had a brilliant start to the season. Sky's team photo's always look as if they all have big heads compared to shoulders. Very odd.

Our club have a Paris Roubaix day on Sunday. A ride on all the crappy roads round here (there's lots to choose from) then a BBQ in the afternoon for the race. Can't wait, just hope it rains in northern France just to add an extra dimension.

 

[subaqua]

I can't do my Paris - roubaix homage anymore as hackney have ripped up the cables on regents row

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Some outside picks: Van Summeren, Boom, Bak (has looked on good, aggressive form recently), Benoot - it would be an amazing story if Benoot won, given his age and 'part-time' status...

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Some outside picks: Van Summeren, Boom, Bak (has looked on good, aggressive form recently), Benoot - it would be an amazing story if Benoot won, given his age and 'part-time' status...

Benoot's ride in Flanders was very impressive. And I would not discount him for Roubaix. I reckon Lotto-Soudal have more options than any other team.