Paris-Roubaix (Femmes et Hommes) 2026 ***Spoilers***

[No Ta Doctor]

Really interesting interview with Alpecin team boss. He takes a lot on himself:

Alpecin had opted to use prototype pedals as part of ongoing testing, a call Roodhooft openly addressed. “They are prototype pedals. I had agreed for them to also be tested in competition,” he said, before admitting the consequences could not have come at a worse time: “today it came at an incredibly bad moment.”
With hindsight, the responsibility was clear in his own mind. “Right now I think it was very stupid of me"

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...e-for-van-der-poels-decisive-arenberg-setback

TBH, it's an absolutely incredible F-up not to have your riders on the same pedals. I was quite pleased I spotted it at the time, in the chaos of Arenberg and my third or fourth Belgian beer....

 

[Dogtrousers]

Wout has written a nice thank-you letter to the UCI for banning his onboard tyre pressure adjustment gizmo, so there was no chance of it going horribly wrong.

 

[Dogtrousers]

If Jasper the Disaster's pedals were prototypes were they even UCI-legal? Surely prototypes aren't available on public sale? Maybe he should get a retrospective DQ to go with his DNF

 

[No Ta Doctor]

If Jasper the Disaster's pedals were prototypes were they even UCI-legal? Surely prototypes aren't available on public sale? Maybe he should get a retrospective DQ to go with his DNF

Pity for Alpecin that the UCI didn't ban them two weeks before the race....

 

[wakemalcolm]

Good grief: test it.

Try Everything Several Times In Training.

Simultaneously ruining their leader and their 2nd protected rider's race in one incident during, arguably, their biggest race of the year, is going some for a world tour team.

 

[matticus]

TBH, it's an absolutely incredible F-up not to have your riders on the same pedals. I was quite pleased I spotted it at the time, in the chaos of Arenberg and my third or fourth Belgian beer....

You must have a VERy big telly to spot that. Chapeau.
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The more we anal-yse look back on the details of the race, the more I think that Jumbo-Visma mainly won it by making the least screw-ups.

 

[wakemalcolm]

You must have a VERy big telly to spot that. Chapeau.
---------------------------------------------------------
The more we anal-yse look back on the details of the race, the more I think that Jumbo-Visma mainly won it by making the least screw-ups.

Agree, even though I didn't have the pleasure of watching it all live to be able to post it through the race for the age Hatch, it does seem to have been defined by random misfortune and attrition.
The fact that most of the big riders were protagonists and the 'right' rider won probably sealed its elevation.

 

[misforturob]

TBH, it's an absolutely incredible F-up not to have your riders on the same pedals. I was quite pleased I spotted it at the time, in the chaos of Arenberg and my third or fourth Belgian beer....

If there is one race of the year when you want everyone riding the same kit surely it is P-R.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

You must have a VERy big telly to spot that. Chapeau.
---------------------------------------------------------
The more we anal-yse look back on the details of the race, the more I think that Jumbo-Visma mainly won it by making the least screw-ups.

Heh. It is quite large, and what I really spotted was that he couldn't get clipped in and suggested why not. It's a level of detail that can pass me by after a couple of glasses

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Naesen points out the obvious

https://www.domestiquecycling.com/e...roubaix-comeback-we-were-riding-15kph-faster/

It's hardly new, but I think in these days where so many races have a superman going solo with 50km+ to go it needs to be a lot tighter controlled than it is

This was from Friday in Région Pays de la Loire Tour, where the GC was decided on the final stage

Some exceptional moto-pacing for the young Frenchman in his solo ride in this French race. He takes the stage win and with it the overall from chasers who were about 5" at the flamme rouge behind before the moto got involved again.

Alexander Kamp rode his arse off chasing, came in 4th, 3" behind L'Hote and outside the bonuses, to lose his GC by 12". Daylight robbery.

 

[MadMalx]

Lego highlights from Sunday (in Flemish):

View: https://youtu.be/45wyyrBy_kc?si=kkPnidTcqX3ibjpn

 

[wakemalcolm]

Thanks. Think it's all the better for me not being able to understand the commentary.

 

[phreak]

Does anyone think that Tadej could do a Gilbert and add the bulk to master the cobbles? It would mean sacrificing Strade Bianche and Liege for a year but he could feasibly drop the weight by July (possibly).

Maybe one for when he's got 6 tours and a Vuelta.

You'd think he'd want to tick the Vuelta off at some point, so he could feasibly bulk up a bit, use the Giro to get back into mountain condition (while having a free hit at winning it) and then be firing for the Vuelta.