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

[wakemalcolm]

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.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Also bear in mind that both Pogi and MvdP had had very long chases to get back in contention, whereas Wout's chase was comparatively short, and helped by Pithie and the other Red Bull rider for a lot of the chase.
Given Pogi was doing most of the work when the 2 were away, Wout also had much fresher legs and therefore could exploit his superior sprint.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Every time WVA went to the front i shouted at the tv. But he knows how he feels better than i do and won the sprint easily so it worked out. No one should ever work with Pogacar in a one day race.

Except that by working with Pogi on Sunday, Wout got the win he had been dreaming of.....

 

[matticus]

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.

Yes, I think this would be his easiest path to winning. Although I disagree that he could easily drop the weight for the Tour - or rather, I think it would bo**ox up his preparation for the Tour.

As you say, one for when he has 6 Tours on his palmares!

 

[matticus]

There are videos on Fa*ebook of Pog hanging out with young people, sat cross-legged on the Roubaix grass infield.
Anyone know who/what/why?? [The comments are italian/dutch]

TIA!

 

[matticus]

Hard disagree. I did Flanders last year and was a bit complacent about the cobbles - they were pretty brutal. Hands and feet were pretty toasted in a way that no UK ride has ever done.

(Background: I've ridden 250km of Roubaix, and only the 3-4 "highlight" climbs* of Flanders: )


Roubaix beat me up enormously, but my legs were kinda ok (bear in mind I'm used to 300km Audax rides in a day!). I've rarely been so happy to reach a finish line.
The Flanders climbs were tough, but the cobbles [*on those climbs] quite harmless as I was going so slowly!
SO: assuming there are few flat secteurs of note on the latter, I fancy a go at the full thing one day. (whereas I'll NEVER do Roubaix again! Unless it's for a laugh on 40mm tyres. Maybe ...)

Whaddya think?

*EDIT: which are of course all cobbled

 

[Dogtrousers]

(Background: I've ridden 250km of Roubaix, and only the 3-4 "highlight" climbs of Flanders

Roubaix beat me up enormously, but my legs were kinda ok (bear in mind I'm used to 300km Audax rides in a day!). I've rarely been so happy to reach a finish line.
The Flanders climbs were tough, but the cobbles quite harmless as I was going so slowly!
SO: assuming there are few flat secteurs of note on the latter, I fancy a go at the full thing one day. (whereas I'll NEVER do Roubaix again! Unless it's for a laugh on 40mm tyres. Maybe ...)

Whaddya think?

I thought that to neutralise cobbles you had to go fast. So while it's fine to ride up Alpine climbs at 10kmh, trying to trundle over cobbles is not a cop out. It makes things worse.

Edit. On re-reading You're talking about cobblers on climbs. I'm thinking more about the flat Roubaix sectors. So I'm probably spouting nonsense as usual.

Anyway, a trip to the Franco Belgian border for a bit of fun cycling to emulate the greats is not appearing in my future.

 

[misforturob]

Yes, I think this would be his easiest path to winning. Although I disagree that he could easily drop the weight for the Tour - or rather, I think it would bo**ox up his preparation for the Tour.

As you say, one for when he has 6 Tours on his palmares!

A winter on the pies and then smash Paris-Roubaix - sounds like a win-win to me!

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

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.

Couldn't he just race on a very heavy bike instead?

 

[CarbonClem]

(Background: I've ridden 250km of Roubaix, and only the 3-4 "highlight" climbs of Flanders

Roubaix beat me up enormously, but my legs were kinda ok (bear in mind I'm used to 300km Audax rides in a day!). I've rarely been so happy to reach a finish line.
The Flanders climbs were tough, but the cobbles quite harmless as I was going so slowly!
SO: assuming there are few flat secteurs of note on the latter, I fancy a go at the full thing one day. (whereas I'll NEVER do Roubaix again! Unless it's for a laugh on 40mm tyres. Maybe ...)

Whaddya think?

I did Paris Roubaix and over prepared - gloves, doubled wrapped bars, metal bottle cages squeezed to hold bidons, a few spare tubes and actually a spare tyre - didn't need any of that but it was very harsh, especially the Arenberg Trench - crazy rough!
I then did Gent - Wevelgum which I did some prep for such as gloves, cages but it was really mild I thought. I got complacent.
I did Flanders last year after a gap due to the Covid cancellations etc and just rocked up no gloves, one spare tube and nothing else special. First secteur was a shock to the system and I was rattled over the course of the ride (I did the mid route, so didn't ride from Bruges). The distance/hills are fine, it was just the pave that was the difference.

I've had such a good time at each of them and all in great weather that I'm not minded to return to any of them, but to call it 'one and done' and do other stuff. Highly recommended though.

 

[CarbonClem]

I read something about the weight Pog has gained to ride the cobbles. I assume they have calculated the maximum he can gain to succeed without damaging his next races, such as LBL. I reckon they must have it dialled - he is getting as close as he can. He just needs a clean run at it, so to speak.

 

[mididoctors]

I

I've had such a good time at each of them and all in great weather that I'm not minded to return to any of them, but to call it 'one and done' and do other stuff. Highly recommended though.

One and done seems about right. I rode a bit of the cobbles in my time. Never felt the draw . If it was a big festive sportif maybe .

I like empty roads in spectacular terrain.

 

[mididoctors]

I read something about the weight Pog has gained to ride the cobbles. I assume they have calculated the maximum he can gain to succeed without damaging his next races, such as LBL. I reckon they must have it dialled - he is getting as close as he can. He just needs a clean run at it, so to speak.

Without the chase back on he was looking very good for it

 

[matticus]

I think Pog could benefit from a lot more mass than he has now.

"In the 2025 edition of the Hell of the North, Pogacar (reportedly with a weight of 66Kg) was by far the lightest rider on the Top10. Markus Hoelgaard, weighting 74, was the lightest - whilst Florian Vermeersch with 85Kg was the heaviest. " https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...or-paris-roubaix-according-to-a-former-winner

Google suggests he is only 2.5kg heavier this year? Much lighter than a typical Roubaix top10 rider. Wout is 74kg on Wiki! Admittedly he's 3" shorter than most of these guys, so perhaps that influences his ideal weight, hard to say!

 

[matticus]

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