Paris-Roubaix **SPOILERS**

[rich p]

Anticipating this one already. If it's as enthralling as the RVV it'll be worth waiting for.
GT says he's happy to play a totally supporting role for EBH in this one. To my untrained eye GT has seemed slightly stronger than Eddie so far but we shall see how it pans out. No mention of Wiggo in his analysis though. Support or maverick wildcard?

 

[The Couch]

Anticipating this one already. If it's as enthralling as the RVV it'll be worth waiting for.
GT says he's happy to play a totally supporting role for EBH in this one. To my untrained eye GT has seemed slightly stronger than Eddie so far but we shall see how it pans out. No mention of Wiggo in his analysis though. Support or maverick wildcard?

Not overwhelmed by the early season form of EBH in the last years, however I do believe that the little climbs are suited a bit better for G, while the flat cobble-sections of PR might indeed suit Hagen better

By the way, given his history/reputation shouldn't G better pass on PR? He could do very well in the Amstel Gold (and he is risking some more crashes now)

 

[jdtate101]

Would love to see Zdenek Sytbar do well after last yrs unfortunate incident within the last 20K's. I'll guess I will find out as I'm going to be there on Sunday cheering from the sidelines, possibly with more than a few beers in me to dull the pain from doing the Paris-Roubaix Challenge the day before. Just slightly looking forward to it all...

 

[User169]

Would love to see Zdenek Sytbar do well after last yrs unfortunate incident within the last 20K's. I'll guess I will find out as I'm going to be there on Sunday cheering from the sidelines, possibly with more than a few beers in me to dull the pain from doing the Paris-Roubaix Challenge the day before. Just slightly looking forward to it all...

Good luck. I'm going too. Starting to brick it a bit now!

 

[laurence]

i'll be cheering for Fab or Tomeke as usual.

 

[jdtate101]

Cobbled sectors of the 2014 Paris-Roubaix
28. Troisvilles (km 97.5 — 2.2km) ★★★
27. Viesly (km 104 — 1.8km) ★★★
26. Quiévy (km 106.5 — 3.7km) ★★★★
25. Saint-Python (km 111 — 1.5km) ★★
24. Solesmes (km 119.5 — 800m) ★★
23. Saulzoir (km 126 — 1.2km) ★★
22. Verchain-Maugré (km 130.5 — 1.6km) ★★★
21. Quérénaing — Famars (km 135 — 1.2km) ★★
20. Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 140.5 — 1.6km) ★★★
19. Haveluy (km 153 — 2.5km) ★★★★
18. Trouée d’Arenberg (km 161.5 — 2.4km) ★★★★★
17. Wallers — Hélesmes “Pont Gibus” (km 167.5 — 1.6km) rating not provided by ASO
16. Hornaing (km 174.5 — 3.7km) ★★★★
15. Warlaing — Brillon (km 182 — 2.4km) ★★★
14. Tilloy — Sars-et-Rosières (km 185 — 2.4km) ★★★★
13. Beuvry-la-Forêt — Orchies (km 191.5 — 1.4km) ★★★
12. Orchies (km 196.5 — 1.7km) ★★★
11. Auchy-lez-Orchies — Bersée (km 202.5 — 2.7km) ★★★★
10. Mons-en-Pévèle (km 208 — 3km) ★★★★★
9. Mérignies – Avelin (km 214 — 700m) ★★
8. Pont-Thibaut (km 217.5 — 1.4km) ★★★
7. Templeuve — Moulin de Vertain (km 223.5 — 500m) ★★
6. Cysoing — Bourghelles (km 230 — 1,300 m) ★★★★ Bourghelles — Wannehain (km 232.5 — 1,100 m) ★★★
5. Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 237 — 1,800 m) ★★★★
4. Le Carrefour de l’Arbre (km 240 — 2,100 m) ★★★★★
3. Gruson (km 242 — 1,100 m) ★★
2. Hem (km 249 — 1,400 m) ★★
1. Roubaix (km 256 — 300 m) ★

EEEEEKKKKKKK....

 

[The Couch]

This is apparently how the first "secteur" looks like:

If Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre looks anything like this, it's gonna be hard to see many people sticking together (since crashes will be aplenty)

 

[jdtate101]

Weather forecast is for clear and dry days and nights for the next week, so hopefully it'll harden up. Even if it does it's going to be REALLY dusty.

 

[The Couch]

Some pics from Wiggo/Sky training on the cobblestones
http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/DMF20140408_01060905?pid=3210054

 

[User169]

What are Wiggo's shoes? They look like old-skool lace-ups.

 

[andrew_s]

They seem to be these shoes
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/giro/empire-acc-road-shoe-ec057845

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

They seem to be these shoes
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/giro/empire-acc-road-shoe-ec057845

 

[Crackle]

They seem to be these shoes
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/giro/empire-acc-road-shoe-ec057845

Yee gods! The price.

 

[Rob3rt]

I like them! The price isn't that shocking either, they are high end shoes after all

 

[themosquitoking]

I have never spent £200 on a pair of shoes, that's the price of a Glastonbury ticket.