UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
I was at a product launch a few weeks ago and they were talking about how many watts a particular pair of wheels would save, and then started talking about the aero profile of tyres and watts saved there. I’m wondering how many of these crashes are because teams or riders are electing to sacrifice grip in turns in return for a few watts saved in a straight line…
Tyre widths have gone up considerably over the years. They should have a good bit more grip if anything.
I think we witness a lot more crashes now because almost every moment of every race is now caught on camera. But I think a lot of it is probably down to how they race now. We hear it constantly from the older guys in the peloton and the retired riders, how speeds have gone up and it's become so much more manic from the moment the race starts. Nicolas Roche was talking about it on Instagram about how descents were when he would usually go and grab a few bottles because that was the time to take a bit of a break. And that's the thing that gets repeated: there are no breaks any more, the race is on until you cross the line. There's a big change in dynamics there.
You get a lot of talk about bike handling too of course, how they haven't grown up riding in chaingangs from the age of 3 like they used to or whatever, but I find it hard to believe that anyone in the pro peloton is a bad bike handler. Some of the shit they do on a daily basis is mental.
looks like it's going to be a biblically fast race tomorrow, 26km/h gusting to 50km/h tailwind ! Echelons a go go on some sections 🙂
Forecast for the race looks like dry weather. Normally I look forward to a wet and muddy P-R but given all the horrible crashes recently I’ll be happy to see all the riders survive tomorrow unscathed.
My buddy riding the amateur event this morning, v.jealous. Just wish there was some footage! 😂
It's still a massive bucket list thing for me but I've just never managed to string together the consistency and a decent period free of injury. Maybe next year 🙄
Anyone out in Roubaix today, riding the sportive and watching the pros race today/tomorrow?
Looks like you don't get to finish in the Velodrome on the Sportive? I think I'd feel a little bit cheated about that!
Women's race coverage starting on EuroSport now. 🙂
First section of cobbles coming up soon, live stream saying the race all together at the moment.
cracking race in the Basque Country!
Lots of back and forth in P-R so far, groups forming, being brought back, more attacks...
British Champion Pfeiffer Georgi slightly caught out and just dangling a few seconds off the back of the leading group of favourites. 16km to go...
Wow, close finish! Couldn't call that one coming to the line.
Amazing for Pfeiffer Georgi getting podium too, she's over the moon with that!
The women’s race has been brilliant two years on the trot now. Kopecky and Vos seem cut from the same cloth: they both know how to take the race by the scruff of the neck.
Start list for the Men's race tomorrow:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/paris-roubaix/2024/startlist
I see Ineos have chucked in a last minute (and obviously healed up) Tom Pidcock!
Inrng have a good preview:
https://inrng.com/2024/04/paris-roubaix-2024-preview/#more-44236
km0
Standby...
Standby...
GO!
I might watch the first 20 minutes of attacks then come back for the cobbles in 3hrs time.
then come back for the cobbles in 3hrs time
is a good plan. weather is looking ok
Jens Voigt on the EuroSport moto! Awesome. 🙂
It's a RAPID start - mid-50's kph with peaks into the high 60's.
nasty crash and keeping the break on a very short leash!
Cobbles!
I've had it on in the background while doing other stuff around the house.
Any free to air coverage online?
Farmers out blocking the route now according to Jens!
Any free to air coverage online?
No - EuroSport or Discovery+ only.
Peloton is shattering already, gaps opening all over the place. The speed is just insane, they're averaging about 32mph. OK there's a decent tailwind but Alpecin are drilling it, using the crosswinds now to split it further.
wtaf!! look where you are going man!
wtaf!! look where you are going man!
Poor guy. I reckon he was probably already wrecked from his first crash - there should be rules against continuing in those circumstances. He's in pain already, can't concentrate properly, is working overtime just to stay in the bunch, possibly on painkillers which have dulled his reaction time.
🙁
Josh Tarling DQ
IGN blue are good
D'oh, just ordered Michelin Regional Road Map 511, looked decent but 8 times the scale of the IGN maps (albeit I think you would need 4 of those IGN maps for the full route?).
It will do for now, I've planned a few routes based around gravel versions of the Paris Roubaix but every time I watch it on TV I see some amazing sector that I want to ensure I've included!
Alpecin are on a mission!
Here comes the Arenberg! (in 10km)
.@13thfloormonk :
https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-2024/map/
https://www.paris-roubaix.fr/en/overall-route
Race maps are usually available, on the aso website I think
.
Who's the EF rider in the front group?
Pidcock got himself right up the front on that CX-style hairpin entry to Arenberg! Nice work.
Who’s the EF rider in the front group?
Stefan Bissegger. Swiss TT Champion.
As Gary Lineker said
Football Cycling is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans van der Poel always win.
awesome!
Very haphazard chase behind...
