The Cobbled Classics thread - spoilers!

A 1-minute gap already! 😳

This is going to be another embarassing margin isn't it? Just tuned in for a minute as someone from Team Lease-a-bike ambled up to the front then sat there looking behind, it looked like they were already just manoeuvring for 2nd place 🙄

'Everyone has a plan....until they get punched in the face' - Mike Tyson MVDP

Echoes of Strada Bianche? He's ridden away and it looks like they just kind of accepted* it.

*I realise they are probably all cooked though!

Didn't realise that this was Pidcock's first senior Roubaix. Just doesn't look like he quite has the power on the cobbles.

This commentator is doing my head in, don’t know who’s worse, him or SK

Impressive but there'll always be the " if WVA was fit" question over the dominance

At what point does it become unbelievable?

This commentator is doing my head in, don’t know who’s worse, him or SK

It's Rob Hatch who's normally OK but he's getting a bit carried away with this.
SK needs to be retired, he's well past his best.

Didn’t realise that this was Pidcock’s first senior Roubaix. Just doesn’t look like he quite has the power on the cobbles.

He's tiny! He did well in the U21 but most of the U21 were all similar stature. MvDP has the perfect physique to batter a big gear over the cobbles. Pidcock is still going to be top 20 though so great effort

could say the same about Pog @ flanders, I think MvdP would prefer it if they were there but it's not within his control.

Impressive but there’ll always be the ” if WVA was fit” question over the dominance

I'm a big WvA fan but I guess partly because he looks human in his victories. I don't think he would have stood a chance against MvdP in this form, he'd be stuck back with Pedersen and Pollit providing a lead out for Philipsen 🙄

He’s tiny!

Yep! 60kg or there abouts?

MvDP is just an utter machine!

Impressive stuff but the Women's race was more exciting to watch to the finish. This became pretty much a procession. I'll admit that the way that Alpecin rode the first 100km up to the cobbles was a masterclass in whittling the bunch down.

Only the second man to do the double in the World Champion's jersey - some achievement.

Some ride that!! Can not comprehend the strength of these guys.

Fred Wright was highest Brit in 13th at 4'47", Tom Pidcock finished 17th - first rider out of the 4th chasing group that was 6'20" back.

Rob Hatch's exaggerated pronunciations of places and names gets in the way of his commentary

Jasper Philipsen had the ride of his life. #teamsport. I rode their last 100km on rollers. One fall but no submission.

These early attacks to the finish are making racing a bit boring IMO. Very impressive but not great viewing.

I don't remember this being all that common in the past (rose tinted spectacles time!)

I don't think anyone was daft enough to follow Van Der Poel and inevitably melt in his wake and end up way down the field. I think it really is that simple this time. 🤷‍♂️

I don’t remember this being all that common in the past (rose tinted spectacles time!)

It rarely ever happened at all. I remember people losing there minds when Gilbert went from 50k out in Flanders. To go from the distances MVdP is doing, in both Flanders and Roubaix, and win by margins of several minutes: I'm not sure how far back you'd have to go to see a similar performance. Has it even been done?

This is at a time when the peloton are riding faster than ever. I don't normally give much thought to what's happening behind the scenes but it does make you wonder how a select bunch of riders are suddenly able to make it possible.

I’m a big WvA fan but I guess partly because he looks human in his victories. I don’t think he would have stood a chance against MvdP in this form, he’d be stuck back with Pedersen and Pollit providing a lead out for Philipsen

Exactly what I said, he didn't ride so we'll never know. He'd based all his off season training on flanders and Roubaix for the first time ever too so I'm not so sure it would have been such a walkover.

I’m not sure how far back you’d have to go to see a similar performance. Has it even been done?

Andre Tchmil won from 60k out in 1994, MVDP went from 59.3k to go. MVDP beat his own fastest ever time from last year though

MVDP beat his own fastest ever time from last year though

There was a significant tailwind for much of the route though.

I rode out into a headwind yesterday and in spite of being kind of wrecked by the time I was coming home courtesy of having slogged into the bloody wind for 20 miles, I set quite a few PRs on the tailwind-assisted homeward leg without even trying to smash it. It does make a huge difference.

Plus being on your own and able to take the ideal line choice every time.

Andre Tchmil won from 60k out in 1994

Did he do the same in Flanders the week before though? When people do pull it off, it's usually a one off.

Rob Hatch’s exaggerated pronunciations of places and names gets in the way of his commentary

i know what you mean but it’s rare to hear Dutch names being pronounced even semi-correctly.

Did he do the same in Flanders the week before though? When people do pull it off, it’s usually a one off.

It was 94, he probably only had the one transfusion

Evening all, just watched a few highlights on YT and noted that the Arenberg seemed very quiet for spectators, lots of gaps on the barriers. This surprised me as I recall great difficulty getting a view when I have been there live.

I am missing something obvious here?

Impressive but there’ll always be the ” if WVA was fit” question over the dominance

I know he was focusing his season around Flanders and Roubaix but I think MvdP is a level above Wout now. Six monuments to one, a World title on the road in dominant fashion, and six cross World titles. I do wonder if WvA has tried to spread himself too thin at times - super domestique for JV etc. And wonder if he regrets gifting Laporte the win at Gent Wevelgem a few years back. Phenomenal talent but a bit of a bridesmaid if you compare him to MvdP (at the moment).

And I like Rob Hatch's pronunciation - makes an effort to get it right at least. Speaks four languages fluently, so I'll bow to his greater knowledge and linguistics!

Cancellara and Boonen both went from a way out at least once iirc?  I think that there is an element of rose tinted specs here.  Some years there's a small group to sprint, others a cobbles specialist/utter engine makes sure that there's no sprint.  Today was one of the bigger distances out to attack from, but there have been plenty of others in the 15 years that I've followed pro cycling.

Tchmil’s win in ‘94 was also memorable for being the last truly filthy edition - struggling to even remember a wet edition this century.

 struggling to even remember a wet edition this century.

erm 2021?

Cancellara and Boonen both went from a way out at least once iirc?

Remember the furore around Cancellara potentially using a motor? There were videos showing the "unusual" movement of his hands on the bars (allegedly to turn the motor on and off).

Nothing conclusive ever came of it but the rumours persisted for years.

Yeah I remember that @crazy-legs iirc it was the year that he went from about 40-50km out to win. 2010-12 era I think?

Last wet one was when that Italian sprinter won wasn't it? Colbreli? (Seemed dodgy as hell the form he was in around that time!)

And I like Rob Hatch’s pronunciation – makes an effort to get it right at least.

Me too. He does well considering he's from Accrington.

Anyway I reckon we got two cracking races this year.

IIRC 2002 100th edition was a rather wet one as well.

MvdP what a unit. Looked totally in control. Plus the team too: look, either I'm going long or jaspers going to out sprint you, so let's just decide I'm the winner shall we?

Missed tarling and the sticky bottle. How blatant was it?

Very obvious sticky bottle and no question he should have been DQ’d. Very poor decision from him and the team. He’s 20 years old in his first PR and whoever allowed him to do that in the team car should be in a heap of trouble from the team.

It didn't help the team car accelerated as well.

He’s 20 years old in his first PR and whoever allowed told him to do that in the team car should be in a heap of trouble from the team.

FTFY

I can understand when people don’t realise that cycling is a team sport. They should look at todays ride. Vermeesch closed down chase after chase from the moment MVDP went and thoroughly demoralised the chasers. Epic in a very different way and seriously contributed to MVDP’s win and Phillipsen’s second

Vermeesch closed down chase after chase…

Yes, he rode a blinder, all over the counter-attacks. Poor old Mads was really stifled by the Alpercin tactics.

Got to give MVDP credit - an incredible performance even if it takes away from the excitement over the last hour. A class of his own right now.

No ones fault but would have liked to have seen what Lidl-Trek could have done with Steyven and Kirsch. It seemed a couple of weeks ago like they could have given Alpecin a real challenge. Sadly with those two out Mads seemed mostly alone, and totally wrapped up by Phillipsen and Vermeersch. Likewise with WvA of course.

Thought Pidcock did pretty well for first full PR. Never looked like winning but went pretty deep considering he wasn't scheduled to ride it at all.

Final thought - women's race was excellent. Lots of contenders, deserving winner, Georgi a surprise 3rd just pipping Vos.

Now being on the Ardennes!

Now being on the Ardennes!

Yep - the semi-Classic Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday 10th then a Sunday / Wednesday / Sunday of Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

I'll miss Amstel and FW on account of being in Spain...