The Cobbled Classics thread – spoilers!

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!

race is completely smashed to pieces!

echelons!

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.

I had a quick look to see if I could get it free and couldn’t see anywhere that actually did then decided just to pay the subscription to Discovery+. Must say I enjoy watching it without any adverts.

wtaf!! look where you are going man!

I quite fancy picking up a paper map of the route, or just the relevant French road map, anyone know where to find such a thing?

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

@13thfloormonk

IGN blue are good

https://dash4it.co.uk/ign-top-25-serie-bleu-lille-roubaix-tourcoing-2504.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiMmwBhDmARIsABeQ7xRFKOo_oZAyjDMup9iIOCxQAaEDpQrM67N7sSJrdwwNSmTviIzwBdgaAliMEALw_wcB

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.

crazy race 😕

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.

BOOM!

Looks just as strong this week as he did last!

awesome!

Very haphazard chase behind…

Alpecin are playing a blinder

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