Paris - Roubaix

El Loto said:

Who do you think will succeed in Sundays Queen of the Classics. Can Tom Boonen do a "Van Petegem" and win the Queen in the same week as the Ronde or will big Magnus repeat last years victory?

Most people seem to be writing Magnus off but he looked really strong today until some [censored] clipped his wheel.
Boonen was keeping his powder dry though so id have to say he will be fave.But if the weathers [censored] anything can happen.Theres half a dozen riders with a good chance but lucks going to play a big part this year i reckon.
O Grady is due a result this year , i expect to see him on the podium soon.

I'd really like Hincapie to win, but I don't know if thats likely, my predicted winners would be Boonen or Baggstead, with (hopefully) George on the podium.

I dream of Tafi riding away from everyone. A classy rider riding his last year pro who has given his everything in the Northern Classics. Realistically his chances are next to nil, but what is sport without some dreams? 😉

Powerful Pete said:

I dream of Tafi riding away from everyone. A classy rider riding his last year pro who has given his everything in the Northern Classics. Realistically his chances are next to nil, but what is sport without some dreams? 😉

Hey Pete , i bet its tough to go for a quiet ride on the bike in Rome atm eh?
I read that restaurants and hotels and such have made a whole years profit in the last week.

El Loto said:

Who do you think will succeed in Sundays Queen of the Classics. Can Tom Boonen do a "Van Petegem" and win the Queen in the same week as the Ronde or will big Magnus repeat last years victory?

Are those two votes for Klier going to be withdrawn after his crash in G-W?

Thank you for not puting LA as an option which both saved room for a real contender, and will help keep this thread from becoming another Lance is a doper thread.

I too like Hincapie, but I didn't vote for him, because I don't expect to even see him on the podium after the last two races this week. Magnus has my vote this time even though I will give the nod to Boonen as the obvious favorite.

Isn't Hammond a definite for NOT starting? What about Klier, I thought he was banged up pretty bad too?

patch70 said:

Are those two votes for Klier going to be withdrawn after his crash in G-W?

If I could take it back, I would. I didn't he see that he'd crashed out until I noticed a picture of him down. I guess I'll just switch to a vain hope for O'Grady.

wilmar13 said:

Thank you for not puting LA as an option which both saved room for a real contender, and will help keep this thread from becoming another Lance is a doper thread.

I too like Hincapie, but I didn't vote for him, because I don't expect to even see him on the podium after the last two races this week. Magnus has my vote this time even though I will give the nod to Boonen as the obvious favorite.

Isn't Hammond a definite for NOT starting? What about Klier, I thought he was banged up pretty bad too?

He made some comment about going out for a training ride tomorrow to see how he feels. I've sprained my ankle a couple of times and I definitely wasn't in any condition to cycle four days later. Hell, I was still limping.

Hammon broke his thumb and did some ankle damage , hes not going to start for sure.Not sure about Klier.

Van Petegem will win. It was bitter for him at Flanders. I think he's very motivated.

weather's going to make for drama:

(from cyclingnews.com)
Nasty weather for Sunday

The classics purists will be rejoicing at the long term weather forecast for northern France this weekend. Despite a beautiful 20 degree, sunny and windless day for the Ronde van Vlaanderen last Sunday, and drizzles but no downpour at Gent-Wevelgem yesterday, the weather has taken a turn for the worse this week and it's expected to be cold, wet and windy in Roubaix. Forecast maximum temperatures are approximately 10 degrees, and the wind will probably be from the northwest, which will blow ahead and across the riders all day. Added to that are intermittent rain showers, meaning that the Hell of the North will be another slug-fest across the muddy plains of northern France.

Catabolic Jones said:

weather's going to make for drama:

(from cyclingnews.com)
Nasty weather for Sunday

The classics purists will be rejoicing at the long term weather forecast for northern France this weekend. Despite a beautiful 20 degree, sunny and windless day for the Ronde van Vlaanderen last Sunday, and drizzles but no downpour at Gent-Wevelgem yesterday, the weather has taken a turn for the worse this week and it's expected to be cold, wet and windy in Roubaix. Forecast maximum temperatures are approximately 10 degrees, and the wind will probably be from the northwest, which will blow ahead and across the riders all day. Added to that are intermittent rain showers, meaning that the Hell of the North will be another slug-fest across the muddy plains of northern France.

Should be right up Magnus' street.I hope he repeats 🙂

I am certainly of it that Tom Boonen will win, unless he has breakdown.
Beat them all Tom!!!!

Catabolic Jones said:

weather's going to make for drama:

(from cyclingnews.com)
Nasty weather for Sunday

The classics purists will be rejoicing at the long term weather forecast for northern France this weekend. Despite a beautiful 20 degree, sunny and windless day for the Ronde van Vlaanderen last Sunday, and drizzles but no downpour at Gent-Wevelgem yesterday, the weather has taken a turn for the worse this week and it's expected to be cold, wet and windy in Roubaix. Forecast maximum temperatures are approximately 10 degrees, and the wind will probably be from the northwest, which will blow ahead and across the riders all day. Added to that are intermittent rain showers, meaning that the Hell of the North will be another slug-fest across the muddy plains of northern France.

best news i've heard all week 😄.

Boonen or Backstedt are my bets to win. I do hope Guesdon does well, which could happen given how unpredictable this race can be,

De Jongh

You heard it here first.

Boonen's damn impressive, but not invincible, and he'll be a marked man.

I think it'll be between Big Magnus, PVP and Boonen. It would be awesome if those three entered the Roubaix velodrome, although it would be a better situation for Boonen than any of them. Personally i think it would be really great if Andrea Tafi won in his last Hell of the North but i can't choose between Backstedt, Van Petegem and Boonen.

Backstedt is not even favorite, he was very lucky last years.
Boonnen wants it wet, PVP wants it dry. Hoste will be top 5.
Boonen will ride away from all the others. His own team can be his bigest opponent.

If the weather is really nasty then it is possible we could see a similar race to the incredible 1994 one. Its about time we had horrible weather at the "Hell". I'm not sure if Boonen can go solo if PVP is hungry.

http://www.davitamon-lotto.be/fotogallery/verkennning_roubaix/foto1.jpg tommorow's going to be awesome 😄 😄 😄