(Dagbladet): Sunday is ready for cycling classic Paris-Roubaix – “hell of the north” – and Alexander Kristoff is perhaps the biggest favorite after having picked eleven victories so far this season. Just last weekend in Flanders.
But it should go all the way there is a lot that needs to fall into place. It has Alexander Kristoff been noticing the body before. Last year witnessed Kristoff both puncture and wallow in multi race.
– This is a race where anything can happen. There is much overturning and punctures and uforusette things. If there is someone who has qualified to tackle such things, it Kristoff, in the shape he’s in now. You must calculate with almost accidentally in this race. It is the only race where riders are padded before starting to have protection against such things, says TV2 bike expert Mads Kaggestad Dagbladet.
Despite the fact that most keep north man to be favorite , it is not so pipa sounds from the edge.
– Kristoff talking down their chances. Do not realize that there should be so much worse than winning the Tour of Flanders. Especially when you see the way he won the Tour of Flanders at last. There was no luck that he stood atop the podium there. He has good reason to have favorite stamp tomorrow, says Kaggestad.
– Absolutely ridiculous
What has been the grandest multi race was first held in 1896. The trail varies from year to year, but always contains many demanding cobblestone sections. This year’s edition contains 27, including the old through Arenberg (2.4 km) which at times has proven to be truly decisive.
– Let me describe it this way: They’ve plowed over a dirt road, flown over by helicopter and just threw a bunch of rocks out of it. It’s Paris-Roubaix. It is so bad – totally ridiculous! said American Chris Horner in 2004.
View Image carousel from Paris-Roubaix top!
Challenging rides notwithstanding, that’s not why it has been nicknamed ” hell in the north. ” It comes after the first race was held after the First World War was over, when the riders drove through places that were hard affected by the war.
This year’s race is also 253.5 km far.
Hushovd almost
Thor Hushovd had stated goal to win Paris-Roubaix. It failed, however, he did not during his career, but he was very close. In 2009, he was number three, and in 2010 – the same year he became world champion – he was number two.
In 2009, Boonen and Hushovd torn free from the rest of the field, but the Norwegian overturned 15 kilometers from the finish. Then won Boonen and Hushovd was third. The following year had north man beaten by Fabian Cancellara.
Alexander Kristoff was also among the candidates win last year, but was unfortunate. He punctured twice and crashed twice, one time after being hampered by a motorcycle. Having overturned a second time, he chose to stand by race. Then it was Niki Terpstra – which Kristoff spurtslo when he won the Tour of Flanders last weekend – who won.
The Belgians Tom Boonen and Roger de Vlaeminck has the most wins in the race, they both stand with four.
Can write history
Alexander Kristoff has the opportunity to become the first Norwegian to win both the race and the double Paris-Roubaix / Flanders. Only ten riders divided into two nations have managed it since 1913. Two Swiss and eight Belgians.
Mads Kaggestad it difficult to put the two races against each other.
– I can not rate anything when it comes to these. The result is isolated nothing major in Paris-Roubaix than Flanders. It’s taste. Some like Moteuka in London, others Moteuka in Milan. There is something historic atmosphere of the classics. It is a very special riding events. I can not rank the races over each other, says Kaggestad.
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