(Procycling.no): The 114 edition of Paris-Roubaix can be a struggle between generations as top favorites Fabian Cancellara (Trek Segafredo) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) clash after starting shot in Compiègne Sunday morning. But aside from the duel between the abdicates classic king and the young world champion, is likely to an open, unpredictable and potentially rainy rides, with both Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Tom Boonen Team Quick Step set to correct the impression before the curtain falls for the Flemish classics.
Belgian riders generally also has its proving. The otherwise victory habitual Flandria is approaching perhaps something like an existential crisis after another humiliating record was set last Sunday. Flanders got his fourth overseas win in a row. The aging Boonen is their last win in Roubaix (2012), and with Greg Van Avermaet injured and Tiesj Benoot hard bruised, falling much of the expectations on Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo), which is often a victim of its own capricious fate.
There was an aura of defeat around lagbussen for Team Quick Step on the market square of Oudenaarde last Sunday. In Flanders had the Belgian star crew for the umpteenth time this season failed to infiltrate the decisive breakthrough and ended up in 8th to Zdeněk Štybar, as well as three other riders top fifteen. With the words “not good enough” was team manager Patrick Lefevere unequivocal in his exasperation, but sports director Wilfried Peeters was still optimistic that the trend could reverse in Roubaix.
– It is easier in a race like Roubaix using the breadth our. In Flanders it’s all about knowledge of the course. Roubaix is a completely different race. We will have many in the final, said Peeters.
With names like Styb, Boonen, Niki Terpstra, Stjin Vandenbergh and Paris-Tours winner Matteo Trentin is the breadth of Team Quick Step incomparable on paper. Maybe Tony Martin a more prominent role later in the race after a strong show of Flanders. But the team’s ability to create a win based on a numerical advantage – as done with Stijn Devolder (in Flanders) and Terpstra (Roubaix) – seems to have disappeared in parallel with Boone falling strength the past two seasons.
Boone eternal rival Fabian Cancellara is demonstrably in much strong form. Trek Segafredo also has a rock solid crew founded on many years of experience and talented youngsters. But Trek It probably all about one man when the triple winner makes his last Roubaix. “Spartacus” was perhaps the strongest of Flanders, and although he was strangely passive as the decisive breakthrough went after Taaienberg, there is little to indicate that the 35-year-old should not involve themselves in the victory fight.
And what unstoppable Sagan? Although he can only refer to a top ten position in Roubaix, chances are good that we are witnessing a Ronde-Roubaix double this coming Sunday. The Slovak world champion has been a visual chorus in front throughout the spring season, and after two convincing victories in Gent-Wevelgem and Flanders, it appears that he has timed shape quite perfect. In Flanders he showed also how raw iron and aggressive driving can be worthy substitutes for lack of team support and tactical finesse.
Alexander Kristoff confirmed in both Flanders and scheldeprijs this week that he is not in the same, good steam as last year. But the rapid and tenacious Katusha rider must be counted among the favorites, if he survives in the front group until Velodrome. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) has “Hell of the North” that the great dream and shape are spotted onto this weekend. Eddy’s former teammates in Team Sky has two vinnerkaditater in Ian Stannard (3 in E3) and Luke Rowe (5 in Flanders).
Lotto Soudal has both Jürgen Roelandts and Tiesj Benoot in good shape. The latter crashed dog in Flanders and injured shoulder. They are not big favorites, but maybe they are smart and lucky enough to anticipates the largest, such as Vansummeren (2011), O’Grady (2007) or Demol (1988).
But Belgium’s principal must be Sep Vanmarcke, which has a good record in Roubaix, with 11, 4th and 2nd place of their last three participations. He was 3.Man is in Flanders recently and is one of the few riders who looks more comfortable out on the cobblestone than asphalt. It can also say about Lars Boom (Astana), when the rocks are wet and slippery, as some forecast predicts. Cyclocross riders Boom and Styb will find much to like in the difficult conditions.
route
52.8 km cobblestone across 27 sectors will be accelerated in Sunday’s 257.5 km long race from Compiegne to velodrome in Roubaix. Nerves will build up gradually towards the first coming after 100 kilometers at Troisvilles. With its 2200 meters it is one of the more rugged stretches. On top swings riders left and downward. It is this party organizer considering safety after several days of heavy rainfall.
Shortly after carrying it toward Quiévy and Saint-Python, as some will know from last year’s Tour de France stage. The only new sector at this year’s Parcours is a few kilometers later. After 127 km, between Capelle and Ruesnes, crossed the hilly portion Hameau du Buat who is back after three years of absence.
The strategic points of the trail is, however, as before. After 162 kilometers will race really come to life when five sectors Trouée d’Arenberg (2400 meters) is forced by Wallers. The entrance to the sector’s rapid and position game as feverishly as a mass sprint. Those who fall here or are experiencing problems in the forest under the naked birches, tend to stop for a long zone which comes just after.
Based in recent years events, we get enough also interesting activity on the horrible stones at Orchies after about 195 km. Team Quick Step has a habit of sending out one of their rams at this time. 15 km later, one of the longest, Mons-en-Pevele, three-kilometer stretch that is often the last eye of the needle into the finals.
The favorites that have survived so far will usually settle among themselves at Carrefour de l’Arbre, a tough and 2100 meters long party that comes just 17 kilometers before Velodrome. But if the wet weather forecast for Sunday strikes, we can not rely on any script. Then it is only Darwinian rulebook applicable.
In Paris-Roubaix, it has not rained properly since 2002, when Johan Museeuw won after an impressive attack 40 kilometers from Roubaix. A good picture of this edition, we received the Tour de France two years ago when Lars Boom won the rainy cobblestone stage to Wallers. That day, two sectors were removed from the stage and talked about doing the same before Sunday’s race, if conditions become too muddy in some places.
The wind may be just as crucial. In recent days there has blown downwind from the south and the trend should continue through the weekend. These are favorable wind conditions for riders who want to attack early.
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