I'm with Ian, his fourth paragraph nails it. Sky should've done the BMC thing to Boonen. I know that may seem "negative" and they probably didn't think he could go full-on Cancellara and TT like that from so far out, but shut that shit down once it's 10 seconds! And while it may seem a little "unusual" (not saying it wasn't), like Ian said, he was eeking about 5 seconds here and there taking great lines over and out of the cobbled sectors. Cancellara would almost immediately put in a minute with a massive acceleration, have it creep up to 2 and half, and then put it in cruise control. Which is a spectacle and amazing to witness, but being that dominant means no one give you an inch. The pack simply didn't think Boonen could creep away like that.

Yeah, Sky: let's have one of our 4 guys hammer on the front of the chase until he explodes and is OTB. Great plan! I know it's hard to rotate through cobbles and everyone would like to have a better sight line so that inhibits closing the gap, but jeeeeeeze. They could've done better on the smoother sections.

But props to Boonen. I wore my De Vlaeminck Gis Gelati jersey in tribute. Not sure if that's Fred or not.

Were you guys watching the NBC (nee Versus) coverage? Because when I turned it on, all I got was a boring intro from Phil and Paul, cut straight to Boonen 45 seconds up with the group chasing behind. I kept on media lock-down all yesterday, just so I could treat myself to an exciting monumental race. Instead I get to watch a ITT being chased by the worst TTT ever. snore. delete.

NBC is terrible for the classics. I like the fact Versus has been re-branded, b/c the more mainstream recognition of the channel's name might help promote cycling (and they do a decent enough job with their NHL coverage. My second favorite sport.).

But steephill has feeds of most races, even if they're not always in English on Eurosport (it can be fun to listen in Dutch while reading text updates from Pelkey or cyclingnews too). It started at 7am, so you got the Arenberg and everything. Plus, after a surprisingly talkative spring, Sean Kelly was back to his restful state yesterday. I love that guy. There were a few times when David Harmon would ask him a question, and after a lengthy pause and the sound of crickets chirping, David would just keep on talking as if it had never been asked. So funny.

Roubaix has been cancelled (again)

2020 blows

I know I should be thankful for all the racing we have been getting and I understand that rates are too high in that area of France, but I am still disappointed

PatrickGrehan said:

Roubaix has been cancelled (again)

2020 blows

I know I should be thankful for all the racing we have been getting and I understand that rates are too high in that area of France, but I am still disappointed

Sucks. I think this would have been the first edition of the women's race. They are back to their traditional April 2021 Schedule. Hope we get to see it then.

I was really looking forward to PR being at the end of october. With lots of rain forecast in the next 14 days and falling temperatures this had the potential of being a classic edition.

Now we will get another warm, dry, dusty edition - which is nowhere near as much fun (for those of us watching on TV)

Seems fanciful to expect the giro to complete the 3 weeks also,
Gent-Wevelgem  should be awesome , big show down between MVDP & WVA in probably last race of the year 

I would not be surprised if they cancel the Vuelta also this year.

Thierry Bonnaire said:

I would not be surprised if they cancel the Vuelta also this year.

Good point. I’m starting to worry this pandemic is going to be measured in years not months

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/03/paris-roubaix-postponed-due-to-new-covid-19-restrictions/

the saddest news

Again, what a complete bummer.

An inspired event I wanted to do in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia called Harris-Roubaix is also cancelled.

So...the rare fall Paris-Roubaix is Sunday.

Saw this article about tire rolling resistance and think it probably should go in this thread

https://www.velonews.com/gear/road-gear/15-paris-roubaix-tires-lab-tested-for-speed-on-a-rough-surface/

Considering the prediction is for rain Sunday, I'm thinking teams will lean toward tubulars, a consequence of the fear of having to ride a flat tire.  

Not sure what's going on Sunday or who's racing then, but on Saturday we get to see Mariana Vos race the cobbles of Paris Roubaix. SO.MUCH.HOTNESS.

mugwump said:

So...the rare fall Paris-Roubaix is Sunday.

Saw this article about tire rolling resistance and think it probably should go in this thread

https://www.velonews.com/gear/road-gear/15-paris-roubaix-tires-lab-tested-for-speed-on-a-rough-surface/

Considering the prediction is for rain Sunday, I'm thinking teams will lean toward tubulars, a consequence of the fear of having to ride a flat tire.  

I cant read that article , but i did see yesterday that the Trek women's team re coned the coarse with both tubeless and tubular and by the end most riders went with tubeless 

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/09/trek-segafredo-recons-the-first-womens-paris-roubaix/

1x Roubaix.

Guys , just in case your doing a fantasy team 

Gilbert: I'm not the favourite at Paris-Roubaix

THIS. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVrFI8TUcM0

Looks like the women's race rides into rain and the men's out of it. There will be mud! 

I quite like the commentating on the aussi SBS channel (via VPN) vs—please god not Bob Roll on Peacock. Although Peacock has coverage of men's race from 5:00am.  

https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1443977178543280128?s=20

GCN+ has the women race once coverage starts for those who wanna check it out

Does anyone know if any bars will be showing the race? would be fun to watch with some frites and a beer. I think the BXL Cafe had a viewing party a few years ago, but doesnt look like they plan to do anything this year?

Years ago, Maglia Rosa had a viewing event but I’m not sure they still do. 

Lizzie Deignan didn’t wear gloves. Tough as fricken nails

JohnMalcolmson said:

I guess I should be grateful that Moscon didn't take it, but Colbrelli is such a dickhead.

Couldn't agree more - on both counts.

ack!

Epic day.

Will comment once we end the spoiler business

 No spoiler here, 10/10 agree that Moscon deserves infinite untimely mechanicals. 

RobertMullen said:

Genuine, non inflammatory Q- why’s Cobrelli an unsavory dude? I don’t know much about him except he gets a lot of top 5s in sprint and random mountain stages.

 No spoiler here, 10/10 agree that Moscon deserves infinite untimely mechanicals. 

Yeah , can’t remember wishing a guy to flat out before, 
seemed like his pressure was to high on the spare .
I saw cobrelli saying how the three had worked together, which wasn’t what I saw