It's on this Sunday.

Boonnen looks string, but I'm pulling for Flecha.

What says y'all?

Good preview here: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/apr08/roubaix08/

it could be fun to watch. Rain is forecast.

it could be fun to watch. Rain is forecast.
Epic. It snowed and rained in Flanders and maybe an even better (sloppier) PR. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

I wonder who that would give the advantage (and luck) to? Teh Belgians?

My money's on Hincapie finally taking it, Flecha second again

I don't expect he'll actually win, but chapeau to Frederic Guesdon, who is in pretty good form at an advanced cycling age and still showing himself at the end of the spring classics.

Boonen.

Tommeke, almost certain.

I'm going to say Boonen, because he sure needs the win, but its actually wide open this year.

I think this may be Hincapie's year. This is the first time that he has had a strong classics team to support him. On the other hand it may be too strong of a classics team as Klier, Knaven and Burghardt are very strong contenders.

I'm going with Boonen again. He is due for a major win. Seemed to have decent form last weekend. I suspect this time if there is a QS up the road and it's getting down to the wire, Boonen will work this time to bring it back.

I think this may be Hincapie's year. This is the first time that he has had a strong classics team to support him. On the other hand it may be too strong of a classics team as Klier, Knaven and Burghardt are very strong contenders.
Burghardt is hurt. Hammond and Eisel will be there though.

I hear that argument about Hincapie never having a good team around him, too. Frankly I think it is bunk. In '06 he had Devolder, Hammond, Hoste and Gusev. Gusev and Hoste finished 2nd and 4th before being DQ'd. In '05, he had the same guys except Ekimov in place of Gusev.

Burghardt is hurt. Hammond and Eisel will be there though.

I hear that argument about Hincapie never having a good team around him, too. Frankly I think it is bunk. In '06 he had Devolder, Hammond, Hoste and Gusev. Gusev and Hoste finished 2nd and 4th before being DQ'd. In '05, he had the same guys except Ekimov in place of Gusev.
'06 is a bit tough since his steerer broke leaving him injured on the side of the road. Not much he or his team could do.

2005 was probably his best performance, but the finishing sprint was almost a formality. No one was beating Boonen that day.

I do think the old excuse is tired though, more applicable pre 2005.

Boonen is a marked man. It will be difficult for him to get breathing room. He will have to be soooo much stronger just because everyone has their eyes on him.

Everyone was talking Fabian before Flanders but a weak showing has seems to run him off many peoples list. I still think PR is his race to lose. The climbs are what did him in last week.

Hincapie is strong and seems to have support. I hope he does well, but I doubt it. He seems to have the worst luck when it matters the most.

I would absolutely love it if Hincapie took it, but I don't see it happening. I don't think he has a significant edge on Flecha, Hoste, Nuyens or Ballan, and I think Cancellara and Boonen are beyond him.

He's got a good team, but QS and CSC are better, and there are a lot of good teams.

Like always, luck will play an important role, but some people can make their own luck. I don't think Hincapie is one of them. Sad to say.

Cancellara for the win.

Cancellara or Hincapie

'06 is a bit tough since his steerer broke leaving him injured on the side of the road. Not much he or his team could do.

2005 was probably his best performance, but the finishing sprint was almost a formality. No one was beating Boonen that day.

I do think the old excuse is tired though, more applicable pre 2005.

I think he would have won in 06. He was riding strong,relaxed and had two in support, that was his race to take.

I'll root for George, but I'd bet on Tom. But for you classics newbs, you are learning how hard it is to win multiples of these. Now go back and look at eddy and roger. that is impressive.

Is it really a novelty cobble?

I thought it was the real thing..

Now go back and look at eddy and roger. that is impressive.
Coppi new how to ride the cobbles as well. So did Hinault, even though he hated them.

Is it really a novelty cobble?

I thought it was the real thing..
Weel, it's a cobble in trophy form. That's sort of novel.

Cancellara has be on great form I am pulling for him

Not buying into the Cancellara hype this year.

Remember in 2006 when he won PR he had just come off a strong 6th place finish in Flanders, with an elite group of guys after Boonen and Hoste.

I thought he looked lackluster in Flanders this year. Where was the aggression in the final 30 km? He seemed to be out of gas. When P-R starts, MSR will have been 3 weeks earlier, is the form still there?

Its going to be perfectly crappy weather so somebody Big is bringing home the cobble.....as in....Big George or Big Maggie!

Not buying into the Cancellara hype this year.

Remember in 2006 when he won PR he had just come off a strong 6th place finish in Flanders, with an elite group of guys after Boonen and Hoste.

I thought he looked lackluster in Flanders this year. Where was the aggression in the final 30 km? He seemed to be out of gas. When P-R starts, MSR will have been 3 weeks earlier, is the form still there?

Don't think it will be Boonen or Cancellara or any of the big names. They're marked men/teams. My bet is the winner will be a well-known but unexpected winner.

Maaskant.

Maaskant.

You've got a point check this site

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/04/06/flanders-fun-maaskant-12th-in-debut/

This is the one race where I would say that being "marked" isn't that big of a deal. Because of the pave sections, if Boonen is strong and maintains the right position, he will eventually ride everyone off his wheel. This is a true race where the strongest guy usually wins, barring accident.

Or he'll eat the group for lunch if they arrive in the velodrome together (ala 2005).

I've only personally watched the last 3 editions, and that's how it's been (and from what I've read, is what history has shown).

For a "flat" race it rarely if ever ends in a bunch sprint (or even a big sprint)

Flecha takes it.

Outside bets, the Dutch Kids Terpstra and Langeveld

what do the pro's do to their bikes, if anything, to prepare for so much nasty cobble? bigger tires at lower pressure? special bikes?


nevermind, found this:

Due to its course, often compounded by poor weather, Paris-Roubaix presents a technical challenge to riders, team personnel, and equipment. Special frames and wheels are often used for Paris-Roubaix. Many of these modifications are borrowed from cyclo-cross, using wider tires, cantilever brakes, and dual brake levers. Many teams disperse personnel along the course with wheels, equipment and even bicycles in case of equipment failure in locations not accessible to the team car.

Some top riders receive special frames to give more stability and comfort. Different materials make the ride more comfortable. Tom Boonen, winner in 2005, used a TIME frame with longer wheelbase, built for him. In the same edition, George Hincapie was given a frame featuring a 2mm elastomer insert at the top of the seat stays. The manufacturers claimed this took nearly all the shock out of the cobbles. Hincapie's Trek bicycle fared less well in 2006 as his aluminum steerer tube snapped with 46km to go, the crash leading to his withdrawal with a shoulder injury.

The bad roads lead to frequent flat tires. In recent years, motorbikes follow riders to provide wheels to anyone in need, independent of their team. The service fleet includes four motorbikes and four support cars.[16]

You can also check out cyclingnews, they have a few articles on PR bikes.

Here are a couple:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2008/probikes/?id=ballan_lampre_wilierpr08
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/probikes/?id=ogrady_paris_roubaix

Just watched the clip of the '01 paris-roubaix...I am rooting for George this year (again).

My heart is with Hincapie, but my money is on Cancellara/Boonen.

Stuart O'Grady, i am hoping for. Not sure if he is good form, i think is still hasn't fully recovered back to race form since his crash last year. But i am still hoping that he will get over the line first. But i think Cancellara is the strongest.

Boonen.

I love it when I'm right.

Especially on such a long-shot wacko prediction.

.

I'll root for George, but I'd bet on Tom. But for you classics newbs, you are learning how hard it is to win multiples of these. Now go back and look at eddy and roger. that is impressive.

so that is 2 P-Rs and 2 Rondes. Boonen is still the man for the classics
always the same cast and crew
you can sure tell who really likes this race, cause they are always in the hunt

George, looks good, bike (wheel) breaks

Great win by Boonen

Great win by Boonen

I'll have to crow (or cobble) for doubting Boonen's ability to win.

Sorry Tommeke! Last time I doubt you.