I just asked the same question in the PR photo thread, can't find it either.I think Fabian Cancellara has a good shot. He won the Milan-San Remo in impressive fashion, so hes on form. Plus he's won this race before. Does anyone know if Versus has it on, I checked the schedule and it didn't look like it
I read not too long ago that hes not on form (his words). This was probably two weeks ago, it was on velonews. I would like to see him win as well, but I doubt he has a shotI'd like to see Bettini get a rock. He's so small he must get tossed around pretty good, but still.
Huh?Well, it seems Boonen has a way of blowing it when it really matters, a lot of the time. Yeah, he's won a bunch, but some of these major classics he's just fallen flat..
And yes, Boonen has won many quality races, but has not been as dominant as some would make him out to be, at times.
I had no idea who'd win. Actually, Boonen and Cancellara are my two favorite rides in the peleton, so I wished I could have seen the final kms live.Well, Sanjuro gets the Internet Cake for guessing correctly!
And yes, Boonen has won many quality races, but has not been as dominant as some would make him out to be, at times.
Velonews is reporting that Cancellara was completely knackered and cramped up at the end, whereas Boonen was still strong.From the finish photos, seems like the final wasn't much of a contest.
Boonen targets Tour, Worlds
Just days after claiming his second Paris-Roubaix crown Quick Step's Tom Boonen is already looking towards the next goals for his 2008 season. The Belgian rider has his eyes on another green jersey at the Tour de France and also feels the World Championship course in Italy could see him take back the crown he claimed in 2005 from team-mate Paolo Bettini.
"Now, the next big target, is the green jersey," Boonen told AFP. "All will depend on the first week. If I can collect enough points then there will be a good chance. After that, the Worlds road race course in Varese [Italy] will suit me well.
"Certain riders said they have found it [the world's course] hard," he added. "You can never compare looking over a course with the race itself."
Boonen took a commanding victory in the French Spring Classic on Sunday after winning the sprint from break-away rivals Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) and Alessandro Ballan (Lampre). The 27 year-old is taking some time out after his victory to fully recover from the impact of the French cobbles.
"I need to relax on the days following the Paris-Roubaix," said Boonen, who has won six stages on the Tour de France. "You need to let the muscles relax after such a race.
"It's clear that I haven't recovered completely after the tension of Sunday," he added. "It will take me some more time, that is normal."
Those wheels could make a difference if you were in a small break; at that level of the sport those guys are trying for any advatnage they can get. The guy I ride with (he races pro xc) is always looking for ways to shave grams off his bike; his theory is the lighter the bike is, the less weight slowing him down on the hillsIt amazes me how many of the favorites took themselves out of the race due to some questionable equipment choices. Do these guys think that the difference between winning and losing can actually come down to running slightly more aerodynamic wheels?
Tough call. All things being equal that kind of choice CAN make the difference, but obviously not if you can't get to the finish line. And with guys like boonen and cancellara up there for the finale, all things are not equal, so every advantage is needed to have a shot. It's a risk for sure.It amazes me how many of the favorites took themselves out of the race due to some questionable equipment choices. Do these guys think that the difference between winning and losing can actually come down to running slightly more aerodynamic wheels?
I just remember reading somewhere how the rider creates over 90% of the wind resistance and little things like wheels really don't make that big of a difference outside of a time trial. For a race like the P-R the toughest challenge isn't cheating the wind but beating the cobbles. It has always seemed simple to me that if the chance of a piece of equipment failing is greater than the advantage it gives you don't use it. It would seem to me that some of this stuff is there more for mental confidence rather than actual performance.Tough call. All things being equal that kind of choice CAN make the difference, but obviously not if you can't get to the finish line. And with guys like boonen and cancellara up there for the finale, all things are not equal, so every advantage is needed to have a shot. It's a risk for sure.
I had an argument with a weight weenie friend about tire choice and busted out the calculations. My argument was that a better handling bike could be faster. For example a 150lb rider with a 25lb bike hitting the brakes just once to slow down from 11mph to 9 mph wastes the same amount of energy as you would save by dropping 100 grams on a 1000ft climb. Apply that to several corners or rough sections and it adds up more than the weight savings would.Those wheels could make a difference if you were in a small break; at that level of the sport those guys are trying for any advatnage they can get. The guy I ride with (he races pro xc) is always looking for ways to shave grams off his bike; his theory is the lighter the bike is, the less weight slowing him down on the hills
Yeah, I agree. I run more Stans sealant in my tires to avoid flats....the extra weight is worth it since a flat can cost you minutesI had an argument with a weight weenie friend about tire choice and busted out the calculations. My argument was that a better handling bike could be faster. For example a 150lb rider with a 25lb bike hitting the brakes just once to slow down from 11mph to 9 mph wastes the same amount of energy as you would save by dropping 100 grams on a 1000ft climb. Apply that to several corners or rough sections and it adds up more than the weight savings would.
I agree with a lot of this, but when you talk about the highest levels of cycling something that is not "that big of a difference" can be enough. Also, keep in mind the whole sponsor/product development angle - there is always a lot of publicity about equipment choice at P-R, and some teams are probably pressured (or strictly obligated) to ride stuff they might not otherwise choose.I just remember reading somewhere how the rider creates over 90% of the wind resistance and little things like wheels really don't make that big of a difference outside of a time trial. For a race like the P-R the toughest challenge isn't cheating the wind but beating the cobbles. It has always seemed simple to me that if the chance of a piece of equipment failing is greater than the advantage it gives you don't use it. It would seem to me that some of this stuff is there more for mental confidence rather than actual performance.
It always made me laugh how Postal would spend tons of money trying to cut 100 grams from a TT skinsuit and ol Lance would always go out there wearing a gold chain around his neck.
Actually, you see a lot of sharpies out to remove tire and wheel logos.I agree with a lot of this, but when you talk about the highest levels of cycling something that is not "that big of a difference" can be enough. Also, keep in mind the whole sponsor/product development angle - there is always a lot of publicity about equipment choice at P-R, and some teams are probably pressured (or strictly obligated) to ride stuff they might not otherwise choose.
If I was running a company I'd use P-R as an opportunity to market other products in the line. Racer boys see the racy stuff at every other race. Specialized has cashed in on this with their Roubaix. Like 99% of road riders I don't race and if I was going to drop coin on a new bike tomorrow it would be something like a Roubaix.I agree with a lot of this, but when you talk about the highest levels of cycling something that is not "that big of a difference" can be enough. Also, keep in mind the whole sponsor/product development angle - there is always a lot of publicity about equipment choice at P-R, and some teams are probably pressured (or strictly obligated) to ride stuff they might not otherwise choose.