Some notes, thoughts and loose ends on the cobbled classics once the dust has settled.
Classics
The Moment The Race Was Won: Paris-Roubaix
Greg Van Avermaet wins the sprint in the Roubaix velodrome after a frantic race ridden at record speed that was defined by misfortune and mishaps. The result was uncertain right until the final metres as Zdeněk Štybar launched a powerful sprint and looked to have the jump on his rivals only for Van Avermaet to surge in the final straight and win.
Paris-Roubaix Preview
The best for last as the cobbled classics come to an end this Sunday in the Roubaix velodrome. Former race director Jacques Goddet described this race as “the last act of madness” and his decision to use tiny farm tracks with rudimentary cobbles has created a legendary and exceptional event. What will Sunday bring: redemption for Peter Sagan, confirmation for Greg Van Avermaet, celebration for Tom Boonen or perhaps the story of a worker getting their day of glory?
You can see it all because the whole race will be live on TV from start to finish.
Fairy Tale Endings in Roubaix
Can Tom Boonen win Paris-Roubaix this Sunday? Just thinking it about seems indulgent and sentimental, like the start of a day dream. But if there’s one race where dreams come true it’s Paris-Roubaix thanks to the brutal course and the importance of good luck. The Roubaix velodrome has been the finish line for many careers and over the years it has supplied several fairy tale endings.
Ronde Van Vlaanderen Preview
The greatest one day classic takes place this Sunday. Huge crowds, narrow lanes, rough cobbles, steep hills and more await along the 255km obstacle course. This is an event of national importance in Belgium.
The headlines look to the rivalry between Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet only there are plenty of others in contention. Here’s a preview of the race with the route, riders, TV and more.
GP E3 Harelbeke Preview
It may not be the Ronde van Vlaanderen nor Paris-Roubaix but in recent years this race has made up for its lack of history and dull name with some exciting racing to become one of the finest cobbled classics of the year. It’s unusual that it’s held on a Friday but being Belgium we can expect large crowds as usual.
The Moment The Race Was Won: Milan-Sanremo
Only Milan-Sanremo can provide such a thrilling finish. The race seemed locked down until the Poggio when Peter Sagan accelerated. Sonny Colbrelli and John Degenkolb tried to chase but as you can see in the photo above, they could only watch as the world champion rode away from them, just as Michał Kwiatkowski and Julian Alaphilippe launch their move to get across.
Milan-Sanremo Preview
The first Monument of the year, this Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo is all about the tense finish, the paradox of the longest race of the year that’s often decided in the final metres and one of the rare one day races where grand tour contenders and sprinters can each stake their claim. Who will keep their nerve?
The Sanremo Paradox
Michał Kwiatkowski attacks on the Poggio as the Tinkoff team behind chases to aide their leader Peter Sagan, the pre-race pick. Kwiatkowski’s got a gap and he’s a mean descender so he’s in with a chance. If you’ve been watching on TV this is a moment of almost unbearable tension.
Milan-Sanremo is the longest race on the pro calendar yet it’s so often dependent on events in the last five minutes.
World Tour Fines Need Increasing
It’s said Peter Sagan, Sep Vanmarcke and Greg Van Avermaet “could face fine for sidewalk riding at Omloop” as cyclingnews reports what Belgium’s Sporza interview with UCI commissaire Guy Dobbelaere.
These issues keep cropping up. As ever a rule is no good if it can’t be enforced. If there’s no way to force riders to comply in the heat of battle then why not hit them and their teams where it hurts: the bank account. For too long the UCI fines have been so cheap they’re practically an invitation to break the rules.