2012 Paris - Roubaix

[steve]

First run in 1896, Paris–Roubaix is one of cycling's oldest races. It is well known for the many 'cobbled sectors' over which it runs, being considered, along with the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Gent–Wevelgem to be one of the cobbled classics.
The 2012 staging of Paris-Roubaix will be keenly contested as more riders will beleive they have a chance of winning, due to the absence of Fabian Cancellara. Tom Boonen displayed sensational form to win the Tour of Flanders last weekend. Coming into this weekends Paris - Roubaix, he is the red-hot favourite and could win his fourth Hell of the North.


2012 Paris - Roubaix Map


The Cobbled Sectors
Section Kilometers Lieu Longueur 27 97,5 Troisvilles à Inchy 2,2 26 104 Viesly à Quiévy 1,8 25 106,5 Quiévy à Saint-Python 3,7 24 111,5 Saint-Python 1,5 23 119,5 Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon 2,3 22 126 Capelle-sur-Écaillon à Ruesnes 1,7 21 142 Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes - Famars 2,6 20 145,5 Famars à Quérénaing 1,2 19 149 Quérénaing à Maing 2,5 18 152 Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon 1,6 17 163,5 Haveluy à Wallers 2,5 16 172 Trouée d’Arenberg 2,4 15 178,5 Millonfosse à Bousignies 1,4 14 183 Brillon à Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes 1,1 14 185,5 Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières 2,4 13 192 Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies 1,4 12 197 Orchies 1,7 11 203 Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée 2,6 10 208,5 Mons-en-Pévèle 3,0 9 215 Mérignies à Avelin 0,7 8 218 Pont-Thibaut à Ennevelin 1,4 7 223,5 Templeuve - L’Épinette 0,2 7 224 Templeuve – Moulin de Vertain 0,5 6 230,5 Cysoing à Bourghelles 1,3 6 233 Bourghelles à Wannehain 1,1 5 237,5 Camphin-en-Pévèle 1,8 4 240,5 Carrefour de l’Arbre 2,1 3 242,5 Gruson 1,1 2 249,5 Willems à Hem 1,4 1 256,5 Roubaix 0,3 DISTANCE TOTALE DES SECTEURS PAVÉS 51,5
Recent Winners 2000 Johan Museeuw (BEL) Mapei 2001 Servais Knaven (NED) Domo-Farm Frites 2002 Johan Museeuw (BEL) Domo-Farm Frites 2003 Peter Van Petegem (BEL) Lotto-Domo 2004 Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) Alessio-Bianchi 2005 Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step-Innergetic 2006 Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Team CSC 2007 Stuart O'Grady (AUS) Team CSC 2008 Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step 2009 Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step 2010 Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Team Saxo Bank 2011 Johan Vansummeren (BEL) Garmin-Cervélo
2012 Paris - Roubaix Start List Garmin-Barracuda Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Jack Bauer (NZl) Tyler Farrar (USA) Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Andreas Klier (Ger) Martyn Maaskant (Ned) Jacob Rathe (USA) Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tony Gallopin (Fra) Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Joost Posthuma (Ned) Grégory Rast (Swi)
Rabobank Cycling Lars Boom (Ned) Matti Breschel (Den) Tom Leezer (Ned) Bram Tankink (Ned) Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Jos Van Emden (Ned) Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Maarten Wynants (Bel)
Lotto Belisol Sander Cordeel (Bel) Kenny De Haes (Bel) Jens Debusschere (Bel) André Greipel (Ger) Gregory Henderson (NZl) Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Frederik Willems (Bel)
BMC Racing Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Marcus Burghardt (Ger) George Hincapie (USA) Thor Hushovd (Nor) Taylor Phinney (USA) Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Michael Schär (Swi) Danilo Wyss (Swi)
Sky Procycling Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Mathew Hayman (Aus) Jeremy Hunt (USA) Christian Knees (Ger) Ian Stannard (USA) Christopher Sutton (Aus)
FDJ-Big Mat William Bonnet (Fra) David Boucher (Fra) Steve Chainel (Fra) Mickael Delage (Fra) Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Dominique Rollin (Can)
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Stijn Devolder (Bel) Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Björn Leukemans (Bel) Marco Marcato (Ita) Wouter Mol (Ned) Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Lieuwe Westra (Ned)
ARGOS-SHIMANO Bert De Backer (Bel) John Degenkolb (Ger) Domenik Klemme (Ger) Roger Kluge (Ger) Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) /td> Ronan Van Zandbeek (Ned) Tom Veelers (Ned)
Europcar Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Rafai Chtioui (Tun) Damien Gaudin (Fra) Yohann Gene (Fra) Saïd Haddou (Fra) Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Sébastien Turgot (Fra) David Veilleux (Can)
AG2R La Mondiale Jimmy Casper (Fra) Martin Elmiger (Swi) Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Steve Houanard (Fra) Romain Lemarchand (Fra) Sébastien Minard (Fra) Lloyd Mondory (Fra)
Pro Astana Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Borut Bozic (Slo) Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Tanel Kangert (Est) Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz)
GreenEdge Cycling Baden Cooke (Aus) Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Jens Mouris (Ned) Stuart O'grady (Aus) Svein Tuft (Can) Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu)
Omega Pharma - QuickStep Tom Boonen (Bel) Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Nikolas Maes (Bel) Gert Steegmans (Bel) Niki Terpstra (Ned) Matteo Trentin (Ita) Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel)
Saxo Bank Jonas Aaen Jorgensen (Den) Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Anders Lund (Den) Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) Michael Morkov (Den) Luke Roberts (Aus) Matteo Tosatto (Ita)
Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Leonardo Duque (Col) Julien Fouchard (Fra) Egoitz Garcia Etxegibel (Spa) Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Adrien Petit (Fra) Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Nico Sijmens (Bel)
Euskaltel-Euskadi Pello Bilbao (Spa) Pierre Cazaux (Fra) Ricardo Garcia Ambroa (Spa) Miguel Minguez Ayala (Spa) Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Adrian Saez (Spa) Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa)
Katusha Marco Haller (Aut) Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Luca Paolini (Ita) Alexander Porsev (Rus) Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Gatis Smukulis (Lat)
Lampre - ISD Vitaliy Buts (Ukr) Davide Cimolai (Ita) Massimo Graziato (Ita) Danilo Hondo (Ger) Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Dmytro Krivtsov (Ukr) Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Davide Vigano (Ita)
Liquigas-Cannondale Federico Canuti (Ita) Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Tiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Edward King (USA) Kristjan Koren (Slo) Alan Marangoni (Ita) Daniel Oss (Ita) Juraj Sagan (Svk)
Movistar Imanol Erviti (Spa) José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Jesús Herrada Lopez (Spa) Javier Iriarte (Spa) Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Enrique Sanz Unzue (Spa)
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia Luca Ascani (Ita) Thomas Bertolini (Ita) Roberto De Patre (Ita) Oscar Gatto (Ita) Leonardo Giordani (Ita) Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Filippo Pozzato (Ita)
Saur - Sojasun Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Jérémie Galland (Fra) Christophe Laborie (Fra) Laurent Mangel (Fra) Rony Martias (Fra) Jean Lou Païani (Fra) Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Yannick Talabardon (Fra)
Bretagne - Schuller Guillaume Blot (Fra) Jean-Luc Delpech (Fra) Renaud Dion (Fra) Mathieu Halleguen (Fra) Johan Le Bon (Fra) Gaël Malacarne (Fra) Laurent Pichon (Fra) Florian Vachon (Fra)
Netapp Markus Eichler (Ger) Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Grischa Janorschke (Ger) Blaz Jarc (Slo) Andreas Schillinger (Ger) André Schulze (Ger) Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Timon Seubert (Ger)

 

[steve]

Tom Boonen 'best ever' after Paris-Roubaix triumph TOM Boonen believes that he will go down as the best rider in the history of the cobbled classics after storming to a record-equalling triumph at the Paris-Roubaix. Having already won the Ghent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders on home turf in Belgium this year, Boonen was in unstoppable form in the 110th Paris-Roubaix, breaking away 55km from the finish and winning by a margin of 1min 39sec from unheralded Frenchman Sebastien Turgot and Italian rival Alessandro Ballan. In doing so, Boonen, 31, matched Roger de Vlaeminck's record of four victories in the Queen of the Classics just a week after equalling the record of three wins in Flanders. “A fourth Paris-Roubaix in this era is unique, and if you have the chance to win a fourth time here then this was the perfect way to achieve it,” he said. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/tom-boonen-best-ever-after-paris-roubaix-triumph/story-e6frg7mf-1226321977769 Boonen powers to fourth Paris-Roubaix win Tom Boonen’s remarkable run of form continued on Sunday when he became only the second rider to win the Paris-Roubaix classic for a fourth time. The 31-year-old Belgian made his break with 55km of the famous race remaining, and left his rivals trailing in his wake as he crossed the line 1min 39sec ahead of Frenchman Sebastien Turgot. http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/04/10/boonen-powers-to-fourth-paris-roubaix-win/ Boonen wins fourth Paris-Roubaix Tom Boonen unleashed a bold and self-confessed “crazy” move with more than 50km to go to claim a brilliant, record-equaling fourth victory in the Paris-Roubaix classic on Sunday. Boonen pulled clear 57km from the finish of the Queen of the Classics and never looked back to emulate fellow-Belgian Roger de Vlaeminck, who won four times in the 1970s. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2012/04/10/2003529962 Boonen powers to fourth Paris-Roubaix win Tom Boonen's remarkable run of form continued on Sunday as he became only the second rider to win the Paris-Roubaix classic for a fourth time. The 31-year-old Belgian made his break with 55 kilometres of the famous race remaining, and left his rivals trailing in his wake as he crossed the line 1 minute 39 seconds, ahead of Frenchman Sebastien Turgot. Italy's Alessandro Ballan was edged into third place. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-09/boonen-powers-to-fourth-win/3938924/?site=newcastle Tom Boonen dominates 'hell of the north' one-day classic with record-equalling fourth win The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider attacked around 55km from the finish line which he crossed in five hours 55 minutes 22 seconds, almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rivals. Boonen, 31, went into Sunday's race the overriding favourite following a phenomenal series of results that have seen him triumph in the Tour of Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke one-day races. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9193031/Paris-Roubaix-2012-Tom-Boonen-dominates-hell-of-the-north-one-day-classic-with-record-equalling-fourth-win.html 'Crazy' Boonen claims fourth Paris-Roubaix Tom Boonen unleashed a bold and self-confessed "crazy" move with more than 50 kms to go to claim a brilliant, record-equalling fourth victory in the Paris-Roubaix classic today. Boonen pulled clear 57 kms from the finish of the Queen of the Classics and never looked back to emulate fellow-Belgian Roger de Vlaeminck, who won four times in the 1970s. Frenchman Sebastien Turgot, who was on the attack all day, finished second, outsprinting Italian Alessandro Ballan on the Roubaix velodrome. "It was a little bit crazy. It's not a move than I often do but today was the perfect day to take some risk," said Boonen, who showed four fingers as he crossed the line, his face a mixture of joy and pain. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6712610/Crazy-Boonen-claims-fourth-Paris-Roubaix A Paris-Roubaix Analysis What more can be said about Tom Boonen that hasn't been said? Victories in E3 Prijs, Ghent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and now Paris-Roubaix proved he's a man for the Classics. There's even talk about him being the best ever classic rider in history. I think we're getting ahead of ourselves with that comparison, but regardless it does get the mind thinking. Let's look at Boonen's win at E3. A finishing group of 45 riders charged down the two lane road and with just one teammate at the front Boonen launched from about the third position. Oscar Freire was nipping at the Belgian's heels, but it wasn't enough to beat him to the line. While not typically thought of as a bunch sprinter, he proved that he still has the fast-twitch muscles in those final 200 meters. http://www.roadcycling.com/articles/A-Paris-Roubaix-Analysis_004809.shtml Boonen rides into Paris-Roubaix record books Belgian Tom Boonen made history on Sunday with a record-equalling fourth win in the Paris-Roubaix. Boonen joined compatriot Roger De Vlaeminck with his victory, which was set up by a solo break with more than 50km remaining. The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider surged clear of the pack and was unchallenged in his charge to the line. http://www.sportal.com.au/other-sports-news-display/boonen-into-paris-roubaix-record-books-170571 How the race was lost: Paris-Roubaix Happy Paris-Roubaix hangover day! Yes, the cobbled classics are over, but quitting cobbled fantasies cold turkey is hard, so we continue to talk about them as the week after as Roubaix fades into the distance. Especially with a race as exciting and historic as yesterday's. While we will continue to vividly remember this day for years, even decades, we also don't want to quite let go of the experience. So, we talk. http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/4/9/2936053/how-the-race-was-lost-paris-roubaix Armstrong visits Paris-Roubaix Even though he was never a cobbles specialist during his time as a bike rider, Lance Armstrong visited Paris-Roubaix on Sunday with his former RadioShack-Nissan team. The seven-time Tour de France winner is in France at the moment and reconnoitered the course of the Ironman France in Nice prior to arriving in the team hotel in Northern France, on Saturday evening. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-visits-paris-roubaix Fourth Paris-Roubaix win makes me one of the greats Thirty-five years after Roger De Vlaeminck, on Easter Sunday 2012 the long-standing record of four wins in Paris-Roubaix was equalled by his compatriot Tom Boonen. It appeared that Boonen wanted to prove that he’s able of doing much more than just following his opponents and he drew level with De Vlaeminck by completing a solo of more than 50 kilometres to the vélodrome in Roubaix. The 31-year-old Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider also became the first man to win the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix double in the same season twice. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boonen-fourth-paris-roubaix-win-makes-me-one-of-the-greats Tom Boonen wins record equalling fourth Paris-Roubaix Tom Boonen's remarkable run of form continued on Sunday as he became only the second rider to win the Paris-Roubaix classic for a fourth time. The 31-year-old Belgian star made his break with 55 kilometres of the famous race remaining, and left his rivals trailing in his wake as he crossed the line 1min 39sec ahead of Frenchman Sebastien Turgot. Italy's Alessandro Ballan was edged into third place. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/cycling/Tom-Boonen-wins-record-equalling-fourth-Paris-Roubaix/articleshow/12583855.cms Boonen 'best ever' after Roubaix cycling triumph Tom Boonen believes that he will go down as the best rider in the history of the cobbled classics after storming to a record-equalling triumph at the Paris-Roubaix. Having already won the Ghent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders on home turf in Belgium this year, Boonen was in unstoppable form in the 110th Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, breaking away 55km from the finish and winning by a margin of 1min 39sec from unheralded Frenchman Sebastien Turgot and Italian rival Alessandro Ballan. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gYWuOMMSlg8-8BS9sKTGnP4TuPxQ?docId=CNG.b583f1d5fd546f7314180ae8fb84cb0d.31 Boonen equals De Vlaeminck record with fourth Paris-Roubaix victory Tom Boonen has claimed his fourth Paris-Roubaix title to equal the record set by his Belgian compatriot Roger De Vlaeminck. The Omega Pharma‑Quick Step rider lived up to his billing as the Hell of the North favourite, breaking free with 53 kilometres to go and crossing the line 1min 39sec ahead of the Frenchman Sebastien Turgot, racing for Europcar. BMC Racing's Alessandro Ballan completed the podium. Juan Antonio Flecha was the leading rider for Team Sky, in fourth place. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/apr/08/boonen-de-vlaeminck-paris-roubaix?newsfeed=true Phinney pleased with Paris-Roubaix debut, Hincapie with new record They were amongst the youngest and oldest riders in Paris-Roubaix yesterday, representing both ends of the spectrum; neither won, but at the end of the Hell of the North both Taylor Phinney and George Hincapie were pleased about what they had achieved. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11573/Phinney-pleased-with-Paris-Roubaix-debut-Hincapie-with-new-record.aspx Ballan has no regrets at Paris-Roubaix Boonen's record-equalling win ultimately descended into something of a protracted procession over the pavé, but as is so often the case at the business end of the Classics, his triumph had its genesis in a split-second of indecision in the leading group. Shortly after rattling across the cobbles at Orchies, Boonen and his teammate Niki Terpstra opened a small gap at the head of the race, and behind Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) and Ballan failed to agree on whose responsibility it was to chase. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ballan-has-no-regrets-at-paris-roubaix FILIPPO POZZATO CRASHED DURING THE PARIS-ROUBAIX 2012 Filippo Pozzato of Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia has not registered any wins in the season yet and the cyclist was counting on Paris-Roubaix to open his 2012 winning account. Pozzato started off brilliantly and was right behind the race leader Tom Boonen during the final kilometres. Absence of Fabian Cancellara strengthened his chances for an overall victory at the race. The stage was set for Filippo as he approached towards the final sector of the race, right behind the wheel of Tom Boonen. He misjudged a corner towards the end of the race and was brought to the ground which ruined his chances for the first place finish. http://blogs.bettor.com/Filippo-Pozzato-crashed-during-the-Paris-Roubaix-2012-a144144 Lost focus means Pozzato is ruing missed chance in Paris-Roubaix Last week he delayed in the finale of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, waiting instead of counter-attacking when Tom Boonen chased down Alessandro Ballan three times. This time round, Filippo Pozzato’s hesitation came 56 kilometres from the end of Paris-Roubaix, when he stalled at the point when Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra rode clear of their group. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11572/Lost-focus-means-Pozzato-is-ruing-missed-chance-in-Paris-Roubaix.aspx Ballan’s Podium Finish Leads Three In Top 15 At Paris-Roubaix It took a photo to decide whether Ballan was second or third in the five-up sprint for second, 1:39 after Boonen took his victory lap around the Roubaix velodrome. Ultimately, it was determined Sébastien Turgot (Team Europcar) edged out Ballan after the former world road champion sprinted from the back of the group on his new BMC granfondo GF01 with 200 meters to go. “I’m not fast in the sprint and I don’t have the history in the velodrome, so it was hard for me,” Ballan said. “Tom was just too strong. I didn’t think it was possible for him to finish alone because we had four or five riders from Sky and two from Rabobank in my group.” That group saw Boonen make his winning move by breaking away with his teammate, Niki Terpstra, with 55 kilometers to go, only to have Terpstra get a flat a few kilometers later. http://www.bikeworldnews.com/2012/04/09/ballans-podium-finish-leads-three-top-15-parisroubaix/ JOHN DEGENKOLB COULD NOT FULFIL HIS GOAL OF FINISHING AMONGST TOP TEN AT THE PARIS-ROUBAIX 2012 John Degenkolb of Team Argos-Shimano was targeting to finish amongst the top ten cyclists during the Paris-Roubaix 2012. The cyclist made his debut at the French race in 2011 and finished at the 19th position after his impressive performance. He was optimistic before the start of the event, “I showed in the last few weeks that my shape isn't bad and that I can follow the best. I hope I can achieve a top ten result", John told Cyclingnews. "I've trained every day over the winter and it's a race I'd like to one day win. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I'll give it everything and I have nothing to lose, that's my big advantage". http://blogs.bettor.com/John-Degenkolb-could-not-fulfil-his-goal-of-finishing-amongst-top-ten-at-the-Paris-Roubaix-2012-a144070 Frédéric Guesdon: “I just had to finish my final Paris-Roubaix” Frédéric Guesdon (FDJ-BigMat) bowed out of professional cycling, as a rider at least, in the velodrome of Roubaix, where he made his name some fifteen seasons ago, but not in the way he wanted. The last French winner of l’Enfer du Nord, France’s premier one-day race, had wanted to bow out in style - to be a protagonist in the race one last time - but a series of unlucky incidents saw him finish outside the time limit. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11581/Frederic-Guesdon-I-just-had-to-finish-my-final-Paris-Roubaix.aspx Is Boonen the best ever on cobbles? Tom Boonen’s emphatic win in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix – the Queen of the Classics – led even the man himself to label himself “the best ever on cobblestones”. Entering the 110th edition of Paris-Roubaix as the overwhelming favourite a week after equalling the record of three wins in the Tour of Flanders, Boonen utterly dominated the ‘Hell of the North’ on his way to emulating compatriot Roger de Vlaeminck’s record of four career Roubaix wins. It was not that Boonen simply won the race that has seen the superlatives flow so freely – it is in the unbelievable way in which the Belgian powerhouse went about achieving this latest landmark in his illustrious career. http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/04/09/is-boonen-the-best-ever-on-cobbles/ Pre-Race News


Can anyone beat Boonen as he aims for place in the record books? Tom Boonen's towering performance at the Tour of Flanders last week has seen him installed as favourite to win Paris-Roubaix for a record-equalling fourth time on Sunday as Classics season, and with it our Fantasy Cycling game, heads across the border from Belgium into France. The Hell of the North, however, generally reckoned to be the toughest of cycling's five Monuments, is no respecter of reputations and plenty of pitfalls lie in wait. It's a race that some riders detest, but others thrive upon. Here's our guide. In many ways, the race whose nicknames include ‘the Queen of the Classics’ is one of contradictions. To begin with, it hasn’t started in the French capital itself for nearly half a century; since 1968, it has started in Compiègne, some 70 kilometres further north. http://road.cc/content/news/56333-paris-roubaix-2012-preview-can-anyone-beat-boonen-he-aims-place-record-books Roubaix Odds and Betting Preview: Tom Boonen red-hot favourite with the bookies After the ups and downs of last weekend’s Tour of Flanders, this Sunday cycling punters have the chance to get stuck into one of the most demanding one day Classics on the UCI calendar - the Paris-Roubaix. The cobbles promise plenty of thrills and spills, and with the prospect of rain on Sunday, it should be a belter of a race, even if it will be missing one of the star names in the peloton, Fabian Cancellara. http://www.betasia.com/cycling/496837/2012-paris-roubaix-odds-and-betting-preview-tom-boonen-red-hot-favourite-with-the-bookies TOM BOONEN CHASING HISTORY AT THE PARIS-ROUBAIX 2012 Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step is currently enjoying the peak of his career. The cyclist has filled his bag with as many as eight victories in the first quarter of the season. The Belgian is now targeting the Paris-Roubaix as the tenth biggest race of the season commences on Sunday, April 8th, 2012. He has previously won the 2005, 2008 and 2009 versions of the race and is optimistic to fill his bag with the fourth win at the event. Paris-Roubaix is amongst the oldest cycling events with its first edition back in 1896. Josef Fischer of Germany succeeded during the very first Paris-Roubaix. Johan Vansummeren claimed the most recent edition of the race while Roger De Vlaeminck is the only cyclist with four overall victories at the contest in 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1977. Boonen is now attempting to match the likes of his compatriot Roger by equalling a 35-year-old record. http://blogs.bettor.com/Tom-Boonen-chasing-history-at-the-Paris-Roubaix-2012-a143702 Boonen refuses favorite title for Roubaix Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) thinks of winning Paris-Roubaix Sunday, not of his favorite status to capture his record-tying fourth “Hell of the North.” Never mind the 3:1 odds or that he’s tipped more heavily than any other rider. “A big favorite? I don’t consider myself anything. It doesn’t matter,” Boonen said Friday in a press conference. “The favorite title doesn’t count, the results count. In the end, the result only matters on Sunday.” Boonen faces over 250 kilometers, 51 of them on some of northern France’s worst cobbled roads. If he wins, he’ll complete a run that includes wins in E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem and, last week, the Tour of Flanders. He’ll also equal the record number of wins set by Roger De Vlaeminck in 1977. http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/04/news/boonen-refuses-favorite-title-for-roubaix_212658?utm_medium=whats-hot FILIPPO POZZATO, ALESSANDRO BALLAN AND THOR HUSHOVD ARE FAVOURITES FOR THE PARIS-ROUBAIX, TOM BOONEN Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step is definitely amongst the favourites for the 2012 version of the Paris-Roubaix 2012. The cyclist however believes that Thor Hushovd, Filippo Pozzato and Alessandro Ballan are all very strong contenders to challenge him during the race. He explained, "Just like Sep Vanmarcke, I expect Vansummeren too. There's only one way Johan can win, and that is by going from far out”. “Pozzato surprised me after his broken collarbone. I expected him not to be good at all but it turns out he's great. Pozzato is like me on the cobblestones”. http://blogs.bettor.com/Filippo-Pozzato,-Alessandro-Ballan-and-Thor-Hushovd-are-favourites-for-the-Paris-Roubaix,-Tom-Boonen-a143731 Boonen in the driver’s seat for Paris-Roubaix Paris-Roubaix is known by several nicknames, including “Queen of the Classics” and “The Hell of the North,” but to the riders who pin on a number Sunday morning, it will mean just one thing — pain. The 258km race travels north from Compiegne, an hour north of Paris, traversing a jarring 51.5km of Roman Empire-era cobblestone roads, known as pavé, to finish inside the 400-meter velodrome in Roubaix, sitting 5km from France’s northern border with Belgium. The most brutal of pro cycling’s one-day classics will once again be held on Easter Sunday, the final bookend to cycling’s “Holy Week,” which, until a 2010 calendar change, included the Tour of Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/04/news/preview-boonen-in-the-drivers-seat-for-paris-roubaix_212401 Boonen races for 'Monsieur Paris-Roubaix' title Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) will race into the history books if he wins Paris-Roubaix tomorrow in France. By doing so, he'd only become the second cyclist in history to win the race four times, equalling the record set by Roger De Vlaeminck 35 years ago in 1977. "Of course, a fourth Roubaix victory would be special. It'd be stupid to say it's not like that," the Belgian said in a press conference. "I've won three times, which shows I can do it a fourth time." Boonen raced to victory in 2005, 2008 and 2009. After knee troubles and cocaine problems, he appears back at his best. So far this season he has won eight times, including E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem and on Sunday, the Tour of Flanders. http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532399/boonen-races-for-monsieur-paris-roubaix-title.html Boonen wants second Flanders-Roubaix double After his Omega Pharma - Quick Step team dominated the first part of the season with 25 wins, manager Patrick Lefevre is heading into the legendary one day Classic, Paris-Roubaix, with the race's top favorite. The team's leader for the Hell of the North race is Tom Boonen, a triple winner of the French event and six-time podium finisher. Last Sunday's win in the Tour of Flanders has already made Boonen’s Spring Classics season a success, but during Friday's press conference, it was clear he hoped for even more. With a fourth win in Paris-Roubaix, he would join Roger De Vlaeminck as record holder and would be the first to do the Flanders-Roubaix double twice. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boonen-wants-second-flanders-roubaix-double What Fabian Cancellara's Collarbone Has Meant for Tom Boonen They are two men with disparate goals. One is a time-trial legend, the only man ever to don the rainbow stripes of the world TT champion four times. The other is a tortured sprinter, as infamous for his past cocaine issues as his ability to streak past rivals at the finish line of a long day of racing. One has seven Tour de France stage victories, the other six; one has earned them in the race against the clock, the other in bunch sprints against the other rockets of the peloton. They are two men unified by one similarity — rarefied success on the bone-rattling farm roads of northern France and Flemish Belgium. http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/cobblestone-classics-2012-cancellara%E2%80%99s-collarbone-boonen%E2%80%99s-boon-flanders 5 Reasons Why This Weekend's Paris-Roubaix Is the Best Cycling Race of the Year When it comes to professional cycling, most of the world thinks racing begins and ends with the Tour de France. Sure, that grand tour may provide 22 days of highly covered racing plastered with all sorts of viewer sweepstakes. But for pure drama, intensity, and display of cycling brilliance, Paris-Roubaix is the year's greatest race. The "Queen of the Classics," Paris-Roubaix is a 155-mile slog across northern France's exposed flatlands, starting just outside of Paris and pushing up to the town of Roubaix. And it's being televised live in the US for the first time ever this Sunday. http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2012/04/cycle_5_reasons_why_paris-roub.php Greenedge's Scott CR1 - Ready for Paris Roubaix With a history dating back to 1896, Paris Roubaix is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the world. The toughest of all the spring Classics, it’s famous for its dangerous cobblestone roads that challenge the riders and their bikes. The total length of 257.5 km requires athletes to come prepared to give everything, with bikes that can handle a beating. It’s no surprise that this race has become known as the Hell of the North and that it has gained the reputation as one of the most challenging and exciting races in the world. The upcoming 2012 race will boast 27 cobbled sections, leaving the riders with only 51.5 km of paved road to get ahead. GreenEdge is ready with a strong rider list and the best bike for the job, the SCOTT CR1. http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19968 Pozzato can’t beat Boonen in the sprint Allies of circumstance in the winning move at the Tour of Flanders, Alessandro Ballan (BMC) expects Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) to have a different approach should the Italian pair find themselves in a similar situation in the finale of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. The friends and sometime training partners agreed to work together to try and beat Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) on the run-in to Oudenaarde last weekend, but Ballan admitted that he was surprised that Pozzato opted to stake everything on a head-to-head sprint rather than take it turns to attack Boonen. The Belgian ultimately beat Pozzato in the sprint to claim his third Tour of Flanders victory. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ballan-pozzato-cant-beat-boonen-in-the-sprint TOM BOONEN TO LEAVE HIS PREVIOUS WINS BEHIND AND CONCENTRATE AT THE PARIS-ROUBAIX Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step is targeting the Paris-Roubaix as the next big race of his 2012season. The cyclist is enjoying a terrific season and has already filled his bag with as many as eight victories in the young season. He claimed the first overall position at the Tour of Qatar and also grabbed the first and the fourth stages of the race. Boonen also finished first during the E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders and secured the second overall position at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He also grabbed stages at the Tour de San Luis and Paris-Nice to mark a perfect start to his 2012 campaign. The 31-year-old joined Team Quick Step in 2003 and helped the team with numerous wins in the past season. http://blogs.bettor.com/Tom-Boonen-to-leave-his-previous-wins-behind-and-concentrate-at-the-Paris-Roubaix-a142944 Hincapie eyes Paris-Roubaix glory Evergreen American George Hincapie has admitted that this year could be his last Paris-Roubaix as he prepares to compete in the famous spring classic for a record-equalling 17th time on Sunday. Now 38, the likeable Hincapie arrived in France fresh from taking part in his 17th Tour of Flanders last weekend, an outright record which he described as “an honour” afterwards. Now he will repeat that impressive feat in the race known as “The Hell of the North,” a classic in which he first competed in 1994 and in which he finished second in 2005. However, Hincapie will share this latest record with Frdric Guesdon, the last French winner of the race in 1997, and it was no surprise to see the latter grab much of the attention from local fans and media at the eve-of-race presentation in Compiegne. http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/04/08/hincapie-eyes-paris-roubaix-glory/ Guesdon ready for swansong at Paris-Roubaix Frédéric Guesdon (FDJ-Big Mat) is the last French winner of Paris-Roubaix, the legendary French cycling monument. Guesdon won the race in 1997 and this time around he’s riding his last race of his long career. One of the many young riders flanking Guesdon is Steve Chainel who hopes to become the next French winner of the biggest French one-day race. When walking up to the FDJ-Big Mat team bus on Saturday a big sticker grabs the attention. It titles ‘Merci Fred’ and shows a young Frédéric Guesdon who’s lifting his 1997 Paris-Roubaix cobble trophy in the air at the vélodrome in Roubaix. On Sunday, the 40 year-old Frenchman not only rides his last Hell Classic but also his last race as a professional cyclist. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/guesdon-ready-for-swansong-at-paris-roubaix Paris-Roubaix – feel the vibration When the Diggers of WWI heard they were heading to Northern France they probably thought they were off to somewhere nice. The seven Australians competing in tonight’s Paris-Roubaix know better. Now, any normal man winding his way through France towards the Belgian border would be doing it for one reason only: to reach Bruges and sample the best beer in the world. But we’re talking about professional cyclists here; men who in the summer ride a three-week 3500 km race, that includes several tortuous stints in the French Alps and Pyrenees, called the Tour de France. http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/04/08/paris-roubaix-feel-the-vibration/ Paris-Roubaix, lunacy in tradition's name A green jacket and a cobblestone. The beauty and the beast of trophies, alike only in the sense that both are tremendously coveted in their respective sports. The jacket, of course, will be slipped onto the shoulders of golf's new Masters champion Sunday. A few hours before that, a continent away in the dour north of France, the cobblestone will be hoisted aloft by an exhausted cyclist caked in grime. The rider will have worked far harder than the golfer for his prize. The winning check at the Masters is $1.4 million. Along with his cobblestone mounted on a marble base - perhaps the weirdest trophy in world sports - the rider will pocket $39,000 for winning the toughest one-day test of man and machine in cycling, the Paris-Roubaix. Life really isn't fair. http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/06/3539690/column-paris-roubaix-lunacy-in.html Riding the Paris-Roubaix pavé: it's all about the bike… and the tyres This coming Sunday (April 8th) the pro peloton will be pounding its way across the infamous pavé in this year’s Paris-Roubaix road race. Last Sunday (April 1st) the amateurs had a chance to sample those same jagged cobblestones, thanks to the Paris-Roubaix Challenge sportive. Given the date, it might have seemed a foolish idea to ride 95 miles across northern France on a zig-zag route with 19 pavé sections, but it turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable - though unsurprisingly tough - day out on the bike. My story begins back in November, when a casual comment that “I wouldn’t mind sampling the pavé one day” led quickly to a friend booking the hotel and ferry, and then telling me all I had to do was get my entry in. http://road.cc/content/feature/56310-riding-paris-roubaix-pave-its-all-about-bike

 

[limerickman]

This is the big one as far as I'm concerned.

Every year this race never fails to intrigue me.

Luck, determination, strength usually determine who wins P-R.

I'm going to go a winner from Sagan (Liqui), O'Grady (Green Edge), Pozzato (Selle), Ballan (BMC).

 

[limerickman]

Steve : that's a great Youtube promo. Farking superb.

I love that soundtrack : the Shawshank Redemption isn't it? Where Red arrives at Andy at Zihuatanejo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRBl0GPBm4o&feature=related

 

[steve]

Originally Posted by limerickman .

This is the big one as far as I'm concerned.

Every year this race never fails to intrigue me.

Luck, determination, strength usually determine who wins P-R.

I'm going to go a winner from Sagan (Liqui), O'Grady (Green Edge), Pozzato (Selle), Ballan (BMC).

O'Grady is a good outsider with sebastian langeveld being injured and goss's form still suspect, GE will probably be working for him.

Isn't Sagan an ex MTB'er?

 

[limerickman]

Originally Posted by steve .


O'Grady is a good outsider with sebastian langeveld being injured and goss's form still suspect, GE will probably be working for him.

Isn't Sagan an ex MTB'er?

Junior world champion mountain bike champion 2008, I believe.

 

[swampy1970]

As just like pretty much every year I'm gonna pop for Boonen. Harder than a blacksmiths anvil (ie harder than Vinnie Jones) and never seems to shirk his turn at the front... It'll take a class rider to beat hit and the omega pharma quickstep team that have Chava and Turpstra. The lad didn't feel great last week and still won Flanders... It is Roubaix, so it's about as predictable as the weather (there has to be a billion dollars of computing power focused of California and I still get rained on when the weather channel says its sunny) but I predict Belgium fries in France tonight...

 

[steve]

[COLOR= rgb(24, 24, 24)]Pozzato isn't looking good[/COLOR]

 

[steve]

Boonen can't seem to open up more than 40 seconds

 

[steve]

In the bag?

 

[steve]

56 seconds!!

 

[steve]

Last years winner!

How its done this year?

 

[steve]

[COLOR= rgb(24, 24, 24)]Carrefour de l’Arbre coming up![/COLOR]

 

[steve]

 

[steve]

10.4Km to go

 

[steve]

Last real sector

 

[steve]

fan?

 

[steve]

2012 Paris - Roubaix Results
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 5:55:22 2 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team Europcar 0:01:39 3 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team 4 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling 5 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 6 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:43 7 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:31 8 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Procycling 9 Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin - Barracuda 10 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling Team 11 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team 12 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 13 Grégory Rast (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan 0:04:23 14 Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing Team 15 Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:04:37 16 Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 17 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia 18 Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 19 Jimmy Casper (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 20 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 21 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 22 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Movistar Team 23 Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana Pro Team 24 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 25 Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team Europcar 0:04:58 26 Hayden Roulston (NZl) RadioShack-Nissan 27 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 28 Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:06:22 29 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Barracuda 30 Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 31 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:06:25 32 Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin - Barracuda 33 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:06:27 34 Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:07:46 35 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 36 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 37 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 38 Saïd Haddou (Fra) Team Europcar 39 Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 40 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team 41 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-Big Mat 42 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 43 George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 44 Johan Le Bon (Fra) Bretagne - Schuller 0:07:48 45 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:07:50 46 Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 47 David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar 0:09:09 48 Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team 0:09:11 49 Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:09:37 50 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team 51 Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling 52 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 53 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team 54 Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big Mat 55 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 56 Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling 0:11:07 57 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha Team 58 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 59 Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank 60 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 61 Rudiger Selig (Ger) Katusha Team 62 Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha Team 63 John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos - Shimano 64 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre - ISD 0:13:05 65 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 66 Jesse Sergent (NZl) RadioShack-Nissan 67 Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 68 Gael Malacarne (Fra) Bretagne - Schuller 69 Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 70 Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp 71 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetApp 72 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank 73 Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 74 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 75 Jens Mouris (Ned) GreenEdge Cycling Team 76 Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Katusha Team 77 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol Team 78 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 79 Jon Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 80 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Team Europcar 81 Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun 82 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team 83 Bert De Backer (Bel) Argos - Shimano 84 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Garmin - Barracuda 85 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 0:17:17 86 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Procycling

 

[Andrija]

Nice coverage, Steve.

This was epic performance.
That's the way to make the history.

 

[alienator]

And that's how you put an exclamation point on a victory. Chapeau, Tomeke! I don't think a northern campaign can get any better than Tomeke's this year: E3, Gent-Wevelgem, Flanders, Paris-Roubaix. He'd could go home, sit on the couch, and eat Cheetos the rest of the year, and it would still be a great year.