MVP is obviously the hot favorite, but I think it is reasonable to question how his back will hold up. I think there is also an element of regression possible. I know that I have found that once I get back on the bike after a long period off, I can hit a pseudo-peak rather quickly but then plateau or even go backwards a bit as the body adjusts and compensates. We may have seen a bit of that last week in Amstel from MVP.
With Wout and Colbrelli also out, and MVP being heavily marked, the door opens for others…I really like Pedersen to have a good race. His form has been excellent all year. Asgreen in another guy to watch…QS has been a hot mess this year and the pressure will be on to deliver in the last big Northern Classic.
(I guess there is some chance Wout will ride, but not for the win…he will potentially refocus on Liege, depending on how his recovery is going)
Ben Turner from Ineos. If Pidcock is there and team leader it gives potential for strong riders to go up the road maybe. Ben has looked awesome the last few races. Probably not PR winning awesome, but there’s a chance.
We haven’t really seen a lot of the other four-star favourites fire at all this season have we.
Agree. Not sure we’ve seen enough of Ganna to consider him a favourite. Though the field is in general quite even.
He’s probably Ineos’ best hope though outside of Turner though? I don’t really see Pidcock as having the PR win in him currently. He’s a supreme talent though so if the cards fell right🤷♂️.
Really interesting race so far….Ineos forced an early split in the crosswinds, long before any of the cobbles. Most of the race favorites have been behind the whole race and Ineos and QS have been driving the pace in the front group.
Once they hit the cobbles, it has been hectic to say the least. Tons of punctures and crashes…Ganna has crashed and punctured separately and chased back both times.
Ineos is starting to look a little ragged, between the incessant pace, crashes and punctures.
I think MVP and WVA have played it correctly…had their teams ride just enough to keep the big break in touch and let the cobbles do their damage. My guess is that they make a move coming out of Arenberg.
Also interesting to see a number of Specialzied riders on Aethos frames…seems to be mostly some of the larger riders ( Terpstra, LeClerc, etc). Others seem to be on Tarmacs….don’t think I have seen a single Roubaix yet.
Tubeless seems to be a poor choice for this race….way more punctures this year. My guess is that it is a burping issue vs actual punctures. If you are gonna run tubeless in Roubaix, I think you really need to run inserts with them so you can keep riding if you do get a puncture
