Pro-cycling thread

I dunno, he's being very jocular on Twatter so I'm guessing something's afoot...

Well, he's just set a PB and a club record, so it could be that. :)

Will Give Boonen some inspiration hopefully.

37? Damn, such a ride, six weeks after a broken arm. Such a deserving win after a long career.

Not a bad win for your second pro win, eh?

Indeed, big Stan looked like he was running out of steam at the end, at ten years younger than Hayman and Boonen there's still time.

I wanted Stannard to win so bad but glad to see a journeyman like Hays get such a big win so late in his career. It could have been any of the 5 at the end. Cracking race.

It could have been any of the 5 at the end. Cracking race.

Every single one of them made at least one move to win the race in the last 15 kms. Cracking stuff, as you say.

Class words from Boonen;

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-fairy-tale-finish-for-boonen-at-paris-roubaix/

Not a bad win for your second pro win, eh?

Jimmy Fingers has won two pro races?

Aye, gracious in defeat with all that was on the line. Lots of mutual respect in the meedya between Boonen and Hays.

A magnificent day.
Belgians, when they realise Tom hasn't won

Viviani getting rammed by moto. Not good.

https://twitter.com/r8uge/status/719200478475743232?s=09)

And 10 days out from his 38th birthday apparently.

He's ok. Pretty shitty thing to happen on your first PR

Great take on the race, each of those last five raced magnificently and all deserved the win. The last 15k is some of the most gripping racing I ever saw

Such a strange race, I really don't know how I feel about it, Sagan being so isolated is such an injustice I think, but Trek didn't chase when they should have done and that did Cancellara over. No one wanting to work in the chase cost that as well.

EBH was a huge disappointment, I know he was fucked at the end and just lost the wheel, but that was his big chance. Boonen winning would have been a fairytale too, and I was surprised he didn't take the sprint. Hayman sitting in for so long ultimately won him the race, which is what probably doesn't sit right with me, and maybe it was the shock (he's just won PR to be fair) but he looked fairly unfazed by it all.

Good PR, but the end result just feels a bit wrong.

Just caught up with it. To misquote Fergie, 'bike racing, bloody hell'.

Well sure, he sat in a bit near the end, but he was busting his gut earlier in the race to make the break. Avoiding work at the right times is part of the game anyway.

Hayman created the initial break and dragged everyone after him like a bloody diesel engine with 100km to go... He did his fair share and played the game.

He played the game to perfection. Underestimate one of the break at your peril, as the other four had a crash course reminder of yesterday.

Yes they left it all on the road trying to win in a breakaway and then the man that couldn't be bothered wins. Vanmarcke probably next week.

... I really don't know how I feel about it ...

aww...

@SCS @Gandalf @andyp 100% agree, the 15 goes beforehand have clearly taught him when to use his energy and when not too, I suppose it just doesn't feel right because none of the riders that I felt should win, did.

Though the same could be said for Boonen pulling over all the cobbles pretty much throughout the race.

The two with their best ever chances were definitely Stannard and Vanmarcke though, pretty much a dream scenario for the pair of them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzpx_qY_ZqI

Heart rate maxed out already today watching this, jesus.

I was screaming for Stannard for pretty much the last 20k, but still so happy for Haymans. It's wins like his, from an older guy who's spent his entire careering working for others but still kept dreaming, that keeps the romance in the sport. Haymans is our Leicester (I'm not a football fan, so the analogy probably won't work..)

No one has a right to the win, and I think it's a shame when we start to think certain riders do. It's the uncertainty, and the possibility for lesser names to grab these huge victories that makes it such an exciting sport.

TLDR - #Happy4Haymans

"Most exciting race ever" - until the next race I comment on.