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116th Paris-Roubaix (1.UWT) One Day Race (Compiègne › Roubaix 257km)
Video Teaser
https://www.paris-roubaix.fr/en/home-gallery/video-gallery-teaser-2018
Recent Winners
2017 | VAN AVERMAET Greg
2016 | HAYMAN Mathew
2015 | DEGENKOLB John
2014 | TERPSTRA Niki
2013 | CANCELLARA Fabian
2012 | BOONEN Tom
2011 | VANSUMMEREN Johan
2010 | CANCELLARA Fabian
2009 | BOONEN Tom
2008 | BOONEN Tom
Top-10 previous edition
1. VAN AVERMAET Greg 5:41:07
2. STYBAR Zdenek same time
3. LANGEVELD Sebastian st
4. STUYVEN Jasper st
5. MOSCON Gianni st
6. DÉMARE Arnaud at 0:12
7. GREIPEL André same time
8. THEUNS Edward st
9. PETIT Adrien st
10. DEGENKOLB John st
Another superb Sunday in store here. Belgians might not agree, but Paris-Roubaix is probably the hardest one-day race on the calendar. Known as "l'Enfer du Nord" or Hell of the North, Paris-Roubaix is characterised by its many sections of pavé, or cobblestones, that make up much of the distance, in fact more than one fifth. Like the other monuments, this race is always a challenging 250km+ which just on distance alone puts everyone apart from the elite into the red. Unlike the other monuments though, Paris Roubaix is virtually flat but has 55km of cobblestones sections. The cobbled sections will always elongate the peloton, which means they fight for position in the run-in to the cobbled sections to avoid losing position and wasting valuable energy catching back up, so they always hit the cobbles fast. Hitting these cobblestones at 60km/hr on a racing bike requires incredible bike handling skills. As per usual, the race finishes with a lap of the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, but it rarely ends in a sprint, and 60 kilo climbers or Grand Tour contenders need not apply here. The last time Paris-Roubaix was taken by a Tour de France winner was when Bernard Hinault, the hardest of all the Tour winners, did it in 1981 before describing it as "race for idiots" and never coming back. This is a race for the road captains. The big boys. The hard men of the peloton.
They don't hit the first cobbles until 93km into the race but from there on the pavé comes thick and fast as they head up from Compiegne, just North of Paris, up through France towards Lille and then finish with the traditional lap of the Roubaix velodrome. There are 29 sections of pavé in total. Some of the sections of cobbles are reasonably even and well maintained. Others are uneven and dangerous, requiring riders to look for the best lines, which might be on the centre or crown of the road, or might be on the edge or the grass verge. When it is dry the cobbles throw up clouds of dust. When they are wet, the cobbles are lethally slippy. Punctures are commonplace. Crashes are inevitable. The 29 paved sections are rated by the organisers of the race based on their length, the unevenness of the cobbles, the overall condition of the sectors and their location. The toughest sections are the *5 star rated La Trouée d'Arenberg (km 162), Mons-en-Pévèle (km 208.5) and the Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 240).
The 29 cobbled sections of 2018 Paris Roubaix
29: Troisvilles (km 93.5 — 2.2 km) ***
28: Briastre (km 100 — 3 km) ***
27: Saint-Python (km 109 — 1.5 km) ***
26: Quiévy (km 111.5 — 3.7 km) ****
25: Saint-Vaast (km 119 — 1.5 km) ***
24: Verchain-Maugré (km 130 — 1.2 km) **
23: Quérénaing (km 134.5 — 1.6 km) ***
22: Maing (km 137.5 — 2.5 km) ***
21: Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 140.5 — 1.6 km) ***
20: Haveluy (km 153.5 — 2.5 km) ****
19: Trouée d'Arenberg (km 162 — 2.4 km) *****
18: Hélesmes (km 168 — 1.6 km) ***
17: Wandignies (km 174.5 — 3.7 km) ****
16: Brillon (km 182 — 2.4 km) ***
15: Sars-et-Rosières (km 185.5 — 2.4 km) ****
14: Beuvry-la-Forêt (km 189 — 1.4 km) ***
13: Orchies (km 197 — 1.7 km) ***
12: Bersée (km 203 — 2.7 km) ****
11: Mons-en-Pévèle (km 208.5 — 3 km) *****
10: Avelin (km 214.5 — 0.7 km) **
9: Ennevelin (km 218 — 1.4 km) ***
8: Templeuve — L'Épinette (km 223.5 — 0.2 km) *
8: Templeuve — Moulin-de-Vertain (km 224 — 0.5 km) **
7: Cysoing (km 230.5 — 1.3 km) ***
6: Bourghelles (km 233 — 1.1 km) ***
5: Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 237.5 — 1.8 km) ****
4: Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 240 — 2.1 km) *****
3: Gruson (km 242.5 — 1.1 km) **
2: Hem (km 249 — 1.4 km) ***
1: Roubaix (km 256 - 0.3 km) *
Contenders
Peter Sagan 10/3
The 3-time World Champion and winning machine is not happy. Despite taking a stage of the Tour Down Under and Gent-Wevelgem he's not had things all his own way this spring. His domination and his ability to win in such a wide variety of ways has meant that his opponents have refused to work with him for fear of handing him a win, and he's often been the one who has needed to chase down Quickstep. Last weekend at The Ronde he probably made a rare tactical mistake burning his dependable super-domestique Daniel Oss chasing down the four escapees, which set things up for Quickstep and Terpstra to pounce. I don't expect him to make the same mistake again here and a change of tactics and an early attack should not be a surprise in the race he hasn't won yet and wants on his palmares most of all. In a race that you'd think would suit more than any other, it is astonishing that he only has one top ten finish and his best finishing position in this race is only 6th.
Greg Van Avermaet
Like Sagan, GVA has an issue. Quickstep are so dominant and they have so many cards to play that GVA and Sagan can be caught between a rock and a hard place. If they attack too early they burn a match and Quickstep can chase it down. If they let one of the Quickstep contenders up the road then they are forced to chase, and it sets things up for one of the other men in blue. However, there's no getting away from the fact that GVA is probably the strongest and most consistent rider over the cobbles. After all, unlike Sagan, GVA has been there and done that in this race. He has raced 8 times here and never not finished. As well as his win in this last year he has a 3rd and a 4th to his name. If he can nail the tactics he'll be right on the premises.
Sep Vanmarcke 12/1
Despite being unquestionably one of the strongest riders in the peloton, and one of the most skilled riders on the pavé, and continually being on the premises at the sharp end of these races Vanmarcke only has an Omloop in 2013 on his palmares. He's ridden Paris-Roubaix 6 times and finished 6 times, and has a 2nd and two 4ths to his name. His form this spring has been typical Sep, a 3rd in Dwards Doors Vlaanderen and Omloop are scant consolation for a rider of his undoubted ability. At 29 it's not too late for Vanmarcke to start winning, and there wouldn't be a dry eye in the velodrome if he was able to avoid the typical punctures, mechanicals, badly-timed attacks and other hard luck stories, and finally picked up the cobblestone trophy but the price is surely too skinny for a man who threatens but so far at least doesn't deliver.
Phil Gilbert 12/1
One of several options for Quickstep, but in my eyes their best option. At Ronde, Terpstra went first and his attack stayed out. Gilbert proved how good his legs were by winning from the group in behind to take third on the day. His palmares is superb, this has been his stated target all year, and he's looked mega strong in the cobbled races so far. He won Ronde last year with a long range attack that was never brought back, and I think he'll try and get out in front again in this and make the other contenders chase him, safe in the knowledge that even if he is brought back it will set things up for his Quickstep team mates. Big Phil has a fantastic chance.
The Others
As well as Gilbert, Quickstep have several other cards to play in Terpstra 10/1 who won this race in 2014 and has already won Le Samyn, E3 Harelbeke and Ronde this year. He will obviously have his share of fans, and be well marked. They also have Zdenek Stybar 14/1 who has been runner-up twice in three years and Yves Lampaert 50/1 who won Dwars Doors Vlaanderen 10 days before this. Any of those four are potential winners. Quickstep are so dominant this season that all the other sides have to find a way of beating them first then winning the race second. Jon Degenkolb 14/1 won this race in 2015 but looks short based on what he's shown since his return from missing the following season after being taken out by a car in a training accident, and he will only share co-leadership of Trek with Jesper Stuyven 22/1 who at the prices may be a better bet. Alexander Kristoff 25/1 hasn't had a great couple of years, he's seemed to have declined from the superstar sprinter and classics specialist from a couple of years ago, but there have been signs that he's coming back to form and he's dangerous to discount. Gianni Moscon 25/1, Oli Naesen 25/1 and Mads Pedersen 33/1 are the young, improving cobbled classic specialists, and while it would be a mild surprise to see them win this, it would shock no-one if they made the final selection, and a podium is a possibility for all three. Sky actually have a strong squad for this, with Luke Rowe 66/1 and Ian Stannard 40/1 seemingly come back into form. Wout Van Aert 18/1 has continued to impress in his debut spring classics season but his price is surely too short given the quality of his rivals in this. Arnaud Demare 25/1 and Matteo Trentin 66/1 are sprinters that handle the cobbles well and could be contenders if they can follow the attacks. Demare especially has shown progressively improving results in this race and could be a serious contender.
My idea of the Winner
He's won the World Championships, Ronde Van Vlaaderen, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Lombardia twice and Amstel Gold four times. He's one of the strongest men in the peloton and has been targeting this race all season. It's time for Phil Gilbert to complete his Palmares by winning The Hell of the North, I've taken the 14 and 15 available here win only. Of the others, I like Stuyven and Kristoff as each way plays and I'll take them with one of the books who are paying each way bets to four places.
Video Teaser
https://www.paris-roubaix.fr/en/home-gallery/video-gallery-teaser-2018
Recent Winners
2017 | VAN AVERMAET Greg
2016 | HAYMAN Mathew
2015 | DEGENKOLB John
2014 | TERPSTRA Niki
2013 | CANCELLARA Fabian
2012 | BOONEN Tom
2011 | VANSUMMEREN Johan
2010 | CANCELLARA Fabian
2009 | BOONEN Tom
2008 | BOONEN Tom
Top-10 previous edition
1. VAN AVERMAET Greg 5:41:07
2. STYBAR Zdenek same time
3. LANGEVELD Sebastian st
4. STUYVEN Jasper st
5. MOSCON Gianni st
6. DÉMARE Arnaud at 0:12
7. GREIPEL André same time
8. THEUNS Edward st
9. PETIT Adrien st
10. DEGENKOLB John st
Another superb Sunday in store here. Belgians might not agree, but Paris-Roubaix is probably the hardest one-day race on the calendar. Known as "l'Enfer du Nord" or Hell of the North, Paris-Roubaix is characterised by its many sections of pavé, or cobblestones, that make up much of the distance, in fact more than one fifth. Like the other monuments, this race is always a challenging 250km+ which just on distance alone puts everyone apart from the elite into the red. Unlike the other monuments though, Paris Roubaix is virtually flat but has 55km of cobblestones sections. The cobbled sections will always elongate the peloton, which means they fight for position in the run-in to the cobbled sections to avoid losing position and wasting valuable energy catching back up, so they always hit the cobbles fast. Hitting these cobblestones at 60km/hr on a racing bike requires incredible bike handling skills. As per usual, the race finishes with a lap of the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, but it rarely ends in a sprint, and 60 kilo climbers or Grand Tour contenders need not apply here. The last time Paris-Roubaix was taken by a Tour de France winner was when Bernard Hinault, the hardest of all the Tour winners, did it in 1981 before describing it as "race for idiots" and never coming back. This is a race for the road captains. The big boys. The hard men of the peloton.
They don't hit the first cobbles until 93km into the race but from there on the pavé comes thick and fast as they head up from Compiegne, just North of Paris, up through France towards Lille and then finish with the traditional lap of the Roubaix velodrome. There are 29 sections of pavé in total. Some of the sections of cobbles are reasonably even and well maintained. Others are uneven and dangerous, requiring riders to look for the best lines, which might be on the centre or crown of the road, or might be on the edge or the grass verge. When it is dry the cobbles throw up clouds of dust. When they are wet, the cobbles are lethally slippy. Punctures are commonplace. Crashes are inevitable. The 29 paved sections are rated by the organisers of the race based on their length, the unevenness of the cobbles, the overall condition of the sectors and their location. The toughest sections are the *5 star rated La Trouée d'Arenberg (km 162), Mons-en-Pévèle (km 208.5) and the Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 240).
The 29 cobbled sections of 2018 Paris Roubaix
29: Troisvilles (km 93.5 — 2.2 km) ***
28: Briastre (km 100 — 3 km) ***
27: Saint-Python (km 109 — 1.5 km) ***
26: Quiévy (km 111.5 — 3.7 km) ****
25: Saint-Vaast (km 119 — 1.5 km) ***
24: Verchain-Maugré (km 130 — 1.2 km) **
23: Quérénaing (km 134.5 — 1.6 km) ***
22: Maing (km 137.5 — 2.5 km) ***
21: Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 140.5 — 1.6 km) ***
20: Haveluy (km 153.5 — 2.5 km) ****
19: Trouée d'Arenberg (km 162 — 2.4 km) *****
18: Hélesmes (km 168 — 1.6 km) ***
17: Wandignies (km 174.5 — 3.7 km) ****
16: Brillon (km 182 — 2.4 km) ***
15: Sars-et-Rosières (km 185.5 — 2.4 km) ****
14: Beuvry-la-Forêt (km 189 — 1.4 km) ***
13: Orchies (km 197 — 1.7 km) ***
12: Bersée (km 203 — 2.7 km) ****
11: Mons-en-Pévèle (km 208.5 — 3 km) *****
10: Avelin (km 214.5 — 0.7 km) **
9: Ennevelin (km 218 — 1.4 km) ***
8: Templeuve — L'Épinette (km 223.5 — 0.2 km) *
8: Templeuve — Moulin-de-Vertain (km 224 — 0.5 km) **
7: Cysoing (km 230.5 — 1.3 km) ***
6: Bourghelles (km 233 — 1.1 km) ***
5: Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 237.5 — 1.8 km) ****
4: Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 240 — 2.1 km) *****
3: Gruson (km 242.5 — 1.1 km) **
2: Hem (km 249 — 1.4 km) ***
1: Roubaix (km 256 - 0.3 km) *
Contenders
Peter Sagan 10/3
The 3-time World Champion and winning machine is not happy. Despite taking a stage of the Tour Down Under and Gent-Wevelgem he's not had things all his own way this spring. His domination and his ability to win in such a wide variety of ways has meant that his opponents have refused to work with him for fear of handing him a win, and he's often been the one who has needed to chase down Quickstep. Last weekend at The Ronde he probably made a rare tactical mistake burning his dependable super-domestique Daniel Oss chasing down the four escapees, which set things up for Quickstep and Terpstra to pounce. I don't expect him to make the same mistake again here and a change of tactics and an early attack should not be a surprise in the race he hasn't won yet and wants on his palmares most of all. In a race that you'd think would suit more than any other, it is astonishing that he only has one top ten finish and his best finishing position in this race is only 6th.
Greg Van Avermaet
Like Sagan, GVA has an issue. Quickstep are so dominant and they have so many cards to play that GVA and Sagan can be caught between a rock and a hard place. If they attack too early they burn a match and Quickstep can chase it down. If they let one of the Quickstep contenders up the road then they are forced to chase, and it sets things up for one of the other men in blue. However, there's no getting away from the fact that GVA is probably the strongest and most consistent rider over the cobbles. After all, unlike Sagan, GVA has been there and done that in this race. He has raced 8 times here and never not finished. As well as his win in this last year he has a 3rd and a 4th to his name. If he can nail the tactics he'll be right on the premises.
Sep Vanmarcke 12/1
Despite being unquestionably one of the strongest riders in the peloton, and one of the most skilled riders on the pavé, and continually being on the premises at the sharp end of these races Vanmarcke only has an Omloop in 2013 on his palmares. He's ridden Paris-Roubaix 6 times and finished 6 times, and has a 2nd and two 4ths to his name. His form this spring has been typical Sep, a 3rd in Dwards Doors Vlaanderen and Omloop are scant consolation for a rider of his undoubted ability. At 29 it's not too late for Vanmarcke to start winning, and there wouldn't be a dry eye in the velodrome if he was able to avoid the typical punctures, mechanicals, badly-timed attacks and other hard luck stories, and finally picked up the cobblestone trophy but the price is surely too skinny for a man who threatens but so far at least doesn't deliver.
Phil Gilbert 12/1
One of several options for Quickstep, but in my eyes their best option. At Ronde, Terpstra went first and his attack stayed out. Gilbert proved how good his legs were by winning from the group in behind to take third on the day. His palmares is superb, this has been his stated target all year, and he's looked mega strong in the cobbled races so far. He won Ronde last year with a long range attack that was never brought back, and I think he'll try and get out in front again in this and make the other contenders chase him, safe in the knowledge that even if he is brought back it will set things up for his Quickstep team mates. Big Phil has a fantastic chance.
The Others
As well as Gilbert, Quickstep have several other cards to play in Terpstra 10/1 who won this race in 2014 and has already won Le Samyn, E3 Harelbeke and Ronde this year. He will obviously have his share of fans, and be well marked. They also have Zdenek Stybar 14/1 who has been runner-up twice in three years and Yves Lampaert 50/1 who won Dwars Doors Vlaanderen 10 days before this. Any of those four are potential winners. Quickstep are so dominant this season that all the other sides have to find a way of beating them first then winning the race second. Jon Degenkolb 14/1 won this race in 2015 but looks short based on what he's shown since his return from missing the following season after being taken out by a car in a training accident, and he will only share co-leadership of Trek with Jesper Stuyven 22/1 who at the prices may be a better bet. Alexander Kristoff 25/1 hasn't had a great couple of years, he's seemed to have declined from the superstar sprinter and classics specialist from a couple of years ago, but there have been signs that he's coming back to form and he's dangerous to discount. Gianni Moscon 25/1, Oli Naesen 25/1 and Mads Pedersen 33/1 are the young, improving cobbled classic specialists, and while it would be a mild surprise to see them win this, it would shock no-one if they made the final selection, and a podium is a possibility for all three. Sky actually have a strong squad for this, with Luke Rowe 66/1 and Ian Stannard 40/1 seemingly come back into form. Wout Van Aert 18/1 has continued to impress in his debut spring classics season but his price is surely too short given the quality of his rivals in this. Arnaud Demare 25/1 and Matteo Trentin 66/1 are sprinters that handle the cobbles well and could be contenders if they can follow the attacks. Demare especially has shown progressively improving results in this race and could be a serious contender.
My idea of the Winner
He's won the World Championships, Ronde Van Vlaaderen, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Lombardia twice and Amstel Gold four times. He's one of the strongest men in the peloton and has been targeting this race all season. It's time for Phil Gilbert to complete his Palmares by winning The Hell of the North, I've taken the 14 and 15 available here win only. Of the others, I like Stuyven and Kristoff as each way plays and I'll take them with one of the books who are paying each way bets to four places.
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Good luck mc deffo been phil gils target this year and is a bigger price than I was expecting. Also like the look of Stybar and Think trentin certainly isn't the worse 66-1 shot I've ever seen.
If it is as wet as it looks it might be then that definitely favours STYBAR and probably Van Aert too.
With all due respect, OP, cycling, y'know... who gives a f*ck?
Cycling.......I did wonder what on earth it was all about.
Lampaert is the big danger in the Quickstep team. BMC will be better here than last week, I will keep GVA onside. Damien Gaudin is 10x the price he should be
They haven't even got any muscles and what's with the leotards
Yeah there's hardly a pound of fat on these guys, they're proper athletes. That's why when you have a guy who has a ruptured spleen and kidney, three broken ribs and bruised lungs from a crash he gets back on his bike and rides for another 10km trying to catch up before ending in intensive care. Whereas footballers fall over and roll around from someone tickling them.
Any word on Gilbert? Has he had his porridge tonight?
You put me on him last week @16/1, hes shorter now
You put me on him last week @16/1, hes shorter now
He’s my main bet for the race. I’ve taken him win only at 15s. Sagan and Van Avermaet have much better profiles for this race but Gilbert is the strongest rider in the peloton (I believe) and we should get a bloody good run for our money.
Great write up as ever MC.
Any non-cycling fans scoffing at it on here would do well to watch it. Watch it once and you'll never miss another.
Best weekend of sport in the whole year - Scouse and Manc derbies, Paris-Roubaix, the Masters
.
Any non-cycling fans scoffing at it on here would do well to watch it. Watch it once and you'll never miss another.
Best weekend of sport in the whole year - Scouse and Manc derbies, Paris-Roubaix, the Masters
.
Yeah there's hardly a pound of fat on these guys, they're proper athletes. That's why when you have a guy who has a ruptured spleen and kidney, three broken ribs and bruised lungs from a crash he gets back on his bike and rides for another 10km trying to catch up before ending in intensive care. Whereas footballers fall over and roll around from someone tickling them.
That's because they're all smashed off their t*ts.
That's because they're all smashed off their t*ts.
Gone in on Gilbert Mary and looking forward to it. Cheers.
Bearing in mind they are all on medication it rather devalues the concept of it being a sport
I love watching Le Tour but its credibility is completely tarnished
I love watching Le Tour but its credibility is completely tarnished
All them super fit athletes & yet most require inhalers... footballers cheat but cyclists take it to a different level
Difference between football and cycling is that there's so little skill & technique involved, that the only edges left are in find in a bottle or a syringe, all the teams and cyclist's know this and that's why they're all at it. Are there drugs in football? sure, is the sport completely rife with it?
NO.
To compare cycling's drug problems with football's is Putin/Trump worthy.
NO.
To compare cycling's drug problems with football's is Putin/Trump worthy.
Where in football, at the top level, would drugs be involved? 
And why is there another thread on here about a pseudo-sport like cycling? Isn't there a ''weekend pastimes'' forum on here?
And why is there another thread on here about a pseudo-sport like cycling? Isn't there a ''weekend pastimes'' forum on here?
Football has a serious problem with drugs. If you don't think so you're extremely naive.
Not just football to be fair, all professional sports do. But cycling and athletics are the only sports that make any serious efforts to catch cheats.
It doesn't matter greatly at all if drugs were rife in Football, it's just not in the same realm of prevalence in comparison with Cycling for obvious reasons.
Ashley Barnes and Rondon for example are not going to suddenly turn into Aguero and Kane if they take drugs or get any big money moves to top European clubs. They wouldn't and never could be as good, drug taking in Football doesn't improve talent, you either have that or you don't.
Whereas some middle of the road Cyclist on the juice can win start to win big Cycling events.
That's the difference between endurance events like Cycling where physical fitness is 90% of the required ingredients to be successful, 10% mental, 0% skil, and actual sports like Football where talent is the main criteria, Le Tissier one of laziest players in PL history, also one of the best, because he had talent.
Kind Regards.
Ashley Barnes and Rondon for example are not going to suddenly turn into Aguero and Kane if they take drugs or get any big money moves to top European clubs. They wouldn't and never could be as good, drug taking in Football doesn't improve talent, you either have that or you don't.
Whereas some middle of the road Cyclist on the juice can win start to win big Cycling events.
That's the difference between endurance events like Cycling where physical fitness is 90% of the required ingredients to be successful, 10% mental, 0% skil, and actual sports like Football where talent is the main criteria, Le Tissier one of laziest players in PL history, also one of the best, because he had talent.
Kind Regards.
What a load of tosh
The level of drugs cheats in cycling has been throughout its history...the supposed detection procedures are purely superficial to allay the public perception...the reality is it is rife throughout the sport..which doesn't excuse athletics where the problem is also endemic
The level of drugs cheats in cycling has been throughout its history...the supposed detection procedures are purely superficial to allay the public perception...the reality is it is rife throughout the sport..which doesn't excuse athletics where the problem is also endemic
Any professional cyclist has at least 25 out of competition tests a year, more than any footballer gets in their entire career. And because of the wealth in the game the financial rewards for success in football are so much more than in any other sport. So there is no real desire to catch drug cheats - why kill the goose that keeps laying golden eggs?
In football stamina is all important. Yes "Skill" or "technique" is but ability to execute skills when exhausted is key and what separates the best from the also rans. And recovery from two games a week absolutely vital.
Let's look at Manchester City for example, the best team in the country. They play a very high pressing game where stamina is at a premium. Their manager Pep Guardiola, served a drug ban after a failed test for nandrolone in his playing career. He also spent most of his career at Barcelona, the team most heavily implicated in the Operacion Puerto affair where football teams were amongst several high profile sports stars whose blood bags infused with EPO were found in Fuentes' office. Lets also not forget Pep's time at Bayern Munich where he fell out with all the club medical doctors, who resigned on mass. Wonder why? And then he came to City, who had 3 whereabouts violations in Pep's first season.
In football stamina is all important. Yes "Skill" or "technique" is but ability to execute skills when exhausted is key and what separates the best from the also rans. And recovery from two games a week absolutely vital.
Let's look at Manchester City for example, the best team in the country. They play a very high pressing game where stamina is at a premium. Their manager Pep Guardiola, served a drug ban after a failed test for nandrolone in his playing career. He also spent most of his career at Barcelona, the team most heavily implicated in the Operacion Puerto affair where football teams were amongst several high profile sports stars whose blood bags infused with EPO were found in Fuentes' office. Lets also not forget Pep's time at Bayern Munich where he fell out with all the club medical doctors, who resigned on mass. Wonder why? And then he came to City, who had 3 whereabouts violations in Pep's first season.
Apr 7, 2018 -- 4:41PM, marychain1 wrote:
Football has a serious problem with drugs. If you don't think so you're extremely naive.
It was a genuine question, mate. When people say there are drugs in top level football, I'd like a suggestion. Messi, Ronaldo? Is that why they're so good? Or is it going on in the EPL, Guardiola juicing his players?
Also look at the miraculous change in body shape/physique from people like Sterling 2017/18 and Gareth Bale 2015/16. Clearly juiced.
who gives a **** if theyre all on drugs or not, if it makes them better cyclists then let them do whatever they want imo.
really enjoyed last weeks race and id encourage anyone with nothing else on tomorrow to tune in for a couple of hours entertainment
really enjoyed last weeks race and id encourage anyone with nothing else on tomorrow to tune in for a couple of hours entertainment
Apr 7, 2018 -- 11:40AM, DirkDiggler wrote:
Yeah there's hardly a pound of fat on these guys, they're proper athletes. That's why when you have a guy who has a ruptured spleen and kidney, three broken ribs and bruised lungs from a crash he gets back on his bike and rides for another 10km trying to catch up before ending in intensive care. Whereas footballers fall over and roll around from someone tickling them.That's because they're all smashed off their t*ts.
Yep, a lot of dodgy packages going round these bike sheds,
I've read Lance Armstrong's book so I know (good book though)
There's 3 things I believe, and it applies to any sport
1) If the opportunity to dope is there, people will do it. Sports that don't take anti-doping seriously will have endemic doping, because the drive to win, and the rewards for success are so huge.
2) Some sports will actively turn a blind eye to failed tests, or people will serve doping bans on the quiet because the people in charge of the sport don't want failed tests to ruin the "image" of the sport. Cycling has been repeatedly guilty of this - see Lance Armstrong.
3) In sports where doping happens, the ones at the very top are at it. Clean athletes do not outperform doping athletes.
1) If the opportunity to dope is there, people will do it. Sports that don't take anti-doping seriously will have endemic doping, because the drive to win, and the rewards for success are so huge.
2) Some sports will actively turn a blind eye to failed tests, or people will serve doping bans on the quiet because the people in charge of the sport don't want failed tests to ruin the "image" of the sport. Cycling has been repeatedly guilty of this - see Lance Armstrong.
3) In sports where doping happens, the ones at the very top are at it. Clean athletes do not outperform doping athletes.
You're trying to drag all other sports into the gutter with Cycling. You need to accept endurance events are a separate case to skilled based sports.
If A clean athlete can't beat doped up to the eyeballs athletes in events such as as Swimming, Cycling and Athletics - that would be because they are predominately based around stamina/fitness, which is virtually the be all and end all.
What about Skilled athletes, skilled sports.
Ferrer has had the biggest engine in Tennis, famed for his fitness levels at a time when Spanish sport and Spanish stars were largely under suspicion, Federer is one of the most skilled players of all time who has never been reliant on stamina due to his quick fire tennis style and never under suspicion, according to your logic, a doped up Ferrer should be beating a clean Federer, they've played 18 times over a 14 year period, Federer's won all 18 matches.
Pep's teams have also been suspicious for their fitness levels and it wouldn't surprise me, but if true he had Messi Xavi, Iniesta at their peak at Barca, took over a treble winning Bayern team and didn't win the European Cup himself, and then the richest club in the world where they buy full backs for 50 mil a pop, so whether or not drugs are involved, it's obviously not a fundamental issue, as it would be in purely physical sports such as Cycling.
If A clean athlete can't beat doped up to the eyeballs athletes in events such as as Swimming, Cycling and Athletics - that would be because they are predominately based around stamina/fitness, which is virtually the be all and end all.
What about Skilled athletes, skilled sports.
Ferrer has had the biggest engine in Tennis, famed for his fitness levels at a time when Spanish sport and Spanish stars were largely under suspicion, Federer is one of the most skilled players of all time who has never been reliant on stamina due to his quick fire tennis style and never under suspicion, according to your logic, a doped up Ferrer should be beating a clean Federer, they've played 18 times over a 14 year period, Federer's won all 18 matches.
Pep's teams have also been suspicious for their fitness levels and it wouldn't surprise me, but if true he had Messi Xavi, Iniesta at their peak at Barca, took over a treble winning Bayern team and didn't win the European Cup himself, and then the richest club in the world where they buy full backs for 50 mil a pop, so whether or not drugs are involved, it's obviously not a fundamental issue, as it would be in purely physical sports such as Cycling.
Yeah you're right mes, stamina and recovery are not fundamental in football 
Looking like the forecast for tomorrow is improving. If there is rain it should be earlier in the day.
http://tennispurist.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/the-curious-case-of-roger-federer...
Put the top 11 fittest long distance runners in a team then, see how well they do with zero talent
Good preview on the Eurosport page https://www.eurosport.com/cycling/paris-roubaix/2018/blazin-saddles-paris-ro...
From an article a coule of years ago -
Even after Lance Armstrong finally came clean and was banned from cycling for life, many still defend the (unofficial) 7-time Tour de France champion.
The biggest argument for Armstrong is the belief that all riders were doping.
We have known for a while now that a lot of cyclists were doping. A recent breakdown of the extent of the "EPO Era" (named for the most common drug, Erythropoietin) shows the "everybody was doing it" defense may not be that far off.
Teddy Cutler of SportingIntelligence.com recently took a an excellent and detailed look at all the top cyclists from 1998 through 2013 and whether or not they have ever been linked to blood doping or have links to doping or a doctor linked to blood doping.
During this 16-year period, 12 Tour de France races were won by cyclists who were confirmed dopers. In addition, of the 81 different riders who finished in the top-10 of the Tour de France during this period, 65% have been caught doping, admitted to blood doping, or have strong associations to doping and are suspected cheaters.
More importantly for Lance Armstrong, during the 7-year window when he won every Tour de France (1999-2005), 87% of the top-10 finishers (61 of 70) were confirmed dopers or suspected of doping.
Of those, 48 (69%) were confirmed, with 39 having been suspended at some point in their career.
None of that excuses Armstrong's behavior, especially outside of the races. But it is clear Armstrong wasn't alone. He was just better at it than anybody else.
Even after Lance Armstrong finally came clean and was banned from cycling for life, many still defend the (unofficial) 7-time Tour de France champion.
The biggest argument for Armstrong is the belief that all riders were doping.
We have known for a while now that a lot of cyclists were doping. A recent breakdown of the extent of the "EPO Era" (named for the most common drug, Erythropoietin) shows the "everybody was doing it" defense may not be that far off.
Teddy Cutler of SportingIntelligence.com recently took a an excellent and detailed look at all the top cyclists from 1998 through 2013 and whether or not they have ever been linked to blood doping or have links to doping or a doctor linked to blood doping.
During this 16-year period, 12 Tour de France races were won by cyclists who were confirmed dopers. In addition, of the 81 different riders who finished in the top-10 of the Tour de France during this period, 65% have been caught doping, admitted to blood doping, or have strong associations to doping and are suspected cheaters.
More importantly for Lance Armstrong, during the 7-year window when he won every Tour de France (1999-2005), 87% of the top-10 finishers (61 of 70) were confirmed dopers or suspected of doping.
Of those, 48 (69%) were confirmed, with 39 having been suspended at some point in their career.
None of that excuses Armstrong's behavior, especially outside of the races. But it is clear Armstrong wasn't alone. He was just better at it than anybody else.
Thanks for mansplaining Lance Armstrong, I really wasn't aware of any of that! 
Seriously though, you're right. The whole peloton was doping. Armstrong was just better at it. But the reason Lance and others got away with it for so long in the 90s is that the sport had no interest in catching them. In reality they knew doping was going on but they were implicit in covering it up because of the damage it would do to the sport if it was uncovered.
There's no doubt in my mind that doping in some form in cycling is still going on. In general, speeds are back up to where they were during the EPO heydays. So there's stuff going on be it micro-dosing, blood transfusions or more, better drugs than ever before. But there's no doubt that cycling is at least trying to catch the cheats. Its just the cheats are better now at evading detection that they ever were.
However, to think that doping is not going on in football, rugby (both codes), tennis etc is laughable. There are so many top level sports starts that raise as many red flags as Lance Armstrong ever did that have got away with it for years. Doping in tennis is an open secret, including all the top stars. Even in gaelic football, where it is virtually a completely amateur sport, testosterone, EPO, HGH and steroids are absolutely rife.
Seriously though, you're right. The whole peloton was doping. Armstrong was just better at it. But the reason Lance and others got away with it for so long in the 90s is that the sport had no interest in catching them. In reality they knew doping was going on but they were implicit in covering it up because of the damage it would do to the sport if it was uncovered.
There's no doubt in my mind that doping in some form in cycling is still going on. In general, speeds are back up to where they were during the EPO heydays. So there's stuff going on be it micro-dosing, blood transfusions or more, better drugs than ever before. But there's no doubt that cycling is at least trying to catch the cheats. Its just the cheats are better now at evading detection that they ever were.
However, to think that doping is not going on in football, rugby (both codes), tennis etc is laughable. There are so many top level sports starts that raise as many red flags as Lance Armstrong ever did that have got away with it for years. Doping in tennis is an open secret, including all the top stars. Even in gaelic football, where it is virtually a completely amateur sport, testosterone, EPO, HGH and steroids are absolutely rife.
It's going to be warm and dry today, not good news for Stybar and Van Aert.
gilbert into 9s 2nd fav now on the exchange. Have they started yet?
Sounds like the young Belgian rider Michael Goolaerts from Verandas Willems has suffered cardiac arrest. Hope he pulls through. Only 23.
Would be fantastic if Dillier managed to hang on here and miraculous if he somehow won
Let Sagan dive down on the the last corner......how on earth can you win?
Might as well go from a lap out , rabbit in headlights , presumably never believe he could win with any tactics.
Might as well go from a lap out , rabbit in headlights , presumably never believe he could win with any tactics.
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