Countdown to Compiègne
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 12, 2009 12:01 AM EDT
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Still not Sunday here in Seattle, though at least we've reached the point where it's Sunday someplace. Not too much more time left to kill... maybe if I clean my drive train a couple more times it'll be bedtime.
Will we have a real Paris-Roubaix? In the words of Sean Kelly, if it ain't a slophouse, it's not a real edition of the race. Kelly earned the right to make such pronouncements, with two cobblestones on his trophy shelf, but I wouldn't write this year's edition off yet under either Kelly's standard or a more humane one. The forecast from Compiègne to Roubaix calls for some precipitation, but the forecasts all sound rather unconvincing to me, and if sunny skies dry up whatever sprinkles occur, I won't be surprised.
When do I have to get up? If you're lucky enough to live in the Pacific (USA) time zone, that'd be a cozy 5am (8 Eastern), when Cycling.TV comes on. Steephill.TV has all the live video links and if your source is something else, your start time may vary. Whoever gets a live feed first, please post it here. Even us Cycling.TV users wouldn't mind a little extra early coverage, if it exists.
I can't stand it any longer... what can I do? Hm, Steephill has plenty of diversions, including links to old videos. You could reread the renowned Paris-Roubaix Wikipedia Page. You could contemplate the fact that Columbia won more races this week than Silence-Lotto have won all year. Or you could just clean your drive train again...
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dunno
ASO aren’t quite as poetic as HNB.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 12, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Get yourself to bed, Chris, lookie at this...
From ZoeRochelle’s fanpost below:
CyclingTV is starting its Paris-Roubaix coverage at 3:30AM Pacific time on Sunday. Magnus Backstedt (2004 winner) and Martin McCrossan are going to be guests on an hour long pre-show discussing the race. Brian Smith and Anthony McCrossan are scheduled to be commentating on the race starting at 4:40AM pacific time. Yeah! They are allotting 4 hours for the race itself. That’s over 5 hours of race video.
And what are still doing up missy?
Ha ha. Another hour yet for me and then its lights out here. :-)
"...if you're not going to pull through, I'm going to attack you." ~CVV (ToBC Stg 4)
Hi! I just drove back from WI and had an energy drink on the way, so I'm trying to
flush the caffiene out of my system. Wish me luck. How is the doggie baby-sitting going?
They make really sweet things called sleeping pills. ha ha!
Dog sitting is going good. Need to allow extra time in the morning though to get over there, feed her, let her out, etc before settling in for the race. I should probably get to bed myself but we all know how much sleep and I get along. :-)
"...if you're not going to pull through, I'm going to attack you." ~CVV (ToBC Stg 4)
1:20 of prerace commentary?
Amateurs. I’ve been at this for weeks.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 12, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions
And so much better
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
I think the Easter Bunny is supposed to deliver this one for us. :-)
"...if you're not going to pull through, I'm going to attack you." ~CVV (ToBC Stg 4)
everyone take Chris's advice and go clean your drivetrains !
that maybe will relax you all and get you all some sleep cause the riders need our support tomorrow (today ? ) !
Sunday someplace?
It’s been Sunday here for SEVENTEEN bloody HOURS, mate!
And I’m now at the point where I’m about to start crawling up the walls.
I have done the washing. I have visited my Mum. I have pulled out my P-R DVDs and tried to take the egde off that way (not really too effective).
My favourite race is on today… but I have to wait until it’s almost Monday?! Man, this sucks…
I've been crawling up the walls the whold day
even did a radio call-in to talk about football/soccer to distract myself…
Well that would have killed a few minutes, LOL.
I do not know what I’m gonna do for 4 hours and 20 minutes. Eating and showering cannot be dragged out that long. There’s nothing on the idiot box (‘til 10pm, of course!). I just tried to distract myself with some jewellery work, but I’m feeling distinctly uninspired and easily frustrated (which creates the risk of an unintended meltdown, LOL). I think that the problem is that I don’t really WANT to do anything now- ’cept watch the race!
Oh well, there ought to be live tickers of some sort starting in a couple of hours.
Well spotted!
I missed that. It goes right through to 22:05, too – nice one! So… now there’s only 2hrs15mins to kill… oh no- there’s the news at 18:30, too. But I can’t just sit still and watch the news. ‘Spose I could do the ironing (urgh – now that’s desperation!). OK, I may just survive ’til the P-R coverage starts :-)
glad I can help
I’ve been look at the tv guide for a very long time…watching Roma – Lazio now, I’m sure I’ll find something else until 8:30…..
You have a drive train?!
Aaah boys with toys….
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
What? No live thread?
The race has started! But there’s no way Chris neglected to schedule a thread to pop up on its own any second now…right?
From CN’s live ticker:
Thanks to Kevin for an update from the Arenberg forest, where he is waiting at secteur number 17. “Fences on the right and freshly tilled mud on the left make for a three-metre wide path. Ground is muddy and the pavés have a layer of silt on them making it very slippery, even for those walking.”
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
The rooster just crowed, "Cob-a-cobble-doooooo"
He must just know.
3AM, need nitro coffee, stat.
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Apr 12, 2009 6:07 AM EDT reply actions
Got a big mug of Magnus Maximus here.
But it’s 6:15 my time. Not quite so early here.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
You know it! Viking Blend rocks!
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Morning Rebecca. What time is CTV on this morning?
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
You must be magic - because it's now on! Good morning Maggy!
Woooooooohooooooooooooooooooo
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Is McCrossan wearing a Twin 6 shirt?
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Rebecca, is that a Paris Roubaix glow you have, or are you just happy to see us?
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
aw both!
plus i’ve been training in mallorca – if you look closely you can see the tan stops just above the elbows!!!
LOL!
The Paris – Roubaix clips you’ve been showing have done the trick – I’m buying a copy this week!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Definitely.
And of course, just makes me even more excited to watch the race today
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
I just saw the tan lines! Jealous that you get to train in Mallorca. Beautiful island!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
I can imagine!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
He's not having fun today
Earlier today Maggy complained about doing two road stages in the Ardennes.
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 12, 2009 6:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Awwww, what a shame that he has that luxury
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Okay Rolls - that get's my comment of the day!
“Cob-a-cobble-doooooo”
"...if you're not going to pull through, I'm going to attack you." ~CVV (ToBC Stg 4)
More weather stuff:
While CN says the forecast is for cloudy skies only, Eurosport says:
235km: It is raining in Paris and also at the finish, which will make the infamous cobbles slick. There could be trouble ahead then for our brave boys on bikes…
Also, the first breakaway attempt was brought back (Glenn D’Hollander, Maciej Bodnar and Angelo Furlan).
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Breakaway
A group of 11 including Flanders winner Devolder have opened up a gap of 30 seconds. Kasper Klostergaard (Saxo), Angelo Furlan (Credit Agricole), Steven Cozza (Garmin), Greg Henderson (Columbia), Yoann Offredo and Wesley Sulzberger(Francaise des Jeux), Joost Posthuma (Rabobank), Knaven (Milram), Steve Chainel (Bouygues) and Andreas Klier (Cervelo) are the other men in the break.
(ES live ticker)
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
CN says Wouter Weylandt, not Devolder.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
It's just impossible that Chris didn't schedule a live thread to pop up
so I’ve been hesitating to put one up to avoid one of those days where we end up with three or four appearing at once.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Somebody ring him up and rattle his cage! Wake the kids!
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Apr 12, 2009 6:42 AM EDT up reply actions
While we wait
here is live video from the Tour of Turkey
mms://212.156.63.226/tv1
No Gent-Wevelgem or Pais Vasco on Eurosport this week
But they will show all the stages of Tour of Turkey. Great!
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 12, 2009 6:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I hate that the CTV button says its now on air when it really isn't
But at least I could log in this morning.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
I don't know...
The Bowls thing makes me sleepy.
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 12, 2009 6:53 AM EDT up reply actions
American Classic wheels sponsoring Maggy's team. Way cool. Love those wheels.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
"the first cobble section comes in less than 20 km" (cn)
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Porridge is "allez?" Gross
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Not my thing - even with Nutella!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Nutella good. Porridge bad.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Ordering grits at Interbike, thinking I was pointing at a picture of porridge,
was the biggest mistake of my life. PORRIDGE 4 LYFE
Too funny!!!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Gap now 1:15
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
What? Is there a race on?
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Races go good with Nutella.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
yummy
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Interesting that the peloton allowed a break with Klier & Knaven in it.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Not allowing them much rope, though.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
True
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
5 km to cobble time
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Strap in everyone!!!!!!!!
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Where is everyone this morning? I know it's not too early.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
0417 Here on the West Coast USA
That’s pretty early!
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Apr 12, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Middle of the night, really. Have some more coffee.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Yes, I'm on cupa java #3 now, lol.
I’ll be climbing walls soon.
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Apr 12, 2009 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but not for P-R. Last week there were a lot of people chatting away by this time during Flanders
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
piffle...
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Exactly. I was awake at 2:30. Wife was not happy at my restlessness.
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
Cool - let's all head over to the live thread
Thinking hard - really hard - of something witty to say....
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