UKC

Conditions look hellish... looks like we are in for a classic Hell of the North

https://www.teamsky.com/article/russ-ellis-roubaix-recon-gallery?utm_source...

Anyone know if Sagan is riding... cyclocross skills maybe useful!

I’m blocking the day out for it. 

At long last, a wet P-R. 

Sagan ? Yes he was doing recon today, or with the CX reference did you mean Stybar ?

No I mean Sagan...he rides cross country I suppose not cyclocross, just generally musing that those with top notch bike handling skills will be less likely to fall

OK, looks like he’s riding, PR is 50/50 skill and luck !

I'm going with Terpstra and if not him Stybar. I rode a few cobble sections tonight on my ride.....its so hard! God knows how they manage it as the only way for me is to ride hard and hit big watts but I was on a few sections of a couple of hundred metres.....not numerous miles! Got a selection of Belgian beers ready for the tv and sofa!

Could be good conditions for Wout Van Aert. He was impressive at Flanders.

A second vote for Wout.

If he does manage to win it, it would surely be one of the most impressive victories given the transition from 'cross, 1 hour of racing, to 6+ hours against the top road men in the world.....

I've only ever ridden a couple of sectors and my teeth are still rattling a year later !  Hats off to anyone who just gets round at race speed, let alone wins.  As always a tough call but on current form, perm any one from the Quickstep team would be my guess.

I believe the forecast is for it to be dry on Sunday, but it's been such a wet spring that how dry the cobbles are is another matter. Really amused to see how many riders had to push up the Koppenberg last week - I had no problems when I rode up it last year, which just goes to show how different it can be when wet.

Quick Step are on an amazing run at the moment and I reckon it will continue with either Gilbert or Stybar. Given the way he's worked for the others I reckon Phil Gil has made this his main target, but it's just a question of who makes the crucial break. I can see Gilbert and Terpstra getting reeled in a few times and then Stybar getting away. 

Sagan may be the favourite but I suspect it will be another frustrating day for him. GVA seems to be way below his level of last year and I'd say it's too soon for Van Aert - isn't this the only race that no one has one on their debut (not even Mercx!) ?  

Ride in the morning, then settle down with a bottle of Kwaremount. Yes I know it's the wrong beer but I was busy last Sunday !